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AP Top News: 8:30 a.m. EDT

Just about the time I think I have something figured out, someone or somebody throws me a curve ball! Last week—on June 30th to be precise—the USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) announced that the Pasture, Rangeland, Forage (PRF) Program was expanding for the 2011 crop year....

Texas Tales

published: July 9th 2010 by: MIke Cox

Next time you fry a stack of pancakes, imagine what it would be like if your life and the well-being of your children depended on it. In the spring of 1874, Kate Polly and her husband Ephraim lived with their young daughters, two-year-old Katie and four-year-old Annie, in a dugout at the headwaters of Morgan Creek in what is now Hemphill County....

Farm & Ranch Happenings

published: July 9th 2010 by: Harvey Buehring

“Hurricane Season Keeps South Texas Farmers On Edge” June 21st, the first day of summer, arrived the day after Father’s Day. And for those dads who are farmers and ranchers, the situation during the past year miraculously changed from “gloom and doom” to “cheerful, yet guarded optimism....

Executive Director’s Report

published: July 9th 2010 by: Bill Hyman source: ICA Of Texas

Who speaks for the cattle producer? At ICA we believe we do. At each of the many other local, state and national livestock groups, they each think they speak for the cattle producer. When you get down to it, we all do, but every group thinks they do it best....

President’s Address

published: July 9th 2010 by: Rosalee Coleman source: ICA Of Texas

We had a great convention in College Station. One of the best things about having our meeting there is the excellent spea-kers we are able to engage. We were lucky enough to fit into Commissioner of Agricul-ture Todd Staples’ schedule, and he spoke to our family night group on Wednesday....

The Texas Side Of Things

published: June 11th 2010 by: Jim Banner

June is here and what a month it has started out to be! It seems as though graduations and weddings have dominated my social calendar so far this month but that’s alright because they are all very special occasions....

Texas Tales

published: June 11th 2010 by: MIke Cox

Starting in the mid-1930s and continuing well into the '50s, Fritch must have had some of the most mannerly, patient postal patrons in the country. Not that folks in this Panhandle town between Amarillo and Borger didn't occasionally get annoyed by slow mail delivery, a damaged parcel or misdirected letters, but customers must have been very careful about expressing any displeasure when Mrs....

Farm & Ranch Happenings

published: June 11th 2010 by: Harvey Buehring

“Teenage Employment On Farms and Ranches May Be In Jeopardy” A Congresswomen from California recently introduced a bill that would outlaw the employment of youth under the age of 18 on farms and ranches....

Feedlot Report

published: June 11th 2010 by: Dr. Marcus A. Hoelscher

Feedyard managers reported that performance of cattle finished in May was satisfactory. In some areas, closeouts still reflected poor performance due to previous winter feeding conditions. When compared to the previous month, daily gains were improved....

Just Your Standard Bull

published: May 28th 2010 by: Michael Sturgess

This is a column that I can honestly say that I will only write one time in my entire life. I try not to make statements like this but since it is about my daughter graduating from high school, and I have only one child, I think I can safely say so....

Texas Tales

published: May 28th 2010 by: MIke Cox

The other day, a fellow Baby Boomer with a lot of white on not much hair, offered a compliment and then made it all the better with a funny story that more memorably got his message across. Not in his exact words, but here it is: An idealistic young English teacher fresh out of college and full of enthusiasm gets a job at a high school in a small Texas town where football scores were better remembered than TAKS percentiles....

Farm & Ranch Happenings

published: May 28th 2010 by: Harvey Buehring

“National Hamburger Month Sizzles Up Different Emotions “ May, among other designations, is “National Hamburger Month”. This obscure, annual observance would have escaped my attention this year if it had not been for having a little time to browse through a local weekly newspaper’s opinion page....

Independent Cattlemen’s Assn. Of Texas Executive Director’s Report

published: May 28th 2010 by: Bill Hyman source: ICA Of Texas

Most cattle ranchers wake every day to a multitude of chores. South Texas border ranchers start the day with the same number of tasks but work under a cloud of danger and uncertainty. In addition to the normal tasks of ranching, these South Texans face the possibility of confronting armed drug smugglers, trespassing illegal immigrants, and continual damage to gates, fences and ranch facilities....

Independent Cattlemen’s Assn. Of Texas President’s Address

published: May 28th 2010 by: Rosalee Coleman source: ICA Of Texas

Well, it’s always nice to see a little good publicity for Beef, and the most viewed article for “Self” magazine this month was one naming steak as a “superfood” for weight loss....

The Texas Side Of Things

published: May 14th 2010 by: Jim Banner

If I were to ask you to name the state flower of Texas, most of you without hesitation would be able to tell me it’s the bluebonnet. For you that didn’t know the correct answer, well I’m assuming you haven’t lived in Texas for very long! But if I were to ask you what is the official bird of Texas would you get it right? Once again I’m going to guess that most of you Native Texans know it’s the mockingbird… but have you ever wondered why? I’ve often wondered who in their right minds would have selected the mockingbird to represent the bird species for our great state....

Texas Tales

published: May 14th 2010 by: MIke Cox

In Cisco’s Oakwood Cemetery, five graves bear the same last name and the same date of death – April 28, 1893. That was the day a killer tornado struck the then prosperous Eastland County railroad town....

Farm & Ranch Happenings

published: May 14th 2010 by: Harvey Buehring

“South Texas Has The Potential For A Great Crop ” It all depends on the weather. The first half of May has brought no temperatures surpassing the century mark in the lower Coastal Bend Area....

Just Your Standard Bull

published: April 30th 2010 by: Michael Sturgess

While there have been past spring seasons where I have worked more sales, I’m quite certain that this spring remains one of the busiest I have had in some time. However, much of my time has been focused on some of the new services we now offer....

Texas Tales

published: April 30th 2010 by: MIke Cox

This story is about a mystery involving the flag staff that once stood at Camp Howze, a sprawling World War II Army base at Gainesville. But first, I need to provide a little insight into the character of L....

Farm & Happenings

published: April 30th 2010 by: Harvey Buehring

“Old Ranch Hand Turns Exterminator and Stubborn Heifer Motivator” Old man Nester was quite an all-around hand in his day. He had worked for a number of the larger ranches in the South Texas Brush County over the years....