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October 20, 2000

Agricultural Policy Report should
favor Texas Farm Bureau positions

First and foremost, please vote! The early voting period for the general election begins on Oct. 23. Election day is Nov. 7. Texas Farm Bureau Friends of Agriculture Fund (AGFUND) has endorsed candidates in 55 contested races across the state. The AGFUND endorsements were highlighted earlier this month in editions of Texas Agriculture and Texas Neighbors.

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The interim work of several Texas House and Texas Senate committees is nearing completion. The final report from the Joint Interim Committee on Agricultural Policy is expected by the end of this month. Co-Chairman David Swinford of Dumas told committee members at an Oct. 9 hearing that the final report will require a little more "word smithing" before it's ready for adoption.

As you know, Texas Farm Bureau has been actively involved in the work of this committee. TFB President Donald Patman testified at the committee's public hearing in El Campo. At other times, input from our organization has been sought by committee members and their staff. We gladly accepted all opportunities to be at the table as a statewide agricultural policy was discussed.

Here's what we expect to be included in the committee's final report:

The Agricultural Policy group will recommend 16 individual policy statements to coincide with the 16 policy issues outlined in Rep. Swinford's HB 2 from last session. One statement will be drafted to address each of the policy issues, beginning with the words, "The state of Texas shall..."

As you recall, the policy issues in HB 2 included water availability, transportation, regulatory, tax policy, availability of capital, promotion, eradication or control of pests and diseases, research and education, soil and water resources, rural economic development, property rights and the right to farm, preservation of farmland, food safety, federal farm programs, rural fire service, and value-added agricultural enterprises.

These 16 policy statements of "The state of Texas shall...", which are expected to favorably mirror the policy positions of TFB, will then be offered as legislation in January.

In addition, the committee is expected to recommend the creation of a Legislative Agricultural Policy Development Board. The recommended board would consist of the chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture and Livestock, the chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Agriculture, three members appointed by the House speaker, and three members appointed by the lieutenant governor.

The board is described as a pro-active group designed to give agricultural issues and ideas the legislative clout and influence necessary to succeed in an increasingly-urban legislature. It is somewhat modeled after the Legislative Budget Board, a 20-member group of lawmakers with strong influence on state budget issues.

Our organization does not have specific policy regarding the creation of an Agricultural Policy Development Board.

The TFB State Board of Directors in September authorized TFB staff to work with legislative leaders concerning the proposal, without so far as issuing any formal position of support or opposition.

We will continue to keep you posted as the committee's final report is adopted.

The TFB Legislative staff in Austin may be reached at 512/472-8288.