Food

Enrollment opens today for three programs from the USDA providing relief for farmers and ranchers affected by natural disasters in 2023 and 2024. Our Samantha Larned reports on the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program, the Milk Loss Program, and the On-Farm Stored Crop Loss Assistance Program. United Supermarkets will lay off more than 100 positions from the headquarters office in Lubbock, with gradual "restructuring" over the first few months of the new year.

Lubbock-based grocer United Supermarkets will lay off more than 100 positions from the headquarters office, according to a WARN notice submitted to the Texas Workforce Commission. The news comes as grocers and customers across Texas and the country have struggled with grocery prices.

Coffee has gotten a lot more expensive in the U.S. as tariffs seep into the price tag. Even as the Trump administration considers offering some tariff relief, that's putting a strain on roasters, who have no choice but to pass on some of the extra cost to coffee drinkers.

Turkey prices tend to rise closer to holidays such as Thanksgiving. But tariffs and bird flu could dramatically drive up the cost of turkeys this year.

October is Texas Wine Month. Our reporter Mia Shephard attended Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association's "Grape Camp" last week, and has more about current issues facing the industry. It is also Free College Application Week, a statewide initiative to help Texans apply to public colleges and universities. Those seeking undergraduate admissions can apply through the ApplyTexas portal.

The American Heartland has experienced a boom in wineries over the last three decades. But with U.S. wine sales trending down since 2019, some producers are feeling the effects more than others.

Beef prices have hit record highs, yet American consumers haven't stopped buying it. A look at what's behind the steep price increase and when they might come down.

After recent reports of sexual assaults involving rideshare drivers near campus, Texas Tech University is warning students to be cautious. Our new student reporter Mia Shephard has reminders for those using the services. Students can use Raider Ride from 6 p.m. to 2:45 a.m. on the TechRide app and report crimes and suspicious activity to Texas Tech Police at 806-742-3931. As of September 1, hundreds of new Texas laws are now in effect. Houston Public Media’s Matt Harab reports this includes legislation to make it illegal to sell lab-procured meat.

Far from the Capitol, students at Texas Tech spend time examining the quality of beef for meat judging competitions.

This Memorial Day, our Samantha Larned has tips and recommendations from the USDA to make sure backyard barbeques stay safe. Texas has already seen temperatures hitting over 100 degrees this summer. And Texas Public Radio’s David Martin Davies reports that medical experts are warning about the dangers of extreme heat for pregnancies.