Removing Trade Barriers Can Help Meet Worldwide Demand

Watching worldwide demand for beef is always important for the No. 1 cattle-producing state in the nation, which is why this article from Drovers CattleNetwork caught my eye.

When consumers around the globe have the opportunity to experience Texas and U.S. beef, they usually want more. I just hope our trade negotiators can eliminate the potential trade barrier to the European Union discussed in the article. If they succeed, our producers can benefit fully from demand that is likely to grow.

Texas is blessed to produce enough beef to help feed our state and nation. Let’s hope we also gain greater opportunity to meet worldwide demand. Doing so means more jobs and more opportunity, right here in the Lone Star State.

Two Texas Originals Team Up to Serve Texans Quality Food

Guest Blogger: Drew DeBerry, Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture

Yesterday I joined baseball legend Nolan Ryan to announce that his beef products will now be served in Black-eyed Pea restaurants. It’s great to see these two GO TEXAN members partnering to bring consumers quality Texas food.


Through the GO TEXAN marketing program, we at the Texas Department of Agriculture are committed to helping consumers identify Texas products and the retailers and restaurants that offer them. We know Texas produces some of the best food products you can find, and with the help of GO TEXAN members like Nolan Ryan’s Beef and the Black-eyed Pea, consumers can now find them closer to home.

Visit www.TexasAgriculture.gov to find a GO TEXAN restaurant near you. And don’t forget to dine at one of those establishments the week of Sept. 27-Oct. 1 during the GO TEXAN Restaurant Round-Up – the only statewide dine out event where Texans can invest in their local businesses and charities.

Food for Thought…Thoughts on Food

Cattlemen from around the United States recently converged in San Antonio for the annual National Cattlemen’s Beef Association convention. The educational aspect of the meeting brought together industry leaders from across the nation, including many from right here in the Lone Star State.

One panel focused its discussion on three basic objectives that I believe anyone involved in agriculture at any level should take to heart:

1. Reopen international markets without politically motivated restrictions.
2. Invest in agricultural education to assure a stream of talent for the industry.
3. Embrace technology that will help gather critical data for making better decisions at the enterprise level, while growing consumer trust and improving overall beef demand.

Whether you are in involved in the production of beef cattle, poultry, cotton or corn, I think we all agree these are extremely important elements to incorporate as we all work to make 2010 prosperous and ensure food and economic security for Texas.

Busy Week for the Texas Department of Agriculture

Last week was another busy week at TDA. We started off the week in Houston to roll out a new statewide fuel quality program to protect consumers from buying bad fuel. From there, I spoke to Brazos Valley leaders at their 2010 Economic Outlook Conference and met with leaders of the Texas Wildlife Association to discuss the upcoming legislative session.

I also spoke to local leaders with the Heart of Texas Council of Governments and welcomed Texas and out-of-state guests to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Convention in San Antonio.

Throughout my travels, I was reminded that Washington continues to push policies like Cap and Trade legislation that threaten our domestic food production. There also is an initiative aimed at extending the regulatory authority of the Clean Water Act to include the stock tanks on your farm or ranch.

We don’t need either of these proposals, and after traveling to meet with my colleagues across the state, I feel more strongly than ever that we must send a unified and powerful message to federal decision makers to discourage these federal encroachments.

USDA Gives $4.9 Million to Help Fight Fever Ticks in Texas

Today was an important day for Texas agriculture, as well as for the entire United States cattle industry.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer traveled to Laredo with a letter confirming that $4.9 million will to go toward the cattle fever tick eradication efforts in South Texas. Lone Star State cattlemen are on the front line of defense of the fever tick battle zone, and we're excited this additional funding will help them combat the problem.



Fever ticks are capable of carrying and transmitting a parasite that destroys red blood cells in cattle, causing “cattle tick fever,” which can kill up to 90 percent of infected cattle. Failure to eradicate the pests in South Texas could lead to devastation across the country.

Many more hurdles remain in eradicating the fever tick, but progress like the money from USDA makes me optimistic about the future.



We appreciate U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar along with State Representatives Sid Miller and Ryan Guillen for joining us at today’s announcement and showing their leadership and support.

South Korean Retailers Resume Beef Exports from the U.S.

Finally, some good news for international beef exports.

As most of you know, the economic crisis has impacted the beef industry along with most agriculture commodities.

But later this week, South Korea's big retailers will resume U.S. beef sales. While this certainly will help the beef industry, it will have positive impacts on other agriculture commodities as well. Read more about the decision in the following news story:


South Korea's big retailers to resume US beef sales

SEOUL - Major South Korean retailers said Tuesday they would resume U.S. beef sales for the first time since mass protests against the imports rocked the country, citing the need for cheap food during hard times.

The Korea Chainstores Association said US beef would be back on shelves from Thursday at the top three discount stores -- Lotte Mart, E-Mart and Homeplus, which is owned by Britain's Tesco.

Click here to read full article