Agriculture

After trade talks between the countries fell apart last month, the Trump administration and Canada's leaders have rolled out new tariffs on everything from dairy products to machinery. Experts say farmers will likely feel the squeeze on both ends.

American farmers will likely feel the squeeze of higher tariffs exchanged with Canada on both their supply costs and sales starting this week. The import taxes will affect everything from dairy products to ag equipment. Lubbock Independent School District is accepting applications for its annual Community Leadership Academy. Our Samantha Larned reports the meetings are intended as a way for parents and community members to learn more about what goes into operating a school district. You can find more information and apply through Sept. 18 on Lubbock ISD’s website here.

Earlier this year, the national cattle herd hit a 75-year low. Now, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins says a new initiative will help grow the number of cattle in the U.S. Meanwhile, more than a million Texas voters have been placed on “voter suspense” lists. Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider reports those voters will have to update their addresses by October 5th or face additional paperwork on Election Day before they can cast their ballots.

Data centers and agriculture depend on many of the same resources, such as water, land and electricity, which has some in the industry worried about the future.

The Trump administration has tried to lower beef prices for months, but demand, drought and a parasite have foiled its efforts. Some ranchers are frustrated with the administration's latest moves.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller says frustration among rural Republicans over data centers, transmission lines and other state policies has grown so intense that he and some other GOP voters may refuse to vote for some Republican candidates in the November election.

More imports of foreign ground beef will be allowed into the country following a Friday announcement from President Donald Trump. As Harvest Public Media's Macy Byars reports, agriculture leaders say the move could be bad for American cattle producers. Lubbock’s city council will be receiving a petition from Lubbock citizens calling for an 18-month moratorium on large-scale data centers, as well as voting on a zone change for a controversial concrete batch plant proposed in north Lubbock.

As oil and gas companies run out of places to dispose of their wastewater, Texas regulators are drafting permits to treat and reuse it outside the oilfields.

The case comes just days before the U.S.-Mexico border is scheduled to reopen to cattle, starting with the Arizona-Sonora border.

More farmers are opting to repair old tractors, combines and other machinery instead of buying new upgrades. A tough farm economy and historically-high equipment prices are at least partly to blame.