Texas Ag Commissioner has released his statement 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.
While this delay doesn’t eliminate our concerns surrounding APHIS’s heavy-handed final rule, it gives us critical time to oppose unnecessary federal overreach that burdens horse owners, trainers, and event organizers.
I want to thank the state agriculture Commissioners, Directors, and Secretaries who joined me earlier this week in urging the USDA to reconsider all available options, including delayed implementation of enforcement of the entire rule.
Let’s take this victory as a strong reminder of the importance of having an administration that truly supports agriculture. We look forward to continuing to work alongside President Trump and USDA Secretary Designee Brooke Rollins to protect the equine industry and ensure its success and vitality not only in Texas but throughout the nation.”
Placements and marketings beat expectations, but declining on-feed totals and feeder constraints keep the supply story supportive for cattle prices into 2026.
January 23, 2026 04:40 PM
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USDA Rural Development Director for Kentucky, Travis Burton, joined us to discuss the Princeton facility (formerly Porter Road Meats), now backed by the USDA, and its role in expanding domestic meat processing capacity.
January 23, 2026 03:39 PM
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Nearly everyone in the South Texas ag community appears extremely worried about the potential of a New World screwworm epidemic, according to a local veterinarian. RFD NEWS Correspondent Frank McCaffrey reports.
January 23, 2026 11:56 AM
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Rural population growth and stabilizing economic indicators point to post-pandemic recovery, but uneven income, shifting industries, and regional divides remain key challenges for rural communities.
January 23, 2026 08:00 AM
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Decoupled base acres may amplify income inequality and distort planting decisions as farm program payments increase.
January 22, 2026 12:56 PM
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Corn and wheat exports remain a demand bright spot, while soybeans are transitioning into a more typical late-winter shipping slowdown.
January 21, 2026 10:36 AM
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