Some 2,000 members strong, Cameron County Farm Bureau is "the voice of agriculture" in the Rio Grande Valley.
With the semi-tropical climate here in the southernmost county in Texas, farmers are producing some type of crop throughout the year. Early spring finds farmers planting grain and cotton, and the many kinds of melons--including watermelons, cantaloupes and honeydews--that the Rio Grande Valley is known for.
As crops ripen and are harvested in the summer,
many of the different types of peppers and vegetables are planted for winter harvest.Also, major seed companies contract with Cameron County farmers in the fall to plant corn and sorghum for seed to sell to farmers in the spring.
The rich diversity of Cameron County agriculture can be seen by the thriving citrus industry, a big greenhouse and nursery business, sugarcane and in specialty crops such as aloe vera.
The citrus industry, although battered by occasional freezes, always seems to make a comeback. In fact, the tart and tangy taste of Texas grapefruit and oranges are known nationwide through the efforts of gift fruit shippers like Reed and Violet Lang. Gift orders pour in from all across the nation.
Membership in the Cameron County Farm Bureau gives local producers and other members the opportunity to develop policy and solutions to local, state and national problems. One such policy, that deals with clearing a wildlife corridor through the county for flood control purposes, is currently included in the Texas Farm Bureau policy book. Such policies, once adopted by the state and national organization (the American Farm Bureau Federation), become initiatives for the Farm Bureau lobbying effort.
The Cameron County Farm Bureau realizes the importance of developing youth for leadership roles in agriculture for the future. The county annually sends youth to Texas Farm Bureau Citizenship Seminar, where high school juniors and seniors learn about the free enterprise system.
The Cameron County Farm Bureau also gives $500 scholarships each year to two deserving 4-H or FFA students.