By Julie Tomascik
Editor

An overview of trending topics in agriculture will be the focus of Texas Farm Bureau’s Summer Conference set for June 24-26 in Arlington.

“This conference gives Farm Bureau members the opportunity to discuss various issues facing agriculture and talk with experts about commodity and regulatory topics,” TFB President Russell Boening said. “We have a packed agenda planned with informational presentations by experts in the agricultural and political industries.”

Featured topics and speakers
Topics for this year’s conference include issues important to Texas farmers and ranchers both at home and on a national scale.

New this year, breakout sessions will be held on Monday afternoon. Current issues and trends for livestock, crops and labor will be discussed. Industry experts will dive into the important commodity and regulatory issues that impact farm and ranch production in Texas.

Additional presentations will include legal issues in agriculture with Dr. Shannon Ferrell, an Oklahoma State University professor, and TFB Government Affairs staff will provide a 2025 legislative session forecast.

Ray Starling, author of Farmers versus Foodies, will discuss the future of agriculture and the food supply, and political expert Nathan Gonzales will provide a political outlook.

U.S. Senate Ag Committee staff will give an update on farm bill progress and the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) funds, and a Producer Owned Beef representative will discuss updates on the country’s only producer-owned beef processor to be located in the High Plains.

Consumer trends and demands heavily influence the protein industry, and a JBS representative will highlight those in a presentation to the group.

Feral hog management tools, including a newly-registered toxicant, are of interest to farmers and ranchers. A Kaput Feral Hog Bait user panel discussion and application training will be part of the conference to offer producers more information on the latest effort to control the feral hog population.

“This annual conference is a way for members to stay up to date on commodity and regulatory activities, as well as emerging issues in agriculture,” Boening said. “The information they learn can help them make the best business decisions for their farms and ranches.”

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz will address the group on Wednesday morning, and TFB’s Commodity Advisory Committees will meet during the conference to discuss current issues and possible solutions related to agricultural commodities and issues in the Lone Star State.

“We encourage members to attend to hear from the industry speakers, contribute to the discussion surrounding agricultural issues and network with fellow Farm Bureau members,” Boening said.

Registration details
Registration for the conference begins at 1 p.m. on Monday, June 24. The commodity and issue sessions will be held that afternoon, followed by a group dinner.

Tuesday, June 25, will be an all-day event with a group lunch, and the conference will wrap up Wednesday, June 26.

A tentative agenda and room reservation form are available at texasfarmbureau.org.

The deadline for room reservations is May 13, and rooms must be cancelled by June 14 to avoid cancellation penalties.

Contact Betsy Simon at bsimon@txfb.org or 254-751-2624 with questions about reservations.