Texas produce growers told 'invovement' is key

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas Edition

Sept. 2, 2004 - "I'm from the government and I'm here to help." According to Walt Smith, speaking on behalf of Congressman Henry Bonilla, at the 2004 Texas Produce Convention held the middle of August, these are a few of the words that producers really hate to hear.

Bonilla serves the 23rd District of Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Once, again, the Texas Citrus Mutual (TCM), the Texas Produce Association (TPA), and the Texas Vegetable Association (TVA) joined forces to "bring growers, shippers, packers, brokers, suppliers, colleagues and friends together in San Antonio to celebrate produce ... Texas style!"

Smith noted there are about "10 times more ag-related rules than there should be." He advised the room full of luncheon attendees that the key to getting and keeping good laws for the agriculture community is "involvement."

While some may feel that getting in touch with their representatives at the state or national level will do nothing except offer more frustration, Smith assured the attendees that visits and letters do impress representatives who are in office to represent the people in their districts.

Although the agricultural sub-committee sometimes receives as many as 3,000 requests for "things" related to agriculture, Smith assured the audience that it is necessary for the representatives to "be in touch with the ag producers to know what's up.

"People who turn on the lights (tell the representatives what is needed) are here, today," said Smith.

One thing Smith did mention is that as the district lines have been re-drawn in different states, fewer and fewer representatives are aware of producers' needs, and the only way they will ever know is if individuals "get involved ... show up!" The representatives need to know the issues, he added, and the only way that will happen is for local producers to take the lead in addressing local problems.

During the Aug. 13 luncheon, Dr. Frank Dainello of Texas A&M University (TAMU) was presented with the TVA's President's Special Award for research Dainello has accomplished in the TAMU Ag Research and Extension Center in Uvalde. The TVA Award of Merit went to Eddie Karnes for his contributions to the vegetable industry. And, finally, Dr. Jose Amador of TAMU in Weslaco was presented the TCM Special Award for the work he's done in Weslaco during his tenure. Amador is retiring from the positions he's held, but plans to remain active with the area's producers and with other TAMU employees.

After the luncheon, attendees were invited to attend various vegetable and citrus sessions that targeted subjects such as powdery mildew trials on various greens, disease management in vegetables, and weed control for vegetables. The citrus sessions included addressing the citrus blackfly outbreak in South Texas, the citrus rust mite, and opportunities for value added citrus products.