*Feeding cattle can be profitable, but it takes some work. *Some Texas universities are getting money from USDA to attract Hispanic students. *Texas cotton crop conditions have improved slightly. *Many Texas High Plains farmers had to deal with an insufficient supply of water during this year’s growing season. *The Texas FFA travel team is crisscrossing the state. *USDA has released its interim report on competition and fair practices in meat merchandising. *Several Texas farms and ranches were ...
Oct 18, 2024•23 min•Ep. 1079
*How will the upcoming elections affect Texas cattle feeders? *The EQIP signup deadline is coming up soon. *Texas wheat planting has passed the half-way mark. *The hot, dry August caused a big setback for crops on the Texas High Plains. *Rumors of a last-minute Farm Bill have resurfaced. *It’s fall fair season all across Texas. *Leaders in agricultural organizations are teaming up to educate elementary students in the Coastal Bend. *Fever ticks in cattle have been a problem in South Texas for ov...
Oct 17, 2024•23 min•Ep. 1078
*A large corn crop helps cattle producers make money. *Registration is underway for Texas A&M’s first ever Beef Sustainability Summit. *Texas Congressman Michael McCaul received the “Friend of Farm Bureau” award from the American Farm Bureau Federation. *The sugarcane aphid has been a problem for some Texas sorghum farmers in recent years. *EPA is restoring pesticide application exclusion zone requirements. *Texas cotton makes its way into international markets around the globe. *Parts of Ea...
Oct 16, 2024•23 min•Ep. 1077
*The Texas Cattle Feeders Association held its annual meeting in San Antonio over the weekend. *The sorghum in the Texas High Plains is headed towards the finish line. *USDA recently announced a plan to help improve seed research and development. *Cotton warehouses face both challenges and opportunities in West Texas. *Nutrition is key to top performance in sheep production.
Oct 15, 2024•23 min•Ep. 1076
*Cotton ginning is getting underway in the Texas Panhandle. *An anaplasmosis vaccine is in the works. *The USDA Crop Production and Supply and Demand Report was somewhat bearish for the corn market. *Helping farmers conserve water is a major priority on the Texas High Plains. *USDA is proposing another rule under the Packers and Stockyards Act. *Advancements in cotton ginning technology help to make up for the loss of gins in Texas. *Now is the time to prepare plants for winter. *Adequate nutrit...
Oct 14, 2024•23 min•Ep. 1075
*Texas Panhandle ranchers continue to rebuild fences destroyed by the spring wildfires. *There is more corn and grain sorghum in storage in Texas this year. *East Texas cattle producers are feeding hay early due to drought. *Texas High Plains corn farmers had an unexpected visitor in their fields this year. *The American Farm Bureau Federation is urging farmers, ranchers and applicators to pay attention to the EPAs new herbicide and insecticide strategies. *Fall is bringing dryer conditions to T...
Oct 11, 2024•23 min•Ep. 1074
*The Texas southern plains had the best crop in a decade, but that’s not the case now. ' *The grand champions were auctioned off at the State Fair of Texas last weekend. *McDonalds is suing the nation’s largest meat packers. *Depressed prices are making things tough for Texas High Plains corn growers. *EPA’s herbicide and insecticide strategies could mean extra work and costs for farmers and applicators. *Ag education is front and center at the Texas State Fair. *It’s deer season in East Texas. ...
Oct 10, 2024•23 min•Ep. 1073
*Texas cotton harvest is one-third complete. *Farmers do not have a good outlook for the future. *Halloween is bringing an unexpected scare to the Texas corn industry. *The success of the Texas corn crop this year comes down to where you are. *EPA continues to roll out pesticide strategies. *Texas pecan production is down this year. *Biological therapies are being used for ligament and tendon injuries in horses.
Oct 09, 2024•23 min•Ep. 1072
*The West Texas cotton crop has made a turn for the worse. *Extreme and exceptional drought continues to spread in Texas. *The ending of the port workers strike is good news for agriculture. *Halloween is bringing an unhappy trick for the Texas corn industry. *A Texas congressman and the chairman of the House Agriculture Committee are asking the GAO to review the decision to allow fresh beef from Paraguay. *Cotton harvest is slowly getting underway in the Texas Southern Plains. *It feels like fa...
Oct 08, 2024•23 min•Ep. 1071
*There was a big field day last week in the world’s largest cotton patch. *The average age of farmers and ranchers in Texas has increased slightly. *The Farm Bill continues to be in limbo. *West Texas A&M will honor Paul Engler later this week. *The Farm Bill has expired, so what is the likelihood we will see another extension or a new bill by the end of the year? *It’s fair and livestock show season in Central Texas. *The tropical season is active and farmers in deep South Texas are watchin...
Oct 07, 2024•23 min•Ep. 1070
*Farmers are already feeling the impact of an expired Farm Bill. *Texas farmers have more wheat in storage this year. *A court appointed receivership has entered into a purchase agreement to buy Ft. Worth based Agridime after the owners were discovered running a ponzi scheme. *West Texas A&M is growing its agricultural research programs. *With no Farm Bill in place, we are inching closer to the dairy cliff. *Dairy producers in the Texas Panhandle and Southern Plains are facing water challeng...
Oct 04, 2024•23 min•Ep. 1069
*Texas cotton conditions continue to decline. *Texas farmers grew more wheat this past season. *Farms and ranches are devastated in North Carolina following Hurricane Helene. *It’s time for Texas High Plains cotton farmers to make decisions about harvesting their crop. *The Farm Bill has expired. *What effect will the port strike have on agriculture? *It’s important to get a forage analysis when purchasing hay. *There are a lot of essential nutrients for cattle, but one nutrient is more importan...
Oct 03, 2024•23 min•Ep. 1068
*Texas wheat planting is nearing the half-way mark. *USDA has made changes to the Farm Service Agency’s loan programs. *American farmers and ranchers are now officially without a Farm Bill. *This may turn out to be another disappointing year for cotton in the Texas High Plains. *EPA announced additional changes are coming for chlorpyrifos labels. *The State Fair of Texas is underway. *The Environmental Protection Agency has been murky at best in outlining how farmers, builders and landowners sho...
Oct 02, 2024•23 min•Ep. 1067
*Some West Texas farmers and ranchers had a wet September. *Texas pumpkin growers have a better crop this year. *The nation’s first bale of cotton brought over $25,000 for scholarships. *The Texas High Plains is reaching the final stretch for this year’s cotton crop. *The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture weighs in on the Farm Bill. *Fall is now here, and the temperatures are finally cooling off. *Trees are important for shade and energy efficiency, but they can be a hassle. *Stocker grazers will ar...
Oct 01, 2024•23 min•Ep. 1066
*Congress continues to kick agriculture down the road. *Drought conditions have improved slightly in Texas over the past week. *Milk demand is strong and prices are high. *USDA is requiring new electronic ID tags for certain cattle and bison. *Lawmakers are urging their leaders to make passing a Farm Bill a priority. *The Federal Milk Marketing Order reform process is continuing. *Researchers are working to develop an anaplasmosis vaccine for cattle....
Sep 30, 2024•23 min•Ep. 1065
*Hurricane Helena had the potential to cause major damage to agriculture in the southeast. *Columbia is lifting its ban on U.S. beef imports. *The United States is no longer the leading supplier of cotton for the world. *There are new electronic ID requirements for interstate movement of cattle. *Congress has passed a stop-gap spending bill. *New sprayer technology is providing big savings to farmers. *There’s a manufacturing operation in a small town in Texas that is making an impact around the...
Sep 27, 2024•23 min•Ep. 1064
*Cow and bull prices are dropping this fall. *The state of Texas is suing the federal government over an endangered species listing. *Mexico will import less corn over the next year. *When the times comes for herd expansion, it will be important for cattle producers to keep a close watch on the economics of expansion. *USDA recently announced a new network to help financially distressed farmers and ranchers. *The weather is changing as we move into fall. *The outlook is bright for the East Texas...
Sep 26, 2024•23 min•Ep. 1063
*The condition of the Texas cotton crop is declining. *Registration is underway for the 2024 Bennett Trust Land Stewardship Women’s Conference. *The latest government funding measure does not contain a Farm Bill extension. *Rainfall has turned things around for the northwest Texas Panhandle. *The Farm Bill helps keep our nation’s food supply safe from foreign diseases. *Wheat variety selection is very important. *Cotton harvest continues in the Central Texas Blacklands. *The most important facto...
Sep 25, 2024•23 min•Ep. 1062
*USDA is piloting a program that will allow cotton bales to be shipped in a four-bale grouping. *Texas peanut farmers will produce more peanuts this year. *The latest Cattle on Feed report came out Friday. *Making a profit will be a challenge for Texas High Plains farmers this year. *The process to reform federal milk marketing orders is coming to an end. *Wheat planting is underway. *Tropical storm activity in the Gulf is active. *It’s time to preg check spring calving beef cows....
Sep 24, 2024•23 min•Ep. 1061
*Farmers in the Rio Grande Valley had a tough summer. *Texas corn farmers may produce less corn this year. *The Environmental Working Group is suing Tyson Foods. *Last week’s interest rate cut will lower borrowing costs for farmers and ranchers. *The Farm Bill extension expires in a week, and lawmakers are urging Congress to get something done. *We are entering a new grazing season in Texas. *September has been a dry month in the Texas Coastal Bend. *Controlling intestinal parasites in foals is ...
Sep 23, 2024•23 min•Ep. 1060
*Both planting and harvest are underway in South Texas. *Registration is open for the Texas New Fruit Growers Conference. *A Missouri judge dismissed a lawsuit accusing large crop seed and input companies of price fixing. *It’s been dry lately in the Texas High Plains, but the weekend brought rain to many areas. *The Senate Ag Committee ranking member is calling on Congress to provide emergency assistance to farmers. *Farming is a dangerous occupation. *For more than 40 years, the American Farm ...
Sep 20, 2024•23 min•Ep. 1059
*Harvesting hurricane damaged corn is a challenge. *The one-year extension of the 2018 Farm Bill ends on September 30th. *The condition of the Texas cotton crop is improving slightly. *Fed cattle prices may be headed for a rebound. *A lawsuit and a lack of information from the Farm Service Agency has slowed the review of the controversial 2022 Emergency Relief Program payments. *This is National Farm Safety and Health Week. *Vaccinating cattle is not always easy, but it is necessary....
Sep 19, 2024•23 min•Ep. 1058
*Corn harvest is underway in the northern Texas Panhandle. *Texas rice farmers have a smaller crop this year. *Hiland Dairy is expanding in East Texas. *There has been a drop in the prices Texas High Plains cattle feeders are getting for fed cattle. *EPA is temporarily allowing the sale of a cancelled product. *Farmers on the South Plains of Texas are getting closer to cotton harvest. *Bermudagrass is a tough, long-lasting forage, but sometimes it thins and dies. *Canker is one of the most diffi...
Sep 19, 2024•23 min•Ep. 1057
*There is still no progress on solving the Rio Grande Valley water crisis. *We should have a better Texas cotton crop this year. *The CME Group is lowering the daily limits on cattle futures contracts. *Providing more water for Texas is going to require a lot of money. *A bill dealing with the reporting of U.S. agricultural land sales to foreign adversaries has passed the House. *Agricultural leaders are pushing for a lame-duck Farm Bill. *Fall is the best time to plant trees in Texas. *Needle s...
Sep 17, 2024•23 min•Ep. 1056
*CattleCon25 is coming to San Antonio in February. *USDA released the latest WASDE report last week. *UT-Arlington has harvested its first climate smart soybean crop. *The oil and gas industry could play a role in providing new water resources for Texas. *The Department of Commerce is recommending tariffs on 2,4-D imports from China and India. *The Tri-State fair and rodeo is underway in Amarillo. *As fall approaches, there seems to be more questions than answers on fall crops. *USDA published a...
Sep 16, 2024•23 min•Ep. 1055
*Cotton harvest continues in South Texas. *We are still transitioning into a La Nina weather pattern. *The Delta cotton crop was susceptible to damage from Hurricane Francine. *Providing enough water for a growing Texas will be a major focus of the next session of the Texas legislature. *The democrat and republican leaders of the House and Senate agriculture committees all agree on one thing. *The West Texas Agricultural Chemicals Institute’s annual meeting was in Lubbock last week. *The South T...
Sep 13, 2024•23 min•Ep. 1054
*A Texas senator says we could be getting close to a trade war with Mexico. *USDA is investing in two specialty crop projects in Texas. *The Texas cotton crop's condition is getting worse. *Diversity can help farmers and ranchers deal with the ups and downs of agriculture. *The embattled Waters of the U.S. definition continues to cause confusion. *Rural land in Texas continues to bring strong prices. *Central Texas is having a normal transition to fall. *Equine veterinarians played a role in the...
Sep 12, 2024•23 min•Ep. 1053
*The Texas corn and sorghum harvests are now three quarters done. *USDA is providing more funding for conservation easements. *Farm groups continue to push for a new Farm Bill. *The summer growing season is wrapping up on the Texas High Plains. *Pork producers are in Washington D.C. this week pushing for a Farm Bill and a fix for Proposition 12. *What’s the rural land market looking like as we head into fall? *Fall weather is moving into East Texas. *A drought can negatively affect all types of ...
Sep 11, 2024•23 min•Ep. 1052
*Texas A&M researchers continue to learn more about avian influenza in dairy cattle. *The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is accepting comments on the proposed heat illness standard. *U.S. beef exports were higher in July. *Pasture management is making a difference on some Texas High Plains ranches. *Congress is back in Washington D.C. and farm groups are pushing for action on a Farm Bill. *The West Texas Fair and Rodeo in Abeline is attracting competitors and visitors from aro...
Sep 10, 2024•23 min•Ep. 1051
*Wheat planting is getting near for forage wheat. *Texas citrus growers are forecast to produce more oranges this year. *A vaccine manufacture is testing a vaccine for avian influenza in dairy cattle. *The weather is making things tough for Texas High Plains ranchers. *USDA has released a new net farm income forecast. *Much needed rain fell recently on the South Plains of Texas. *A group of Texas farmers and ranchers toured agriculture in Japan last week. *A new treatment has been developed for ...
Sep 09, 2024•23 min•Ep. 1050
