The Ag Policy Angle
TDA's Quarterly Policy Newsletter
We are sending you the Texas Department of Agriculture’s quarterly policy brief newsletter (set forth below) from our friend Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller. This edition has a good section on the panhandle fires. Some of you are aware that three longtime TAAA members do engage in fire fighting through the federal contracting process – Luke Boedecker, Andy Mitchell, and David Guetersloh.
TAAA has long advocated for a more efficient process in the dispatch of aerial resources to fight fires, one that would help prevent fires from growing to the monstrous size of the recent Smokehouse Creek fire. Luke Boedecker testified last week before a special legislative committee considering ways to improve the system and address the loss of life, livestock and grass caused by this million-acre event. Luke is currently serving as TAAA’s legislative committee chair.
The quarterly policy update also includes an updated list of the current plant pest and disease quarantine areas and regulations for Texas.
Howdy Neighbors,
As your Agriculture Commissioner, it's my mission to keep you informed on the many ways the Texas Department of Agriculture serves the great state of Texas. Whether it’s through our school feeding programs, our consumer protection activities, our GO TEXAN marketing, or our economic development efforts, the TDA touches millions of Texans’ lives every single day. Your constituents are our constituents, and we want to keep you informed on the many ways the department serves the great state of Texas. In the interest of acting as a resource to legislators and their staff, we have created the Ag Policy Angle (APA) to highlight federal and international measures that may affect your constituents, our state agriculture industry, and the food system. We hope that this quarterly newsletter will make it easy to stay informed about the broader policies that influence agriculture in Texas. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us for further discussion on whatever you read or to ask any questions you may have.
Remember friends,
Texas Agriculture Matters
Sid Miller
Texas Agriculture Commissioner
TDA ANNOUNCEMENTS
TDA has published a comprehensive page of resources relating to the Panhandle Wildfires. Many of these resources will also be relevant to any future wildfires in the state. Click here to access the page.
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) was recently identified as the mysterious illness that was causing decreased milk production in dairy herds in Texas and other states. Read Commissioner Miller's press release about the situation here.
The Texas Ag Council is hosting their Legislative Ag Day on May 8th at the Luling Foundation Farm. Transportation is provided to and from the Capitol. Legislative staffers can find additional information about the event here.
TDA UPDATES
If your office would like to discuss any potential interim charges or bill ideas for next session, please email addie.stone@texasagriculture.gov.
Our Policy and External Relations Team has grown! In January, James Redfield came on board as a Government Relations Specialist. James is originally from Nacogdoches and brings a wealth of federal experience to the team. His email is james.redfield@texasagriculture.gov.
PROGRAM UPDATES
Current proposed rules for TDA programs that are open for public comment can be found here.
Click here to view the current plant pest and disease quarantine areas and regulations for Texas.
To see the most recent Food and Nutrition Division data for number of meals served through TDA programs, click here.
*Thank you to James Redfield for his contribution of the 1944 Water Treaty, EU Farmer Protests, and Congressional Appropriations summaries!*
Panhandle Wildfires
In February and March, multiple wildfires wreaked havoc on agricultural operations and rural communities in the Panhandle. Due to unfavorable weather conditions and ample natural fuel, the fires spread rapidly and burned over 1.3 million acres of land. The relentless advance of the Smokehouse Creek Fire, the largest wildfire in state history, led to widespread destruction. It took almost three weeks to fully contain the blaze, and reports indicate significant damage to homes, infrastructure, and natural habitats.
Two people and over 7,300 head of livestock perished, and recovery efforts will be ongoing for many weeks. The financial toll of the fire is expected to be substantial, with losses in property and infrastructure running into millions of dollars. The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) had personnel staffing the state operations center for the duration of the fire. These individuals coordinated donations of hay, fencing, and other agricultural supplies to ensure that they got to supply points where they could be distributed effectively. When the fire caused 16 schools to close, TDA ensured that students continued to have access to healthy meals wherever they went during this stressful time.
TDA also has resources to help people cope with the aftermath of the fire. The AgriStress Hepline is available 24/7 via phone call or text message at 833-897-2474 and can help farmers, ranchers, farmworkers, and rural community members manage the stress of this disaster. TDA also operates the State of Texas Agriculture Relief (STAR) Fund which provides funding to producers rebuilding after a natural disaster. The STAR Fund has received an outpouring of donations totaling over $1,100,000 that will go a long way on this road of recovery.
TDA has not been alone in our desire to help the farmers and ranchers of the Panhandle. Many agricultural departments, organizations, and producers from other states reached out to contribute to the relief effort. For example, Commissioner Miller coordinated with Commissioner Rick Pate of Alabama, the Alabama Cattleman's Association, and the Alabama Trucking Association to facilitate the delivery of twenty-one truckloads of hay to the Panhandle. It is a testament to the character of the people in the agriculture industry that so many people stepped up to help in a time of need.
ADDITIONAL LINKS:
Links work best when followed on the Google Chrome browser on a computer.
Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers (RGVSG), Inc. recently announced that it would be closing its sugar mill in Santa Rosa, TX, citing a lack of water flowing into the region for irrigation. The mill, which processes sugar cane into raw sugar and molasses, has been in operation for over 50 years and is the last sugar mill in the state. Given RGVSG Inc.’s role as a top 10 producer of raw sugar in the United States and as an employer of close to 500 full-time and seasonal workers, it’s safe to say this is a huge loss for the Rio Grande Valley agricultural industry.
Sadly, Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers, Inc. isn’t alone. Numerous agricultural producers and communities in the valley are feeling the effects of acute water shortages. A major factor contributing to this issue stems from Mexico routinely missing both annual and five-year water delivery deadlines outlined in a 1944 treaty that was signed between the United States and Mexico. This has been a longstanding problem going back as far as the 1990s and will continue to negatively impact Texas’ Rio Grande Valley unless each country’s leadership on the federal level gets serious about addressing this issue.
The International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) is the body created by the U.S. and Mexico to oversee the boundary and water treaties between the two countries and is responsible for settling differences that may arise in their application. The U.S. representative to the IBWC is appointed by the president and overseen by the U.S. Department of State. Texas members of the U.S. Congress, specifically Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz and Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, have worked to shed light on this issue, and Commissioner Miller has been active in conversations about potential solutions.
ADDITIONAL LINKS:
Links work best when followed on the Google Chrome browser on a computer.
In early February, the U.S. District Court in Arizona issued a ruling that vacated the registration of common over-the-top dicamba products that are used on soybeans and cotton. The court reasoned that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had not followed proper public input procedures when registering the products in 2020, but many commentators felt that the court simply bowed to the will of environmental groups. This decision came as a shock to farmers around the country as many producers had already made purchases of seed and herbicide products for the upcoming planting season.
Legislators from across the country and agricultural groups like the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) immediately took action to request an existing stocks order from the EPA that would allow for the continued sale, distribution, and use of over-the-top dicamba products. Thankfully, EPA recognized the weight of the situation and quickly issued the existing stocks order. For this growing season only, farmers are allowed to use the products they have already acquired or acquire products that are already in the channels of trade.
The question remains of how the EPA will handle this situation going forward. It is unclear whether the agency will appeal the ruling or pursue new registrations for the dicamba products. Given that 60% of the cotton planted in Texas is dicamba-tolerant, it is important to the state’s producers that clarity is provided on this issue as soon as possible. As the lead agency in the state for the regulation of pesticide use and application, the Texas Department of Agriculture is invested in protecting this tool for farmers.
ADDITIONAL LINKS:
Links work best when followed on the Google Chrome browser on a computer.
In recent months, farmers have taken to the streets across Europe to protest what they say are the European Union's (EU) burdensome red tape, strict subsidy rules, taxation, and environmental regulations that threaten their livelihoods. They've endured lower yields, fierce competition from cheaper imports, and higher input costs. One farmer in Paris told CNN, “We are no longer making a living from our profession.” Many of the protests have taken the form of roads being blocked by tractors or other things.
In response to these protests and calls from member states, the European Commission proposed new concessions on climate and environmental measures that stem from its European Green Deal that was approved in 2020. The concessions, which focus on loosening regulations on tillage methods for soil erosion, crop rotation, penalties, subsidy restrictions, and other measures, were agreed to by EU member states in late March. The proposals will now go before the European Parliament for approval. This comes on the heels of the EU’s decision in January to adopt a regulation granting a partial exemption for farmers from a conditionality rule on land lying fallow.
Farmers and ranchers in the U.S. are facing similar issues as their counterparts in Europe, especially as it relates to environmental policies. Specifically, the Biden administration’s SEC climate disclosure rule, the EPA and Army Corp of Engineers’ Waters of the United States rule, the 30x30 plan, and the environmental commitments that major financial institutions have made as members of the Net-Zero Banking Alliance are just a few of the things that threaten the U.S. agricultural industry. Much can be learned from the protests occurring in Europe, and we will continue to monitor the situation as it unfolds.
ADDITIONAL LINKS:
Links work best when followed on the Google Chrome Browser on a computer.
In February, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released the 2022 Census of Agriculture data. The Census, conducted every five years, is meant to be “a complete count of US farms and ranches and the people who operate them.” Given the volume of statistical collection and analysis that the Census requires, there is always a delay in the release of the data. Nevertheless, the Census provides valuable insight into the state of agriculture in Texas and across the nation.
Some noteworthy statistics from the Texas data include:
Though the number of farms in Texas declined from 248,416 in 2017 to 230,662 in 2022, Texas still has by far the most individual farms of any state. The decline in the number of farms was likely driven by consolidation, urbanization, and farmer retirements.
73% of Texas farms are under 179 acres. However, farms with 2,000 acres or more make up 70.2% of the land in farms and 59.5% of the value of production.
The average age of Texas producers is 59.9 years old, and 6% of Texas producers were under 35 years old. 32% of farmers in Texas were considered new and beginning producers (10 years or less of experience).
The total value of agricultural production in Texas was $32.2 billion, with 77% of that coming from livestock and 23% coming from crop production. Texas has the third highest value of production in the nation behind California and Iowa.
Later in the year, NASS will release “profiles” on each state, county, and congressional district that present the raw data from the Census in an easy-to-use format.
ADDITIONAL LINKS:
Links work best when followed on the Google Chrome browser on a computer.
In early March, six months into the federal government’s fiscal year, Congress approved, and the President signed, a $459 billion government funding package comprised of six bills. This was the first part of a two-part plan to pass all 12 appropriations bills to fund the federal government for the 2024 fiscal year. Members ultimately overcame several policy disagreements, which allowed the package to move forward.
Included in this first package was funding for agriculture-related programs through the Fiscal Year 2024 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. Specifically, it included $22.336 billion for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, $6.521 billion for the Food and Drug Administration, and $365 million for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Other areas of note include provisions addressing foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land, continuing important investments in agriculture research and rural development, and safeguarding the food supply.
On March 23, the second package of bills to fund the remainder of the federal government through September 30 was signed into law. Funding for the departments and agencies included in this package totaled $1.2 trillion.
ADDITIONAL LINKS:
Links work best when followed on the Google Chrome browser on a computer.
