Texas
Texas legislators, staff grow ag knowledge during farm visit – Texas Farm Bureau
By Shelby Shank
Field Editor
Texas legislators and legislative staff got their boots dirty during a trip to the farm to learn more about agriculture.
Hays, Travis and Caldwell County Farm Bureaus worked with the Luling Foundation and the Texas Ag Council to host the Legislative Ag Day on May 8.
Several Texas legislators and over 60 staff members for Texas senators and representatives attended the event, growing a better understanding of agriculture and the issues facing the industry.
“There are a thousand people a day moving to Texas. A lot of them are coming from big cities, and they probably don’t have any connection with agriculture,” Joe Morris, Travis County Farm Bureau president, said. “We’re trying to bring legislators and their staffers out to the farm and show them around, so they can gain an understanding about what it takes to put food on the table and clothes on your back.”
This year’s event was held at the Luling Foundation, a model farm established over 90 years ago. The farm has been a longtime advocate for Texas agriculture and has a long history of diverse agricultural practices.
“It’s important for legislative staff to see, meet and speak with farmers and ranchers. This event gives legislators and their staff firsthand experience and visualization of what farmers and ranchers do,” Makayla Arthur, senior policy analyst for Sen. Brian Birdwell, said. “It bridges the gap of knowledge between a person who’s never experienced or been exposed to agriculture with a person who lives it every day.”
The day’s activities included various demonstrations to showcase different aspects of farming and ranching in Texas.
A demonstration on beef cattle production showed different feed rations the Luling Foundation feeds its cattle, as well as discussion on grass-fed and grain-finished beef. Questions centered around the current state of the cattle market and the impact ongoing drought and recent wildfires have had on cattle herd numbers.
A sheep production presentation showed participants the differences between wool and mohair.
“I think one of the things we take for granted is the clothes we put on every single day,” Jaime Villarreal, chief of staff for Sen. Carol Alvarado, said. “We think of food as something that will always be around, but then we think about the labor it took to grow or raise that food. A lot of the times, unless our clothes are a synthetic material, it’s coming from another big part of the agriculture industry, like sheep production.”
Rep. Stan Kitzman noted Texas is growing increasingly urban.
Kitzman’s district includes Waller, Austin, Fayette, Colorado, Wharton and part of Ford Bend counties, covering areas that have a agricultural production but are facing urban sprawl.
“What was already a difficult industry to survive in, we find that our resources for agriculture are being taxed even more, especially with the loss of our agricultural land,” Kitzman said. “We have less and less land to produce our food and fiber on, and it becomes more important that those who make the laws and the legislature understand how critical having our food and fiber grown here is to our food security.”
Participants also learned about forestry, water, viticulture and other challenges facing farmers and ranchers.
The event was an opportunity to cultivate relationships with legislators and their staff and answer any questions they might have about agriculture.
“It’s really important for staff members like myself to attend events like the Legislative Ag Day,” Lauren Hadley, chief of staff for Rep. Gina Hinojosa, said. “We represent downtown Austin and don’t have a lot of farmland in our district, but issues that happen in rural areas impact our district. So, it’s good for us to have the opportunity to see and gain knowledge on agriculture and how it’s impacting our constituents.”
The day closed with a skeet shoot demonstration, giving the legislators and staff an opportunity to try their hand at the sport and learn about gun safety.
“When our farmers and ranchers prosper, the state prospers. I think Texans recognize farming and ranching is important to the state and helpful for our economy,” Villarreal said. “We need to ensure that farmers and ranchers have the resources to continue to be successful.”
LUBBOCK, Texas (News Release) – Goodwill Industries of Northwest Texas (GINWT) will be holding a Job Fair on Monday, November 11, 2024, at 6520 University, Ste. 11, Lubbock TX 79413 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
GINWT is hiring Assistant Store Managers, Cashiers, Retail Associates, and Donation Attendants for our location at 5710 Spur 327.
Full-time and part-time positions available with a starting pay of $12.75 an hour.
Come with your resume in hand and ready to fill out an application.
On-site interviews will be available.
For more information about Goodwill Industries of Northwest Texas or the Goodwill Career Resource Center, please call (806) 744-8419, email amarquez@ginwtx.org or visit goodwillnwtexas.org.
Copyright 2024 KCBD. All rights reserved.
Texas
Texas Land Commissioner Buckingham redraws Texas-Oklahoma border to ensure safe water for 2 million Texans
The Texas Land Commissioner announced the Red River Boundary Commission has redrawn the Texas-Oklahoma boundary in order to ensure safe water for more than 2 million Texans.
The redraw will secure and make available approximately 30% of the drinking water supply for the surrounding area.
“As Texas Land Commissioner, it is my honor to work on behalf of all Texans and bring solutions to the table to benefit our great state. This redrawn boundary line will ensure that millions of north Texans’ water comes from a secure source in Texas,” said Commissioner Dawn Buckingham.
“I am proud of the GLO’s surveying team for playing such a significant role in settling this boundary issue by using their mapping skills and expertise. Surveying has been a vital part of the GLO since the establishment of this agency in 1836.”
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In a press release regarding the move, it was explained that the shift was prompted due to a discovery in 2009 of a pump station that was required to stop operation to prohibit further introduction of Zebra mussels in Texas.
The mussels are believed to have negative impacts due to power plants spending millions removing them from clogged water intakes.
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It was during this pause in operation that a question arose regarding where the pump station was located. If the pump was in Oklahoma, operating it could violate federal law prohibiting the interstate transport of zebra mussels.
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“It was determined that the pump station that provides drinking water to certain parts of north Texas was inadvertently built straddling the state lines of Texas and Oklahoma,” it said.
“On October 30, 2024, the Red River Boundary Commission, composed of Texas and Oklahoma commissions, executed the Amended and Restated Texoma Area Boundary Agreement to correct the boundary issue and ensure the pump station is located wholly in Texas,” according to the statement.
The Texas Rangers spring training schedule is set with the club announcing game times on Thursday.
The entire schedule is below.
The Rangers play 33 spring training games in 2025, including 31 Cactus League games in Arizona and two exhibition against the Kansas City Royals on March 24-25 at Globe Life field.
The Rangers spring schedule starts against the Royals at Surprise Stadium, the complex the club’s share, on Feb. 21.
Individual game tickets go on sale online at texasrangers.com on Tuesday. In person ticket sales will be available at the Surprise Stadium box office beginning Jan. 25. For more information on 2025 season and individual game tickets call 623-222-2222 or visit surprisestadium.com. Ticket information for the two exhibition games at Globe Life field will be announced at a later date.
Texas begins its 23rd spring training at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Ariz., and will play 17 of its 31 Cactus League games in Surprise.
DATE, OPPONENT, SITE, TIME
Feb. 21, Royals, Surprise Stadium, 1:05 p.m.
Feb. 22, Giants, Surprise Stadium, 1:05 p.m.
Feb. 23, Cubs, Mesa (Sloan Park), 1:05 p.m.
Feb. 24, White Sox, Glendale, 1:05 p.m.
Feb. 25, Royals, Surprise Stadium, 1:05 p.m.
Feb. 26, Guardians, Goodyear, 1:05 p.m.
Feb. 27, Mariners (ss), Surprise Stadium, 1:05 p.m.
Feb. 28, Cubs, Surprise Stadium, 1:05 p.m.
March 1, Brewers, Phoenix, 1:10 p.m.
March 2, Diamondbacks, Surprise Stadium, 1:05 p.m.
March 3, Royals, Surprise Stadium,1:05 p.m.
March 4, Athletics, Surprise Stadium, 1:05 p.m.
March 5, Reds, Goodyear, 1:05 p.m.
March 6, Padres, Surprise Stadium, 1:05 p.m.
; Dodgers, Glendale, 1:05 p.m.
March 7, Rockies, Salt River Fields, 6:40 p.m.
March 8, Royals (ss), Surprise Stadium, 1:05 p.m.
March 9, Diamondbacks (ss), Salt River Fields, 1:10 p.m.
March 10, Open Date
March 11, Angels, Surprise Stadium, 1:05 p.m.
March 12, Reds, Surprise Stadium, 1:05 p.m.
March 13, Giants, Scottsdale, 1:05 p.m.
March 14, Rockies, Surprise Stadium, 6:05 p.m.
; Padres, Peoria, 6:40 p.m.
March 15, Athletics (ss), Mesa (Hohokam), 1:05 p.m.
; Giants, (Spring Breakout Game), Scottsdale, TBA.
March 16, White Sox, Surprise Stadium, 1:05 p.m.
March 17, Open Date
March 18, Guardians, Surprise Stadium, 6:05 p.m.
March 19, Mariners, Peoria, 1:10 p.m.
March 20, Rockies, Surprise Stadium, 6:05 p.m.
; Padres, Peoria, 6:40 p.m.
March 21, Angels (ss), Tempe, 12:10 p.m.
March 22, Royals, Surprise Stadium, 12:05 p.m.
March 23, Open Date
March 24, Royals, Globe Life Field, 7:05 p.m. CT
March 25, Royals, Globe Life Field, 1:35 p.m. CT
Rangers home games are in bold; ss-split squad games.
Note: Surprise, Ariz., is one hour behind Texas time (Central time) through March 8 (Mountain time) and two hours behind beginning March 9 (Pacific time).
You can follow Stefan Stevenson on X @StefanVersusTex.
Catch up with Inside the Rangers on Facebook and X.
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