Texas Farmers Face Prices, Screwworm Concerns

Texas agriculture leaders say weak commodity prices and a New World screwworm outbreak are the top issues facing the industry after the midterm election.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Agriculture

Photograph of a weathered barbed-wire fence stretching across dry Texas rangeland under a wide sky, with mesquite on the horizon. — Texas agriculture leaders say weak commodity prices and a New World screwworm outbreak are the top concerns facing producers after the midterm election. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and local agronomist Greg Mock identified weak commodity prices and a New World screwworm outbreak as the leading concerns for Texas agriculture. Miller said the outbreak was underplayed up to the election.

Why it matters

Farmers and ranchers say they feel unheard by political leaders, and the screwworm outbreak present in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona affects livestock producers statewide. Lower diesel and fertilizer costs could follow if the Strait of Hormuz fully reopens.

The average cost of gasoline in Texas fell 12 cents over the past week, according to AAA, as demand fades with cooler weather. Officials did not provide figures on commodity price declines or screwworm case totals.

The players

Sid Miller

Sid Miller is the Texas Agriculture Commissioner, who oversees the state's agriculture regulation and promotion.

Greg Mock

Greg Mock is a local agronomist and cattle producer who is commissioner-elect for Precinct 4 in Texas.

The details

Miller said leaders were wrong on data centers, Flock cameras, and 765 transmission lines crossing private property, and that farmers and ranchers feel they are not being listened to. Mock said importing beef will lower costs on some cuts, such as ground beef.

The midterm election was held on November 3, 2026.
Average Texas gasoline costs fell 12 cents over the past week.
The Strait of Hormuz is expected to fully open soon.

Industry Landscape

The New World screwworm has been a persistent threat to Southwestern livestock, and its presence in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona places the current outbreak within a multi-state animal health challenge. Weak commodity prices compound the pressure on producers already dealing with disease control costs.

Lower gasoline prices are already reaching Texas drivers, and cheaper imported beef could ease costs on some cuts like ground beef. Producers face continued pressure from weak commodity prices and the screwworm outbreak until conditions change.

The takeaway

Farmers and ranchers facing weak commodity prices and disease threats should watch for the expected drop in screwworm cases and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which could ease costs. Staying informed through state agriculture officials can help producers plan.