*Friday’s Cattle on Feed Report showed a larger than expected drop in placements. *A fertilizer plant in Central Texas burned to the ground. *The Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers Association has a new Executive Secretary. *Farmers who grow winter wheat are getting ready for a new season on the Texas High Plains. *Row crop farmers in Central Texas are running out of storage space. *Cotton in the Texas Southern Plains is struggling. *Texas hunters can now enter to win a once in a lifetime hunting oppo...
Aug 23, 2023•23 min•Ep. 777
*Texas A&M AgriLife held the 50th annual Sheep and Goat Field Day in San Angelo last weekend. *The Texas Sheep and Goat Expo was also held last weekend. *Pasture cropping may be a help to ranchers who need to increase their winter forage. *Cotton farmers are encouraged to practice climate smart management as part of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol. *Some racehorses do not handle the stress of training well. *A record number of people attended the recent statewide quail symposium in Abilene....
Aug 22, 2023•23 min•Ep. 776
*It’s been a rough summer, but Texas cattle producers are hanging on. *Pasture and range conditions in Texas are rapidly deteriorating. *It has been another challenging season for cotton on the Texas High Plains. *Central Texas agriculture is grappling with high heat and a lack of rain. *Developing a beef herd health program with your local veterinarian is critical to being successful. *Additional hunting opportunities are now available through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s drawn hun...
Aug 21, 2023•23 min•Ep. 775
*The Texas cotton crop continues to decline. *The nation’s cow herd is shrinking, and there is no evidence of herd rebuilding in the near future. *The writing of the new is proving to be a challenge. *The biotech corn dispute with Mexico continues. *East Texas farmers and ranchers are drying out, just like everyone else. *Horses have bony projections on their back that can lead to back pain. *The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s annual public hearing is coming up....
Aug 18, 2023•23 min•Ep. 774
*The Texas Cattle Feeders Association supports the transition to electronic identification for cattle. *The Texas Animal Health Commission has confirmed a second case of vesicular stomatitis this year. *The Texas Sheep and Goat Field Day and Expo is this Friday and Saturday. *There was a lot of sorghum planted on the Texas High Plains this year. *The summer drought is forcing a lot of Texas cattle producers to feed hay to keep their cattle alive. *The Texas Sheep and Goat Field Day and Expo gets...
Aug 17, 2023•23 min•Ep. 773
*Dryland cotton is running out of time in the Southern Plains. *Texas farmers and ranchers are paying more to stay in business. *It’s time to test your wheat seed before planting this fall. *The Texas High Plains corn crop is nearing the finish line. *U.S. Pork exports have had an outstanding year so far. *The hot and dry conditions are causing pastures in the Coastal Bend to suffer. *The dog days of summer are barking loudly across Texas. *There’s a new product that is being used for arthritis ...
Aug 16, 2023•23 min•Ep. 772
*USDA cut the U.S. cotton crop production forecast by 2.5 million bales. *The wheat market did not get any support in last week’s WASDE report. *There is a 95% chance that El Nino is moving into Texas. *The pace of fed cattle sales has gotten slow in Texas recently. *A USDA trade mission to two southeast Asian countries will take place this fall. *Triple digit temperatures have settled into extreme South Texas. *Recent changes to antibiotic sales and growth implant use are causing a lot of confu...
Aug 15, 2023•23 min•Ep. 771
*A cooler, wetter forecast for this winter is giving farmers optimism for the new wheat crop. *USDA is forecasting the second largest corn crop on record this year. *A big corn crop and continued drought liquidation will keep cattle prices high for the next two years. *West Texas A&M in Canyon is expanding its work in animal agriculture. *We are approaching the most active period of hurricane season. *The hot and dry summer is probably not the best time to apply herbicides on pastures. *Wild...
Aug 14, 2023•23 min•Ep. 770
*The Right to Farm constitutional amendment will be Proposition 1 on the November ballot. *Farm and ranch land values keep rising both nationwide and in Texas. *We’ve been seeing drought cycles in Texas for over 100 years. *Texas High Plains farmers have had a big problem with weeds this year. *The cotton industry is continuing to weigh in on the 2023 Farm Bill. *Landscaping and gardening in August are challenging. *Not all horses have the same anatomy when it comes to their backbone. *More Texa...
Aug 11, 2023•23 min•Ep. 769
*Drought is holding back cow herd expansion. *Virtual fencing is becoming a reality for Texas cattle producers. *Two Congressmen representing the Texas High Plains are holding a listening session on the Farm Bill next week. *The risk for wildfires is very high right now across the state. *Artificial Intelligence is moving onto the farm and ranch. *Heat stress in cattle is caused by a combination of environmental factors. *It’s time to buy your annual hunting and fishing license....
Aug 10, 2023•23 min•Ep. 768
*The El Nino weather pattern is moving into Texas, but it won’t stick around for long. *A special educational opportunity for women in agriculture will soon be offered in Amarillo. *There’s a new trait available to help Texas corn farmers in the 2024 growing season. *Summer heat is taking a toll on crops in the Texas Rolling Plains. *Sheep may need a calcium supplement. *Dove hunting may be better in some parts of Texas than others this year.
Aug 09, 2023•23 min•Ep. 767
*The Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course is looking at the next 40 years in the beef industry. *Consumers continue to buy beef despite record high prices at the grocery store *Texas High Plains farmers are looking for the right marketing opportunity at a time when there’s uncertainty in the markets. *USDA’s Risk Management Agency is making improvements to better serve American farmers and ranchers. *A nail entering a horse’s foot could be deadly. *The Texas dove season is just a few weeks awa...
Aug 08, 2023•23 min•Ep. 766
*The largest beef cattle educational event in the world is now underway in College Station. It’s the Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course. *The El Nino weather pattern is expected to be improving Texas weather soon. *The Texas rice crop is a mixed bag of yield and quality due to the weather. *It’s a good time to be in the cow calf business in the Texas Panhandle. *The outlook calls for more winter wheat in the Texas High Plains in the coming season. *The summer heat is not letting up, and that...
Aug 07, 2023•23 min•Ep. 765
*The Texas cotton crop continues to struggle. *The Executive Director of the South Texas Cotton and Grain Association says the cotton crop in his area started well, but it has gone downhill fast. *Two Texas students won scholarships from the National Sorghum Foundation. *The U.S. House passed a resolution that would nullify the endangered species listing of the Lesser Prairie Chicken. *Some of the corn in Texas High Plains fields are encountering a problem this season with short roots. *Fall cov...
Aug 04, 2023•23 min•Ep. 764
*We have a good-looking corn and sorghum crop in Texas this year. *Texas wheat flour production was down last quarter. *Two “Owning Your Piece of Texas” workshops will be held this fall. *August is a critical month for crop development on the Texas High Plains. *Agricultural competition from Brazil and Russia is strong on the world market. *Summer heat is taking a toll on summer crops on the Texas Rolling Plains. *Creep feeding calves is common, but creep grazing is another option. *Chronic Wast...
Aug 03, 2023•23 min•Ep. 763
*The driest spot in Texas lies in the Hill Country. *Drought is creeping back into Texas as temperatures soar. *Hot weather is taking a toll on the Texas cotton crop, and Oklahoma cotton is suffering too. *Sorghum has long been known as a good source of nutrition for livestock, but it’s becoming a good food source for people. *China is the largest importer of corn, soybeans and wheat in the world. *Cattle producers in East Texas are enjoying high cattle prices and good hay production this summer...
Aug 02, 2023•23 min•Ep. 762
*The future is bright for cattle prices, with a higher market predicted for 2024. *If you are new to land ownership or ranching, Texas A&M AgriLife has a course for you. *High temperatures across Texas are tough on humans and livestock. *More and more Texas farmers and ranchers are being offered carbon contracts. *Will the excessively hot temperatures continue into August? *The Southern Plains cotton crop is feeling the effects of the heat. *Invasive brush can reduce forage production for li...
Aug 01, 2023•23 min•Ep. 761
*A south Texas cattlemen testified before a congressional subcommittee last week on the damage illegal immigration is causing to his cattle operation. *The outlook for Texas pork producers for the rest of this year is not very bright. *Texas cotton crop ratings are slowly declining. *If you’re a farmer, it’s likely that someone is going to offer you a carbon contract. *Range and pasture conditions across Texas are suffering due to the heat and drought. *It is still hot and dry in Central Texas. ...
Jul 31, 2023•23 min•Ep. 760
*The 2023 Cattle Industry Summer Business Meetings were held last week in San Diego. *West Texas A&M University in Canyon is getting six million dollars to continue establishing the Center for Advancing Food Animal Production in the Texas Panhandle. *Texas A&M AgriLife’s Beef 706 course will be held August 14th and 15th in College Station. *Sorghum is finding success in the pet food arena. *Wildfire danger is increasing across Texas. *The American Farm Bureau Federation has submitted pro...
Jul 28, 2023•23 min•Ep. 759
*The Texas corn harvest is now moving through Central Texas. *The hot, dry weather is elevating the risk for wildfires across Texas. *Commodity checkoff programs are coming under attack in Congress. *The big increase in U.S. pork exports is good news for Texas pork producers. *National Sorghum Producers is pushing hard to get a good Farm Bill. *Hot and dry weather can bring on the grasshoppers. *Getting a pre purchase exam is critical when buying any horse. *Parts of Texas may be impacted by a n...
Jul 27, 2023•23 min•Ep. 758
*Drought is still shrinking the cow herd. *The upcoming Texas Pecan Growers conference will host a Mini Pecan Short Course. *A Farm Bill extension is very likely, according to the chairman of the House Agriculture Committee. *An opportunity to protect farming and ranching in the Texas constitution is coming up this fall. *International economics are affecting U.S. beef exports. *Cotton harvest is underway in the Texas Coastal Bend. *A Texas A&M researcher is working to improve beef cattle sy...
Jul 26, 2023•23 min•Ep. 757
*The U.S. cattle herd continues to shrink. *Congress may vote this week on a bill that would overturn the recent endangered species listing of the Lesser Prairie Chicken. *Exports of U.S. beef are down this year. *The hot dry summer across much of Texas has increased the chances of wildfires. *The lack of rainfall and triple digit temperatures are taking a toll on garden and landscape plants. *Deworming horses can be a challenge due to parasite resistance. *A deer in a breeding facility southwes...
Jul 25, 2023•23 min•Ep. 756
*This has turned into great year for Texas sorghum with spring rains resulting in a bumper crop in many areas of the state. *The final cotton production numbers for last year show 3 million bales of cotton produced in Texas. *USDA is increasing the beef production and price forecast. *If you’re a Texas High Plains farmer with a playa or two on your property, there’s an organization that may want to work with you. *Various agencies within the US Department of Agriculture are working together to p...
Jul 24, 2023•23 min•Ep. 755
*The heat continues and drought returns to Texas. *There is a new guide to help landowners understand carbon contracts. *Texas farm groups endorse a bill that supports checkoff programs. *There are some very full playa lakes in the Texas High Plains right now. *This has been a very good year for agriculture here in Texas, especially when compared the last year. *The heat is on in Deep South Texas, with water in high demand. *Blister beetles are common in some alfalfa fields. *An owl found in par...
Jul 21, 2023•23 min•Ep. 754
*There is still some Texas wheat left to harvest. *There is a new way to access and analyze prices from livestock auctions. *A big hurdle has been jumped in the Farm Bill debate. *The rising cost of feeder cattle is putting pressure on Texas High Plains feedyards. *The Texas rural land market is cooling off a bit. *Deep South Texas is hot and dry. *Cattle need a lot of water in this Texas summer heat and humidity. *Several Texas lakes have been ranked among the best in the nation for bass fishin...
Jul 20, 2023•23 min•Ep. 753
*Cotton crop ratings look good beltwide, except for our crop here in Texas. *The Texas dairy industry continues to grow. *The sheep and lamb market has moved higher recently. *The cash fed cattle market here in Texas all but dried up last week, with only around 500 head sold on negotiated cash trade. *The Texas electric grid has been holding up through the brutal summer heat. *Farmers and ranchers in Northeast Texas continue to clean up from spring storm damage. *Equine piroplasmosis is a bloodb...
Jul 19, 2023•23 min•Ep. 752
*It’s time to prepare for the new Texas wheat crop. *A new Texas Ag Teacher of the Year was named at last week’s Texas FFA Convention in Dallas. *The American Lamb Board is surveying lamb producers and feeders about their sustainability practices. *The sorghum checkoff is working to create more opportunities for sorghum farmers. *The Texas winter wheat harvest is almost complete. *Coastal Bend farmers are wrapping up this year’s grain harvest. *There are several ways to control flies on cattle. ...
Jul 18, 2023•23 min•Ep. 751
*The Hessian Fly is getting worse in Texas wheat. *The Texas Beef Council’s Bar-B-Quest television show is a very successful way to promote Texas beef. *The Texas legislature passed an 18 billion package to reduce property taxes. *The sorghum checkoff is helping farmers to grow the crop on the Texas High Plains. *Bermuda grass pastures are now dealing with a new pest. *We are in the middle of fly season in Texas. *If you find a fawn that appears to be abandoned, there’s one thing you can do that...
Jul 17, 2023•23 min•Ep. 750
Recent rains have led to a dramatic recovery for some grazing lands in the Texas Panhandle. Some farmers in Williamson County in Central Texas could see much higher corn yields this year. Texas A&M AgriLife continues its research on some of the best ways to use dogs to protect sheep and goat herds. Chronic Wasting Disease has been found in two additional deer breeding facilities in Texas. Texas Farm Bureau scholarships to help bring veterinarians to rural areas....
Jul 14, 2023•23 min•Ep. 749
*U.S. corn farmers are expected to produce a record crop this year. *The Texas corn and sorghum crops are looking great. *We could have a good year for row crops on the Texas High Plains, but farmers there do have challenges to address. *The Central Texas corn harvest is getting underway, while cotton and pastures need a good rain. *It’s a good idea to have a biosecurity plan to prevent animal disease outbreaks. *A new study reveals that some deer can carry the virus that causes Covid in humans....
Jul 13, 2023•23 min•Ep. 748
