HORACE MCQUEEN: Texas Agriculture Needs A Leader!

Texas voters shot themselves in the foot two years ago when Sid Miller was elected Agriculture Commissioner. Several qualified opponents on the Republican ticket got fewer votes since they were not “tea party” stalwarts. Miller has been a thorn in the side of many Texans from day one. Before being voted out of his prior state representative post he was named one of the “worst legislators” by “Texas Monthly” Magazine. Now after election to head TDA, his foul mouth and ridiculous response to serious questions about his conduct has created plenty of controversy. Several folks—some in public office and some not—have been mentioned as candidates for the office in the next election. Regardless of who sits in the big chair at TDA two years from now, we need an agriculture commissioner who plans to stay in that position and not use it as a stepping stone to another state office.

Lots of ink and chatter is being devoted to the “veterinary feed directive” that takes effect January 1. For most of us, it is of no significance. Unless you mix your own feed and add certain medications—or buy some pre-medicated feeds—no problem for most livestock producers. There will be no changes for injected drugs. Tetracycline, for example, will require veterinarian approval if mixed in feed, but not if a producer injects the drug.

There are lots of bureaucrats in Washington, D.C.—and Austin, Texas—that spend taxpayer dollars meddling in affairs that are none of their business. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is one of those. That bloated outfit has 142 public relations employees pushing their message of more control over farmers and ranchers and the land they work. Those folks are serious that they want to stop all farming operations unless we kowtow to their proposed “rules”. One would prohibit a farmer from changing from one crop to another without EPA approval. Another reads that any puddle of water, tire ruts, sheet flow and standing water can be renamed “disturbed wetlands” and subject to control of EPA “experts”.

And finally, an inmate at the insane asylum was sitting on the porch as a farmer passed by with a trailer load of cow manure. “Hey, Mr. Farmer”, he shouted. “Where are you going with that load of manure?” The farmer replied that he was going to put it on his strawberries. The inmate laughed and said, “And they call me crazy. I always use cream.” That’s –30— [email protected].

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