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Texas watermelon growers report good yields, high quality – Texas Farm Bureau

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Texas watermelon growers report good yields, high quality – Texas Farm Bureau


By Shelby Shank
Field Editor

Texas watermelon growers are reporting good yields and high quality for the summertime-favorite melon, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts.

“Overall, we’re seeing more pounds per acre this year,” Dr. Juan Anciso, AgriLife Extension horticulture program leader, said. “Quality is also very high this year with good sweetness levels.”

The season started with growers receiving higher prices per pound compared to last year, but prices have since declined to 18-22 cents per pound.

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“This year, the market is softer than it has been in the past two to three seasons,” Clint Wiggins, a watermelon grower from Snook, said. “The market does not look as good as it was the past couple of years.”

Despite the drop in price, the growing season has been positive with minimal issues reported.

The heat and timely rains helped the melons develop good brix counts, a measurement of sugar in the fruit.

“We had a really good start in late winter and the spring. Conditions were favorable, kind of timely rains with just about the right amount each time you needed it,” Wiggins said. “April and May kind of turned a corner, and we had copious amounts of rainfall in Central Texas.”

The Rio Grande Valley has experienced dry conditions for most of the growing season, leading to a later and longer harvest than usual. The drier weather and limited irrigation water in the Valley also shifted some production to the Winter Garden region.

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Wiggins, who is a Brazos County Farm Bureau member, partners with other growers throughout the state—predominantly in McAllen, El Campo and Dalhart—giving them a larger market window.

“Yields were pretty decent in South Texas. I would say we were average or a little bit below average. Our yields were a little bit below average near El Campo due to rainfall and weather conditions,” Wiggins said. “Central Texas looks to be on track for an average yield, and then watermelons growing in the Panhandle are growing good.”

He started harvesting the summertime staple at the beginning of May in South Texas and will wrap up in October in the Panhandle.





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Texas

Texas AG opens investigation into Austin over APD guidance on ICE warrants

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Texas AG opens investigation into Austin over APD guidance on ICE warrants


The Texas Attorney General’s Office is launching an investigation into the City of Austin over recent changes to Austin Police Department policy involving immigration enforcement.

A news flash obtained by CBS Austin and sent to Austin Mayor Kirk Watson and city council confirms the review focuses on updated guidance for how officers handle administrative ICE warrants.

The investigation comes as the state claims those changes may violate Texas Senate Bill 4, a law banning sanctuary cities in the state.

The policy change follows the addition of more than 700,000 ICE administrative warrants to a national law enforcement database earlier this year. According to the city, the revised policy creates a process for officers who encounter a person with an ICE administrative warrant and allows officers to provide “reasonable or necessary assistance,” while taking into consideration legal constraints and limited police resources.

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MORE NEWS | Texas higher-ed leaders urge lawmakers to reassess support ahead of midterms

City leaders maintain the policy is lawful.

“We believe our general orders are consistent with SB4 and will cooperate with the Attorney General’s investigation,” said the newsflash.

Officials say the changes were designed to provide clearer guidance for officers while balancing public safety priorities and constitutional requirements.

CBS Austin has reached out the Attorney General’s Office for comment.

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KXII 12 wins 10 first place awards at Texas Broadcast News Awards

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KXII 12 wins 10 first place awards at Texas Broadcast News Awards


KXII 12 received 10 first place awards at the Texas Broadcast News Awards by the Texas Association of Broadcasters over the weekend.(KXII)

AUSTIN, Texas (KXII) — KXII 12 received 10 first place awards at the Texas Broadcast News Awards by the Texas Association of Broadcasters over the weekend.

The station won the following awards in the small market division:

•Breaking News

•Investigative Report

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•Election Results Coverage

•Sports Special (The Max Blitz)

•Sports Anchor (David Reed)

•Station Photojournalism

•Individual Photojournalism (Drury Vaughan)

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•Morning Newscast

•Evening Newscast

•Overall Broadcast Excellence

KXII 12 has been recognized for Overall Broadcast Excellence three times in the past four years. The award is the top station honor in each division.

“This is an incredible honor and a testament to the integrity and hard work of our entire news team,” station vice president & general manager Derek Rogers said. “We’re proud to be recognized for journalism that puts Texoma first, and we’re grateful to our viewers for trusting us to tell the stories that matter most.”

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Station news director Matt Griffin said the awards reflect the team’s commitment to the community.

“These awards are a testament to the dedication and professionalism of the team we have at KXII 12,” Griffin said. “They are committed to serving our communities by giving them the quality coverage they deserve every day.”



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Strong storms, heavy rain working through Central Texas tonight

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Strong storms, heavy rain working through Central Texas tonight


CENTRAL TEXAS — Strong thunderstorms started to fire up west of I-35 after 2pm Sunday afternoon after several rounds of morning rain and thunderstorms. These thunderstorms will continue to pepper regions along and west of I-35 for the remainder of the evening. Individual storms are traveling North-Northeastward at a slow pace. Severe weather isn’t out of the question, but risks will mainly be small hail, wind gusts around 40mph, frequent lightning, and heavy rain. Rain totals could climb to 3″ for some affected.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is unlikely to be issued today.

A Flood Watch was issued for Bell, Williamson, Milam, Robertson, Leon, Burleson, Brazos, Madison, and Grimes counties until 4am Monday morning. A complex of thunderstorms closer to I-10 have prompted Flash Flood Warnings for excessive rain, but this has so far stays south of the Brazos Valley.

Any thunderstorms, severe or not, should conclude by 10pm tonight. After which, conditions remain humid with lows in the upper 60s. Monday’s storm chances have diminished greatly, and only an isolated chance for showers and storms remain for those east of I-35. Waco is looking dry. Highs climb to the low to mid 80s.

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The next thunderstorm chance appears to be around Wednesday of this week. There is a chance for stronger storms but Waco is at the extreme southern most extent of thunderstorm chances to begin with, so this isn’t a particularly great chance for nasty thunderstorms. The bulk of that action is likely well north extending from Dallas, TX to Milwaukee, WI.

The week finishes very warm. Waco’s high temp will climb to about 86 degrees and College Station up to 88 potentially.

– 25 News Meteorologist Thomas Patrick

Want this forecast delivered to your inbox each morning? Sign up for the daily forecast email newsletter here.





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