Tag Archives: Texas Farm Bureau

WACO, Texas —Texas Farm Bureau will provide a complimentary membership to each of the 1,059 FFA chapters across the Lone Star State.

“Our goal is to strengthen the existing relationship with Texas FFA by working to provide educational resources, classroom support and local resources through county Farm Bureaus and the programs and projects that may be developed,” Texas Farm Bureau President Russell Boening said.

The relationship between the two organizations can help inspire students to pursue a career in agriculture—a field with growing opportunities. It can also strengthen local FFA chapters’ agricultural advocacy efforts.

“There is an enormous potential for synergy in advocacy efforts on behalf of Texas agriculture and for enhancing our efforts to prepare the next generation of professional agriculturalists and community leaders,” Texas FFA Executive Director Tom Maynard said. “Texas Farm Bureau has excellent resources that support our teachers’ classroom instruction, and county Farm Bureaus can be an excellent resource to support community efforts in agricultural literacy and service learning.”

Boening noted Texas Farm Bureau is a longtime supporter of Texas FFA and has worked with the organization in leadership development and agricultural advocacy and literacy.

There is also a long history of Texas FFA members joining the state’s largest general farm and ranch organization and serving in leadership positions. Adding these chapters to Texas Farm Bureau’s more than 519,000 member-families strengthens the organization’s role and efforts to be the Voice of Texas Agriculture.

“We are confident that the relationship between Texas Farm Bureau and Texas FFA will continue to grow and bear fruit, and the result will be of great benefit to both organizations and to Texas agriculture,” Boening said.

We take our kids to school. Go to work. Maybe stop by the grocery store on the way home. Pick up supper or a few things for the family.

It’s our routine, one we’ve settled into nicely. And it’s because we don’t have to think about our food.

Just like U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently said: “Every one of us that’s not a farmer is not a farmer because we have farmers.”

That’s a lot of “farmer” in one sentence. And the powerful statement makes sense.

There aren’t many farmers among us. Less than two percent, as a matter of fact. Even more telling, 85 percent of what’s grown in our country is produced by less than one-tenth of one percent of our population.

Vilsack is right. We delegate the responsibility of feeding our families to a small percentage of this country. It’s an incredible freedom that we often take for granted.

Something’s happening, though, in this current age of mistrust.

Some folks are a little unsure about the actual practices of farming. That’s because we’re two, three and sometimes four generations removed from the farm or ranch. And getting further away every day.

But they still trust the farmer. Surveys continue to point to that fact.

The efficiencies of U.S. agriculture have given us a luxury. We don’t have to grow our own food. Someone else can. And does so safely. That’s a freedom we all should cherish.

The challenge for farmers and ranchers is finding ways to communicate their story to those distanced from the farm. Transparency is a must. Consumers demand it. Farmers are eager to share it.

And trust will grow with those relationships. We must trust the practices and tools of agriculture. Farming methods may vary, but the result is the same: Safe, affordable and abundant food, fiber and fuel.

The freedom of not having to farm is remarkable.

Author: Gary Joiner – Texas Table Top

(WACO, Texas)— Quarterly food basket prices drop to $46.43, according to the Texas Farm Bureau’s (TFB) Grocery Price Watch survey released Tuesday.

The consumer dollar bought a bigger basket in the first quarter of 2016 as retail food prices continued to drop.

The first quarter survey results recorded a total balance of $46.43 for a 16-staple item basket including produce, meat, grain and dairy products. It’s a decrease of more than 2 percent over last quarter and 5.32 percent compared to this time last year.

“Grocery prices affect all Texans, including farmers and ranchers,” TFB President Russell Boening said. “Our survey shows a trip to the grocery store is costing consumers less than a short time ago.”

Leading the decrease at the meat counter is sirloin steak, which fell to $6.29 per pound. That’s down 13.95 percent from $7.31 last quarter. Lean ground beef dropped 5.12 percent, or 21 cents, to $3.89 per pound.

“A growing cow herd and less expensive input costs—like feed and fuel—have protein prices, especially beef, falling,” Boening said.

Prices for pork chops saw a decrease of 6.19 percent to $3.94 per pound, compared to $4.20 last quarter.

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts were the only protein to see a price increase in the first quarter. The slight increase was less than 1 percent, for a total of $3.36 per pound.

Shoppers looking for fresh produce paid less for lettuce, grapefruit and fresh tomatoes.

“Texas-grown grapefruit and citrus are harvested during the first few months of the year, making them an affordable and nutritious option,” Boening said.

Of the 16 food staples surveyed, four other items decreased in price or stayed the same, while three increased in price from last quarter.

The TFB Grocery Price Watch is conducted quarterly by shoppers strategically located across the state of Texas. The current survey data was collected by 42 shoppers from March 3-10, 2016. TFB has monitored Texas food prices through its Grocery Price Watch survey since March 2009.