*Texas wheat planting is right on schedule. *Registration is now underway for the award-winning Ranch Management University. *NuSeed Caranata is an option for a winter cover crop. *Weeds are always a concern for farmers, that concern is increasing because some herbicides are working like they used to. *Fall harvest and winter wheat planting are moving forward across Texas. *September did not bring the weather change that most Texas farmers and ranchers were hoping for. *Pinkeye is common in the ...
Oct 04, 2023•23 min•Ep. 807
*Farmers in the Rio Grande Valley are facing serious water challenges. *The number of hogs and pigs in Texas has declined over the last year. *USDA is launching a new insurance product for weaned calves. *Texas High Plains cotton gins are facing some tough times right now. *October may be a wetter and cooler month for Texas. *Texas voters will have the opportunity to vote on Proposition 1 in the next few weeks. *EPM is a neurological disease in horses that can be successfully treated in most cas...
Oct 03, 2023•24 min•Ep. 806
*The nation’s cattle herd continues to shrink due to the prolonged drought. *Veterans interested in learning more about agriculture can now apply for the “Battleground to Breaking Ground” program. *It has been a very hot and dry fall so far this year in Texas. *A program offered by the Texas Cattle Feeders Association teaches feedyard skills to high school students. *USDA is highlighting its food system transformation efforts. *Hunting season is on farmers and ranchers minds in the pineywoods of...
Oct 02, 2023•24 min•Ep. 805
*2023 was a better year for most Texas farmers and ranchers compared to last year. *Drought continues its grip on our state, despite recent rains. *Cattle feeders are seeing bovine congestive heart failure more often in feedlots. *Are there any takeaways from this very tough summer growing season? *Capturing rainfall is always a priority for farmers in the Texas Panhandle. *It has rained in Central Texas, but the drought is far from over. *Equine rehab has come a long way in the last few years. ...
Sep 29, 2023•23 min•Ep. 804
*The White House vetoed a bill that would rescind the recent restrictions placed on farmers and ranchers protecting the Lesser Prairie Chicken. *Texas grapefruit is now headed to Vietnam. *A Texas A&M ag economist says prospects are dim for a new Farm Bill anytime soon. *The combination of a very wet spring and a very dry summer has elevated the wildfire threat on the Texas High Plains. *Farming during a drought can be a real challenge. *Extreme South Texas got a short break from the hot wea...
Sep 28, 2023•24 min•Ep. 803
*Fall harvest continues in Texas. *The recent Cattle on Feed Report confirms what we already knew. *Texas rice producers will get an additional payment through the Farm Service Agency’s Rice Production Program. *It’s been a season of ups and downs on the Texas High Plains. *The cattle industry has been reducing greenhouse gas emissions for decades. *Coastal Bend farmers are wrapping up harvest of the final crop in the field. *Upper airway issues are common causes of poor performance in horses. *...
Sep 27, 2023•24 min•Ep. 802
*The monthly Cattle on Feed Report did not contain any surprises. *Prairieview A&M University is researching the potential of industrial hemp in animal feed. *Genetic testing is becoming more common in commercial cattle herds. *We are currently in an El Nino weather pattern, but with this summer’s drought across much of Texas, it doesn’t feel like it. *The beef industry is often blamed for damaging the environment, but the Cattlemen’s Beef Board is working to change that. *Farmers in West Te...
Sep 26, 2023•24 min•Ep. 801
*Texas wheat growers are voicing their needs for the 2023 Farm Bill. *Registration is now underway for a free regenerative agriculture field day coming up this week. *DairyMax is partnering with Gandy’s Dairy to install a refrigerated milk dispenser in the Texas Tech Sports Performance Center. *Keeping good financial records for your farming operation is a vital task. *The effects of the summer drought are lingering into the fall. *A forage analysis can be an important tool to help you stretch h...
Sep 25, 2023•24 min•Ep. 800
*Texas has the worst pasture and range conditions in the nation. *Texas A&M is hosting a webinar to help landowners manage their property for whitetail deer. *The prospects are dim for the Texas cotton crop that has yet to be harvested. *Forage production is on the rise in the Texas High Plains. *Price differences between cotton and polyester create challenges for the cotton industry. *September is an active month for Texas gardeners and landscapers. *It’s time to start thinking about precon...
Sep 22, 2023•24 min•Ep. 799
*The Texas harvest season is moving forward. *The State Fair of Texas is just around the corner. *The U.S. Small Business Administration awarded a $500,000 grant to the Texas Department of Agriculture. *Texas cattle producers will get a great price for their cattle over the next year, but risk protection may still be something to consider. *It’s important for cotton farmers to market their product in a competitive fiber world. *Texas AgriWomen is the largest coalition of farm, ranch and agribusi...
Sep 21, 2023•24 min•Ep. 798
*The push is on to pass the Texas Right to Farm constitutional amendment. *Texas milk production went down last month. *Cattle prices are high, but margins are still tight thanks to rising input costs. *Beef prices are at record highs, but consumer demand is still strong. *Keeping kids safe on the farm is one highlight of National Farm Safety and Health week. *It is still hot and dry in deep South Texas. *Hay supplies are short once again this year. *The state plans to stock more than two hundre...
Sep 20, 2023•24 min•Ep. 797
*The first bale of cotton in the nation was auctioned off in the Rio Grande Valley for scholarships last week. *A Texas cowboy will be recognized for his decades of hard work. *Every sector of the cattle production chain is doing well right now. *As harvest gets cranked up around the country, farmers and ranchers are encouraged to put safety first. *Extreme South Texas is still dealing with triple digit temperatures and drought. *X-rays can be a very important part of a prepurchase exam on a hor...
Sep 19, 2023•24 min•Ep. 796
*The Cattlemen’s Bee f Board approved checkoff funded projects for 2024. *Texas corn farmers can nominate fellow farmers for open board seats on the Texas Corn Producers board of directors. *Farm groups were busy in Washington D.C. last week. *How much is the quality of beef impacted when it’s frozen? *This is National Farm Safety and Health Week. *Most farmers and ranchers in East Texas are thinking about fall hunting. *Many Texas cattle producers are running short on hay, thanks to the drought...
Sep 18, 2023•25 min•Ep. 795
*Texas cotton acreage is dropping. *The drought is taking a toll on Texas pecan production. *Winter wheat planting now underway. *Applying fertilizer to wheat at planting can make a big difference in the crop. *Texas pastureland values continue to climb higher. *Coastal Bend farmers are catching up on unfinished field work. *Hock problems are common in performance horses. The turkey population should be higher this year.
Sep 15, 2023•24 min•Ep. 794
*Texas sheep and goat researchers are busy with lots of projects. *The EPA has approved stronger standards for those who use restricted use pesticides here in Texas. *The Texas Farmer Service Agency is encouraging producers to sign up for several drought relief programs. *Crop insurance claims on the Texas High Plains are expected to be high again this year. *Texas crop and pastureland values continue to climb. *Central Texas has finally seen a break in the hot and dry weather pattern. *Now is t...
Sep 14, 2023•23 min•Ep. 793
*Texas leads the nation in cotton harvest, but the condition of the cotton that is left in the field is declining. *A Texas company is being recognized by the American Farm Bureau Federation. *USDA increased the size of the U.S. corn crop Tuesday, making it the second largest crop in history. *There’s been a big change in Texas High Plains weather this week. *The soybean industry is working to grow sustainable soybeans for animal feed ingredients. *Horses can get a bellyache, just like humans. *...
Sep 13, 2023•24 min•Ep. 792
*Washington lawmakers are looking for more money to fund the Farm Bill. *USDA launched a new program to help dairy farmers who dumped milk over the past three years. *The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association launched The School for Successful Ranching podcast. *The summer crop season in the Texas High Plains is winding down. *Texas South Plains cotton producers are feeling the brunt of the extended drought and heat on the 2023 cotton crop. *A new report from the Environmental Protec...
Sep 12, 2023•24 min•Ep. 791
*What does the new WOTUS rule mean for Texas? It may be a while before we find out. *Registration is now underway for the Texas A&M AgriLife’s annual Texas Fruit Conference. *The American Lamb Board has launched a new website for the sheep industry. *Lawmakers are going back to work on the Farm Bill. *The Cattle Contracts Library Pilot Program is up and running. *Castration of young goats and lambs has a lot of benefits. *Another drawn hunt deadline is approaching....
Sep 11, 2023•24 min•Ep. 790
*The push to pass Proposition 1, the Texas Right to Farm amendment, is well underway. *A new study shows that a warfarin-based toxicant can be effective in managing feral hogs. *A summer long drought has set the stage for major wildfire potential across Texas. *There are a variety of options for Texas High Plains cattle raisers to consider over the next couple of years. *USDA’s latest trade forecast is out. *With two years of heat and drought, should you risk planting winter forages this fall? *...
Sep 08, 2023•24 min•Ep. 789
*There are very few drought-free areas in Texas according to the latest Drought Monitor. *Northeast Panhandle farmers are starting to plant wheat, but they could use a good rain to get it started. *Weights of market ready lambs in Texas are declining this year. *Looking for crops that require less water is a key focus for West Texas A&M in its efforts to strengthen animal agriculture. *The state tree of Texas is the pecan tree. We'll take a look at the potential of this year's pecan crop. *P...
Sep 07, 2023•24 min•Ep. 788
*Farm income will take a big drop this year as rising costs put a squeeze on farm profitability. *Sheep and goat research in Texas is expanding with the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Center in San Angelo looking for more personnel. *Texas High Plains farmers needed a lot less irrigation water this spring thanks to heavy rains, but the current summer drought has had the pumps running hard. *USDA’s Farm Service Agency is making efforts to help distressed borrowers. *The Central Texas corn crop w...
Sep 06, 2023•24 min•Ep. 787
*Choosing the right wheat variety can make the difference between a good crop and a crop failure thanks to Hessian Fly populations in Central Texas. *The Texas A&M Forest Service has funds available to help with prescribed burns. *Deep Southeast Texas is currently one of the driest spots in the entire state. *Trying to buy high priced replacement cattle is a challenge when rebuilding a herd. *The peak of tropical season is near. *The just concluded August recess was a great time to reach out...
Sep 05, 2023•24 min•Ep. 786
*A revised Waters of the U.S. rule is out, and most ag groups are not happy with it. *A case of anthrax was found in a place where we normally don’t find it. *There is some very good looking corn and milo in the northeast Panhandle, but there is also some poor looking corn and milo also. *There’s a workshop coming up that can help cattle producers make decisions on herd rebuilding. *Agriculture faces challenges dealing with the government’s climate goals. *When we think of laminitis, we usually ...
Sep 04, 2023•24 min•Ep. 785
*Cattle prices will set new records next year. *Texas sheep and goat producers reduced herds this summer. *Cotton producers in the Concho Valley are struggling with drought and heat. *Grazing conditions on the Texas High Plains are looking much better than they were at the beginning of the year. *August was a very hot month, and September will continue to be hot and dry. *That hot and dry pattern has been a consistent problem in Central Texas. *Moving livestock from state to state happens every ...
Sep 01, 2023•24 min•Ep. 784
*A Dallas Cowboy supports Proposition 1 on the November ballot. *USDA is awarding a grant to a Texas university to recruit more young people into agriculture. *Cotton harvest is wrapping up in the Rio Grande Valley and the Coastal Bend. *Are there profits to be made on this season’s crops on the Texas High Plains? *It has been a tough summer for Texas sheep and goat producers. *Extreme South Texas got some much-needed rain from Tropical Storm Harold. *Forage is in short supply due to drought. *R...
Aug 31, 2023•24 min•Ep. 783
*Drought is affecting the wettest part of Texas. *The latest Texas crop and pastureland rent report is out. *BASF's new Axant Flex technology will be available for farmers next year. *There have been several challenges for Texas High Plains agriculture this year. *Keeping water sources full for cattle is more important than ever. *Itching in horses is not uncommon, but it can get bad enough to make a horse miserable. *Dove season is finally here, bringing in valuable income for Texas rural lando...
Aug 30, 2023•24 min•Ep. 782
*Much of Texas received rainfall over the past week. *Drought is keeping cattle producers from rebuilding cow herds. *Texas will be home to a state-of-the-art animal reproductive biology and technology. *USDA is expanding livestock disaster payments for extreme heat and humidity. *The Texas Beef Council plays an important role in promoting beef to consumers. *Weed control is a big challenge in the cotton fields of West Texas. *East Texas farmers and ranchers are dealing with heat and drought, bu...
Aug 29, 2023•23 min•Ep. 781
*Heat and drought have taken a toll on agriculture in the Concho Valley. *Texas wheat growers should prepare to fight the Hessian Fly before they plant the new crop. *The Farm Bill can be made stronger by fighting fraud. *Managing dry cows is essential to a dairy herd health program. *The Coastal Bend cotton harvest was interrupted by Tropical Storm Harold. *A new test has been developed that may determine which horses are predisposed to osteoarthritis. *Hunters in additional Texas counties will...
Aug 28, 2023•23 min•Ep. 780
*Boll weevil eradication efforts continue in the Rio Grande Valley. *Anthrax has been detected in Edwards County. *The State of Texas Agriculture Relief or STAR fund is available to farmers and ranchers affected by wildfires. *Fighting weeds has been a big task on the Texas High Plains this year. *Pasture and range conditions in Texas look awful. *This hot summer can get you thinking about ways to cool things off with your landscaping. *The vaccine company Medgene has received a USDA license to ...
Aug 25, 2023•24 min•Ep. 779
*A group of cotton farmers from the Mid-South and Southeastern U.S. toured the cotton industry in the Rio Grande Valley this week. *Tropical Storm Harold brought much needed rain to the Texas Coastal Bend and the Rio Grande Valley. *One of the biggest threats for Texas High Plains wheat growers is wheat streak mosaic virus. *Hot weather and wildfires have been bearing down on Texas in the month of August. *Prebiotics and postbiotics may be helpful in horses. *Texas dove hunters have until the en...
Aug 24, 2023•24 min•Ep. 778
