STATEMENT BY COMMISSIONER SID MILLER ON USDA’S POSTPONED HORSE PROTECTION ACT FINAL RULE
Friday, January 24, 2025, Today, we’ve won the first battle. The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has announced a 60-day postponement of their new Horse Protection Act final rule, pushing the implementation date from February 1 to April 2, 2025.  [More]

COMMISSIONER SID MILLER KICKS OFF THE START OF A NEW YEAR BY CELEBRATING AGENCY ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Thursday, January 23, 2025, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller kicks off the new year with his signature Texas charm and a tip of his hat, welcoming 2025 with optimism and gratitude. After a year of hard-fought achievements in 2024, the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) stands ready to embrace new opportunities, building on its successes to keep Texas at the forefront of agriculture.  [More]

STATEMENT BY COMMISSIONER SID MILLER ON USDA’S NEW RULE ON THE HORSE PROTECTION ACT
Wednesday, January 22, 2025, “Ten agricultural leaders, including the Commissioners, Directors, and Secretaries of the various State Departments of Agriculture, have joined me in writing a letter asking the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to begin the process of formally withdrawing, in its entirety, the Horse Protection Amendments final rule, published in the Federal Register on May 8, 2024. Portions of these amendments are scheduled to become effective on February 1, 2025. We have also asked the USDA to explore all available options, including delayed implementation of enforcement of the entire rule.  [More]

COMMISSIONER MILLER INVITES ELIGIBLE NONPROFITS TO APPLY FOR SUMMER NUTRITION PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP IN 2025
Tuesday, January 21, 2025, Today, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller announced the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is accepting sponsor applications for its 2025 Summer Meal Programs. These programs connect eligible organizations with federal funds to sponsor meal sites that serve healthy meals for Texas children 18 years old and younger when school cafeterias are closed for summer.  [More]

OPINION: NEW HORSE PROTECTION ACT RULE: MORE HARM THAN GOOD?
Friday, January 17, 2025, The Biden Administration’s new Horse Protection Act (HPA) rule might sound like a good idea on paper, but let me tell you—it’s a disaster in practice. This rule isn’t about protecting horses; it’s about federal bureaucrats grabbing more control over an industry they clearly don’t understand. The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) new rule is so absurd that it makes using fly spray on a horse a potential violation. That’s not a joke—they can’t be serious!  [More]