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Texas Agriculture Archive

June 6, 2003

Last call for TFB photo contest!

Can you beat last year's outstanding crop of pictures?

Give it a try. This issue of Texas Agriculture is the last reminder to enter Texas Farm Bureau's annual photography contest!

"Entries are pouring in," says editor Mike Barnett. "We're already seeing a number of excellent photos. Don't be left out!"

There's still time to take that special picture, with a deadline looming June 16. This gives you photography lovers lots of time to settle on a rural-themed subject to photograph.

For example, last year, scores of cute and cuddly kid and animal shots, snapshots of antique farm equipment, nostalgic farmsteads, picturesque countrysides and other rural-related scenes made it difficult for judges to narrow down the field of entries.

This year four winners will be announced in the July editions of Texas Neighbors and Texas Agriculture.

First place will be awarded a $100 cash prize. Second place will receive $50. And two honorable mentions will receive $25 each.

To enter, follow these simple rules:

•Both color and black-and-white photos will be considered but will compete against each other. Only one entry per person.

•Limit the size of the photos to either 5X7 or 8X10. No slides will be accepted.

•Digital pictures should be printed on high quality photo paper.

•Include a brief description regarding the entry, plus the participant's name, address and telephone number in case additional information is needed.

•Rural settings are preferred.

•Only Texas Farm Bureau members and their families will be eligible. TFB or county Farm Bureau employees and their families are not eligible.

•To avoid legal problems, make certain permission has been given for use of the photo submitted.

•Deadline for having photo entries in the Texas Farm Bureau office is Monday, June 16, 2003.

•A stamped, self-addressed envelope needs to accompany the entry if you want your photograph returned.

Send your photos to: Texas Farm Bureau Information and Public Relations Department, P.O. Box 2689, Waco, TX 76702-2689.

Bush speaks on biotech ban

During a commencement address to the Coast Guard Academy, President Bush made known his opposition to the European Union's moratorium on new approvals of biotech crops, saying the ban impedes American efforts to combat hunger in poor African countries.

"Our partners in Europe are impeding this effort. They have blocked all new bio-crops because of unfounded, unscientific fears," Bush said. "This has caused many African nations to avoid investing in bio-technologies for fear that their products will be shut out of European markets. European governments should join—not hinder-the great cause of ending hunger in Africa."

The Bush administration earlier this month announced its intention to pursue a case in the World Trade Organization against the EU biotech moratorium, a move the American Farm Bureau Federation supports.

"The administration's decision to pursue formal dispute settlement proceedings under the WTO sends a strong message to farmers that the U.S. government will fight for agriculture's trading rights," said AFBF President Bob Stallman.

USDA extends CRP signup

Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman has announced that sign-up for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is extended from May 30 to June 13.

CRP is the nation's largest private lands environmental improvement program. According to USDA, the program protects millions of acres of American topsoil from erosion, provides valuable wildlife habitat and safeguards America's streams and other bodies of water. The 2002 farm bill authorized CRP enrollment up to 39.2 million acres.

Agriculture cornerstone of trade talks

Agriculture is the cornerstone of U.S. trade negotiations, and U.S. trade pacts within the Western Hemisphere could foster cooperation on agricultural reform in World Trade Organization (WTO) talks, said Allen Johnson, chief agriculture negotiator with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), in testimony Tuesday before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Johnson noted that President Bush has designated agriculture as the "cornerstone" of U.S. international trade negotiations.

He said that the United States is committed to the aggressive agricultural reform goals established in November 2001 for the current round of WTO talks: substantial improvements in market access, the reduction and eventual phasing out of all forms of export subsidies, and substantial reduction of domestic support of agriculture.

In addition, Johnson told legislators that as the United States continues to pursue agricultural reform and regional trade agreements, the Bush administration also would press Western Hemisphere partners for full implementation of their existing commitments on agricultural trade.

Notable Quotables

`There has never been a recorded case of BSE in the United States, and the actions taken by the USDA this afternoon will help to further protect the U.S. cattle herd from any potential spread of this disease across the border.'

—Joint statement from House Agriculture Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, Ranking Member Charlie Stenholm and Horticulture Subcommittee Chairman Robin Hayes and Ranking Member Mike Ross regarding Canada's announcement of a BSE investigation May 20.