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Biotech farmers in San Luis Obispo, Humboldt and Butte counties in California can breathe a sigh of relief as measures to ban biotech crops failed at the polls Nov. 2.
"Notable is the fact that farmers and ranchers in three California counties—Butte, Humboldt and San Luis Obispo—succeeded in defeating anti-biotechnology referenda," AFBF President Bob Stallman said. "Because of their work, agricultural biotechnology continues to have a bright future as a tool to help farmers grow better, safer products for consumers. All farmers and ranchers owe the farmers in those three California counties a debt of gratitude for protecting biotechnology as a valuable...tool."
The effort in Humboldt failed because of questions surrounding the legality of sending someone to prison for growing biotech crops. However, Marin County passed a similar anti-biotech measure by a wide margin. The ban follows biotech crop bans in Mendocino and Trinity counties, which were decided earlier this year.
Officials of the Texas Farm Bureau Friends of Agriculture Fund (AGFUND), Inc. had much to celebrate as the election returns rolled in Nov. 2.
AGFUND, the political action arm of the state's largest farm organization, the Texas Farm Bureau, endorses candidates who support Farm Bureau policy and agriculture.
"It was a good night for agriculture in Texas," said Kenneth Dierschke, president of TFB and AGFUND. "It appears that our candidates won 79 of the 87 races in which AGFUND made endorsements."
Dierschke said the high success rate in this year's elections proves that farmers and ranchers still have a great deal of influence in the political process.
"AGFUND is a nonpartisan organization, and one of the things we look at is the willingness of candidates and elected officials to reach across party lines to do the people's business," he said.
For more details on AGFUND candidates and race outcomes, visit www.txfbagfund.org. Look for the link that says "2004 General Election Results," under President Dierschke's message.
Ag exports to Cuba double
Agricultural goods produced in the United States and exported to Cuba have reached
$298 million, more than double that in 2003, according to a Texas Cooperative
Extension economist.
"Sales could exceed $400 million for 2004, ranking Cuba the 25th largest market for U.S. agricultural exports," said Dr. Parr Rosson, Extension economist and director of the Center for North American Studies at Texas A&M University.
Importantly for Texas, Rosson said, rice was the top export to Cuba for the first eight months of 2004 with sales reaching $64 million.
"This is seven-fold larger than for the same period of 2003 and four times greater than rice export sales to Cuba since shipments began in 2002," said Rosson.
Cuba is now the third largest market for U.S. rice behind Japan and Mexico. Key factors favoring U.S. rice are proximity and quick delivery, quality and cleanliness, and price, Rosson said.
Broiler exports have increased with sales reaching $45 million through the end of August.
"This eight-month total is 140 percent above the same period last year and even surpasses annual total broiler sales to Cuba for 2002 and 2003 by almost 20 percent," Rosson said. "This export growth also benefits Texas and is especially important as the state recovers from outbreaks of avian influenza this past year."
Corn, wheat, milk, powder, soy flour and soybeans are among the other top exports, he said. Wheat exports to Cuba are 100 percent above 2003, while corn exports are up 87 percent and soybeans are up 60 percent.
"The election results provide continuity and an opportunity for progress on key agricultural issues, such as energy policy, death tax repeal, common sense regulations and environmental policy—all matters that are near the top of Farm Bureau's priority list. Unfortunately, America's farmers and ranchers also lost a few loyal friends during this election cycle, but we will focus on building strong relationships with their successors. Farm Bureau will continue to reach out on a bipartisan basis to assemble a strong pro-agricultural agenda for the 109th Congress."
—Statement by American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman regarding the outcome of the 2004 election.
The Agriculture Department has announced that sign-up of eligible watersheds for the fiscal 2005 Conservation Security Program will be held this winter. A total of 202 watersheds—including a number in Texas—have been selected, representing about one-eighth of the nation's potentially eligible farms and ranches covering more than 83 million acres in every state and the Caribbean area.
The 2005 CSP will include a renewable energy component. Eligible farmers will receive compensation for using renewable fuels such as biodiesel and ethanol. A sign-up announcement will be published along with the final rule that will detail specific program requirements in the watersheds. The program will be offered each year on a rotational basis.
