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Whether it's agricultural production, consumer protection, economic development, marketing or healthy lifestyles, I know employees at the Texas Department of Agriculture are working hard each day to provide Texans with exceptional service. And now I'm excited to announce Texans can stay informed of what we are doing through a new subscription service at TDA.

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To subscribe, fill out the form below, or visit www.TexasAgriculture.gov and click on Newsroom to find a link to Newsroom Publications.

U.S. Pork Regains Entry into China as Sound Science Prevails

I'm pleased to say that on the heels of the recent announcement by Russia to accept U.S. pork imports, China also has now agreed to lift trade bans on U.S. pork and pork products.

Since the outbreak of the H1N1 human flu virus, many media outlets and foreign governments have ignored sound science, and instead, based news stories and trade decisions on false information about the safety of pork. These irresponsible decisions have caused a serious backlash for U.S. and Texas pork producers, costing them an estimated $2.2 billion in lost sales since the virus surfaced.

Prior to the outbreak, China imports of U.S. pork were valued at almost $275 million in 2008. The reopening of this market provides Texas pork producers, who marketed nearly 1.7 million hogs in 2008, an excellent trade opportunity. I look forward to enhanced trade relations with China and support on-going efforts to open additional markets for Texas agricultural products.

"Bienvenidos" to our Guests from Guatemala

Last week, the Guatemalan Vice-Minister of Agriculture Gonzalo Ochaeta made a special visit to Texas. After accepting an invitation by us at the Texas Department of Agriculture to attend the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Vice-Minister Ochaeta and five Guatemalan delegates toured two GO TEXAN ranches. This gave us an excellent opportunity to market some of the superior livestock and genetics we have here in Texas to producers in Guatemala.

Guatemala has proven to be a valued trading partner with Texas cattlemen. Over the last three years, GO TEXAN livestock members have supplied Guatemalan ranchers with livestock and genetics worth more than $200,000. TDA looks forward to building lasting international relationships and promoting Texas livestock in Latin America.

Michigan: Where's the beef?

I love American-made vehicles. When I have a tough job out at my East Texas ranch I know I can depend on my American-made truck to help get the job done. With this in mind, I appreciate the good people of Michigan where our nation's auto industry is based.

However, I have a real beef with their state's governor. Sink your teeth into this: she has declared this Saturday "Meatout Day" in Michigan. Her proclamation encourages residents to not eat meat and try recipes made solely with fruits and vegetables. It gets worse. This day falls on National Agriculture Day. That is a real slap in the face to her state's livestock producers.

According to the National Agriculture Statistics Service, in 2008, cattle, hogs, sheep, poultry and other animals accounted for more than $750 million in cash receipts for the state of Michigan. That is an important economic engine for a state that is going through some tough economic times. To tell the citizens of Michigan to avoid eating meat is like telling people to stop buying Ford or Chevy trucks or cars.

I am an equal opportunity agriculturalist. I know fresh vegetables taste great with a big steak and you can't have pork chops without applesauce (unless of course you drown them in some GO TEXAN BBQ sauce). Research has shown eating a balanced diet that includes meat, fruits, vegetables and grains is healthy. So all of you out in Michigan, stock up on some meat this weekend and throw yourself a NCAA basketball watch party. While you munch down on those tasty meats, cheer on my Texas A&M Aggies. We can use all the help we can get. Whoop!

Water Connects Urban, Rural Texans

The urban-rural interconnection should be on the minds of all Texans. After all, this is not a case of “us” and “them,” but rather a case of “we,” as in, “we are all in this together."

David Langford, who lives in Comfort, Texas, is vice president emeritus of the Texas Wildlife Association and formerly served as CEO of the association for 12 years, recently wrote an editorial that was published in the Austin American-Statesman. His opinion brings to light the close connection all Texans have in regard to our water supply. It is well worth the read.

Park Cities Quail Highlights Prescribed Burns as Means for Protecting Habitats

The Park Cities Quail group, a newly formed nonprofit organization dedicated to the celebration of our Texas quail hunting heritage, recently held its annual banquet event in Dallas.

The event was packed with outdoorsmen and conservationists who are not only working to improve our Texas quail and wildlife habitat, but also are greatly improving the Texas economy.

A video presentation by Dr. Dale Rollins highlighted prescribed burns as a positive habitat management tool. All those who worked so diligently to make improvements to our state's prescribed burn procedures should be proud.

We need to continue to raise the awareness of this beneficial tool and how it can be used to reduce the threat of wildfires. As we all know, there will be fires; however, controlled, prescribed burns are effective in protecting Texas taxpayers from losing property and more importantly, their lives.

Thanks to the efforts of Dr. Rollins and groups like Park Cities Quail, we are able to further study and refine best practices for protecting and promoting our environment and wildlife natural habitats through prescribed burns and other methods.

Sen. Cornyn - a Friend to Texas Agriculture

Thank you Sen. John Cornyn for being a lead cosponsor on a senate resolution calling for Japan to base their trade policies on sound science. U.S. beef has been getting the short end of the stick for too long - and that means Texans are suffering!

Home to 14 percent of the nation's beef supply, you can bet your bottom dollar these discriminatory practices are negatively impacting the Texas beef industry and our state's economy.

Let's hope the administration says enough is enough and we get some much-needed equitable treatment.

Forecast Looks Bright for Texas Cotton

It’s good to be able to travel and say, “If Texas were its own country, we would be the fifth-largest, cotton-producing nation in the world!” So, you can just imagine in a state where cotton is king, hearing some good news forecasts for cotton prices over the next 10 years is extremely welcome.

According to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, agricultural economists are indicating an increased world demand for cotton and overall lower production that will likely drive up prices, adding dollars to our economy. Considering agriculture comprises about 9.5 percent of our entire state economy, a healthy cotton industry will bring more jobs and investment to Texas - something that will benefit all Texas consumers. At a time when our economy is filled with uncertainty, we need all the positive news we can get.

Good News - U.S. Beef Returns to Taiwan

Just about everyone deeply involved in production agriculture agrees expanding access to international markets is absolutely essential to maintaining profitability and continuing domestic food production. That is why it was such good news to see the story in CattleNetwork reporting the return of U.S. bone-in-beef to Taiwan.

In fact, the five-star Sherwood Taipei Hotel is reported to use only U.S. beef in its signature restaurant. I know my fellow Texas cattlemen must be pleased to see the work being done by the Texas Beef Council, the Beef Checkoff and USDA Market Access Program funds. Now, for the sake of domestic food independence, let's hope consumers around the world continue to demand Texas beef!

Trade Ban Lifted

It’s good to hear some positive news for our U.S. pork producers. As you know, the past year has been very rough for them. Prices were already declining when they were sent into a tailspin following the H1N1 influenza pandemic, as the world incorrectly tied the outbreak to swine.

Fortunately, good news comes to the pork industry as the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade Representative have announced an agreement to reopen the Russian market to U.S. pork. This new opportunity provides a timely boost to this important sector of the agriculture industry during tough economic times.

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