Loose Ends

Susan Combs was sworn in last Friday as the first woman to serve as commissioner of agriculture in Texas.

Promising to be an advocate for agriculture and a strong voice for the industry, Combs said the Texas Department of Agriculture is going to put greater emphasis on marketing Texas agriculture.

One of Combs' initiatives is to cultivate world markets for Texas agricultural products. By working closely with producers and processors, TDA will pursue global opportunities and facilitate relationships with international buyers.

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The Texas Animal Health Commission reports that 364,466 cattle entered Texas from other states in December and 85154 cattle were exported. Likewise, 6541 sheep entered Texas and 2569 sheep were shipped to other states.

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When George W. Bush is reinstated as governor of Texas, wife, Laura, will be promoting the mohair industry. All material in her wardrobe contains mohair, the fiber native to Texas since 1849. Texas still produces the vast bulk of U.S. mohair and accounts for a large share of world output.

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The Annual Ram Performance Test Field Day and Sale is set for March 18 at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station located between Sonora and Rocksprings on Hwy. 55.

Approximately 219 Rambouillet rams are expected to complete this year's test, and the top 30 percent will be eligible for the field day's sale.

Participants are invited to inspect the rams and their performance data the day of the field day and sale. An educational program following lunch will feature an update from Ranchers' Lamb of Texas manager Wayne Snyder, an update on current sheep breeding research, a report on the pasture-to-packer program, an overview of the test and the awarding of Certified Ram certificates by the American Rambouillet Sheep Breeders Association.

Advance copies of the test data are available from Dr. Dan Waldron at the San Angelo Research and Extension center. More information is available from Waldron or Dr. Frank Craddock at (915)653-4676 or Don Spiller at (915)387-3168.

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The Southwest Animal Health Research Foundation says the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has once again demonstrated its support for the screwworm eradication and reinfestation prevention effort. A SWAHRF news release notes that the Houston show presented a "sizeable" contribution to the screwworm group's long-fought battle to establish a sterile fly production facility in Panama.

Information about the ongoing struggle against screwworms is available from SWAHRF president Ed Ketchum, Duncan, Okla., at (580) 255-9212.