FB ready for Waco convention

Kenneth Dierschke

Citing "many serious challenges for Texas agriculture," the president of Texas Farm Bureau has called the organization's voting delegates to Waco for the Texas Farm Bureau's 74th annual convention Dec. 1-3 at the Waco Convention Center.

"Prices for many crops are better this year, but we can't afford complacence," said TFB President Kenneth Dierschke. "We still have to get a farm bill done, and we have some serious issues to address policy-wise before the Texas Legislature meets again in 2009."

Dierschke said trade issues, the federal estate tax and regulatory issues would be among the top national issues of 2008, while eminent domain reform will be an important priority on the state level.

He also said voting delegates from the organization's 207 county Farm Bureaus will set TFB policy for the coming year.

Dierschke, a grain and cotton producer from San Angelo, said farmers and ranchers will be meeting in Waco under far different circumstances than last year's meeting in Arlington. Just a year ago, the state was reeling from the effects of an extended drought. This year there was, if anything, too much rain.

"The drought was finally broken and, in fact, it was practically drowned," said Dierschke. "One of the wettest years on record has followed the worst drought in Texas history."

Those rains created problems for many Texas farmers but have helped the yields of many crops and restored badly damaged rangelands.

TFB will name winners in its youth scholarship contests, honor membership achievements and elect leadership for 2008 at the annual convention, where more than 1,000 voting delegates, members and guests are expected to attend.