Election 2002: Combs, Ramsay face off in race for Texas Agriculture Commissioner
'I've shown a substantial understanding of broad policy issues'

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas Edition

Combs

October 24, 2002 -- "Agriculture is different. Agriculture is special. Agriculture is the essential element for daily survival. If you don't have agriculture, you don't survive," stated Republican Susan Combs, the incumbent in the state's race for Agriculture Commissioner.

In a recent interview with Country World, Combs answered and explained what and why Texas agriculture is important to her and other Texans.

A fourth-generation Texan and rancher from Brewster County, Combs, the 10th commissioner of agriculture and first woman to hold the office, is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law.

Combs is a member of the House committees on Natural Resources and Criminal Jurisprudence, and serves on several ag-related boards. She was named Progressive Farmer's Leader of the Year in Texas Agriculture for 2002.

She served in the Texas Legislature from 1993-1996, and was elected as commissioner in 1998. Combs is seeking her second term in office, and has an agenda for Texas agriculture.

"We are among the leaders in the nation on animal agriculture. We do a phenomenal job, and I see meat production and dairy production continuing to thrive and grow in the state of Texas," she said.

Combs sees the rural areas playing larger roles in seeking alliances, and "bridges being built" between urban and rural areas. Keeping families on the farms and ranches is one priority for the commissioner.

"All of us have children or grandchildren who we'd really like to have them continuing in some form or fashion ... on our farms and ranches. We're spending a lot of time at the agency (agriculture commission) putting together, what I'd say, sort of road maps for rural economic and agriculture-plus development," added Combs.

She believes the strategies for agriculture expansion, for young families remaining on the land and those for young farmers are all "kind of the same." A connection with the consumer is of utmost importance, and a producer's revenue is based on this connection.

"If you are somehow branded or different or processed, you have a better chance of manipulating the price (of your product)," she said.

While many producers complain about the mountain of paperwork required to raise and process their animals and crops, Combs said she doesn't see it (paperwork) going away, although she has plans to streamline Texas requirements.

"The paperwork is going to increase, to some extent, on the animal agriculture business. Based on the TB problems with the state, which we got from Mexico, based on the potential risk of foot-and-mouth disease, and based on the fact that now ... the new Country of Origin volunteer (meat labeling) guidelines are, I think, going to give the retailer the necessary pressure to force every single animal owner to individually identify every animal," Combs stated.

As far as production crops go, the federal government will, more than likely, require more paperwork, too, she added.

"I'm sorry to say that I don't see the regulatory environment changing and/or softening," she said.

While Combs has little control over the federal requirements, she can control what happens in Texas.

"I feel it's very important that we don't over-regulate. We do the narrowest, most specific, targeted regulations to achieve the result that we're required to achieve, without over-regulating," she added.

Still on the subject of paperwork, Combs noted that starting Dec. 15, producers will be able to go on-line to enter information ... one time ... and apply for various agricultural licenses and renewals. She said it will not be necessary to continue to "re-apply," as has been the case in the past.

Regarding insurance for producers, Combs said that she, as well as other state agriculture commissioners, are working with the federal government to see that states have an agricultural insurance product that is workable.

Recently, many insurance companies have either gone out of business or refused to write agricultural insurance for producers.

"I do think that the Farm Bill will help the EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program) funding (program), which is now going to be dedicated 65 percent to livestock ... went from something like $1.1 billion in the Farm Bill cycle to $6.1 billion. That's huge!" said Combs.

The new Farm Bill will certainly assist those involved in animal agriculture and "make their lives much, much better," she added.

Also, Combs said the Farm Bill of 1996 failed largely because of the global economy and because the Asian and Pacific countries "imploded," resulting in little or no trade for the United States.

"They (feds) had to come back with this Farm Bill, with a better system, to help production agriculture stay alive, which is something we're all dedicated to," added Combs.

According to Combs, with the new Farm Bill in place, agricultural marketing to other countries should go from about $90 to 200 million in the next two years, since 75 percent of the world's population lives off U.S. shores.

"If we don't get access to those markets, we're (Texas) going to be missing a global market that we don't want to miss," she said.

On the subject of producer profitability, Combs agrees the cost of production is critical to producers ... to everyone, in fact ... and since that cost has continued to rise and has not been adjusted for inflation, and revenues have continued to decline.

She said although she is not planning to introduce any new programs during the next term, she plans to continue with what she and the department have started.

"It all comes back to 'how do we keep our farming and ranching families intact in rural Texas?'" said Combs.

Finally, concerning water issues, the commissioner is concerned that Mexico is not Texas' only problem.

"I think that Mexico is just the tip of the iceberg. ... Basically, Mexico is not being a good neighbor," she stated.

The issues of who has the water and who can afford it creates broader problems. If agricultural producers had to pay the same rates as urban dwellers, the agriculture industry would not survive, and the situation in the Valley for growers is critical.

Combs stated that Texas, along with other states, has recently had representatives in Cuba, since they "want our rice and we'd love to sell them our rice." She said that Mexico has shown an interest in grain sorghum and cotton seed, while Canada is buying South Texas vegetables.

In closing, Combs stated she is eager for a second term as agriculture commissioner and gave the following statement as to why she should be re-elected: "I think I'm much more energetic. I, also, think I'm more focused. I think I have a better grasp of the issues. I think I've shown a very substantial understanding of broad policy issues that he (Ramsay) does not. I don't know that his (Ramsay) interest and passion is as deep as mine is. My family has been in Brewster County since 1882, and I take that heritage very seriously."