YOUR TEXAS AGRICULTURE MINUTE

Disasters show the importance of a strong safety net

By Gene Hall

Uncertainty. We’ve seen it in Texas with Hurricane Harvey. We’ve seen it in Florida with Hurricane Irma and the dozens of wildfires in the western United States.

Millions of acres of crop land and pasture land have been affected. There’ll be major losses in crops they counted on to help break even or make a slight profit. Barns and equipment will be damaged. Livestock losses will be tough to replace.

It will be difficult to face the next year, but most farmers and ranchers will do so. And they need a strong safety net to help them along the way.

Several programs and crop insurance established through the 2014 Farm Bill offer assistance during natural disasters. They won’t completely cover the losses, but they’ll help farmers and ranchers persist when challenged with forces beyond their control.

It’s times like these that show us the importance of farm programs. Agriculture needs assurance, stability and certainty. A strong farm bill can provide that.

The preceding commentary is brought to you by Texas Farm Bureau, the “Voice of Texas Agriculture.” Called “Your Texas Agriculture Minute,” TFB will issue thought-provoking editorials each week—via print and audio—to spark understanding of agriculture in the Lone Star State and its impact on each and every Texan.

You may read this week’s editorial above or listen to the audio version.

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