TDA Awarded $600,000 For Global Trade Effort
Thursday, September 20, 2018, (AUSTIN) Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller accepted a grant for $600,000 from the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) of the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of International Trade this week. The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) will use the funding to expand export-related activities of small businesses in Texas and increase export dollars earned by those companies.  [More]

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller Statement Reopening Cattle Spray Boxes
Thursday, August 9, 2018, I am allowing the Cattle Fever Tick spray boxes to reopen as of today for a period of 45 days while I continue discussions with TAHC, USDA and EPA on a long term solution. I am hopeful that these agencies will have that solution in place before the September 24th deadline.  [More]

Commissioner Miller Offers Compromise On Cattle Spray Boxes But Agencies Don't Show
Wednesday, August 8, 2018, (AUSTIN) Yesterday, at a special meeting scheduled last week to address the issue of cattle spray boxes, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller presented a compromise solution that would allow the boxes in South Texas to reopen immediately . . . but state and federal agencies weren’t around to hear it.  [More]

Commissioner Miller Urges State And Federal Agencies To Meet To Address Cattle Pesticide Spray Boxes
Thursday, August 2, 2018, Today, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller called on federal and state agencies to meet as soon as possible to address rancher’s complaints about pesticide spray boxes in South Texas used to combat Cattle Fever Ticks. Ranchers complained to Miller that the spray boxes designed to protect their cattle were instead killing them, prompting Miller to personally inspect the devices Monday.  [More]

Commissioner Miller Shuts Down State And Federal Fever Tick Spray Operations Citing Livestock Deaths And Rancher Complaints
Monday, July 30, 2018, (AUSTIN) Today, in a personal inspection visit to a ranch in South Texas, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller shut down a Cattle Fever Tick spray box operation and ordered the remaining 15 spray boxes also shut down. These spray boxes apply a high-powered insecticide called Co-Ral, at seven times the recommended agriculture rate, to combat ticks that may infect livestock with deadly Texas cattle fever. Commissioner Miller cited lack of ventilation in the confined spray box which violates federally-approved label requirements for the insecticide. Miller also noted that licensed applicators were not present at the inspection, as required by state and federal law.  [More]