HALLSVILLE, Texas (KLTV) - Ranchers, livestock producers and agriculture professionals from six East Texas counties gathered for the East Texas Forage Conference, hosted by Texas A&M AgriLife.

Attendees learned research-based information on forage production, livestock management, pest control, conservation and market outlooks.

Panola County AgriLife Agent Lee Dudley said two of the major topics were the screwworm and the invasive pasture mealy bug."The insect, it is a new invasive insect that came into Texas last year in 2025. This year it has spread to a little over fifty counties in the state of Texas. And the closest one right now is Leon County to us here in East Texas. The biggest thing with the little pasture mealy bug is it infects and impacts all warm season forages or grasses," Dudley said.