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Texas Agriculture Archive
November 4, 2005
TFB members:
Apply now for hurricane relief
Members in good standing with the Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) are now eligible to apply for assistance from the American Farm Bureau Hurricane Ag Fund. The application is available through local county Farm Bureau offices or may be found on the Texas Farm Bureau website, www.txfb.org.
Applications will be accepted for Farm Bureau members in good standing as of Sept. 1, 2005 that are also agriculture producers. No agent, vendor or employee of the Texas Farm Bureau or Affiliated Companies is eligible. Member status must be certified by the county Farm Bureau president.
Only un-reimbursed losses or un-reimbursed additional expenses will be considered. Insured losses or items previously reimbursed by FEMA or other aid agencies are not eligible.
The Texas Farm Bureau will recommend payment based on available funds. The final reimbursement decision will be made by the Texas Farm Bureau. Please contact the local county Farm Bureau office for more information.
TFB leaders appointed to TBC
The Texas Farm Bureau re-appointed a veteran industry leader and named two first-term directors to the Texas Beef Council board of directors for 2006.
TFB's three TBC directors are part of a 20-member board appointed by the nine organizations that represent all sectors of the Texas beef industry.
Dan Dierschke of Austin, state director of District 8, is the senior member of the TFB delegation. This is Dierschke's sixth year on TBC's board. He is immediate past chairman of TBC and continues serving on its executive committee, which acts on behalf of TBC's full board in between meetings. He also is chairman of TBC's nominating committee as well as its communications committee. This committee approves and evaluates state checkoff-funded programs in public relations, youth, nutrition and producer communications.
Dierschke serves as TBC's representative to the Federation of State Beef Councils and as a member of the joint industry international markets committee. He also serves on the executive committees of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and U. S. Meat Export Federation. In addition, he is a member of USMEF's audit and budget committee.
Don Smith of Sulphur Springs has been appointed to his first term on TBC's board. Smith has been a TFB director twice, from 1985-1991, and from 2001 to present. From 1989 to 1991, he was TFB's vice president. He is a member of TBC's beef quality committee that approves and evaluates state checkoff-funded programs to educate producers on the safety, quality and consistency of beef. The committee also reviews beef research projects.
Albert Thompson of Martinsville, TFB director for District 9, also began his first year on TBC's board. He is on TBC's export market development committee. This committee approves and evaluates programs conducted with the U.S. Meat Export Federation to generate more foreign sales of U.S. beef. He also serves as TFB's representative to the USMEF board of directors.
TDA Heritage apps due Nov. 15
The final deadline for submitting an application for the 2005 Family Land Heritage Program is Nov. 15. The program recognizes farms and ranches that have been in continuous agriculture production by the same family for 100 years or more.
Applications are also being taken for farms and ranches that have reached the 150- and 200-year milestones.
There is no cost to apply for the recognition, and no purchases are required if the property is accepted into the program.
Program applications and eligibility requirements are available through TDA (call 512-463-2631), county judges and on TDA's Web site at www.agr.state.tx.us.
Notable Quotables
"...Undersecretary Penn sent a letter informing Members that the USDA has decided to set aside the 'FSA Tomorrow' approach and timetable while continuing to engage in dialogue with Members and industry groups. Under this approach, nearly 600 FSA (Farm Service Agency) offices were slated for closure nationwide. The FSA staff and office personnel are on the frontlines providing services and benefits to our nation's producers. These offices serve as essential resources within local committees that producers have come to depend on. Much more dialogue and consideration is needed before a final determination, which could essentially alter the county office structure, is made. I encourage USDA to enhance service to our producers and I stand ready to develop the consensus needed to implement future improvements."
—House Agriculture Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, responding on Oct. 18 to a letter sent by U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Undersecretary J.B. Penn.
