By Julie Tomascik
Editor
Trade, right to farm, succession planning and the farm bill were among the topics highlighted during the Texas Farm Bureau Summer Conference.
Over 400 farmers and ranchers were in San Marcos June 26-28 for the meeting that also provided an update on agricultural trends, issues and a legislative recap.
Agricultural trade
Gregg Doud, vice president of Global Situational Awareness and chief economist for Aimpoint Research, provided information on U.S. agricultural trade. He shared updates on global commodity markets, renewable diesel, fertilizer and China’s economy and population.
“Labor and water are the two biggest issues that agriculture has to solve,” Doud said when discussing opportunities for American farmers and ranchers.
Water becomes increasingly important as the country continues to experience intense dry periods. Much of the Corn Belt, and other areas of the globe, are currently facing extreme drought conditions.
“We are in a full-blown weather market in the commodity market. It’s all over the world, not just the U.S.,” Doud said.
He noted the uses for soybeans continue to grow, especially as energy companies focus on renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel.
“This is the year of renewable diesel,” he said. “The demand for soybeans domestically for crushing is going to be so strong.”
Succession planning
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 70% of land ownership for family farms and ranches will change hands during the next 15 years.
That makes succession planning extremely important for agriculture.
Dr. Ron Hanson, emeritus professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, noted many difficulties and challenges come with discussing succession planning.
Most agricultural families realize the importance and the need for a succession plan in order for their farming legacy to continue, but very few families accomplish the goal of executing the plan, he said.
“You can’t avoid the real life ‘what if’ issues. Those conversations need to happen now because you don’t know when ‘what if’ might happen,” he said.
A study conducted by AgriLegacy found that only 20% of farm families have a succession plan in place and that only 5% of family farms will survive to the third generation without a plan.
“A strategy for success is to expect the unexpected, be prepared and have a contingency plan,” he said.
Farm bill
The 2018 Farm Bill is set to expire on Sept. 30, and Josh Maxwell, policy director for the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, gave an update on the progress of the new bill.
The legislation is reviewed every five years to provide the opportunity to update programs to remain relevant to current market and economic conditions. The bill addresses farm program payments, food policy, conservation initiatives, rural development and more.
Listening sessions across the country have provided input to lawmakers, Maxwell said. The feedback they have received includes creating more insurance options for specialty crop producers and contract poultry growers, along with updating base acres and increasing the commodity reference prices to be consistent with inflation.
Right to farm
The Texas Legislature approved a constitutional amendment that strengthens the right to farm and ranch in the state. Texans can support agriculture by voting “yes” for the constitutional amendment on the Nov. 7 ballot. TFB is leading the effort on a get out the vote campaign for the right to farm and ranch.
The legislation providing the constitutional amendment, HJR 126 by State Rep. DeWayne Burns and State Sen. Charles Perry, was unanimously approved by the Texas House and Texas Senate.
Burns told conference attendees TFB and county Farm Bureaus can help make the campaign a success.
“If you’re involved in agriculture, if you’re involved in any way in producing, transporting, selling or consuming agricultural products, which is pretty much all Texans, then this amendment affects you,” Burns said. “We created a Right2Farm Texas PAC that folks can contribute to and be a part of in order to help the effort, because it’s about all Texans. It’s about farmers and ranchers of all sizes. This amendment will help you.”
TFB members are encouraged to donate to the Right2Farm Texas PAC that is financially supporting the campaign. TFB made a donation of $100,000 and presented a check to the PAC during the meeting.
“Farm Bureau is honored to support the Right2Farm Texas PAC and the campaign to achieve passage of the constitutional amendment,” TFB President Russell Boening said. “We are grateful for the county Farm Bureaus and Farm Bureau members across the state joining us in this important effort. It’s critical that everyone associated with Texas agriculture do their best to promote the constitutional amendment and this monumental opportunity.”
More details on the campaign and ways that members can be involved will be available later this summer.
Additional conference sessions
Additional sessions during the conference covered USDA programs, an update from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, a legislative session recap and a general overview of agricultural issues from TFB Commodity and Regulatory Affairs staff.
Bill Flores, who serves on the board of directors for ERCOT, discussed the state’s electric grid and the need for diverse energy sources.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller also addressed the group, outlining the agency’s efforts for agriculture and a statewide campaign for farm fresh products in school meals.
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service hosted a Drought Proofing the Ranch course and offered CEUs to participants. The course provides advice and guidance for those affected by drought and for those preparing for future droughts. It is also available online at tx.ag/DroughtProofingRanch.
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