Loose Ends

Agricultural producers in need of a private applicator pesticide license, issued through the Texas Department of Agriculture, may attend a training session in Abilene January 12 beginning at 8 a.m.

The training will be conducted by the Taylor County Extension Service at their office, located in the old county courthouse at 301 Oak Street.

Further information is available from the Taylor County Extension office at (915)674-1321.

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An Agricultural Forum to discuss risks in agriculture and how the industry adapts to them is set for January 12 in Waco.

Speakers include U.S. Rep. Charles Stenholm of Stamford; Dr. Luther Tweeten, Anderson Professor of Agricultural Economics at Ohio State University; and H.D. Cleberg, president and chief executive officer of Farmland Industries. Candidates for state agriculture commissioner, Republican Susan Combs and Democrat Pete Patterson, also will speak.

The conference will be in the Bosque Room of the Waco Convention Center, located at the corner of Washington St. and South University Parks Dr. It begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 4:45 p.m. The $25 registration fee, payable at the door, includes lunch.

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The Texas Animal Health Commission reports 233,888 head of cattle entering Texas from other states during December and 158,961 head of Texas cattle shipped out of state. Sheep entering Texas totaled 18,793 head, those leaving 7465 head.

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The Bank of Mexico predicts a stable peso and lower inflation during 1998, based on a survey of 27 private-sector economists. The economists estimated that inflation in Mexico would average about 13 percent this year compared to 16 percent in 1997. The Mexican peso is expected to average 8.77 to the dollar, compared to 8.15 last year.

The Texas Cattle Feeders Association calls that forecast "good news for beef," along with a Foreign Agricultural Service estimate that U.S. beef exports to Mexico could reach an annual growth rate of eight percent.

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