With Election Day behind us, I look forward to continuing the work we do at the Texas Department of Agriculture for the people of Texas.
Texans and Americans enjoy the safest, most affordable food supply in the world. But with the population of Texas expected to almost double from 25 million to 46 million people in 50 years, our agriculture industry must continually evolve and innovate to ensure it can efficiently meet a growing domestic demand and compete in the global marketplace. America has seen the dangers of being dependent on foreign oil; we must not become dependent on foreign food.
As your agriculture commissioner, I'm excited about assisting our farmers and ranchers in growing and safeguarding the food supply that will feed us today and into the future. Equally important will be the enhancement of initiatives created to protect all Texas consumers. Whether it’s ensuring the most affordable food supply or ensuring the best quality and accuracy at the gas pump, TDA is working hard for you.
I look forward to the next four years as your agriculture commissioner and am humbled by the trust placed in me. That trust is what motivates me every day to fulfill my responsibility to the people of Texas. Together, we will continue to make the Lone Star State shine brightly at home and abroad. The people of Texas deserve nothing less.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
13 Days
Dear Fellow Texans:
15 minutes a day for 13 days. Please do your part!
Monday marked the 1st day of early voting! Americans can begin sending the message, "We have had enough!" 13 days. 13 days until we take our country back. 13 days until we derail the out-of-control government spending train. 13 days until we put a stop to disastrous cap and trade policies that cost American jobs and will make us more dependent on foreign sources of food. 13 days until we send new people to Congress that UNDERSTAND and BELIEVE IN THE FREE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM. I am asking each of you to spend just 15 minutes a day for the next 13 days so we can get out the vote.
Just as we have a Statue of Liberty in the New York Harbor we need a Statue of Accountability at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue!
Today is a call to action for those of you who love our state and country. We each must do our part the next 13 days to leave no vote behind. That is why I sincerely ask each of you to go through your cell phones, Facebook, Twitter, and email accounts and remind your family, friends and neighbors to go to the polls and help us send the message, "We have had enough!"
Every election year is always labeled as "The Most Important Election." Friends, I'm here to tell you that this election will be one that our grandkids will look back on and be thankful that we took our country back. Please do your part and spend 15 minutes a day for the next 13 days!
Thank you for your continued support and with your help I look forward to serving another term as your Commissioner of Agriculture.
15 minutes a day for 13 days. Please do your part!
Monday marked the 1st day of early voting! Americans can begin sending the message, "We have had enough!" 13 days. 13 days until we take our country back. 13 days until we derail the out-of-control government spending train. 13 days until we put a stop to disastrous cap and trade policies that cost American jobs and will make us more dependent on foreign sources of food. 13 days until we send new people to Congress that UNDERSTAND and BELIEVE IN THE FREE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM. I am asking each of you to spend just 15 minutes a day for the next 13 days so we can get out the vote.
Just as we have a Statue of Liberty in the New York Harbor we need a Statue of Accountability at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue!
Today is a call to action for those of you who love our state and country. We each must do our part the next 13 days to leave no vote behind. That is why I sincerely ask each of you to go through your cell phones, Facebook, Twitter, and email accounts and remind your family, friends and neighbors to go to the polls and help us send the message, "We have had enough!"
Every election year is always labeled as "The Most Important Election." Friends, I'm here to tell you that this election will be one that our grandkids will look back on and be thankful that we took our country back. Please do your part and spend 15 minutes a day for the next 13 days!
Thank you for your continued support and with your help I look forward to serving another term as your Commissioner of Agriculture.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Rural Highlight: Dick Wallrath and the Champion Ranch
Agriculture is an integral part of our economy, lifestyle, and heritage in Texas. It affects every consumer multiple times a day, and is something that must be promoted, protected, and treasured as we advance into the future. As with anything important, education is a key component to sustainability going forward. The Texas FFA Association and Texas 4-H are training the next generation of leaders within the agricultural industry and beyond, thus it is vitally important that these students receive the support they so desperately need.
One Texas rancher, Richard “Dick” Wallrath of Centerville, understands the need for future leaders, which is why he has dedicated a great deal of his energy to supporting FFA and 4-H. Wallrath owns Champion Ranch outside Madisonville, Texas. A purveyor of brangus cattle and fine stock horses, the ranch is just one of his many accomplishments. Recently he authored his autobiography, Courage to Change the Things I Can, which chronicles his life and the series of events that led him to his current passion for helping youth.
Each year, thanks to Wallrath’s generosity, the members of the Texas FFA and Texas 4-H are given the opportunity to further advance their educations. Wallrath has endowed 142 annual $10,000 scholarships, 71 for FFA and 71 for 4-H. These scholarships are open to members of each organization interested in attending college, and over the last several years have been an ongoing source of financial aid for future Texas leaders.
Last year I had the opportunity to visit the Champion Ranch for a scholarship dinner, and I witnessed first hand how this larger-than-life Texan truly takes an active interest in the lives of the scholarship recipients. I salute Dick Wallrath for his commitment to Texas agriculture, especially to the youth who will carry the industry torch forward into what is sure to be a bright future. Thank you Mr. Wallrath for all you do!
Friday, September 17, 2010
Texas Agriculture: A Model of Sustainability
It is encouraging to me to see so many different entrepreneurs developing markets for their products. I have often said the diversity of Texas agriculture is its greatest strength. We are unlike many other states that have a more monolithic production schedule, and you can find a wide variety of agriculture production in Texas throughout the calendar year.
The good news is that Texas is big enough to host a variety of production types, as this article describing sustainable beef points out. The existence of one type of production doesn’t have to displace another. With our world population growing to new heights and the need to preserve pristine wildlife and natural habitat a worthy and necessary goal, relying on various "sustainable" approaches makes good sense for food security and food safety.
The good news is that Texas is big enough to host a variety of production types, as this article describing sustainable beef points out. The existence of one type of production doesn’t have to displace another. With our world population growing to new heights and the need to preserve pristine wildlife and natural habitat a worthy and necessary goal, relying on various "sustainable" approaches makes good sense for food security and food safety.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
4-H and the Texas Rangers: A Great Combination!
This past Saturday night, August 28, the Texas Rangers Baseball Team might not have won on the scoreboard, but they should have won a spot in your heart. Saturday was 4-H night at the Ballpark at Arlington. A great big Texas Thank You goes to President Nolan Ryan, General Manager Chuck Greenberg and the entire Rangers organization for their commitment and dedication to promoting the youth of our state. If you can believe it, they even let me throw out the first pitch of the game, and it was an honor to be involved with such a special day at the Ballpark!
The participating 4-H clubs were able to keep $3 per ticket they sold to help fund local projects. Representatives from the top selling clubs were treated to a night in a suite and a personal visit from Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan. It was also the first ever GREEN OUT night at the Ballpark, and T-shirts with the 4-H emblem and Texas Rangers logo were being handed out thanks to the sponsorship of Texas Farm Bureau.
Texas 4-H impacts the lives of more than 590,000 young people across Texas who participate in its programs. With all the “opportunities” available for youth today that send the wrong message, you should feel proud of the many volunteer hours associated with giving our youth good and wholesome information that not only teaches them responsibility for today, but prepares them for tomorrow.
To find out how you can be involved in a 4-H chapter in your community, go to http://texas4-h.tamu.edu/.
Thanks again to Nolan Ryan and the Texas Rangers. GO TEXAN! Go Texas Rangers!
Monday, August 23, 2010
More Damage From D.C.
Texas agricultural producers should not have to pay the price for Washington, D.C.’s broken diplomatic relationships. Last March, the United States Congress unilaterally suspended part of the NAFTA agreement that went into effect allowing Mexican operated trucks to go further into the United States. It has been widely reported this was in response to union complaints.
There are protocols within NAFTA to address legitimate issues, but what our Democratic leaders in Congress did was bypass these mutually agreed upon guidelines. The result: American farmers, ranchers, companies and employees have been paying the price. That’s correct; Mexico has the ability to add tariffs to U.S. products because our federal government did not play by the rules they agreed to operate by.
This is costing U.S. jobs. We should never be cavalier about what we agreed to do, because this only limits our credibility and hurts the unemployed Americans who are waiting for this economy to rebound.
We sometimes forget that Mexico is one of our largest agricultural trading partners. In fact, according to Census Bureau data, the U.S. shipped more than $1 billion worth of fruits, vegetables and nuts to Mexico in 2009, up 45 percent from $748 million in 2005. Mexico is one of our biggest customers here in America. Texas is a big producer and exporter in multiple categories, and this tariff hits many of our grapefruit, orange, onion and peanut growers. Texas happens to rank 2nd in grapefruit production, 3rd in oranges, 4th in onions and 2nd in peanuts, so you can imagine how our economy is going to feel the pain.
Mr. President, here is a stimulus package that doesn’t add to our meteoric debt calendar: instruct our trade negotiators to work this problem out immediately, and help our economy and U.S. workers! Our Democratic Congressional leaders started this problem, and they can do something about it.
There are protocols within NAFTA to address legitimate issues, but what our Democratic leaders in Congress did was bypass these mutually agreed upon guidelines. The result: American farmers, ranchers, companies and employees have been paying the price. That’s correct; Mexico has the ability to add tariffs to U.S. products because our federal government did not play by the rules they agreed to operate by.
This is costing U.S. jobs. We should never be cavalier about what we agreed to do, because this only limits our credibility and hurts the unemployed Americans who are waiting for this economy to rebound.
We sometimes forget that Mexico is one of our largest agricultural trading partners. In fact, according to Census Bureau data, the U.S. shipped more than $1 billion worth of fruits, vegetables and nuts to Mexico in 2009, up 45 percent from $748 million in 2005. Mexico is one of our biggest customers here in America. Texas is a big producer and exporter in multiple categories, and this tariff hits many of our grapefruit, orange, onion and peanut growers. Texas happens to rank 2nd in grapefruit production, 3rd in oranges, 4th in onions and 2nd in peanuts, so you can imagine how our economy is going to feel the pain.
Mr. President, here is a stimulus package that doesn’t add to our meteoric debt calendar: instruct our trade negotiators to work this problem out immediately, and help our economy and U.S. workers! Our Democratic Congressional leaders started this problem, and they can do something about it.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Rural Highlight: Jon Means and the Moon Ranch
Agriculture today is precariously balanced on a surgically-fine edge between the past and the future. As research enables us to discover innovative ways to feed and clothe a booming global population, we must embrace progress as an industry goal. On the other hand, what makes agriculture different from many other industries is the heritage and history behind what we do, something to be cherished, not forgotten.
This is a difficult balancing act, one that requires leaders willing to take on the challenges of tomorrow by studying the footsteps of yesterday. Jon Means of Van Horn, Texas, is the quintessential example of a successful rancher: true to his heritage and excited about the prospects of the future.
Jon and his wife, Jackie, live on the Moon Ranch in Culberson County amid the arid and often unforgiving Davis Mountains. Anything but newcomers, Jon’s family has been ranching in the area for over 125 years. In 2007, Jon was elected to serve as the president of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, a key role in the promotion of one of Texas’ most important products. I had the pleasure of visiting Jon and Jackie on the ranch, and their passion for Texas runs as high as the temperature of the West Texas sun.
While the Means family used to raise Highland Herefords, Angus has been the ranch’s bread and butter for sixty plus years. Jon has a progressive mindset on the future of the beef industry and how best to move it forward in changing market environments, yet his appreciation for the traditional aspects of ranching is very clear. As he would put it, “Ranching is an art, not a science.”
Ranching is and will remain one of the premier endeavors that sets the Lone Star State apart from the rest of the nation. It takes men and women like Jon and Jackie Means, who understand the economic and cultural importance of ranching and cattle, to propel us into a successful future while constantly reminding us of our rich and vibrant legacy.
This is a difficult balancing act, one that requires leaders willing to take on the challenges of tomorrow by studying the footsteps of yesterday. Jon Means of Van Horn, Texas, is the quintessential example of a successful rancher: true to his heritage and excited about the prospects of the future.
Jon and his wife, Jackie, live on the Moon Ranch in Culberson County amid the arid and often unforgiving Davis Mountains. Anything but newcomers, Jon’s family has been ranching in the area for over 125 years. In 2007, Jon was elected to serve as the president of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, a key role in the promotion of one of Texas’ most important products. I had the pleasure of visiting Jon and Jackie on the ranch, and their passion for Texas runs as high as the temperature of the West Texas sun.
While the Means family used to raise Highland Herefords, Angus has been the ranch’s bread and butter for sixty plus years. Jon has a progressive mindset on the future of the beef industry and how best to move it forward in changing market environments, yet his appreciation for the traditional aspects of ranching is very clear. As he would put it, “Ranching is an art, not a science.”
Ranching is and will remain one of the premier endeavors that sets the Lone Star State apart from the rest of the nation. It takes men and women like Jon and Jackie Means, who understand the economic and cultural importance of ranching and cattle, to propel us into a successful future while constantly reminding us of our rich and vibrant legacy.
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