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Texas Agriculture Archive

September 6, 2002

Ag Advisory Board
develops recommendations...

An Agriculture Advisory Board was created during the 77^th Session of the Texas Legislature to advocate and recommend strategies for agriculture and the enhancement of agricultural products in Texas. The board, consisting of legislators and Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs, was directed to create an additional 15 member ad hoc advisory committee to assist in developing its strategies. The advisory committee is made up of representatives from the agricultural industry and Texas Farm Bureau President Donald Patman serves as a member of the committee.

The advisory committee had their inaugural meeting in July and the policy board charged the committee to explore five different areas pertaining to Texas agriculture and to develop recommendations to the board. The areas include water, animal health, taxes, environmental regulation, and grassroots support for agriculture.

The advisory committee met in August to discuss water issues and environmental regulations relating to agriculture. They discussed possible recommendations on non-point source pollution and agriculture water supplies. The committee is scheduled to meet again in September to discuss the remaining charges and will be prepared to give their final recommendations to the policy board by early October.

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Anyone that turns on the television or tunes into the radio these days recognizes that Texas politics are heating up fast. Big decisions will be made by the citizens of Texas in early November and it is extremely important that Texas Farm Bureau members take an active part in the process. The best way to do that is to learn the issues, get to know the candidates, and vote.

The Texas Farm Bureau will have a Legislative Seminar in Austin Sept. 18-19. Several statewide officials and key legislators have been invited to discusses the issues that are important to our organization including school funding, taxes, water, and transportation. Gov. Rick Perry will give the keynote address, and Comptroller Carol Rylander and House Speaker Pete Laney have also been scheduled to address the participants at the seminar. In addition, all of the statewide candidates (excluding Judicial candidates) endorsed by Texas Farm Bureau Agfund, have also been invited to participate.

This seminar will provide valuable information to Farm Bureau members regarding the issues expected to be undertaken during the upcoming legislative session.

Anyone who has not registered but is interested in attending may register on Sept.18, 2002 beginning at 10 a.m. at the Radisson Hotel on Town Lake in Austin. For more information please contact the Texas Farm Bureau State Legislative Office at (512) 472-8288.