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USDA Designates 11 Texas Counties as Natural Disaster Areas Due to Drought, Providing Emergency Loans to Farmers

USDA Designates 11 Texas Counties as Natural Disaster Areas Due to Drought, Providing Emergency Loans to Farmers

On November 13, 2026, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) officially designated 11 counties in Texas as primary natural disaster areas. These counties include Collin, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Grayson, Montague, Parker, Tarrant, Upton, and Wise. The designation was triggered by severe drought conditions, with these areas experiencing D2 Drought-Severe for eight or more consecutive weeks or D3 Drought-Extreme or D4 Drought-Exceptional during the growing season, as reported by the U.S. Drought Monitor. This Secretarial natural disaster designation enables the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend emergency credit through emergency loans to agricultural producers affected by the drought. Additionally, several contiguous counties in Texas and Oklahoma, such as Clay, Crane, Crockett, Ector, Fannin, Glasscock, Henderson, Hill, Hood, Hunt, Jack, Johnson, Kaufman, Midland, Navarro, Palo Pinto, Reagan, Bryan, Jefferson, Love, and Marshall, are also eligible for assistance.
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From Dust-Choked Farms to California: The Journey of the Okies

From Dust-Choked Farms to California: The Journey of the Okies

The Dust Bowl refers to a severe period in the 1930s marked by intense dust storms and prolonged droughts across North America, particularly impact...
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USDA Designates Crawford County, Arkansas as Natural Disaster Area Due to Hail, Offering Emergency Loans to Farmers

USDA Designates Crawford County, Arkansas as Natural Disaster Area Due to Hail, Offering Emergency Loans to Farmers

On November 13, 2026, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) designated Crawford County, Arkansas, as a primary natural disaster area. This designation was made in response to significant damage caused by hail. As a result, the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) is now authorized to provide emergency credit through emergency loans to agricultural producers in Crawford County who are recovering from the hail damage. The Secretarial natural disaster designation also extends eligibility for assistance to contiguous counties in Arkansas, including Franklin, Madison, Sebastian, and Washington, as well as contiguous counties in Oklahoma, specifically Adair and Sequoyah. This measure aims to support farmers and ranchers in these areas who have experienced losses due to the natural disaster.
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USDA Proposes Rule Changes for Pecan Industry in 15 States to Enhance Council Representation and Data Collection

USDA Proposes Rule Changes for Pecan Industry in 15 States to Enhance Council Representation and Data Collection

USDA Proposes Rule Changes for Pecan Industry in 15 States to Enhance Council Representation and Data Collection
SB NationSB Nation
2026 College Football Watch Guide – Week 11

2026 College Football Watch Guide – Week 11

The college football season is winding down, but the action continues.
AP NewsAP News
Family Dollar to pay $63 million to settle allegations that it routinely overcharged customers

Family Dollar to pay $63 million to settle allegations that it routinely overcharged customers

Family Dollar will pay $63 million to settle state and federal allegations that it routinely charged customers more at the register than the prices displayed on its shelves or on its website and mobile app
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Foreign Entities Hold 47.2 Million Acres of U.S. Land, Primarily Timber and Wind Leases

Foreign Entities Hold 47.2 Million Acres of U.S. Land, Primarily Timber and Wind Leases

Foreign investors reported holding 47.2 million acres of U.S. land by the end of 2024, according to USDA data. This figure includes both owned land and leases of 10 years or more, with 46.3 million acres classified as agricultural land, representing 3.6% of all privately held farmland. Canada and European countries account for the majority of these holdings, with Canada holding 33.7% and Europe 47.1%. China's holdings are significantly smaller, at 0.5% of the total, and have decreased by about a third since their peak in 2021. The largest portion of foreign-held land, 47% or 22.2 million acres, is forest, primarily timberland. Wind energy leases constitute the next largest segment, accounting for 10.6 million acres, with most of this being leased land where farming continues under existing operators. Texas holds the most foreign-held land at 5.9 million acres, followed by Maine, Colorado, Alabama, and Oklahoma.
SB NationSB Nation
Five stats to know for each Saturday Week 11 Big 12 matchup

Five stats to know for each Saturday Week 11 Big 12 matchup

From Drew Mestemaker’s 300-yard streak to Arizona’s WR success, here is every Big 12 stat to know for Week 11.
USA TodayUSA Today
Pumpkin or pecan pie? See most popular Thanksgiving desserts by state

Pumpkin or pecan pie? See most popular Thanksgiving desserts by state

DoorDash analyzed Thanksgiving orders from last year and determined the most popular dessert served during the holiday. See which sweet ranked No. 1.
ReutersReuters
Family Dollar reaches $63 million settlement with US FTC, states over customer overcharges

Family Dollar reaches $63 million settlement with US FTC, states over customer overcharges

By Jonathan Stempel Nov 12 (Reuters) - Family Dollar reached a $63 million settlement with the US Federal Trade Commission and 17 states of allegations that the discount retailer routinely charged shoppers more at the register than it advertised on store shelves, in weekly circulars, and on its
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Extreme Rain Raises Navajo Reservoir by 60 Feet

Extreme Rain Raises Navajo Reservoir by 60 Feet

Back-to-back extreme rain events in late October and early November 2026 caused significant flooding across the Four Corners region of the U.S. Southwest. The Navajo Reservoir, located in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado, rose by nearly 60 feet (18 meters) during this period, reaching its highest level since August 2019. The storms alleviated short-term drought conditions but triggered damaging floods, particularly in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, where the San Juan River reached major flood stage twice. Experts attribute the heavy rainfall to a low-pressure system energized by unusually high ocean temperatures and El Niño patterns.
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New World Screwworm Makes Comeback in States Surrounding Oklahoma, Raising Livestock Concerns

New World Screwworm Makes Comeback in States Surrounding Oklahoma, Raising Livestock Concerns

The New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite once eradicated from the U.S., is making a comeback, with over 120 animal detections since June, primarily in states surrounding Oklahoma, including Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. This marks the highest number of cases the U.S. has seen in four decades. The parasite lays its eggs in open wounds, and its larvae feed on an animal's living tissue, posing a significant threat to livestock. While there are no confirmed cases in Oklahoma as of Tuesday, experts from Oklahoma State University, including Dr. Jonathan Cammack, state extension specialist, express concern about the parasite hitching a ride into the state, despite colder temperatures potentially deterring natural infestation. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) previously fought the parasite by releasing sterile flies to prevent reproduction, successfully pushing it out of the U.S. and Central America, but the screwworm reappeared in 2022, with the exact cause unknown.