Experts Fear Drought Likely to Persist

In a year that devastated the Texas agriculture community to the staggering tune of $5.2 billion in drought losses, KXAN-TV in Austin reports bleak prospects for future relief.

Cotton Losses Due to Drought Will Literally Hit Your Pockets

We are receiving some much needed rain this week, but the dramatic impact of this drought is beginning to materialize and the outlook is grim.

According to Plains Cotton Growers, Inc. this may be the first year there is a 100-percent abandonment of the 2 million-acre dryland cotton crop in their service area around Lubbock. That area, by the way, accounts for about 80 percent of the state’s cotton production.

When you consider Texas produced 43 percent of the nation’s cotton crop last year, or 7.9 million bales of the U.S. total of 18.1 million bales, the potential loss spells big trouble.

A huge reduction in cotton is not only bad news for the $1.4 billion cotton industry and its 38,100 employees, but also for parents buying blue jeans and socks for their kids. Less cotton will likely mean higher prices for the cotton-based products you and I buy off the shelves or the rack.

Agriculture is a tremendously fulfilling enterprise. If you have ever grown even a single plant in your home, you understand the amazing and delicate process of nurturing a single seed. Magnify that scenario by the massive amounts of food we eat, clothes we wear and all the other agricultural products that enrich our daily lives, and you get an idea of the devastating impact of entire crop loss.

Let’s keep our cotton farmers, and the communities that depend on them, in our prayers during these severe drought conditions and extremely challenging times.

A Panhandle Push for Eminent Domain Reform

I am traveling today with Gov. Rick Perry to Abilene and Lubbock where we are meeting with local leaders to reiterate the critical importance of eminent domain reform. The governor and the people of Texas are standing strong when it comes to a right as fundamental as private property ownership.

The Senate has passed SB 18, authored by Sen. Craig Estes and Sen. Robert Duncan, which provides private property owners more leverage when it comes to protecting their land from government takings. The bill would help ensure landowners are more fully compensated for the damages they may realize due to a taking, and includes buy-back provisions to ensure a property owner has the right to repurchase their land, if the project is cancelled.

It should go without saying these are critical steps in the right direction, but the journey is not yet over. Many members of the House, including the bill’s sponsors, Chairman Charlie Geren and Chairman Rene Oliveira, are working hard to make sure the House approves SB 18. It is still important to share your interest in eminent domain reform with your state elected officials.

To hear more of my discussion about eminent domain, watch the video below:

Mike Rowe Paints a Real Picture of American Agriculture

Not too long ago, Mike Rowe, the Dirty Jobs guy on TV, spoke at the National FFA convention and opened a lot of eyes around the country. He used this opportunity to remind the world that, “Technical advances in modern agriculture now rival those in Silicon Valley, and today’s farms are more efficient than ever, but no one seems to have gotten the memo. No one seems to care.” I encourage you to read his entire opinion on this subject on his website.

This description of American agriculture is certainly not news to those of us engaged in or who work with others in the industry. But for the remaining 98 percent of Americans who are not involved in production agriculture, I’m certain Rowe’s statement probably leaves them scratching their heads.

This week, Rowe spoke at the American Farm Bureau annual convention in Georgia and gave a great recap of how federal agencies and private groups have piped up with the wrong impression after agricultural operations were shown on his show, Dirty Jobs. In this article from CattleNetwork.com, Rowe reminds us that those who make a living from the land are the best advocates for good policies.

As we move ahead, our challenge is to make sure the true voices of agriculture are not drowned out by the loud screams of extremists. We must ensure the rest of America understands that farmers and ranchers were going green long before the green movement was cool.

A special thanks to Mike Rowe for helping us unveil the authentic canvas of American agriculture.

New Tool to Connect to Agriculture Industry in West Texas

It takes teamwork to build success, which is why the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce recently launched its new website, LubbockAg.com. Designed to connect chamber members and the public with information about the area's agriculture industry, LubbockAg.com is intended to be a spot where information can be shared in an effort to enhance economic development efforts that will attract new jobs and capital investment opportunities.

Whether you need information for a research paper or contacts for Lubbock-area agriculture professionals, LubbockAg.com is a valuable tool for making connections that can help a community succeed.

Staying competitive and informed are critical in today's economic climate, which is why the Lubbock chamber's new website is a step in the right direction and a model for other Texas communities. Visit LubbockAg.com and see how Lubbock is making connections today to ensure a more prosperous tomorrow.

The Cost of Complacency Can Leave You Trapped

Nothing paints a better picture than this story from the world of agriculture. In the April 15, 2010 edition of Texas Agriculture Talks, Publisher Gene Hall uses a story about catching wild hogs as an analogy for how easy it is to let down your guard when the bait is tempting. The verbal telling of the story is originally credited to Hall's friend and colleague, Si Cook. Titled, "The Cost of Free Corn," the story warns of how complacency toward entitlement programs can one day leave you trapped. I encourage you to read it.

World Trade Month Celebrates Texas’ Global Contribution

As a leading producer of cattle, cotton, sheep, goats and mohair, Texas is a major player in the worldwide agricultural marketplace. Our $100 billion agriculture industry is a powerhouse of production that is relied upon everyday by our state, nation and the world.

In recognition of World Trade Month each May, I hope our nation's leadership continues to work with Texas producers to foster free trade agreements with countries such as Columbia, Panama and South Korea. These countries hold a great deal of promise for Texas producers, but political issues remain that hinder mutually beneficial trade partnerships. Recent trade breakthroughs in Russia and China are encouraging and should serve as models of shared success.

With 96 percent of the world's consumers living outside the United States and with agricultural exports accounting for nearly one-third of Texas' total agricultural cash receipts, we depend on foreign trading partners as much as they depend on us. Let's hope World Trade Month serves as a healthy reminder to Texas and the world that open trade is better than closed doors.