By Emmy Powell
Communications Specialist

Farmers and ranchers in East Texas invited U.S. Rep. Nathaniel Moran to tour their operations.

The trip allowed the congressman to gain a better understanding of Texas agriculture and how farmers and ranchers are impacted by legislation crafted in Washington, D.C.

Moran learned more about beef cattle, poultry and issues facing farmers and ranchers during the visit hosted by Farm Bureau.

“There’s a lot of legislation and things that happen in D.C. that our congressmen need to be aware of, like the issues we face on the farm or the ranch,” Bennie Whitworth, owner and operator of Whitworth Cattle, said. “If they’re not educated on things we’re facing, then they’re not able to recognize potential problems that might come across their desk in D.C.”

The day offered Farm Bureau leaders like Whitworth the opportunity to discuss the farm bill, trade, cattle markets, input costs and other topics with Moran. “He took time to come to our ranch and listen and see what’s going on and understand firsthand some issues that we’re facing on a day-to-day basis,,” Whitworth said.

Moran even helped Whitworth work cattle during the visit.

This not only gave the congressman a hands-on experience, but it also allowed him to understand more about the cattle market, supply chain issues and input prices.

The visit helped describe the realities of marketing agricultural products, too.

“We were able to clarify the myth that ranchers make all of the profits from the product,” Whitworth said. “He saw the cattle, our operation and witnessed input costs. That helped him understand that it’s not the rancher that’s making the money. We’re struggling to get by with our rising input costs.”

The legislation that is passed today will not only impact agriculture now, but also the future of agriculture, Whitworth noted, making Moran’s visit to East Texas farms and ranches extremely important.

“We must be smart about legislation and things that we do because if we don’t handle things appropriately, I’m not going to be able to pass on this cattle operation to my son,” he said. “That’s monumental to us is to make sure that we’re sustainable, to be able to move into the next generation of our livestock producers.”

Texas Farm Bureau hosts farm tours for Congressional leaders throughout the year to address TFB’s national legislative priorities and other issues facing agriculture.