South Central Texas ICA

05/06/2026

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller today issued a strong alert after the first confirmed detection of New World screwworm in the Mexican state of Coahuila, just 119 miles from the Texas border.

“This screwworm detection in Coahuila is a serious wake-up call. New World screwworm has now been found only 119 miles from the Texas border — at roughly the same latitude as Zapata, Texas, and north and west of the Rio Grande Valley.

The New World screwworm is a dangerous parasitic fly whose larvae burrow into living tissue of warm-blooded animals, causing severe myiasis. Adult flies lay eggs in open wounds or mucous membranes; once hatched, the maggots ‘screw’ deeper into the flesh with razor-sharp mouth hooks, rapidly enlarging wounds and often killing livestock within days if untreated. This pest threatens cattle, horses, sheep, goats, wildlife, pets, and even humans.

This threat is advancing fast, and every Texan needs to take notice.

Texas is on the front lines. Under my direction, the Texas Department of Agriculture has launched an aggressive biosecurity response, including expanded trapping with our innovative TDA Swormlure in high-risk border zones, export pens, and port areas. We are conducting weekly surveillance, maintaining rapid response capabilities, and working in close coordination with federal partners and Mexico.

We’ve beaten the screwworm before through relentless vigilance and the sterile insect technique. We will beat it again — but we must deploy every tool available. Texas will stay vigilant, stay aggressive, and do whatever it takes to protect our livestock, our pets, our food supply, and the livelihoods of our ranchers.”

For more information on New World screwworm detection, prevention, and reporting protocols, visit Screwworm.gov. Texas producers who suspect an infestation should immediately contact their veterinarian or call the TDA Hotline at 1-800-TELL-TDA.

05/06/2026

04/27/2026

Join us this July 1-3, 2024 in San Marcos, Texas for the 50th Annual ICA Convention & Trade Show!

04/16/2026

MEETING TONIGHT!
The SCTICA meeting is TONIGHT, April 16 at Blessed Sacrament Church Hall at 6:30pm in Poth! Check out icatexas.com for membership info or you can sign up at the meeting! Hope to see y’all there!

Our objective is to promote change that supports efforts of cattlemen and their well being, while combating policy that hinders the progress of the cattle industry.

03/26/2026

Great news on an effort SCTICA and ICA state office have supported for years!!!!

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
March 24, 2026
CONTACT
Jenna Stanton
USCA Director of Policy and Public Affairs
[email protected]
(202) 870-0156

U.S. Cattlemen’s Association Applauds USDA “Product Of USA” Awareness Campaign
Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) today welcomed the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s national awareness campaign to promote the updated “Product of USA” label for meat, poultry, and processed egg products.

Under USDA’s strengthened standard, the “Product of USA” label may appear only on products from animals that were born, raised, harvested, and processed in the United States. This closes long‑standing loopholes that allowed foreign product to be labeled in ways that misled consumers about where their food came from.

“The updated ‘Product of USA’ label finally means what folks always assumed other inspection labels meant—that the animal was born, raised, harvested, and processed here at home,” said USCA President Justin Tupper. “We look forward to partnering with USDA on this effort and ensuring consumers across the country understand exactly what this label means. While USCA will continue to push for mandatory labeling, this voluntary label will work to restore trust in labels that consumers rely on every day.”

USCA has championed truthful origin labeling for years, working closely with USDA and other stakeholders to ensure that labels match consumer expectations and acknowledge U.S. producers for their superior product.

“The first step to bridging the gap between U.S. producers and their customers is making sure people understand what labels mean,” Tupper added. “When consumers see ‘Product of USA,’ they deserve the confidence knowing that they are buying food that was raised and processed right here in the U.S. It’s a clear, common-sense standard that celebrates each farmer and rancher that is behind a “Product of USA” label.”

To help educate consumers and support producers who choose to use the label, USDA is launching a national awareness campaign, while includes a social media toolkit with sample messages, customizable posts, graphics, and guidance on accurate use of the mark. The toolkit encourages producers and partners to create posts, short videos, and other content that explain the meaning of the label and highlight the people and practices behind it. The campaign can be found here: ProductofUSA.gov

USCA is encouraging cattle producers, allied industry partners, retailers, and consumer advocates to:

Review USDA’s criteria for the “Product of USA” voluntary claim and confirm eligibility before using the label.
Maintain the documentation needed to substantiate origin claims.
Use USDA’s official graphics and messaging to ensure consistency and clarity for consumers.
Share original content—photos, short videos, testimonials—showcasing the story behind “Product of USA” beef and other livestock products.
“This campaign is about rebuilding and earning trust,” Tupper said. “When consumers can quickly identify products that are truly made here at home, everybody wins—families, rural communities, and the entire U.S. cattle industry.”

View this press release on the USCA Website here.

Copyright © 2017, All rights reserved.

USCA
100 North 27th St Suite 600D | Billings, MT 59101 | [email protected]

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03/21/2026

You won’t want to miss this event!

Calling All Cattlemen!🗣️

Save the date for the most iconic beef conference in the state of Texas! All producers welcome! 🐂

Come join us at the 52nd Annual ICA Convention and Trade Show on June 24th-26th, and enjoy top industry speakers, several CEU credits, great food, a world class trade show, along with live music and entertainment from none other than Texas Music Legend, Gary P. Nunn!

🔗View the link below for more information on registration, sponsorship opportunities, and hotel booking.
https://icatexasconvention.square.site

03/16/2026

Are y’all ready to 𝐑𝐎𝐃𝐄𝐎?!🤠⭐️

𝙍𝙤𝙙𝙚𝙤 𝘼𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣 𝙂𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙋𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙨 are now available for active ICA members, thanks to our continued partnership with Rodeo Austin! Grab your family and friends and come experience the music, food, rides, and rodeo fun on us!

Contact the ICA State Office to claim your member benefit!

03/16/2026

ICA stands encouraged from today’s announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Headquarters awarding a construction contract with Mortenson Construction to build a New World Screwworm sterile fly production facility at Moore Air Base in Edinburg, Texas.

03/03/2026

Primary Election Day is here! Show up. Speak up. Vote! 🗳️

ICA urges you to grab a neighbor, head to the polls, and make your voices count during the 2026 Primary by casting your vote today by 7:00PM.

🪪 Remember to bring 1 of the 7 approved photo IDs!

To find your polling place, visit the link below!⬇️
https://www.votetexas.gov/voting/where.html

02/23/2026

Statement from Commissioner Sid Miller: "The takedown of Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho,” the ruthless head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, is a major strike against one of the most violent criminal enterprises poisoning our communities with fentanyl and terrorizing families on both sides of the border. This cartel has blood on its hands, and taking out its kingpin is a big step toward restoring law and order.

When you cut the head off a snake, the body thrashes. We are already seeing cartel retaliation and chaos in parts of Mexico. That means Texans, especially our farmers, ranchers, and anyone working along the southern border, need to stay sharp. If your operation hugs the border or requires cross border travel, postpone anything that is not absolutely necessary. Avoid isolated roads. Stay in close contact with local law enforcement. Report suspicious activity immediately.

The safety of our producers and rural communities comes first. Texas will not be caught flat footed. We stand ready to protect our land, our livestock, and our people from any spillover violence."