STATEMENT BY COMMISSIONER SID MILLER ON USDA’S POSTPONED HORSE PROTECTION ACT FINAL RULE
Today, we’ve won the first battle. The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has announced a 60-day postponement of their new Horse Protection Act final rule, pushing the implementation date from February 1 to April 2, 2025.  [More]

COMMISSIONER SID MILLER KICKS OFF THE START OF A NEW YEAR BY CELEBRATING AGENCY ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller kicks off the new year with his signature Texas charm and a tip of his hat, welcoming 2025 with optimism and gratitude. After a year of hard-fought achievements in 2024, the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) stands ready to embrace new opportunities, building on its successes to keep Texas at the forefront of agriculture.  [More]

STATEMENT BY COMMISSIONER SID MILLER ON USDA’S NEW RULE ON THE HORSE PROTECTION ACT
“Ten agricultural leaders, including the Commissioners, Directors, and Secretaries of the various State Departments of Agriculture, have joined me in writing a letter asking the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to begin the process of formally withdrawing, in its entirety, the Horse Protection Amendments final rule, published in the Federal Register on May 8, 2024. Portions of these amendments are scheduled to become effective on February 1, 2025. We have also asked the USDA to explore all available options, including delayed implementation of enforcement of the entire rule.  [More]

COMMISSIONER MILLER INVITES ELIGIBLE NONPROFITS TO APPLY FOR SUMMER NUTRITION PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP IN 2025
Today, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller announced the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is accepting sponsor applications for its 2025 Summer Meal Programs. These programs connect eligible organizations with federal funds to sponsor meal sites that serve healthy meals for Texas children 18 years old and younger when school cafeterias are closed for summer.  [More]

OPINION: NEW HORSE PROTECTION ACT RULE: MORE HARM THAN GOOD?
The Biden Administration’s new Horse Protection Act (HPA) rule might sound like a good idea on paper, but let me tell you—it’s a disaster in practice. This rule isn’t about protecting horses; it’s about federal bureaucrats grabbing more control over an industry they clearly don’t understand. The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) new rule is so absurd that it makes using fly spray on a horse a potential violation. That’s not a joke—they can’t be serious!  [More]

COMMISSIONER MILLER SHARES TIPS TO PROTECT TEXANS DURING COLD FRONT
AUSTIN- An arctic blast is expected to sweep across the state. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller reminds farmers, ranchers, and Texans to prepare their livestock, farm equipment, and homes for the cold weather. Proper preparation can make the difference between a successful season and costly setbacks.  [More]

OPINION: A COMPASSIONATE AND SENSIBLE CANNABIS POLICY FOR TEXAS
Just down the street from the Austin headquarters of the Texas Department of Agriculture is a trailer selling consumable cannabis products; the sole purpose of these products is to inebriate. When did the Texas legislature debate recreational marijuana and ultimately vote to legalize it?  [More]

OPINION: DOLLARS DON’T KILL SCREWWORMS
The federal government has a bad habit of spending money on problems before even figuring out what’s really wrong, and the recent New World screwworm scare is a prime example. This is typical Washington behavior—prematurely spending first and asking questions later. But here in Texas, we do things differently. We solve problems with proven solutions, not government handouts and wasteful spending.  [More]

COMMISSIONER SID MILLER CELEBRATES AN OUTSTANDING YEAR OF PESTICIDE WASTE REMOVAL EVENTS
Today, Commissioner Sid Miller celebrated an outstanding year of pesticide waste removal events conducted by the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. These free, public events have allowed Texas agriculture producers to safely dispose of unwanted pesticides and recycle pesticide containers. In total, the events held in Erath, Nueces, and Hidalgo Counties collected over an estimated 312,500 pounds of unused pesticides from 231 participants.  [More]

STATEMENT BY COMMISSIONER MILLER ON THE PROPOSED LISTING OF MONARCH BUTTERFLIES AS A THREATENED SPECIES
The Biden Administration’s recent proposal to list the Monarch Butterfly as a threatened species is just the latest example of federal government overreach which cripples agriculture and rural development. Don't be misled. This proposal isn’t about protecting butterflies. It’s about out-of-touch and out-of-control Washington bureaucrats forcing a radical agenda that punishes rural America and the people who call it home.  [More]