Agriculture

The West Texas measles outbreak has been declared over, after eight months and 762 connected cases in the state. However, our Samantha Larned says Lubbock’s Public Health is still hard at work, helping other communities prepare for these kinds of emergencies. A West Texas federal judge has reversed protection for the Lesser Prairie Chicken. Texas Public Radio's Brian Kirkpatrick reports the state agriculture commissioner is praising the decision.

Farmers who were promised funding through the federal Regional Food Business Centers have been left in limbo after the Trump administration shut down the program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says it will honor grants the program already approved, but it's unclear when.

Lubbock’s city council is moving ahead quickly with a second vote on changes to the city’s roadway impact fee rates. Last week the council passed a motion decreasing the percent paid by developers to zero. The second reading is listed in the agenda for a special meeting of the city council to take place tonight at 5:30 p.m. at Citizens Tower. The Texas Standard’s Michael Marks reports the U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to make major investments to fight a flesh-eating pest that threatens Texas livestock.

Quail populations across Texas have been plummeting for decades. But now, a Texas Tech researcher and his team may have turned that trend around with the invention of a medicated wildlife feed that’s been approved by the FDA and is now commercially available.

In Texas, cotton is king. But what happens if farmers can no longer come back from financial blows?

Trump’s rollback is another example of the federal government’s lackluster efforts at giving Black farmers a boost in recent years.

A group representing High Plains region farmers has launched a campaign to make buyers aware of synthetic fibers’ impact on the environment and health.

DOGE recently gained high-level access to a database that controls government payments and loans to farmers and ranchers across the U.S.

Two new Texas laws aimed at cracking down on puppy mills and roadside pet sales will go into effect this fall. As The Texas Newsroom’s Lucio Vasquez reports, animal welfare advocates say the changes could help curb unethical breeding — and save lives. Researchers are testing whether solar panels can be installed on farmland without removing crops or livestock from production. Harvest Public Media contributor Alexandrea Ladiski reports the study explores whether this system can support both agriculture and clean energy.

Last week, Lubbock ISD school board trustees voted unanimously to approve the budget for the upcoming school year with a $7 million deficit. Our reporter Brad Burt says this budget is subject to change as officials reckon with new money coming from the state legislature. Texas is stepping up its defense against a dangerous livestock pest. KERA's Katherine Hobbs reports on the creation of the Texas New World Screwworm Response Team.