Agricultural News
A Cattle View of Farm Policy Offered by TSCRA Vice President
Tue, 18 May 2010 6:11:47 CDT
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) First Vice President Joe Parker Jr., Byers, Texas, testified today before the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture regarding the 2012 Farm Bill. The hearings, which are schedule to take place across the country, serve as a time for lawmakers and stakeholders to review current U.S. agriculture policy in advance of the 2012 Farm Bill. The hearing in Lubbock was the seventh of eight field hearings currently scheduled by the Committee. The final of the eight field hearings gets underway in a few hours in South Dakota. Click here for written testimony of all of the witnesses at this and the other field hearings.
"Texas ranchers are dependent upon this nation's agricultural system and infrastructure to raise, feed, transport and market our cattle in order to provide safe and affordable beef for America's table," said Parker. "We are interested in seeing the cattle industry remain healthy and viable."
"It is not in the best interest of ranchers for the government to implement policy that sets prices; underwrites inefficient production; or manipulates domestic supply, demand, costs or prices," Parker continued.
TSCRA supports a Farm Bill with the following provisions:
Enhances the individual's right of free choice in land use, soil conservation, water conservation, energy use, and development utilizing working lands conservation methods that are based on sound science and economics.
Supports a rancher's ability to market cattle however, whenever, and to whomever. Sound farm policy is based on a free, private enterprise and competitive market system.
Maintains USDA's role of establishing the human nutrition policy for the federal government and providing proper human nutrition, food security, research and education for America.
Encourages the availability of capital to ranchers at competitive rates in order to maintain a healthy business environment. This will result in the continued viability of U.S. ranching operations.
Supports international trade policies that aggressively pursue expanded market access for U.S. beef; enforces trade agreements that are based on internationally recognized standards and guidelines; and holds trading partners accountable for their international trade commitments.
Increases investment in research on animal diseases and pests, economics, production practices, nutrition, food safety, environmental impacts, and the impact of environmentally sensitive lands and species on agricultural operations.
Supports energy policies that are supported by market demand, not federal subsidies. Additionally, the cattle industry will continue to oppose putting food and fuel in competition with one another.
Maintains USDA's oversight for all Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) activities and responsibilities. These activities should be more robust to protect U.S. agricultural producers from foreign animal diseases and pests.
The 2012 Farm Bill should not become a platform for extremist animal activism organizations to push their anti-meat and/or anti-agriculture agendas.
Additionally, the 2012 Farm Bill should not achieve to set prices, underwrite inefficient production or manipulate domestic supply, demand, cost and/or price.
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