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Discussion meet entries due Nov. 1
Deadline for entry in the 2004 Discussion Meet Contest—an exciting forum in which young producers discuss issues of importance to agriculture—is Monday, Nov. 1, 2004.
The 25-minute round-table discussion on ag issues is not a debate or a prepared speech. Applicants must be a Farm Bureau member actively engaged in farming and/or ranching, and no more than 35 years of age as of Jan. 31, 2005. There is no limit on the number of entries from each county.
Texas Farm Bureau will reimburse up to $200 in travel expenses for contestants to attend the annual TFB convention in San Antonio, Dec. 4-6.
Three finalists will receive a plaque representative of the Discussion Meet award and a $200 gift certificate to Grainger Industrial Supply. The state winner will receive: One year's use of a Kubota M Series tractor (45-65 h.p.), (2 wheel or front wheel assist), (Courtesy of Kubota); an Arctic Cat 500 4X4 (Courtesy of SFB Life); a $500 cash award from Dodge; a plaque representative of the award; and an expense paid trip to Charlotte, N.C. in January 2005 to compete in the National Contest.
For more details, or to download an entry form, visit the TFB website: www.txfb.org.
Entry forms are also available from your local FB office.
Cattle and grain producer Dan Dierschke has been elected chairman of the Texas Beef Council for 2004-2005. The fifth generation Travis County agricultural producer maintains a cow/calf herd and stocker cattle while raising forage and wheat.
Dierschke currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Texas Farm Bureau and as a director on the Texas Beef Council. The TBC board establishes and funds marketing programs for Texas beef producers through a $1 per head beef check-off program.
"I have two primary objectives. First, to further the information distribution about the effect of the beef check-off for Texas producers (by showing) the people who pay into the program the benefits that come from the program…the different activities we are involved in and promoting the consumption of beef," Dierschke said. "Secondly, I would like to work toward fostering a niche market of making beef available to some of the foreign markets that have not previously accepted Texas beef."
In becoming TBC chairman, Dierschke replaces Dr. Richard Forgason. Dierschke will serve his one-year term through August 2005.
Dierschke represents the TBC as a director with the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and the U.S. Meat Export Federation. In addition, Dierschke serves on USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service Subcommittee on Farmland Preservation and the Texas Animal Health Commission's Animal Identification Working Group.
A native of Ballinger, Dierschke and his wife, Marilynn, have two sons, Matthew and Chris.
The American Farm Bureau Federation has released the results of its presidential election survey taken by President George Bush and Sen. John Kerry.
In the survey, posted on the AFBF Voice of Agriculture web site (www.fb.org), both candidates responded to AFBF's questions about farm bill reauthorization, renewable energy, biotechnology, repeal of the death tax and transportation infrastructure, among others.
Both candidates supported expanding the use of renewable fuels and eliminating estate tax impacts on farm families, but had differing perspectives on issues such as extending Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) and promoting acceptance of biotechnology.
Bush said that in order for farming and ranch families to continue to make a living, Congress should pass the comprehensive energy bill and eliminate death taxes. He also said he would continue to press for new market opportunities. "America's farmers and ranchers produce the best crops and livestock in the world. Given the opportunity to compete on a level playing field, they will be able to increase their share of markets here at home and across the globe."
Kerry said as president he would "fight for fair trade policies, reduce concentration in agribusiness, enhance conservation measures and expand non-traditional uses for agricultural products, such as ethanol and bio-based energy products." He said he would also maintain a "strong safety net to protect against low prices, improvements in the risk management programs and emergency federal disaster assistance."
USDA offers disaster relief in five counties
USDA has announced that farmers in five West Texas counties—Bailey, Cochran, Hockley, Lamb and Parmer—are eligible to be considered for disaster relief.
Bailey County was designated as a primary natural disaster area as a result of excessive rain, flash flooding, hail, high winds and lightning that occurred June 16. The other four were named as contiguous counties.
All five counties are eligible for low-interest emergency loans from the Farm Service Agency, provided eligibility requirements are met.
"All in all, it's been a good year. And it's expected to stay fairly strong for the next couple of years... If you focus on demand like the beef industry has, it guarantees more success."
—Maralee Johnson, executive vice president of the Illinois Beef Association
