*Should Texas cattle producers be concerned about screwworms entering the state?
*President Trump has picked the number two official for U.S. agriculture.
*Texas farmers and ranchers will be the biggest beneficiaries of the new economic aid package approved by Congress.
*The Texas High Plains silage boom continues.
*There will be four new faces representing Texas in Washington D.C.
*It’s a new year, a new month, and there’s a new weather forecast for Texas.
*Water was one of the top issues in Rio Grande Valley agriculture last year.
*The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed listing the Monarch butterfly as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
*Congenital myotonia is a neuromuscular disease in goats.
I'm Henry Leach with J&H Farm in Waller, Texas, where you listen to the latest news in Texas agriculture on Texas Ag Today. This is Texas Ag Today, the number one source for the latest news in Texas agriculture. The largest and most experienced farm news team in the Lone Star State covers it all. From the tiny woods of East Texas to the rocky ranges of the Transpacas, and from the pannadol down to the Rio Grande Valley, here's today's top stories. As the Texas High Plains silage boom continues, it's looking really good for sorghum. I'm James Hunt, and we'll talk about that on Texas Ag Today. There will be four new faces representing Texas in Washington, D.C. I'm Jessica Domel, and I'll have more coming up on Texas Ag Today. A week La Nina over Texas spells relatively dry conditions in January for the state, but that does not rule out snow for some of the northern regions at some point this season. I'm Tom Nickelodeon, and I'll have more from the National Weather Service. I'm Texas Ag Today. Now, here's the host of Texas Ag Today, Karrill Martin. Hello, Texas. Why don't you jump on in with me and buckle up? We're going to take a ride around the Lone Star State as we cover the most important industry in this greatest state in the nation, Texas Agri-Culture. Be sure to hold on tight, because it all starts right now. The discovery of screwworms in southern Mexico a few weeks ago brought back some bad memories in older Texas cattlemen. But is it something that we should really be concerned about here? We pose that question to Dr. Burke Healy, the lead veterinarian for new world screwworms with USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. I don't know the concern is necessarily the right word. I mean, certainly we need to be vigilant. We need to be aware of it, and we need to have the education out there. So this program and the ability for us to tell folks that it's going on is paramount, because it's possible that it could get into the U.S. not only through a cow, but the screw worms will affect any mammal, including people. So as a matter of fact, the last case that we knew about in the United States was a gentleman out of Florida that spent some time in the Dominican Republic and came back and was infested with screwworm. So those cases can happen anywhere, and certainly Texas is as good as places anymore, and it's been proven. Texas was the last state in the U.S. that we were able to eradicate it, and so it's certainly a habitat that the screwworm like. Healy says producers should still keep a close watch out for any wounds and cattle that may be screwworms, and report those to your veterinarian immediately. President Trump has picked the number two official for U.S. agriculture. President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Stephen Vaden of Tennessee to serve as the next Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. According to Politico, Vaden is a judge on the U.S. Court of International Trade and served as USDA's General Counsel during Trump's first term in office. In announcing the nomination, Trump said Vaden has won two cases before the U.S. Supreme Court engaged in substantial regulatory reform and relocated and reorganized USDA agencies to better serve rural America. Vaden lives in Tennessee and helps manage the family farm. He will serve under Brooke Rollins of Texas, who has been nominated to serve as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. For the Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network, I'm Jessica Dommel. Texas farmers and ranchers will be the biggest beneficiaries of the new economic aid package. Congress approved $9.7 billion, and Texas will get about 10 percent of that. Cotton is the crop with the largest payment per acre, and with Texas producing half the nation's crop, it will bring in a larger share of the money than other states. It's estimated that Texas farmers and ranchers will get about $963 million in economic aid. The Texas High Plains silage boom continues. James Hunt tells us sorghum is a big part of that. We've talked many times about how a lot of our local corn and sorghum farmers are coming out ahead when they grow those crops for silage versus grain, and the gap is looking really big for sorghum here in 2025. Texas A&M AgriLife Economist, D.D. Jones, says AgriLife's preliminary analysis of return over production cost shows this for sorghum. Our ear-getting sorghum budgets look like they're barely breaking even this year, you know, maybe making $15, $20. Sorghum's silage, though, is projected to make probably between $175 and $200 per acre. So you're looking at a profit of easily $150 an acre by going with those forage sorghums versus that grain sorghum for grain. By comparison, Jones says for corn, silage also comes out ahead of grain, but only by about $50 to $75 an acre. One thing that Jones says is helping sorghum silage is increased acceptance by feed yards. In the past, feedlots were not overly interested in feeding sorghum silage because they have smaller kernels and it's harder to crack them and it's, I guess, less digestibility. The dairies have no problem with it. They've always bought quite a bit of sorghum silage, but the feedlots typically have not, but they have come out with a new variety of sorghum silage that has larger kernels now, and John Deere also has got a barrel that they can put on the silage chopper that will crack those kernels more effectively. And another plus for sorghum silage, it requires less water. You know, it's common knowledge that our water tables are dropping around here. And so a lot of guys cannot grow corn silage anymore because he can't grow corn anymore. That's D.D. Jones with AgriLife. I'm James Hunt on the Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network. There will be four new faces representing Texas in Washington, D.C. Jessica Dommel takes a look at who they are. Four new lawmakers representing Texas and the U.S. House of Representatives are expected to be sworn into office Friday as the first session of the 119th Congress begins. They will replace retiring Congresswoman Kay Granger, retiring Congressman Michael Burgess, Congresswoman Erica Lee Carter, daughter of the Lake Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, and former Congressman Colin Allred, who ran for Senate. Craig Goldman, a fifth-generation Texan and former state representative, has been elected to replace retiring U.S. Congresswoman Kay Granger. The district he will represent, District 12, is located in North Texas and includes the western half of Tarrant County and most of Parker County. Former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner will be sworn in to replace Erica Lee Carter, the daughter of the Lake Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who passed away in 2024. Carter won a special election in November to complete the remaining two months in her mother's term. Voters selected Turner to fill the seat in the new Congress. He will represent part of the Houston area. Brandon Gill of Flower Mound will be sworn in Friday to the seat formerly held by Congressman Michael Burgess, who is retiring. His district, the 26th, is in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and includes all of Cook County, as well as portions of Denton Wise and Tarrant Counties. Julie Johnson, a farmer's branch, has been elected to replace former Congressman Colin Allred, who unsuccessfully ran for Senate in November. Johnson has served in the Texas House of Representatives since 2018. Our district is also in the DFW area. It includes parts of Dallas, Denton, and Cullen Counties. The new lawmakers are expected to be sworn in Friday after the House speaker election. For the Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network, I'm Jessica Dommel. It's a new year, a new month, and there's a new weather forecast for Texas. Tom Nicoletti checks in with the National Weather Service. Although January is a slower time of the year, farmers and ranchers are still out in their fields and pastures tending to preparations for next season's crops and taking care of livestock. But of course, the temperatures can turn much colder in the first full month of winter. National Weather Service meteorologist and charge Tom Bradshaw is in Fort Worth, and Tom, what's the forecast look like for temperatures this month? Well, it's going to be with you again, Tom, and we're kind of moving right into the heart of the winter season here in Texas, and because we have kind of a weak La Nina upper level pattern or global pattern across the area right now, we're actually looking at relatively dry conditions to continue across a good part of Texas, particularly the southern half of the state, and then we're also looking for temperatures to actually stay a little warmer than normal. So it's not the fact we won't have one or two outbreaks of colder air, but by and large through the entire month that probably continuing in February, we're probably going to be looking at temperatures somewhat more mild than what we normally experience here in Texas. And people in the northern regions of the state of Texas expect some snow this winter? Well, absolutely. I think there's virtually no season on record where we haven't seen some snow, certainly in the panhandle and parts of the South Plains, and even parts of North Texas, we inevitably have at least one or two rounds at a least light snow, and that'll probably be the case again this year, whether it's in January or perhaps even in February, but doesn't look like we'll have a preponderance or an overwhelming number of winter weather events this winter, which is probably welcome news to a lot of folks that have to travel. Well, Happy New Year, Tom. Happy New Year to you too, and all your listeners. That is Tom Bradshaw, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Fort Worth. I'm Tom Nickelodey for the Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network. Coming up next, this is Jim Hearn in the Rio Grande Valley, and today's report, we look back at 2024, and what's ahead for 2025. And congenital myotonia is a neuromuscular disease in Goats. These stories plus a look at the markets are straight ahead on Texas Ag Today. Texas farmers and ranchers are tough and self-reliant, but occasionally, all of us need a little help. You can find the help you need by calling the Texas AgraStress Helpline. That number is 833-897-2474. That's 833-897-2474. Farmers and ranchers face a lot of challenges like drought, flooding, wildfires, low prices, and more. It can cause anyone to feel overwhelmed. A friend who understands agriculture is ready to take your call at the Texas AgraStress Helpline. You can call 833-897-2474. Keeping Texas farmers and ranchers informed for over two decades. This is Texas Ag Today, on the Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network. Water was one of the top issues in Rio Grande Valley agriculture last year. Jim Hearn has more from the Valley. The Valley has made it through another year without any tropical damage, and that's remarkable for the number of storms that we had in the Gulf of Mexico. Invest 91 is slammed into northern Mexico, south of Veracruz, left at least 2 million acre feet of water in the Mexican watershed. Although sadly, Mexico has made no repayment of water to the U.S. and the current water cycle, which will end October 2025, well, frankly, Mexico does not have the water now for any type of retirement. One year ago, Falcon Reservoir was 13.5% full, and that was holding about 468,000 acre feet of water. Day, or 13% with 330,000 acre feet. Well, growers here in the Valley will plant fewer acres this year in 2025, and then try to stretch the remainder of their water supplies for crops such as sugarcane and citrus. Amistad Reservoir, currently at 26.5% full, holding about 670,000 acre feet of water. And that's the same as it was last year at this time, but the river flows from the devil's have not really kept up to date. So I look for Amistad elevation as we get into the hotter months to start falling once again. The citrus is at its 2021 pre-freeze level, and this season, the crop has really been excellent. The young onion crop is looking good, and with the dry weather harvesting activity, it's also been moving very quickly. The Valley needs some water, if not from the sky, from inflows from tributaries or Mexico's water repayment. For Texas Ag today, this is Jim Earn in the Rio Grande Valley. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed listing the Monarch Butterfly as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Chad Smith reports from Washington. A new species might be added to the Endangered Species List with a threatened designation. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced a proposal to list the Monarch Butterfly. Shelby Hagenauer, Senior Director of Government Affairs for the American Farm Bureau, says this designation is a mixed bag for agriculture. This Fish and Wildlife Service proposal, which is threatened with a 4D rule, provides flexibility in management for the protection of the species. I know that 4D sounds kind of jargony, but it just is the specific part of the Endangered Species Act that allows special rules to be put in place for the protection of a species, but still allowing some activities to take place. For example, this proposal, routine agricultural and ranching practices, are allowed with some limitations. She says farmers and ranchers already take voluntary steps to help support pollinators, including the Monarch. So in areas away from fields, farmers have planted milkweeds, and that's where the butterflies breed and hatch. Having diverse nectar sources on property is very helpful. Something else farmers and ranchers have done is adjusting schedules for mowing. Even mowing a little bit less that allows some nectar sources to remain longer. And farmers have partnered with NRCS on a whole host of programs to assist with these activities. And now it says the listing isn't set in stone as the designation still has to go through a comment period. For 90 days, the public has time to review the proposal, review how it might impact them. We are looking at it very closely for its impact on farmers and ranchers and foresters. On March 12th, the public comment period closes, and then the Fish and Wildlife Service takes all those comments and goes back and either decides to change the proposal. They can change how they want to implement the proposal. So there is some flexibility for the service next year as they look at finalizing this. From Washington, I'm Chad Smith for Texas Ag Today. Congenital myotonia is a neuromuscular disease in goats. Dr. Bob Judd tells more about it. Congenital myotonia is a heritable neuromuscular disorder of goats characterized by a slow relaxation of skeletal muscles following voluntary contraction. The staff at the Veterinary Genetics Lab at the University of California, Davis, indicates that the condition affects humans, goats, and horses. Goats with the disorder are called myotonia goats, and they were originally from Tennessee. They are also known as nervous goats, wooden-leg goats, scare goats, fainting goats, and Tennessee fainting goats, and the gene has also been found in Nigerian dwarf goats. The disease is caused by a single change in a gene and affected goats have well-developed musculature and will become stiff when startled, which may cause them to fall over briefly. The degree of stiffness can vary with some goats rarely experiencing stiffness and others showing frequent stiffness. Some goats just become immobile, while others fall over with every stiffness response. The congenital myotonic allele is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, meaning that an animal must inherit two copies of the gene to show clinical signs. So for a kid goat to show clinical signs, both the billy and the doe must have a copy of the gene. Kids that only inherit one copy of the gene do not show clinical signs, but do carry the gene and can pass it on to their offspring. Testing for the congenital myotonia gene is performed at the veterinary genetics lab at UC Davis. The test samples can be taken from the goats by combing the hair and removing all foreign material, then using your finger or pliers, grasp hairs close to the skin, and make sure the roots are still attached as the roots contain the DNA for testing. You will need to send in 20 to 30 hairs for testing in a sealed envelope, and make sure the hair is dry. I'm veterinarian Dr. Bob Judd. This is the Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network. We'll check the markets coming up next on Texas Ag Today. Safety for our youngest Texas Farm Bureau members. TFB members receive significant savings on car seats and booster seats. There are 11 options to choose from, and you can order yours today at TexasFromBureau.org/store. Here's the latest market information on Texas Ag Today. All of our agricultural markets were closed for the New Year's Day holiday, so here's a look back at how things wrapped up on Tuesday. While futures wrapped up the year on a positive note, we finished higher in both live and feeder cattle, February live cattle up $1.30, closing the year at $1.91. 60, April up $1.25, $1.94, $27. Same thing on feeder cattle, January feeders up $1.40, $2.63, $2.02, March feeders up $1.92 at $2.62, $97, April feeder cattle up $2.27, closing it $2.63, $55. March feed cattle market at a stand still, nothing to report. We do see asking prices coming from the feedlots here in the southern plains at $1.95 and better this week. Boxed V prices lower, choice down $0.51, $3.2486, select down $0.48 and $2.9428. Now let's check the sale barns. We're walking the pens with Larry Marble. I'm on the line with Sean Geisweid, Gillespie livestock. Sean, early happy New Year's to you and your family. I'm saying to you Larry and we sure want to wish everybody a happy new year coming up here in days. I hope everybody has a wonderful new year. What are y'all doing there at the yard? Cleaning up and fixing a few things and they're broke and sometimes they'll take a while, you know, a couple of weeks to fix and we've got some people in there fixing some of that kind of stuff. So it's always good when we shut down and we can get some of that stuff up. Last of the year we'll have pretty much where we can do that. Sure look forward to getting some of that stuff fixed every year. What kind of conversations have you had with customers and buyers over the holidays about sheep and goats and cattle? Larry, it looks like a few calls needing some sheep and goats if there's any around. So it looks like they're cleaning up and getting rid of what they've got. So I'm sure anticipating the kind of the first of the year they're going to need some stock. It looks like they've, so I'm kind of run out and they're needing more. So that's always a good thing. The demand ought to be good when we get back after the first. Good. As also, I know beef demand continues to be good. Box beef continues to climb. Yes, sir. I would anticipate a good market on the cattle end also after the first. Everybody jump in there and probably need to get some inventory. When will be your first special sales coming up? We'll have the second Wednesday of January. It'll be a special cattle sale, stock or feeder sale and then same in February. The second week, Wednesday of each month, we'll have a special. Get everybody how to get a hold of you, Sean, guys. Why? $8.30.97.43.94. All right, we'll talk to you the night before the regular sales crank up again. It'll work, Larry. Thank you. Bye-bye. Thank you. Neighbor, thanks for joining me. I'm Larry Marble. This is the Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network. Walk in the pence. We'll see you tomorrow. Good day. Back over to the futures market, we're lean hogs finished lower. February hogs down 32 cents, 81.30. January, class 3 milk down 16 at 20, 27, 100 weight. Not much happening in the cotton market, prices just drifted lower on the last day of the trading year. March cotton down 8.6840, May down 10 at 69.49 cents. Corn and wheat, however, had a strong close. Spellover strength from soybeans helped corn to move higher. March corn up 6.25, 4.58 and a half, May corn up 5.75 and 3/4, 465 and 3/4. The wheat complex closed higher, both hard and soft wheat making gains. March, Kansas City, wheat up 3.5, 5.59 and a quarter. March Chicago, wheat up 3.25, 5.51 and a half. In the energy markets, February natural gas down 28 cents at 3.65, February, West Texas crude up 92, 71, 91 a barrel. The financial markets slightly lowered the Dow down 98 points, 42,475. The NASDAQ down 161, at 19,325. The S&P down 29, 5,877. That wraps up our look at the markets and that wraps up this episode of Texas Ag Today. I'm Kerry Martin, hope to see you back here next time as we cover the most important industry in this greatest state in the U.S. of A. Texas Agriculture. Thanks for joining us for Texas Ag Today. Be sure to follow the Texas Ag Today podcast found wherever you listen to podcast. For more Texas farm and ranch news, check out our website at texasfarmburo.org or tfbradio.com. Texas Ag Today is a production of the Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network. [Music] [MUSIC]
