Cattle Raisers support research, protect property rights at summer meeting

TSCRA Daily News Update, June 18, 2008

Cattle Raisers support research, protect property rights at summer meeting

The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association board of directors issued three policy resolutions at the June 17 meeting at Lost Pines asking for greater research into and prevention of trichomonaisis; protecting ranchers' rights to conduct safe prescribed burns; and encouraging Texas A&M University to recruit a large-animal veterinarian to lead that university's College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Research.

Dr. Bob Hillman, Texas Animal Health Commission, and Dr. Glenn Rogers, Pfizer Animal Health, spoke at the joint meeting of three TSCRA committees – Animal Health, Agricultural Research and Wildlife.

Their discussion on trichomonaisis led to a policy recommendation by the committee members to urge the Texas Animal Health Commission to "assess the threat for introduction of trichomoniasis-infected cattle into Texas from other states, assess the trichomoniasis situation in Texas cattle herds and with cooperation of the cattle industry, adopt appropriate regulatory measures if warranted."

The TSCRA Executive committee asked the board to consider a resolution directed to the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Research at TAMU. TSCRA leadership has long been concerned with the diminishing number of large-animal veterinarians in rural areas.

TSCRA's policy "requests the president, chancellor, and board of regents of Texas A&M University recruit a production agriculture veterinarian to be the new dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences."

The Natural Resources Committee submitted a resolution supporting the continued existence of the Prescribed Burning Board as a stand-alone entity "under the jurisdiction of the Texas Department of Agriculture and made up of volunteer members that have valuable knowledge and expertise."

The TSCRA board also supports the right of ranchers to conduct burns on their own land, assuming all liability; the right to hire a certified burn manger to burn and transfer liability; and supports additional education and training of ranch owners in how to prepare for safe prescribed burning.

The resolution also states, "that ranchers, under a county burn ban, 1) be allowed to burn on their own property with the permission of local government, or 2) be allowed to burn on their own property after becoming a certified prescribed burn manager, subject to lesser, non-commercial insurance requirements; and calls for the law concerning prescribed burning be clarified for state and county officials."

Gregg Doud, National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) chief economist, talked to the board and audience on what ethanol production is doing to the price of corn and feed grains (going up) and to the profit margin of cattle producers (getting slimmer).

The Trans-Texas Corridor had been the topic for Mike Barron, an attorney specializing in eminent domain issues with Barron & Adler, but with the recent changes of leadership at Texas Department of Transportation, Barron said the TTC is a less threatening issue to landowners.

He focused much of his talk on eminent domain in Texas – how Texas' laws compare to eminent domain laws in other states. He was introduced to the audience by a surprise speaker, Justice Phil Johnson, Texas Supreme Court.

Other speakers at the summer meeting were Jim Kelley, Superior Livestock Auction; Lloyd Day, USDA Agricultural Marketing Service; Blaine Bull, ViaNovo management and communications firm; and Warren Samuelson, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

A little fun was thrown in with the day and a half of meetings. Kathleen and Beau White, Rosanky, called on their friends in the Jack Russell Terrier community to host terrier races on Sunday evening.

All betting on the winner was in fun and proceeds went to the family of TSCRA Special Ranger Eddie Foreman, who unexpectedly passed away last month.

This annual meeting was made possible by the support of members and generous sponsors: Bayer Health Care-Animal Health, Capital Farm Credit, Elanco Animal Health, Gordon Richardson-Estate Planning, Hargrove Insurance, Micro Beef Technologies, National Finance Credit Corporation, Texas Range Minerals and Walco International.