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Changes mark election
By Lana Robinson
Field Editor
The November 2 election brought about some victories for agriculture, but also swept out some friends as a result of redistricting. A longtime member of the House Agriculture Committee, Charles Stenholm of Stamford, was one casualty.
"The loss of Charlie will be substantive, but fortunately we do have Randy Neugebauer on the committee," said Texas Farm Bureau Legislative Director Steve Pringle. "It will be important that Texas continue to have at least two representatives on the committee. At one time in the 1990s, we had three members on the committee—Kika De La Garza, Larry Combest and Charlie Stenholm."
Rumblings regarding the next farm bill have folks speculating that it may come about sooner than later.
"While I don't expect the farm bill to be rewritten next year, the committee is expected to begin holding hearings on the future farm bill," said Pringle. "At this time, it is not known whether they will be field hearings across the country, or simply Washington hearings."
Many issues face agriculture moving forward, and Texas Farm Bureau's own Resolutions Committee met earlier this month to hone in on those issues most important to the organization. The resolutions, which worked their way up from the county level, will be presented at the state convention in San Antonio the first weekend in December. Those that are adopted by voting delegates will guide the state organization in 2005. Those of national importance will advance to the American Farm Bureau Federation for consideration at the national convention in Charlotte, N.C. in January.
"Obviously, the issues on everyone's minds will be the farm bill and Animal ID, including protection for maintaining the privacy of that information submitted," Pringle continued. "And the largest battles will be fought over the budget for the farm bill. We can expect major obstacles to continued funding for the farm program. It will be important to remind people constantly that agriculture has already saved over $15 billion in the current farm bill in the last three years."
