Texas Agriculture Today

*More screwworm cases are confirmed in Texas. *Texas dairies produced more milk last month, while the dairy herd grew. *Texas Corn Producers has a new executive director. *Senate Ag Committee leadership released a draft of the Farm Bill.*What could a Super El Nino mean for the Texas High Plains? *The future is bright for cotton technology. *Bermuda grass growers in Texas have several pests to fight. *Low starch diets are important for many horses.

*The nation’s first bale of cotton has been harvested. *Wheat harvest is wrapping up in Texas. *JBS is closing two beef processing facilities. *Feedyards in the Texas High Plains need more feeder calves. *The upper Gulf Coast of Texas is getting major rainfall right now. *USDA gave a recent update on the efforts to fight New World Screwworm. *The weather was a bit cooler than usual this spring in the Texas Rolling Plains. *A horse racing group has made a decision on Lasix.

*Texas cotton planting is running slightly behind schedule. *The state is offering a free online course to expand the number of certified screwworm inspectors in Texas. *Some have a sense of relief now that the screwworm is finally here. *Several institutions in Texas are getting funding to help fight the screwworm. *The high value of cattle involves more than just steaks and ground beef. *There have been big changes over the past three decades in how beef is processed. *Over 900 people showed up for a New World screwworm meeting in Fredericksburg. *Allergies are common in horses.

*More sterile flies are coming to fight the screwworm. *The nation’s first bale of cotton has been harvested. *The outlook for fall feeder cattle prices may be positive. *How are screwworms affecting Texas High Plains feedlots?*New cuts of beef and better value have reshaped the meat case. *New legislation would add penalties for Mexico failing to comply with the 1944 water treaty. *Recent rains have fallen on the Southern Plains of Texas. *The old methods of treating parasites in horses do not work anymore.

*The Secretary of Agriculture visited the site of the first screwworm case.*Construction continues on sterile screwworm fly facilities. *Pasture mealybugs are spreading fast across Central and Southern Texas.*Herbicides are an important tool in fighting weeds. *Rio Grande Valley farmers are in their annual fight against crop pests. *Gastric ulcers are very common in performance horses.

*Texas is taking a whole-of-government approach to fighting the screwworm. *Drought conditions are improving across Texas. *Corn planting is almost finished in Texas. *The Texas Panhandle has received some rain recently. *Sorghum midges are active in the Rio Grande Valley. *Work continues on the Farm Bill. *Rain has had a big effect on Texas Coastal Bend agriculture. *The first case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza has been detected on a Texas dairy.

New World Screwworm cases are spreading. A Texan has been appointed to help drive innovation in the search for technologies to combat New World Screwworms. Canada has banned cattle imports from Texas. Governor Greg Abbot is committing state resources to combat the screwworm.A major meat science event is coming to the Amarillo and Canyon area. Specialty crop producers can now sign up for financial assistance. Farming activity is running at full speed in the Texas Rolling Plains. Now is a great time to evaluate replacement ewe lambs and doeling goats.

*Screwworms are in Texas. Now what? *Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza has been found in a Texas dairy. *The Texas wheat harvest is now 23% complete. *The winter wheat season in the Texas High Plains will be remembered as a crop devastated by drought. *El Nino will affect this year’s hurricane season. *The EPA is working on the problems with Diesel Exhaust Fluid. *Summer is creeping into Central Texas. *Calves are worth a lot of money today, so calf survival rate is more important than ever.

*The screwworm is close to Texas, but not as close as you may have heard. *Specialty crop growers can now apply for financial assistance. *Five Texans were appointed to serve on the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board.*Parts of the Texas Panhandle have gotten some rain recently. *Cotton Council International continues to market U.S. cotton abroad. *The last two weeks of May brought significant rain to the Texas Coastal Bend. *It’s time to process spring born beef calves.

New World Screwworm found in bovine just 31 miles from US-Mexico border.The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has reportedly withdrawn its mountain lion harvest reporting proposal following significant opposition. USDA is celebrating the opening of a livestock insect research lab in Kerrville. Estate planning is critical on the farm and ranch.The path to profitability is not an easy one for Texas High Plains corn farmers this year.Young people can obtain a veterinary science certificate from Texas A&M AgriLife.

Farmers are expected to see above-average farm bill safety net payments this fall. Conditions in the Coastal Bend have switched from drought to flood.Cotton farmers on the Texas High Plains have seen a lot of challenging weather already this season.Texas legislative staff gain agricultural insights at demonstration farm.There are different options for intraarticular joint therapies in horses.

The switch to El Niño is coming.An information service can help farmers in the Texas High Plains as they face challenges with insect pressure.U.S. beef demand continues to be strong around the world.House Ag Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson gives us an update on ag labor legislation. Ultrasounds are now being used to help in the diagnosis of pneumonia in calves.

*U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins addressed TFB members in Washington, D.C. this week.*Texas cotton planting is right-on-track in Texas. *Zoetis receives additional approval for Dectomax to treat New World Screwworm.*Registration is now open for the Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course.*Cattle inventories remain very tight.*The U.S. Department of Agriculture is looking for producer input for its June agricultural survey.*USDA has confirmed cases of pseudorabies in Iowa and Texas.