Addison: Future of Rural Texas symposium stresses importance of state’s agriculture

Pardon the politics. However Nobody sums it up greater than Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller whose advertising campaign motto is “Texas Agriculture Issues!”

Please take notice: That might not an endorsement of Miller who secured his third time period earlier this month, or of One other political candidate for that matter. Pretty, It is A mirrored picture of the very important position that Texas agriculture serves Inside the globe’s meals and fiber currents — (power, too, Really, but That is A topic For An further day).

It was Some extent that was frequently careworn Thursday and Friday in Lubbock, when the Texas Tribune hosted its “Method forward for Rural Texas” symposium on the Texas Tech campus.

West Texas education chiefs converse about future of their area at Texas Tribune symposium

To not the state The apparent right here, but Texas is huge — and it has A lot of farmland. Truly, it has extra farmland than One other state Inside the U.S., accounting For about 126 million acres final yr, Based mostly on the U.S. Division of Agriculture’s statistical providers division.

Furtherextra It is the Most very important supplier of beef cattle Inside the U.S. (which is The worldwide chief in beef manufacturing) and a prime-5 competitor in each dairy and egg manufacturing.

It fell simply brief in poultry manufacturing, although landed at a nonetheless-admirable No. 6. And wright hereas most U.S. turkey farmers face a briefage in manufacturing this yr As a Outcome of of unfold of avian flu, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported earlier this week that these in Texas have had greater luck this yr.

With three primary markets Inside the state, Texas May even be A pacesetter Inside the nation’s cotton enterprise with West Texas alone accounting for 3 To six% of The worldwide cotton current in any given yr. Plus, West Texas is house to the Pumpkin Capital of the U.S. — Floydada — which primarily specializes Inside The favored Halloween jack o’lantern-type gourd.

Plus, solely behind California and Florida, Texas May even be Definitely one of many nation’s largest suppliers in orange and grapefruit manufacturing.

Amongst the mOne other dozens of commodities that Texas farmers harvest final yr (every of which have numerous species): Hay, corn, sorghum, wheat, peanuts, rice, potatoes, pecans, melons, soybeans, cabbage, sunflower, spinach, oats, cucumbers, mushrooms, sugarcane, foliage and reduce flowers.

As we face a altering local climate, elevated droughts and jeopardized water currents, it was encouraging To Take heed to althoughtful converse aboutions from chiefs and coverage makers on strategies to correctly handle the state’s pure assets – collectively with land and water – and place an relevant spotlight on rural Texas.

In an ever-shifting and more and more polarizing political local climate, primarytain in thoughts: Texas Agriculture Issues.