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NOW OPEN FOR 2021 WINTER STORM
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The STAR Fund (State of Texas Agriculture Relief Fund) was created by the Texas Department of Agriculture to provide relief Texas farmers and ranchers in times of disaster using monetary donations from private individuals and organizations.
STAR Fund is a reimbursement program designed to assist farmers, ranchers and agribusiness owners in rebuilding fences, restoring operations and paying for other agricultural disaster relief.
If you’d like to help ag producers impacted by the recent 2021 winter storm or other disasters, consider making a donation to the STAR Fund.
APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN
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DONATE ONLINE
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DONATE BY CHECK
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STAR Fund
Texas Department of Agriculture
1700 North Congress
Austin, Texas 78701
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Welcome to the Texas Department of Agriculture
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Howdy Neighbors!
You may not know it, but the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) touches your life almost every day. From the grocery store you visited today to the salsa you’re eating at dinner, TDA was there to help. From the healthy lunches at your child’s school to the scales used to weigh your luggage at the airport, TDA was there, too. From our role as the state consumer protection agency to administering school lunches and marketing Texas products, the TDA is a diverse and busy place. We work hard every day to serve you.
Since I was sworn into office in 2015, I’ve also worked diligently to make this agency better. Please take some time to browse our website and learn about the many ways we’re working better, faster and more efficiently for you. As always, it is my honor to serve as your Texas Agriculture Commissioner and remind you that Texas Agriculture Matters!
Your Servant,
Sid Miller
Texas Agriculture Commissioner
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The Latest Agency News
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STATE OF TEXAS AGRICULTURE RELIEF FUND AVAILABLE FOR TX FARMERS, RANCHERS
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Thursday, February 25, 2021, AUSTIN- Today, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller announced that the State of Texas Agriculture Relief, or STAR Fund, that his agency manages, now has almost $150,000 in donated funds available after a severe winter storm crippled the state ag industry and threatened the food supply chain last week.
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OPINION: WARMTH IN THE COLD - TEXANS HELPING TEXANS
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Friday, February 19, 2021, If 2020 was the year from hell, it looks like 2021 is the year hell froze over.
This last week has been very tough on Texans as multiple winter storms swept across the Lone Star State, dropping over 29 million Texans in the deep freeze. Millions endured a "white out", with historic, blistering cold, record snowfall, dangerous ice, closed schools, shuttered businesses and even closed churches. Over 4 million Texans lost power, many had no water, no natural gas and dwindling food supplies. All in the midst of a pandemic. Remember COVID-19?
It’s been a tough week. But I have never been prouder to be a Texan.
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TEXAS AG COMMISSIONER SID MILLER ISSUES WARNING ON FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN
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Tuesday, February 16, 2021, Today, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller issued a dire warning about the statewide impact of the winter storm on agriculture and the food supply chain. Farmers and ranchers across the state are seeing devastating effects from the cold weather on livestock, feed and agriculture products.
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2020 Year In Review for Texas Department of Agriculture
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Thursday, December 31, 2020, AUSTIN - The Texas Department of Agriculture, like so many Texans during this difficult time, experienced success and challenges throughout 2020. From the successful launch of the Industrial Hemp program in March to the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, TDA continued its mission to protect Texas agriculture, provide food assistance to schools and communities, and promote Texas-made products and businesses – all while staff worked remotely.
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COMMISSIONER MILLER ASKS GOVERNOR ABBOTT TO UTILIZE UNSPENT CARES FUNDING
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Tuesday, December 15, 2020, AUSTIN- Today, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller respectfully requested Governor Abbott utilize unexpended State CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) funding to support Food Banks and Rural Hospitals statewide. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the State of Texas, Food Banks and Rural Hospitals continue to provide resources to assist the citizens of Texas. Unexpended CARES funding provided to the Governor’s Office will not be allowed to be expended after the December 31, 2020 expiration of the funding provided by the CARES Act.
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OPINION: THANKSGIVING: FOOD FOR THOUGHT
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Wednesday, November 25, 2020, As the holiday season rapidly approaches, we are once again reminded of the abundant blessings in our lives. However, this year’s turn of events has added a newfound sense of gratitude. I think we can agree 2020 surprised us all. COVID-19 arrived unexpectedly and life as we knew it changed in the blink of an eye. Thanks to this lousy virus, even Thanksgiving might look a little different for Texans this year. Just last week over 24,000 Texans lined up at The North Texas Foodbank ahead of the holidays.
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GETTING RID OF PESTICIDES THE TDA WAY
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Tuesday, October 27, 2020, AUSTIN- The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service joined forces Wednesday, October 21 to host a Pesticide Waste Collection and Pesticide Container Recycling event in Lubbock, Texas. This free, public event allowed agriculture producers to safely dispose of unwanted pesticides and pesticide containers.
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OPINION: AGRICULTURE EDUCATION IS THE LATEST COVID-19 VICTIM
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Thursday, October 15, 2020, Agriculture can be a tough business. As an eighth-generation farmer and rancher, I am very familiar with the ups and downs brought on by drought, windstorms, hail, flooding, market fluctuation and government regulation. For that reason, it can often be hard to keep farming and ranching as a family business. When faced with the easier opportunities today’s world offers our kids, agriculture can be a pretty hard sell. It takes a special young man or young woman to step up and choose agriculture.
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COMMISSIONER MILLER ENCOURAGES TEXANS TO APPLY FOR TDA’S EVENT GRANT FUNDING
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Wednesday, October 14, 2020, AUSTIN- Today, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller announced the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is now accepting applications for the Texas Event Grant, a program that provides funding for public events to promote Texas products and businesses. Cities, communities and organizations are encouraged to apply for Texas Event Grant funding for events in calendar year 2021. Applications must be submitted by December 15, 2020.
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COMMISSIONER MILLER KICKS OFF NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH WEEK
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Monday, October 12, 2020, AUSTIN- Today, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller announced the start of National School Lunch Week 2020, which takes place Oct. 12 to 16. National School Lunch Week recognizes the role of school nutrition in healthy lifestyles despite challenges brought on by COVID-19. The Texas Department of Agriculture’s (TDA) theme Blast Off with a Healthy School Lunch provided school nutrition teams with easy-to-use resources they can combine with their meal-service operations. Schools placed orders for more than 1 million educational pieces including social distancing floor decals, display-sized participation charts, buttons, stickers, and other resources promoting good nutrition and the hard work of school nutrition teams.
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COMMISSIONER MILLER HONORS WINNERS OF 2020-21 ART CONTEST
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Wednesday, October 7, 2020, AUSTIN- Today, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller announced the winners in the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) 2020 You Art What You Eat student art contest. Artwork inspired by the winning entries will be displayed in schools across Texas during National School Lunch Week this month and School Breakfast Week in the spring. This year’s themes are centered around space exploration — Blast Off with a Healthy School Lunch and Blast Off with a Healthy School Breakfast.
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TDA supports communities that have been adversely impacted by natural disasters. Help Texans in need by making a donation to the STAR Fund today.
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Promoting the products, culture & communities that call Texas home
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Please find TDA on social media!
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