Tex. Agric. Code § 12.010

The department shall correspond with the United States Department of Agriculture, with the agriculture departments of the other states and territories, and, at the option of the department, with the agriculture departments of foreign countries and representatives of the United States in those countries, for the purpose of gathering information that will advance the interests of agriculture in the state. For the same purpose, the department may correspond with organizations and individuals whose objective is the promotion of agriculture in any branch.