Texas Agriculture Today Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network

*USDA is testing retail ground beef for the H5N1 virus in states without breaks of the virus in dairy cattle.  
*There is a lot of optimism this year for growing cotton in Texas.  
*The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association is taking applications for the TSCRA Leadership Development Foundation’s Working Grant Program.
*Cattle prices are expected to get stronger this year, but we could still see some wild swings in the market.
*Lawmakers from Texas continue to stand up for Rio Grande Valley farmers.  
*Crops and pastures in the Texas Coastal Bend are at a critical turning point.  
*Many farmers or ranchers are very interested when their neighbors land comes up for sale.  
*Cattle parasites are becoming resistant to current deworming medications.  

*USDA is making another move toward an electronic identification system for livestock.  
*Corn stunt disease is showing up in Texas, but it’s not expected to affect yields much.  
*The outlook for cattle prices remains optimistic.  
*The closure of Texas’ only sugar mill is getting a lot of attention from lawmakers.  
*Spring is bringing optimism to farmers in the Texas Rolling Plains.  
*May is expected to bring more rain and severe weather to Texas.  
*The Food and Drug Administration is proposing new regulations for animal drug labeling.   

*Strong storms brought big rain to some parts of Texas.  
*The state’s largest farm organization is now offering grants to agricultural mechanics and metal technologies educators.  
*The Texas Department of Agriculture is thanking other state agriculture departments for their help during the Panhandle wildfires.  
*The State of Texas is looking for ways to reduce the wildfire threat.  
*The U.S. Trade Representative addressed concerns that the administration isn’t doing enough for agricultural trade.  
*April was a good month for rainfall in many areas of Texas, and more is on the way.
*Anthrax has been reported in a sheep in Schleicher County.  

*Herd rebuilding may be getting underway according to the latest Cattle on Feed report.  
*The area of Texas impacted by drought rose slightly over the past week.  
*The wildfires damaged a lot of water wells in the Texas Panhandle.  
*Getting better control of wildfires was a big topic at last week’s Hemphill County Beef Conference.  
*A very good winter wheat crop is progressing in the Central Texas Blacklands.  
*Agricultural organizations are asking the White House to do more for agricultural trade.  
*USDA has developed some recommendations to prevent the spread of avian influenza.  
*The U.S. milk supply is still safe to drink.  

*The condition of the Texas wheat crop is declining.  
*South Texas citrus may be under attack from an invasive pest.  
*Applications are open for the American Sheep Industry Associations annual Sheep Heritage Foundation scholarship.  *The outlook for herd rebuilding in the Texas High Plains is unclear for now.  
*If Congress want to pass a new Farm Bill this year, members say it must be bipartisan. 
*We'll visit with a Texas Panhandle farmer about the condition of his wheat crop.
*The Texas Animal Health Commission released the latest update on avian influenza in Texas dairy cows.

*There are new restrictions on moving dairy cattle across state lines.  
*The state’s first anthrax case of the year has been detected.  
*Recovery continues for Texas ranches burned out by wildfires.
*The battle over beef imports from Paraguay takes an interesting turn.  
*A U.S. Senator from Texas is fighting for fair disaster payments through USDA.  
*Tight U.S. beef supplies are challenging red meat exporters.  
*Corn planters are rolling in Lubbock County.  
*Deworming calves prior to weaning is a good idea.