TFB Resolutions Committee considers issues facing agriculture
(WACO, Texas)—Feral hogs, mountain lions, water and foreign ownership of agricultural land were among the topics of proposed policy resolutions discussed by the Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) Resolutions Committee Nov. 4-5 in Waco.
The committee, comprised of 41 TFB members representing Texas agriculture, spent two days reviewing, deliberating and consolidating more than 280 resolutions to both state and national policies proposed by county Farm Bureaus across the state.
“There was a lot of good discussion on predator control, foreign ownership of agricultural land, private property rights and many other issues facing agriculture,” said Sam Snyder, TFB vice president and chair of the Resolutions Committee. “These issues that were discussed are important, and they begin at the county level from farmers and ranchers. This is a true grassroots process to determine solutions to issues Farm Bureau members are facing.”
The committee evaluated several resolutions related to controlling the fast-growing feral hog population.
“They are one of the most destructive invasive species in Texas and the U.S. today,” Snyder said. “They cause significant damage to farms and ranches each year, and the population is out of control.”
The committee supported resolutions to prevent feral hogs from being relocated and released onto any property for the purpose of hunting and that feral hogs captured by any means should be eliminated.
Discussion on incentives led to support of an assessment program per head of wild hogs captured, transferred, sold or slaughtered at an approved facility. A general revenue dedicated account to hold all assessments for distribution to approved programs would be created by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.
“A self-funded approach to reduce the population through the outlets that profit from this destructive species is an idea that has not been implemented anywhere else in the country,” Snyder said. “The network of capturing feral hogs and transporting them for hunting or processing is huge, and it breeds incentive to keep a healthy population. We hope to change that direction moving forward.”
Depredation management regarding mountain lions and other predatory animals was discussed.
Committee members supported resolutions that oppose mandatory harvest reporting for mountain lions, coyotes, wolf or bobcats taken during livestock protection activities.
“Predator control is a time-consuming and challenging issue for many ranchers, and we don’t need additional reporting requirements when actively trying to save our livestock,” Snyder said.
During the two-day meeting, the committee also discussed water challenges facing the state. They adopted a resolution that opposes restrictions to agricultural water usage during shortages without first restricting non-essential water usage for lawns and other recreational purposes.
The committee also supported a livestock dealer statutory trust that increases potential for unpaid livestock sellers to obtain more of their receivables in the event of a dealer default. Support was also issued for a third-party trustee appointed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to distribute funds from a dealer default case.
Additional state resolutions focused on timber, specialty crops, horse racing, livestock and disease traceability.
Foreign ownership of agricultural land was an issue covered by both state and national proposed policy resolutions.
The committee adopted a resolution that opposes persons or entities from a foreign country owning land in Texas if U.S. citizens cannot own land in that foreign country.
The committee opposed foreign ownership, leasing or material investment in agricultural land, natural resources, production units, processing plants, facilities and/or warehouses that would result in unequal and unfair trade advantages and pose a threat of any kind to national security.
“A lot of the discussion centered on foreign ownership and private property rights, as well as state and national security,” Snyder said.
The policy recommendations will be considered by TFB voting delegates during the business session of the organization’s 91st Annual Meeting Dec. 6-8 in Round Rock.
State resolutions adopted at the TFB annual meeting become policies that guide the organization. National resolutions, if adopted by voting delegates at the TFB annual meeting, are sent to the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Resolutions Committee for consideration.
Resolutions supported by the AFBF Resolutions Committee and approved by AFBF voting delegates in January provide a roadmap for the national organization.
For a tentative agenda and more details on TFB’s annual meeting, visit texasfarmbureau.org/annualmeeting.
Row 1 (left to right): Russell Boening, TFB president; Sam Snyder, TFB vice president and Resolutions Committee chairman; Walt Hagood, TFB secretary-treasurer and District 2 state director; John Paul Dineen, III, TFB District 4 state director; Warren Cude, TFB District 6 state director; Mickey Edwards, TFB District 8 state director; Pete Pawelek, TFB District 10 state director; Brian Adamek, TFB District 12 state director, and Jay Clark, YF&R Advisory Committee chair.
Row 2 (left to right): Ben Scholz (Collin CFB), Chris Goodwin (Johnson CFB), Tommy Henderson (Clay CFB), Ronnie Felderhoff, (Cooke CFB), Layne Chapman (Wilbarger CFB), Angela Arthur (Crosby CFB), McCrae McCormick; Shane Harris (Childress CFB), Jeffery Carlson (Deaf Smith CFB) and Matthew Wilhelm (Deaf Smith CFB).
Row 3 (left to right): Steve Eubanks (Freestone CFB), Dylan Melde (Hamilton CFB), Warren Tongate (Brown CFB), Josh Kaczyk (Coleman CFB), Bobby Pearce (McCulloch CFB); Nolan Howard (Midland CFB), Mark Morrow (Nolan CFB); Dustin Rounsavall (Smith CFB), Gregg Beverly (Van Zandt CFB) and Ray Davis (Van Zandt CFB).
Row 4 (left to right): Andrew Edelen (Jim Wells CFB), Cyndie Murden (Cameron CFB), Sam Ruiz (Cameron CFB); Keith Huebinger (Guadalupe CFB), David Wagner (Lavaca CFB); Tim Akers (Grimes CFB), Mike Heimer (Montgomery CFB), Karl Collins (Walker CFB); Mike Cox (Hays CFB), Wes Robinson (Kinney CFB); Delana Horn (Jefferson CFB), Jimmy Reed (Anderson CFB) and Cody Berry (Angelina CFB).