COMMISSIONER MILLER CONFIRMS CAL-MAINE FOOD’S TEXAS POULTRY FACILITY TESTS POSITIVE FOR HPAI
Tuesday, April 2, 2024, AUSTIN – Today, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller confirmed the Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. poultry facility in Farwell, Texas has received official notice of a positive test for H5N1. Due to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidance for poultry infections, Cal-Maine will be required to depopulate 1.6 million laying hens and 337,000 pullets at their Farwell facility. This accounts for approximately 3.6% of the company's total flock as of March 2, 2024. Production at the facility has temporarily ceased as the Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. initiates protocols prescribed by the USDA.   [More]

OPINION: EASTER: A BOUNTY OF TRADITION AND HARVEST
Friday, March 29, 2024, No holiday better embodies the spirit of a farmer's life more than Easter. It is a time of renewal, preparation, hard work, and unwavering faith—values that our agriculture families live by each day. Behind every Easter tradition, from the bounty on our tables to the eggs being hunted, to the Easter clothes on our backs, lies the legacy of agriculture. In just about every cherished Easter tradition, you are likely to find agriculture. From dyeing Easter eggs with your little ones to savoring the flavors of lamb or ham at your holiday feasts, each element is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our farmers and ranchers.  [More]

COMMISSIONER SID MILLER ANNOUNCES ALMOST 200K IN MARKET DEVELOPMENT FUNDING FOR TEXAS ORGANIC PRODUCERS
Thursday, March 28, 2024, AUSTIN – Today, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller announced the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) will be receiving nearly $200,000 in grant funding over the next three years from The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). These funds will assist TDA promotional efforts for Texas organic producers through the Organic Market Development Grant (OMDG). Funded projects under this grant will encompass a wide range of promotional and educational activities showcasing the diversity of the organic agriculture industry in the Lone Star State.  [More]

COMMISSIONER MILLER PROVIDES UPDATE ON HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA DETECTION IN TEXAS AND KANSAS DAIRY HERDS
Wednesday, March 27, 2024, Today, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller provided an update on the confirmed presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) found in diagnostic samples from dairy operations in Texas and Kansas. “This outbreak has quickly grabbed the attention of the agriculture industry on a national level,” Commissioner Miller said. “Understanding the details surrounding the transfer of avian virus to livestock is the top priority of animal health professionals and agriculture agencies. While troubling, this outbreak is not currently expected to threaten our nation’s commercial dairy supply.”  [More]

COMMISSIONER MILLER SAYS MYSTERY DAIRY COW DISEASE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED
Monday, March 25, 2024, Today, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller received confirmation from the United States Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) that a mystery disease currently sickening herds in the Panhandle has been identified as a strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), commonly known as Bird Flu.  [More]