Texas farmers and ranchers established policy to help guide the agricultural advocacy efforts of Texas Farm Bureau (TFB), the state’s largest general farm and ranch organization.
Policies regarding livestock, private property rights and foreign ownership of agricultural land were among the policies approved by the nearly 700 voting delegates gathered at the organization’s 88th annual meeting’s business session Dec. 5 in Corpus Christi.
“Our business session provides Farm Bureau leaders from across the state an opportunity to set the policy goals of the organization for the coming year,” said TFB President Russell Boening, who was re-elected TFB president at the conclusion of the business session. Boening was first elected president of the organization in Dec. 2014.
Delegates approved several resolutions related to animal welfare. They supported a resolution that would require livestock health evaluation training for animal control and law enforcement personnel.
Delegates supported a resolution that would establish an assistance program for full or partial reimbursement to landowners for property damages due to illegal bailouts and chases.
Other resolutions approved by delegates pertained to eminent domain. Delegates supported requirements for companies with easements to install and maintain erosion control methods where the easement crosses a stream, creek, river or other erosionprone areas identified by the property owner.
Delegates also supported a resolution that opposes the use of eminent domain to acquire private property for renewable energy projects.
Farm Bureau leaders approved policy supporting financial compensation to farmers, ranchers and individuals for contamination of groundwater wells, surface water for nearby farms, livestock and irrigation water sources in a farm or ranch is adversely impacted by hazardous or toxic waste.
On the national level, delegates approved policy supporting the creation and enforcement of a registry of all lands currently owned by foreign interests or foreign individuals. Any future purchases of land would also need to be registered at closing.
State resolutions adopted at the TFB annual meeting become policies that guide the organization in 2022. National resolutions adopted by the voting delegates are sent to the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) for consideration in its resolutions process.
Resolutions approved by AFBF delegates in January provide a roadmap for the national organization.