TSCRA News Update

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) notified Feedstuffs that it is reopening the comment period for the proposed rule that would amend the regulations that govern the importation of animals and animal products to revise the conditions for the importation of live bovines and products derived from bovines with regard to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). APHIS said it will consider all comments that we receive on or before June 14, 2012. More… →

A national water quality initiative will provide $2.8 million in funding to farmers, ranchers and timberland owners along a major watershed of the Trinity River Basin to encourage conservation practices that will have a positive impact on Texas’ rivers, lakes and streams. In this Washington Examiner article, 2012’s Outstanding Rangeland Steward Gary Price, of 77 Ranch, talks about the importance of the NRCS initiative and how it helped him survive the drought. More… →

TSCRA Special Ranger John Cummings, Dist. 3 in Oklahoma, reports the theft of a heavy-bred cow in Carter County and a four wheeler and utility vehicle from a property in Washita County. More… →

From May 21 through June 3, including the Memorial Day weekend, thousands of state troopers, police officers and sheriff’s deputies across the Lone Star state will be on the lookout for drivers and passengers who are not buckled up or whose children are not properly restrained. Throughout this two week enforcement period of the Texas Department of Transportation’s annual Click It or Ticket campaign, drivers and passengers who choose not to fasten their seat belts could be pulled over and fined up to $250, plus court costs. More… →

Much of Texas, except northern areas, experienced substantial drought relief. Widespread 2- to 4-inch totals were noted across southern and western Texas, primarily from May 10-12, allowing for a broad improvement in the drought depiction. In the vicinity of Houston, May 11-12 totals included 9.83 inches at Sugar Land and 6.23 inches at Hobby Airport. Despite some rainfall on the southern High Plains, winter wheat continues to struggle, with 39 percent of the Texas crop rated in very poor to poor condition on May 13. Farther north, some modest expansion of dryness was observed across the northern and central Plains, as a relatively wet April was followed by a rather dry first half of May. More… →

TSCRA Special Rangers John Cummings and Tommy Charbula have reported 8 missing steers in Murray County, Okla., and a trailer, equipment, tools and saddles taken from a property in Wharton County, Texas. More… →

Cattle sales are surging after one of the worst droughts in Texas’ history, combined with numerous wildfires, caused ranchers to cull their herds last year. Now they’ve got to rebuild to keep up with the market. But high feed and fuel prices are causing cattle producers to spend even more. More… →

This spring the beef checkoff launched a new video blog contest designed to engage youth in telling the beef story using the power of YouTube. Videos entries had to be two minutes or less and focus on one of eight beef related topics, including common beef misconceptions, cattle care and beef’s nutritional value. Entries were judged on creativity, topic choice, content accuracy and how beef was positioned. The grand prize winner is Jason Girouard, of Brimfield, Mass. The Tantasqua Regional High School student receives a $750 cash prize and a trip to an annual Cattle Industry Convention. More… →

USDA Texas Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds producers that the approaching June 1, 2012, deadline is for Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE), the Direct and Counter-Cyclical Program (DCP) and the Average Crop Revenue Election Program (ACRE). More… →

Lime juice, cilantro and coconut make this island-inspired meal a wonderfully light experience that will go great with warm weather. More… →