Wildfires cost Texas agriculture $35 million
With wildfires costing Texas agricultural producers about $35 million during March and April, Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples is requesting assistance fromUSDA. Sweeping North Texas wildfires over Easter weekend and recent weeks contributed to losses estimated at more than 220,000 acres of pasture, roughly 1,500 miles of fence and almost 500 cattle and calves. more

Flu fears prompt new bans on pork, meat imports
Up to 20 countries worldwide have banned imports of pork and other meat in response to an outbreak of a new flu virus, according to documents from the World Health Organization. Although the H1N1 strain is not food-borne, fears that it may spread through animal products have prompted restrictions on live pigs, pork, cattle, poultry, livestock, feed and animal semen from countries with reported infections. more

The impact of influenza on beef markets
It is not easy to measure the impacts of influenza on the beef industry. Even quantity of beef consumption or trade may not measure the impact. In the case of beef, the impact of influenza may be a combination of positive and negative factors but there seems little doubt that the net impact is negative. At this point there is no way to anticipate just how bad the flu situation will get and the economic impact on beef markets is even more uncertain. more

TDA Market Recap, 5-4-09
For the week ending May 2, feeder cattle price trends at Texas auctions were mixed, with some locations steady to $4 higher per hundredweight and others steady to $4 lower. Fed cattle prices were lower following a decline in boxed beef values. more