*The Texas corn, sorghum and rice crops look very good, but cotton is a different story.   *The Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course is just a few weeks away.  *Texas farmers and ranchers should apply for the Emergency Relief Program and the Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program by July 14th.*Researchers in the Texas High Plains are studying the use of manure based fertilizers alongside chemical fertilizers.  *Livestock transportation issues have been a priority in Washington recently.   *There is a new congressional effort to look into the farm labor crisis affecting U.S. agriculture.  *Cattle, sheep and goats are susceptible to hoof scald and hoof rot with all of the rain we’ve had recently.  *With a growing population, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is working to insure that both urban and rural Texans outdoor recreation needs are met.