{"id":216683,"date":"2026-03-23T15:25:14","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T15:25:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/216683\/"},"modified":"2026-03-23T15:25:14","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T15:25:14","slug":"texas-launches-ag-defense-program-to-protect-farmers-from-pests-disease-and-predators","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/216683\/","title":{"rendered":"Texas Launches Ag Defense Program to Protect Farmers from Pests, Disease and Predators"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>AUSTIN, TEXAS (RFD NEWS) \u2014 Texas Commissioner of Agriculture Sid Miller has announced a new Agricultural Defense Program aimed at protecting the state\u2019s farmers and ranchers from pests, disease, and predators.<\/p>\n<p>The initiative, created in partnership with the Texas Agricultural Finance Authority, will provide financial support for targeted projects led by the Texas Animal Health Commission, Texas A&amp;M AgriLife Extension Service, and Texas A&amp;M AgriLife Research.<\/p>\n<p>Officials say the program will fund efforts like monitoring, rapid response, and field-level interventions to address emerging threats before they cause widespread damage.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTexas agriculture feeds and clothes the world\u2026 this program gives us another powerful tool to stay ahead of these threats,\u201d Miller said.<\/p>\n<p>Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis to allow for quick response to new risks.<\/p>\n<p class=\"cms-textAlign-center\">LEARN MORE AND SIGN UP: <a class=\"Button\" href=\"https:\/\/texasagriculture.gov\/Grants-Services\/Rural-Economic-Development\/Texas-Agricultural-Finance-Authority\/AgDefense\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">AgDefense<\/a><\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"list-ee0001\" name=\"list-ee0001\" data-cms-ai=\"0\"\/><\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"Stock Show Spotlight: Seasoned Shower Tylar deCordova Returns to the Ring for Rodeo Austin\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rfdtv.com\/stock-show-spotlight-seasoned-shower-tylar-decordova-returns-to-the-ring-for-rodeo-austin\" data-cms-ai=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"Black cow at a livestock show\"  width=\"100\" height=\"57\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774279509_376_.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\n        A young exhibitor bring years of work and family tradition to the annual event.\n    <\/p>\n<p>March 20, 2026 02:02 PM<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00b7\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"Nebraska Rancher on Wildfires: \u2018This is fragile country\u2014and with this wind, we just didn\u2019t have a chance.\u2019\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rfdtv.com\/nebraska-rancher-on-wildfires-this-is-fragile-country-and-with-this-wind-we-just-didnt-have-a-chance\" data-cms-ai=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"esm7OmTc.jpg\"  width=\"100\" height=\"57\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774279510_188_.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\n        Nebraska Cattle Rancher Joe Van Newkirk shares his firsthand insight on devastating wildfires in the Sandhills, discusses challenges facing ranchers, long-term calf health concerns, and the recovery efforts underway.\n    <\/p>\n<p>March 20, 2026 01:53 PM<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00b7\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"March Cattle-on-Feed Report Expected to be \u2018Friendly\u2019 as Biosecurity Threats Add Pressure to U.S. Herds\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rfdtv.com\/march-cattle-on-feed-report-expected-to-be-friendly-as-biosecurity-threats-add-pressure-to-u-s-herds\" data-cms-ai=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"CHIUEEzW.jpg\"  width=\"100\" height=\"57\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774279511_823_.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\n        Ranchers have a lot going on at the moment, but some \u2018friendly\u2019 news could be coming with this month\u2019s Cattle-on-Feed Report from the USDA.\n    <\/p>\n<p>March 20, 2026 12:32 PM<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00b7\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"Long-Term Farm Borrowing Costs Likely Stay Elevated, Increasing Reliance on Insurance and Subsidy Programs\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rfdtv.com\/long-term-farm-borrowing-costs-likely-stay-elevated-increasing-reliance-on-insurance-and-subsidy-programs\" data-cms-ai=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"farming taxes accounting money_adobe stock.png\"  width=\"100\" height=\"57\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774279512_34_.png\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\n        Farm CPA Paul Neiffer explains the updates to crop insurance subsidies, additional benefits for new farmers, and eligibility considerations for those entering the program.\n    <\/p>\n<p>March 19, 2026 02:12 PM<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00b7\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"Rural Health Matters: Navigating Nutrition in \u2018Food Deserts\u2019\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rfdtv.com\/rural-health-matters-navigating-nutrition-needs-in-food-deserts\" data-cms-ai=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"southwest_arizona desert sunset catus_adobe stock.png\"  width=\"100\" height=\"57\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774279513_954_.png\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\n        Dr. Jeffrey Gold discuss nutrition challenges in rural communities, barriers to healthy food access, and ways to improve dietary outcomes this week on Rural Health Matters.\n    <\/p>\n<p>March 19, 2026 01:34 PM<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00b7\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"Navigating Choppy Waters: Texas Gulf Shrimpers Navigate Rising Costs, Foreign Competition\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rfdtv.com\/navigating-choppy-waters-texas-gulf-shrimpers-navigate-rising-costs-foreign-competition\" data-cms-ai=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"VKobDwup.jpg\"  width=\"100\" height=\"57\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774279514_554_.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\n        At the Port of Brownsville, shrimpers are facing rising operating costs and increased competition, but many shrimp producers and local lawmakers remain optimistic about the industry\u2019s future.\n    <\/p>\n<p>March 19, 2026 01:22 PM<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00b7\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"AUSTIN, TEXAS (RFD NEWS) \u2014 Texas Commissioner of Agriculture Sid Miller has announced a new Agricultural Defense Program&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":158627,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[132,134,133],"class_list":{"0":"post-216683","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-austin","8":"tag-austin","9":"tag-austin-headlines","10":"tag-austin-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/216683","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=216683"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/216683\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/158627"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=216683"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=216683"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=216683"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}