Daily News Update, May 13, 2009

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack holds listening session in Fort Collins on NAIS
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack held a roundtable discussion May 11 with a variety of stakeholders on the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). This was the second in a series of listening sessions the USDA will hold throughout the country on the subject so the department can gather feedback and input that will assist the Secretary in making decisions about the future direction of animal identification and traceability in the U.S. more

At last, cracking down on feral hog population
It may take an act of Congress to put some teeth into legislation to grant more power to farmers and ranchers in dealing with the overwheming feral hog population in Lone Star State. In 20 years, more than 2 million head of the "opportunistic omnivores" have roamed across just about all of the 254 Texas counties rooting, wallowing down pasture fences and field crops while eating everything in their path. more

Wheat production down 20 percent from last year, hay up
Winter wheat production is forecast at 1.50 billion bushels, down 20 percent from 2008, reports the USDA's National Ag Statistics Service. Expected area for harvest as grain or seed totals 34.0 million acres, down 14 percent from last year. All hay stored on farms May 1 totaled 22.1 million tons, up two percent from a year ago. Disappearance from Dec. 1, 2008-May 1, 2009 totaled 81.6 million tons, compared with 82.5 million tons for the same period a year ago. more

Pineywoods Beef Cow Congress set May 22 in Shelby County
The annual Pineywoods Beef Cow Congress is set May 22 at the Baty Ranch in Shelby County near Shelbyville. Registration is $10 and includes lunch. The program will start at 9 a.m. and end by 2:30 p.m. Program topics include: an overview of the Baty Ranch; cattle herd identification program; current cattle health issues; alternative feeds; wildlife food plot development; and Texas cattle trichomoniasis regulations. Private pesticide applicators license holders will earn two continuing education units in the general category. Attendees are asked to RSVP by May 18. more

Texas crop, weather, 5-13-09
It's been a "sad story" for wheat in Texas, said Dr. Travis Miller, Texas AgriLife Extension Service statewide agronomist in College Station. The projected harvest in early April was 100 million bushels. The latest projection is about 50 million bushels. The southern Blacklands didn't get a stand either, but the northern Blacklands looked good, and the northern High Plains looked very good in the fall. more

Plan to attend TSCRA's 2009 Summer Meeting June 17-19 in Montgomery
TSCRA's 2009 Summer Meeting will take place June 17-19 at the Torretta Del Lago Resort in Montgomery, Texas. All TSCRA committees will meet to discuss important industry developments. The General Session will feature a panel discussion on Carbon Credit Trading and its impact on rural land values. This is a wonderful place for a family vacation, so plan to come early or stay over to enjoy all the amenities. go!

Market Information
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Events and Sale Calendar
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