Texas

Texas AgrAbility visited Down Home Ranch, a residential ranch for individuals with developmental disabilities. The residents live and work there for wages. Their jobs consist of everything from horse care to cleaning and helping in the greenhouse. Down Home Ranch is interested in partnerships with Texas AgrAbility and BattleGround to Breaking Ground.

Texas AgrAbility and BattleGround to Breaking Ground hosted a webinar titled "Strategic Winter Supplementation Programs". Dr. Travis Whitney, associate professor in livestock nutrition with Texas A&M AgriLife Research, presented on winter feeding programs, ruminant nutrition, and small farm supplementation solutions. View the webinar recording here.

The "Tax Considerations for Farms and Ranches" webinar recording was made available through the Texas AgrAbility YouTube channel. Jason Morgan, retired Marine major and financial consultant, hosted the one-hour webinar. Topics covered were business structure, filing taxes, farm and ranch deductions, and much more. Jason Morgan is a past participant of BattleGround to Breaking Ground and co-owner of Sweet Genevieve Farm. View the webinar recording here.

Texas AgrAbility and BattleGround to Breaking Ground will be hosting a webinar titled "Ideas for Starting Rural Agriculture Businesses" on March 19. Dr. Greg Clary, retired extension ag economist, will present on niche markets, non-traditional ag businesses, and using natural-resource-based businesses to complement an agricultural operation. Register for the webinar here.

Three "Food Safety for Military Veterans" workshops have been scheduled across the state for the spring and summer. The training is geared toward military veterans and provides information on GAPs, FSMA, food safety, the Texas Food Handlers program, cottage food law, and more. Learn more here.

Four "Introduction to Agriculture Business" workshops will be hosted throughout Texas in the spring and summer. The workshops are geared toward military veterans and beginning farmers and ranchers and will cover topics such as rural business ideas, business planning basics, financial funding for ag operations, and veteran and beginning farmer rancher resources. More information and registration can be found at https://txagrability.tamu.edu/workshops/

Submitted by Makenzie McLaurin Thomas