September 15, 2000

Rio Grande Valley legislators appreciated
Starr, Willacy and Hidalgo County Farm Bureaus hosted their first Texas Elected Official Appreciation Day recently to honor the region’s representatives and senators in the Texas Legislature.

The event, which drew approximately 60 producers, legislators and/or staff, was held at the DuPont Research facility at Donna.

“Our main concern down here is a million-acre feet of water Mexico has that belongs to us,” said Chuck Burns, Willacy County Farm Bureau president. “That was the main topic of discussion.”

Durwood Tucker, TFB associate director of Field Services, said this and similar meetings planned in the state’s urban centers are a good time for agricultural producers to express appreciation to legislators who support the farm and ranch industry and to let them know about various issues that impact the agricultural community.

“That’s where the votes are. Hopefully, through these meetings, lawmakers will be able to put a face with the name at the bottom of a letter when they are contacted by one of our members urging them to support legislation favorable to agriculture,” Tucker said.

TFB makes tracks as Dodge leader
In only its second year of the $500 rebate program, Texas is leading all other state Farm Bureaus in Dodge purchases by members, according to Drew Wenner, TFB publications marketing director.

Texas Farm Bureau members purchased 2,220 of the 22,686 Dodge vehicles purchased nationally through the program through June 30, 2000.

“Actually, we were the Dodge leader in 1999 as well, with members purchasing a total of 3,471 Dodge products,” Wenner said. “The volume continues to grow as members take advantage of this moneysaving opportunity.”

The Dodge rebate officially began on Oct. 1, 1998 and is currently being offered on 2000 and 2001 vehicles. This program is in effect with Farm Bureaus in 46 other states and includes the following vehicles: Ram Pickup, Ram Chasis Cab, Dakota Pickup (excludes 4 cyl.), Durango, Ram Van and Ram Wagon.

Rules include: TFB membership must be in good standing at time of purchase; must have been a TFB member for at least 30 days prior to the vehicle purchase; Texas Dodge dealers have been issued copies of the “Dodge Bonus Certificate for TFB members” (available at county offices); and this program will be an addition to other Dodge rebate programs currently being offered.

The check’s in the mail...
Producers should receive an additional transition payment between Sept. 1 and Sept. 30 equaling their 1999 transition payment due to action by Congress to address multiple years of low market values for crops.

Producers may also lay claim to their regularly scheduled 2000 transition payment under the Agricultural Market Transition Act (AMTA). Delivering the additional $5.466 billion payment through the AMTA structure ensures financial assistance to the greatest number of producers quickly and efficiently, prior to the end of fiscal year 2000.

“With low crops and high fuel costs, many producers will not make back the cost of preparing, planting and delivering the work of an entire season,” said House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest. “September’s additional transition payment delivers on our financial commitment to producers with a timely and meaningful result.”

Throughout three years of unprecedented weather and market losses, Congress has directed a total of $21.7 billion in supplemental agricultural assistance to producers.

Notable Quotables
“We hope you will accept our apology for any distress that PETA’s billboard campaign may have caused you. The effort was not intended as an attack on you, and we’re sorry that it was taken that way.”

PETA President Ingrid Newkirk, apologizing to New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliana, whose image was featured in a “Got Milk” parody. The animal rights organization sponsored an anti-milk billboard that showed Giuliana with a milk mustache and asked, “Got Prostate Cancer?” Giuliana, who is being treated for prostate cancer, threatened to sue because PETA did not have permission to use his likeness.