Daily News Update, Jan. 8, 2008

Ag Commissioner Staples sets goals for 2008

In a speech to more than 800 faculty and staff at Texas A&M University's AgriLife Conference in College Station on Tuesday, Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples encouraged all Texans to play a part in preserving our state's multi-billion dollar agriculture industry and enhancing rural economic development.

"The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is dedicated to securing our state's rich heritage of farming and ranching, and being a national leader in agricultural production," Commissioner Staples said. "First, we must bridge the gap between rural and urban Texas, fostering an understanding that agriculture is not just a way of life for farmers and ranchers, but the foundation of life for all Texans."

Currently Texas leads the nation in the number of cattle, horses, goats, sheep and deer. The state also ranks first in the production of cotton, wool, mohair and hay. The Texas agriculture industry employs nearly two million Texans, contributing approximately nine percent of the gross state product. Commissioner Staples credited the unwavering work ethic of Texas producers for reaching a milestone in 2007.

"Agriculture contributed more than $100 billion to the Texas economy in 2007–a record for our state's agriculture industry," Commissioner Staples said. "All Texans should be proud of the dedicated men and women who live and breathe agriculture daily, providing food and fiber to feed and clothe their fellow Texans."

The commissioner called on all Texans to assist TDA in ensuring the continued prosperity of agriculture, and listed five priorities as pathways to success:

• Link rural Texas communities to higher education/training opportunities to ensure Texas has a qualified workforce;
• Increase awareness on the role agriculture plays in daily lives of all Texans;
• Research and implement methods to increase commodities to meet the demands of food, fiber, feedstock and fuels;
• Expand outreach to farmers/ranchers about marketing opportunities, and to consumers about state-grown (GO TEXAN) products; and
• Preserve land for agriculture and protect property rights.