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November 3, 2000

Rural areas seeing population growth
More people are moving to rural areas than are moving out, according to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. College graduates between the ages of 26 and 30 represent the largest group of these new rural transplants.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 196 of Texas' 254 counties are rural, 106 of which are located near one of the state's 27 metro areas. Some 57 counties are completely rural—containing no town with a population of 2,500 or more.

Of the 168 million acres of land in Texas, 131.5 million, nearly 78 percent, were used to produce agricultural products worth $14.6 billion in 1999.

Between 1970 and 1997, rural employment increased 54 percent, although 38 rural counties actually lost jobs during this same period. Urban employment increased almost 139 percent.

Texas rural population is growing, up 9.5 percent from 1990 to 1999, compared with the 4.3 percent in the 1980s.

Still, the rural share of the state's population is dropping because the urban population is growing at an even greater rate—22.3 percent in the 1980s and 19.2 percent from 1990 to 1999.
Source: The Cattleman, September 2000

Timber property tax code amended
Effective January 1, 2000, the 76^th Texas Legislature amended the Property Tax Code to provide for restricted-use timberland appraisal to encourage reforestation of harvested lands and effective management practices. The Legislature directed the Comptroller's office to develop an application form for this special appraisal. The form is available on the agency's Web site at http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/taxforms/50-281.pdf.
Source: Statement, Carol Keeton Rylander Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

EU beef hormone dispute end near?
Beef industry representatives said last week that the United States and the European Union are getting closer to an agreement that would resolve their trade dispute, at least temporarily, over trade in hormone-treated beef.

The agreement being considered would likely contain a combination of tariff reduction or elimination and an expansion of the EU's import quota on hormone-free beef imports.
Source: AFBF Executive News Watch, Oct. 23, 2000

EPA: Bt risk low for butterflies
EPA: BT corn has little impact on monarch butterflies. After examining available scientific data, the Environmental Protection Agency refuted earlier published reports and announced last week that Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn products pose little risk to monarch butterflies.
Source: AFBF, Executive News Watch, Oct. 23, 2000