STATEMENT FROM TEXAS AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER SID MILLER ON NINTH CIRCUIT RULING ON DICAMBA REGISTRATION
“For the farmers in Texas, I want to be clear: I’ve got your back. Dicamba is still available for use in Texas as currently labeled and will continue to be so until someone tells us to stop. In this difficult time, the last thing Texas farmers need is more uncertainty.”  [More]

GOVERNOR CALLS FOR 5% BUDGET CUT, MILLER WILL CUT TDA 10%
AUSTIN – Following the recent request by Governor Greg Abbott for agencies to cut their budgets by 5 percent, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has ordered his staff to deepen that cut to 10 percent. Agencies have been requested to submit their budget cut plans by June 15.  [More]

COMMISSIONER MILLER ANNOUNCES GENEROUS DONATION TO RURAL HOSPITALS
AUSTIN – Today, Commissioner Miller announced that a generous donation of $56,000 has been made by Apache Oil Corporation (Houston) to meet the supply needs of six rural hospitals in West Texas. Funds from this donation will be used to combat COVID-19 in these rural communities. This remarkable donation follows Commissioner Miller’s appearance on CBS 60 Minutes emphasizing the demand for assistance in rural Texas.  [More]

MILLER ANNOUNCES MORE FEDERAL HELP FOR RURAL HOSPITALS
AUSTIN – Today, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller announced that more financial help is on its way for rural hospitals in Texas with a federal allocation of $634 million dollars going to 393 rural providers across Texas. Each rural provider will receive at least $1 million, with additional funding provided based on a federal formula. The money comes from the federal Health and Human Services Provider Relief Fund.  [More]

COMMISSIONER MILLER SEEKS FEDERAL HELP TO PROTECT BEEF INDUSTRY
AUSTIN – Today, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General William Barr asking him to investigate the potential of beef industry price fixing involving meat packers in the United States. The letter dated May 7, 2020 asks General Barr to probe beef pricing processes in the U.S. beef industry with a goal of protecting Texas farmers and ranchers.  [More]

COMMISSIONER MILLER ON CBS 60 MINUTES TO HIGHLIGHT PLIGHT OF RURAL HOSPITALS
Commissioner Sid Miller joined CBS News 60 Minutes for a segment that aired Sunday night highlighting the plight of Texas rural hospitals in the COVID-19 Pandemic.  [More]

USDA "Farmers to Families Food Box" Program Announced
On April 17, 2020, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue launched the Farmers to Families Food Box Program. Through this program USDA will partner with regional and local distributors, whose workforce has been significantly impacted by the closure of restaurants, hotels and other food service entities, to purchase up to $3 billion in fresh produce, dairy and meat products.  [More]

COMMISSIONER MILLER TO RURAL HOSPITALS: HELP IS ON THE WAY
AUSTIN – Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller announced his office has secured emergency federal funding to help rural Texas hospitals struggling in the COVI9-10 pandemic. Beginning next Wednesday, April 22, TDA will distribute approximately $90,000 per hospital to over 130 rural hospitals in Texas.  [More]

TDA EXTENDS APPLICATIONS FOR FAMILY LAND HERITAGE RECOGNITION
AUSTIN – Today, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller announced the 2020 Family Land Heritage application deadline has been extended to July 1, 2020. With many county offices closed to the public in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this extension is intended to allow families additional time to gather the documents necessary to apply.  [More]

COMMISSIONER MILLER ISSUES FIRST HEMP LICENSE IN TEXAS
AUSTIN – Today, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller announced the first Texas industrial hemp license was issued earlier this week to a farmer in Killeen, Texas. The license grants this farmer the opportunity to grow hemp in Texas for one year. As a part of the application process, the applicant specified a facility where the hemp will be grown. This first license represents the long-awaited launch of the hemp industry in Texas following the passage of the Farm Bill by Congress in 2018.  [More]