Agriculture is life for Texans. From food and fiber to fuel and jobs, agriculture sustains us. To reach as many as possible with this message, we at the Texas Department of Agriculture are expanding our online presence, making information more accessible for everyone.

First, I am excited to announce that TDA’s quarterly newsletter, Texas Agriculture Today, is now available online. In addition to the same variety of news stories on agricultural topics in the printed version, the electronic version of Texas Agriculture Today will also contain bonus stories, videos, photos and helpful links. You can even subscribe to receive Texas Agriculture Today in your e-mail inbox. We will continue to circulate the regularly published version of the newsletter for those who still prefer the original hard copy.

Additionally, TDA has recently made this column, Think Texas, available on our Web site, http://www.tda.state.tx.us/. On the site, you can also download podcasts of our radio features from our newsroom at your convenience.

Finally, we have established a photo-sharing site, created a YouTube video channel and even started a blog so I can keep you updated on my travels and other issues. TDA hopes to electronically evolve even further in the near future. Our newsroom also is adding “RSS feeds” of TDA press releases you can sign up for that keep you automatically updated on the latest agricultural news.

Next time you search the “Texas Department of Agriculture” on the Internet, you might find one of our new online products and learn how agriculture is enhancing your everyday life.