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The 2022 Texas hay production outlook appears in doubt due to high fertilizer prices and widespread drought, said Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts. Joe Paschal, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension livestock specialist, Corpus Christi, and Vanessa Corriher-Olson, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension forage specialist, Overton, said dry weather, high temperatures and reduced inputs like fertilizer have inhibited warm-season grass production across much of Texas.

The Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course is held each year during the first week of August and has grown into one of the largest beef cattle educational events in the world. The 2021 short course is scheduled for Aug. 1-3 in College Station and is coordinated by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Department of Animal Science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

The largest gathering of 4-H members and supporters in the country spread across the Texas A&M University campus June 6-10. More than 1,400 youth attended the Texas 4-H Roundup event, which is touted as the pinnacle annual event for Texas 4-H.

Drivers traveling for the July Fourth holiday should remember that state law requires them to slow down or move over when tow trucks and other emergency vehicles – police, fire, EMS and highway response trucks – are stopped on the side of the road with their lights activated.

Average gasoline prices in Texas have fallen 12.0 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $4.52/g June 27, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 13,114 stations in Texas. Prices in Texas are 29.1 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand $1.73/g higher than a year ago. The price of diesel has risen 2.6 cents nationally in the past week and stands at $5.80 per gallon.

Maintenance crews are scheduled to seal coat on FM 1995 east of FM 314 to the Smith County line. They will then move to the IH 20 service road at mile marker 519. Expect lane closures with flaggers controlling traffic.

Postage rates will rise again on July 10. Periodicals published the week of July 11 will see rates rise between 7 and 10 percent, depending upon destinations, mail preparation and rate categories.

A traffic stop conducted by Canton Police Department officers along Interstate 20 last week proved to be anything but routine, uncovering $27,000 in cash and a kilogram of cocaine. According to reports, officers with the Canton PD stopped a vehicle passing through the area for multiple traffic violations, including driving in the left lane without passing and an expired vehicle registration. Officers subsequently called for and received assistance from the Wills Point’s K9 unit, which hit upon the drugs hidden in the vehicle. Further details about the ongoing investigation were not immediately available as of press time. Courtesy photo

The events are stacking up as summer has officially made its arrival. Kicking off the summer schedule is the July 4th celebration downtown set for Monday, July 4.

Another fire was reported at Capitol Recycling located on the Interstate 20 service road in Canton around 3:30 p.m., Saturday, June 25. The Canton Fire Department and the South Van Zandt Fire Department responded to the fire. There were no injuries, and the fire remains under investigation. Courtesy photos