Van Zandt County Farm Bureau

06/11/2026

Another great YF&R gathering in the books!
We loved getting to spend time with everyone who came out—good company, great conversations, and lots of laughs. Be sure to check out a few highlights from the event below!

06/11/2026

Another great YF&R gathering in the books!
We loved getting to spend time with everyone who came out—good company, great conversations, and lots of laughs. Be sure to check out a few highlights from the event below!

06/11/2026

USDA to notify landowners of expanded base acre eligibility
By Jessica Domel
Multimedia Reporter

This year, farmers across the nation have the opportunity to add farm bill safety net coverage to cropland that has previously been uncovered, thanks to a provision in HR 1, also called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

The legislation gives the Farm Service Agency (FSA) authority to add up to 30 million base acres to the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2026 crop year.

“This is the first chance for adding base acres since 2022,” FSA Administrator Bill Beam said. “These base acre improvements will help strengthen the farm safety net for producers across the country and help them better manage risk by providing greater flexibility for operations that have expanded or diversified.”

Eligible landowners are being notified by mail of potential base acre updates for their farms. Landowners have until Aug. 31 to review potential base acre increases.

“If a farm is leased, that notification will not go to the producer or to the operator who’s leasing that farm. It’ll go to the landowner,” Richard Fordyce, undersecretary of Agriculture for Farm Production and Conservation, told the Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network. “One of the things that I’ve been encouraging folks to do as an operator is to stay in contact with your landlord, making sure that they’re aware that they’re going to get this notification of the base acre change.”

The base acre total on a farm cannot exceed the number of acres planted.

There is an option to opt out of the change in base acres.

Base allocation summaries are available to those with a Login.gov account on fsa.usda.gov/ARC-PLC.

Farmers without a Login.gov account should contact their local FSA office for a base allocation summary before Aug. 31 to review potential new base acre allocations.

To be eligible for new base acres, a current covered commodity must have been planted or prevented from being planted on the farm during the 2019 through 2023 crop years. The farm’s average planted and prevented planted acres during that period must exceed the total existing base acres for all covered commodities in effect on Sept. 30, 2024, excluding unassigned base acres. FSA farm total base acres cannot exceed the farm’s total cropland acres. If eligible requests exceed the nationwide cap of 30 million acres, USDA will apply an across-the-board, prorated reduction to all approved new base acres.

Fordyce said they hope to have all of the administrative work done by late summer.

“Then, we’ll have the opportunity for ARC and PLC elections. This is going to be a little bit of an anomaly this year,” Fordyce said. “You actually will be making your ARC and PLC elections for the 2026 crop, and that’ll happen after the base acre distribution. As you can imagine, it’ll probably be August, September when we’re going to have folks making those elections for the 2026 crop.”

For some Texans, their crop will already be harvested by that time, but Fordyce said it is just the way FSA has to do it this year.

“We’ll get back into more of a regular ARC and PLC election signup cycle after the crop year of 2026,” Fordyce said.

For more information, farmers should contact their local FSA county office or visit U.S. Department of Agriculture online at fsa.usda.gov/state-offices.

https://texasfarmbureau.org/usda-to-notify-landowners-of-expanded-base-acre-eligibility/

By Jessica Domel Multimedia Reporter This year, farmers across the nation have the opportunity to add farm bill safety net coverage to cropland that has previously been uncovered, thanks to a provision in HR 1, also called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The legislation gives the Farm Service Agency...

06/11/2026

NATIONAL CORN ON THE COB DAY
National Corn on the Cob Day on June 11 is our reminder that summertime picnics are in full swing. The smell of fresh corn on the cob cooking makes our mouths water. We don't care if you grill it, boil it, or bake it. The only thing we want to do today is eat as much corn on the cob we can.


The history of corn dates back to nearly 7,000 years ago in Mexico. Originally growing as a wild grass, corn was eventually grown as a crop and harvested. From Mexico, corn eventually spread north into what is now the U.S. Native Americans planted and harvested corn, making it plentiful across tribes. Today, corn is found across North America.

Corn on the cob is known as pole corn, cornstick, sweet pole, butter-pop, sweet corn, or long maize depending on where you live. Despite its name variations, corn on the cob is best picked when the corn kernels are tender and in its milk stage serves up sweeter kernels.

While it might seem rude, proper dinner etiquette for eating corn says holding the cob at each end with your fingers is appropriate. If you find yourself with butter dripping off your chin, don't worry. Most people are probably having the same problem as you because everyone serves and eats their corn on the cob with other seasonings, butter or oils can.

How you prepare your corn on the cob also depends on where you live. Boiling, steaming, roasting, and grilling are the most common ways to prepare corn on the cob. Adding butter, oil, and seasonings is all personal preference. In fact, roasting corn on the cob and topping it with parmesan, chili pepper, and cilantro seems to be the choice of many these days.

National Corn on the Cob Day on June 11 is our reminder that summertime picnics are in full swing. The smell of fresh corn on the cob cooking makes our mouths water. We don't care if you grill it, boil it, or bake it. The only thing we want to do today is eat as much corn on the cob we can.

06/10/2026

06/10/2026

Ellis joins TFB Communications team as summer intern
The Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) Communications division welcomes Keona Ellis of Bandera County as the 2026 summer intern.

Ellis will assist with a variety of communications projects, including contributing articles for Texas Agriculture Daily and Texas Agriculture. She’ll also assist with graphic design projects, video features and radio broadcasts on TFB’s Radio Network.

“Everyone has a unique story to tell, and I am eager to help tell the stories of Texas agriculture through various types of media with Texas Farm Bureau,” Ellis said. “Agriculture and natural resources are a big part of who I am, and I am excited to bridge my roots with my passion for communications and help advocate for Texas agriculture in a modern world.”

Ellis recently graduated with an Associate of Arts from Northwest Vista College (NVC). During her time at NVC, she was a member of two honor society chapters. She also served as the NVC Wildcast Podcast Club president where she expanded her skills in video and audio production, photography, marketing and social media.

She will continue her education at Texas Tech University, transferring as a junior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in digital media and professional communication.

Ellis discovered her passion for photography and digital media through her involvement in 4-H, which ultimately led her to the path of communications. Highlights of her 4-H tenure include serving three years in the Texas 4-H Photography Ambassador program and participating in the Norman Borlaug Youth in Agriculture Program.

She remains active with 4-H as a certified volunteer, supporting local counties, clubs and district programs, as well as serving as a Photography Collegiate Mentor for the Texas 4-H State Photography Ambassador program.

Growing up immersed in agriculture and natural resources inspired Ellis’ passion for advocating for farmers and ranchers.

The Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) Communications division welcomes Keona Ellis of Bandera County as the 2026 summer intern. Ellis will assist with a variety of communications projects, including contributing articles for Texas Agriculture Daily and Texas Agriculture. She’ll also assist with graphic desi...

06/10/2026

While it may sound like a celebration of a certain color of cattle, National Black Cow Day is really devoted to something much frothier. A “black cow” is a long-running nickname for a root beer float, the fizzy dessert drink made by combining root beer with vanilla ice cream. It is equal parts snack and nostalgia, and it still manages to feel special even though it requires only a couple of ingredients and a glass tall enough to handle the foam.

Part of the charm is how a black cow changes as it sits. The first sip is bright and bubbly, with a sharp root beer bite. A few minutes later, the ice cream softens and the drink turns silky, almost like a milkshake that still remembers it used to be soda. National Black Cow Day leans into that simple pleasure and gives people an excuse to make one on purpose, not just as a spur-of-the-moment treat.

How to Celebrate National Black Cow Day
Celebrate National Black Cow Day with several different ideas, including some of these:

Enjoy a Black Cow
Certainly, the best idea for getting the most out of National Black Cow Day is to take some time to enjoy a root beer float. The beauty of a black cow is that it is both easy and surprisingly “crafted” when made with care. A great one has three things in balance: cold, carbonation, and creaminess.

Start with the root beer. Many people have a strong preference here because root beer can lean in different directions depending on the brand or recipe. Some are heavier on vanilla and wintergreen, some taste more herbal and spicy, and others are sweeter and milder.

Choosing a root beer that is very cold helps keep the foam under control and keeps the ice cream from melting too quickly. A chilled mug or glass also makes a noticeable difference. For extra chill factor, some people like to keep glasses in the freezer so the float stays crisp longer.

Then there is the ice cream. Vanilla is traditional because it melts into the root beer without overpowering it, creating that creamy “root beer milk” flavor that shows up as the float settles. A dense, high-quality vanilla ice cream tends to form thicker ribbons as it melts, while a lighter ice cream disappears faster and makes the drink sweeter more quickly.

Both can be delicious, but they produce different experiences. For a more old-school soda-fountain feel, scooping firm ice cream into a tall glass and letting the root beer flow slowly down the side helps build a foamy head without immediately blasting the ice cream into a slushy.

Even the pour matters. A gentle pour down the inside of the glass reduces runaway foam and gives the ice cream time to float upward rather than break apart. Some people like to add a splash of root beer first, add the scoops, then finish with the rest of the root beer.

That method helps “seat” the ice cream and gives more control. A long spoon is helpful for capturing the melty, creamy foam at the top, which is arguably one of the best parts.

It can be fun to serve black cows in different styles to see how small choices change the experience. A wide-mouth mug creates a thick cap of foam and makes it easy to scoop. A tall, narrow glass keeps the bubbles lively and gives that classic striped look as the ice cream melts. Some people swear by using a paper straw for the old-time feel, while others skip the straw entirely and treat it like a dessert to be eaten and sipped.

For those who like variations but still want to keep the spirit of the black cow intact, a few tweaks can change the whole personality of the drink:

Swap the ice cream flavor while keeping root beer. Chocolate, caramel, or coffee ice cream can create a richer, more dessert-forward float.
Switch the soda while keeping vanilla. Cream soda, cola, or orange soda floats have their own fan clubs, even if they are not technically “black cows.”
Add a topping. A small dollop of whipped cream, a drizzle of chocolate syrup, or a sprinkle of cinnamon can make the float feel like a sundae in a glass.
The “right” version is the one that makes people pause after the first sip and think, “Oh, that’s why this is a thing.”

Celebrate National Black Cow Day with a classic root beer float, honoring its nostalgic soda fountain roots and timeless, creamy American treat charm.

06/09/2026

Don't Forget!!!
Reminder about YF&R event tonight!! We hope to see you there.