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Texas Agriculture Archive

March 5, 2004

Hutchison's water comments welcome

The Texas Farm Bureau has expressed appreciation to Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison for "focusing attention on Mexico's blatant disregard for its water treaty with the U.S."

Hutchison spoke in the Texas Rio Grande Valley recently about the importance of Mexico's compliance with the U.S.-Mexico Water Treaty of 1944. Under the terms of the treaty, Mexico still owes 1.3 million acre feet of water, due to be released for use on the U.S. side of the border.

"It's clear to us that Mexico intends to ignore this treaty for as long as they are allowed to," said Kenneth Dierschke, president of the Texas Farm Bureau. "For whatever reason, our own government has not been very aggressive in requiring an accounting from Mexico on the outstanding water debt."

Dierschke, a grain and cotton farmer from San Angelo, said Hutchison's remarks were "welcome."

"South Texas farmers and ranchers are hurting for water," he said. "This issue is overdue for serious attention in Washington."

Dierschke said that Hutchison obtained a total of more than $20 million in two appropriations bills for South Texas farmers hurt by Mexico's non-compliance. She was also instrumental in securing $23 million from the North American Development Bank for construction and improvements in irrigation infrastructure. Over the last two fiscal years, Hutchison has passed legislation that secured more than $5 million for new, more efficient irrigation construction.

Much of South Texas, including the Rio Grande Valley, has been hard hit by an extended drought. Many state officials and leaders of the Texas Farm Bureau believe water has been impounded for irrigation use in Mexico, while the treaty has been ignored.

BQA training CD developed

Texas Cooperative Extension and the Texas Beef Council are now offering a Beef Quality Assurance Training CD to producers for $1.75.

In cooperation with the TBC, National Cattlemen's Beef Association and the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers, Extension developed the CD-ROM from material taught for several years in workshops throughout the state, said Dr. Dan Hale, Extension meat science specialist.

More than 3,000 producers have attended the face-to-face Level One training that teaches producers about beef quality assurance, Hale said.

The goal of Beef Quality Assurance is to improve the quality and safety of Texas beef from the ranch to the consumer, he said.

The course is set up in four modules: definition of beef quality assurance, management practices that improve the safety of beef, tips on improving the quality of beef and optimizing the care of cattle, and management practices that enhance the environment.

If producers want to certify they have been through the program, they will need an Internet connection to link with the Web site (http://www.beefquality.com) and take the appropriate quizzes. After successfully completing the four modules and the quizzes, producers will be added to the Texas Beef Quality Producer database.

All of the educational material is contained on the CD; further resource material is available through the Web site link included, Hale said.

After completing Level One, ranchers are eligible to take the Level Two training that gains them "initial" certification.

In order to receive "full" certification, ranchers must complete a preventative herd health plan, treatment protocol book, veterinary drug order, and quality management plan. They also must have records and documentation of efforts to implement management protocols adhering to the Texas Beef Quality Producer guidelines for potential food safety concerns.

Interested producers will be able to order the CD for $1.75 for shipping and handling from http://tcebookstore.org/.

FB support urged for ESA proposal

Farm Bureau members are encouraged to express their support for a proposed joint rule that would allow the Fish & Wildlife Services (FWS) and the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-Fisheries (NOAA Fisheries) to work more closely with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to ensure that pesticides that are registered will not harm endangered species.

The new joint rule would allow the agencies to work together with EPA to make sure that the products farmers need continue to be available and at the same time, do not harm endangered species.

"It is important that government agencies work together so that they do not duplicate efforts, which wastes tax dollars," said AFBF President Bob Stallman. "The work that EPA does to assess new products for registration should be recognized by the Fish & Wildlife Services and NOAA Fisheries to determine if products are safe for endangered species."

Stallman urged the FB membership to send in comments.

Notable Quotables

"Since the Endangered Species Act was passed in 1973, most Americans have come to identify themselves as environmentalists. Unfortunately, over the years a small faction of the movement has drifted further and further from the original goals of environmentalism. These pseudo-environmentalists now pursue an agenda that has less to do with conserving resources, reducing pollution and protecting wildlife than attacking business and opposing certain products and technologies."