Agriculture

Fewer people are buying cotton thanks to the rise of synthetic fibers like nylon and polyester. Now, the U.S. cotton industry wants to boost demand for American-grown cotton with tax credits and marketing campaigns.

The spray can be used for prevention but not for treatment of wounds affected by the New World screwworm.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized emergency use of a new wound spray to help ranchers protect livestock from New World screwworm. Texas Public Radio’s Yvette Benavides reports on CLiK Extra. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller thanked the FDA for the approval, but expressed frustration over the U.S. Department of Agriculture's continued reliance on sterile flies.

Passing on the family farm to the next generation is typically an involved process, both financially and emotionally. A turbulent agricultural economy the past few years has made that transition even more difficult.

Texas Tech Physicians and UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company have reached a new agreement, which is retroactive to April 1 — when the previous agreement expired. Patients with questions about care they received while the contract was expired are encouraged to visit the Texas Tech Physicians website or call (806) 743-2898. The U.S. Senate’s Agriculture committee is scheduled to meet this morning to discuss its version of the U.S. Farm Bill. Harvest Public Media’s Emma George-Griffin reports the current version of the bill includes cuts that could affect funding for more than 50,000 farmers.

When Congress allowed Affordable Care Act tax credits to lapse, healthcare premiums spiked for millions of Americans — especially self-employed farmers and ranchers. That added cost is multiplying the stress on their already stretched balance sheets.

President Trump’s 25% tariffs on some Brazilian goods went into effect on July 22, with beef as one of the few exempted products. Our Charley Maranville reports this is causing a stir in the U.S. ranching industry, where leaders have been critical of Brazil’s practices.

Food safety experts say contaminated water in farm fields is a likely culprit. But questions still remain about the current outbreak.

The U.S. will resume limited imports of Mexican cattle on Aug. 24, reopening a trade route that had been closed for more than a year because of the northward spread of New World screwworm. The move comes as tight cattle supplies have pushed beef prices to record highs.

The reopening will start at the Douglas-Agua Prieta, Mexico, border crossing in late August after a more than yearlong closure to protect against the parasite.