The Texas Farm Bureau Leadership Conference in January at Austin's Omni Southpark Hotel was attended by Lampasas County Farm Bureau President Mickey Edwards and directors Asa Langford, John Davis and wife Teresa, and Walter and Charlene Ruzicka.

Speakers included Curtis Griffith, chairman of the board of CitiBank in Lubbock. He spoke on the downturn in the economy and the focus to solve the problems that contributed to the downturn in housing (sub-prime lending), unemployment and the default of financial institutions.

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison spoke further on the government stimulus package for the private sector of jobs, business incentives and tax cuts.

Dr. Bob Hillman, executive director of Texas Animal Health Commission, shared information on fever ticks that have multiplied rapidly in cattle and wildlife. He said it is not only a Texas problem. Areas from Del Rio to Brownsville are quarantined, and he recommended treatment of dipping with CoRal.

Hillman also explained about trich in cattle, and that Texas and Kansas are the only states in the West that do not have trich problems. He advocated making trich a "reportable disease" within 48 hours of testing.

Charles Elk, director of Oncor Electric Delivery, reported about wind energy transmission. He noted that renewable energy zones are in competition for location, which will be determined by the Public Utility Commission.

Juan Garcia, state executive director of the Farm Service Agency, discussed the 2008 Farm Bill and its composition of 74 percent nutrition (food stamps, school lunch programs, etc.), 10 percent crop insurance, 8 percent FSA/NRCS, and approximately 9 percent commodities.

FSA programs include SURE, ACRE, DCP and CCP (farm and crop base acres), which is the difference between "target price" and "national average price," and also the Livestock Forage Program.

A TxDOT representative reported that the agency will strive to use existing routes not to exceed 600 feet in width, and that the Trans Texas Corridor as formerly proposed has ended.

State Comptroller Susan Combs said Texas is in much better financial standing than many other states, with $2 billion in surplus and a rainy day fund of $6.7 billion.

The TFB legislative staff -- composed of Billy Howe, Regan Beck, Norman Garza and Steve Pringle of American Farm Bureau Federation -- reported on legislative issues concerning eminent domain reform, water and groundwater rights, and property taxes.

Conference attendees then were directed to the State Capitol for visits with legislators and staff.

Lampasas County FB directors met with staff members from the office of District 54 State Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock and Sen. Troy Fraser. Both legislators were in a joint session with Gov. Rick Perry.

The conference was interesting and informative, and the Lampasas County contingent had enjoyable visits.