Wednesday, January 28, 1998

Regional boll weevil vote delayed until March

By J.T. Smith / Abilene Reporter-News

A referendum on whether a Boll Weevil Eradication Program should continue in the Rolling Plains Central zone has been delayed until March 11.

The original referendum had been slated for a Feb. 27 vote.

This delay will satisfy a legal requirement for publicly posting the notice of the referendum.

That March referendum also will elect a board member to represent the zone on the statewide board of directors of the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation. The state office of the foundation is in Abilene.

Cotton producers who farm in the Rolling Plains Central zone -- and who have grown cotton for at least seven years -- may place their names on the March 11 ballot for the board member position.

Those wishing to be placed on the ballot should fill out a nomination form and have it postmarked by Feb. 8 to the: Texas Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 12847, Austin, Texas 78711 or FAX the form to (512) 463-1104.

Nomination forms are available at local county offices of the Extension Service or from the Texas Department of Agriculture in Austin at (800) 835-5832, or (512) 463-7593.

Forms also can be obtained from the foundation state office at (800) 687-1212, or (915) 672-2800.

Law requires this referendum

Changes in the law made by the 75th Texas Legislature require a retention referendum be held allowing eligible voters to confirm they want to continue a boll weevil program in the zone.

Growers in the RPC zone first approved a boll weevil eradication program on Dec. 1, 1994, with a maximum assessment of $10 per land-acre to fund it. The assessment rate will continue at that level.

Unlike establishment referenda where two-thirds of all voters must approve a proposition, a majority of those returning ballots will determine whether an eradication program will continue.

The Texas Department of Agriculture will mail ballots to all eligible voters in the zone by Feb. 18.

The March referendum for the zone is the result of legislation that corrects a constitutional problem cited by the Texas Supreme Court with the statewide program in 1997. Under the new statute, the TBWEF continues to carry out the program. However, TDA takes on the additional responsibilities of setting new elections on assessments and eradication programs in regional zones, as well as appointing advisory committees for each.

Counties in the RPC zone are Baylor, Callahan, Comanche, Eastland, Erath, Fisher, Haskell, Jones, Knox, Mitchell, Nolan, Palo Pinto, Scurry, Shackelford, Stephens, Stonewall, Throckmorton, Young and parts of Archer, Borden, Brown and Taylor.

Ag exports to Mexico are up

Ag exports to Mexico are up -- helping the overall national picture.

U.S. beef exports to our neighbor are one reason.

Total U.S. ag exports to all destinations are expected to reach $58.5 billion in fiscal 1998, up $1.2 billion from last year, says USDA.

Meat, wheat and horticultural products accounted for most of the gain.

Mexico's economic recovery has allowed beef sales to jump there, causing Mexico to pass Canada among export markets for U.S. beef and variety meats.

Through October 1997, Mexico imported $275 million worth of beef and variety meats.

Stenholm is keynote for National Cotton Council

U.S. Rep. Charlie Stenholm of Stamford is keynote speaker for the National Cotton Council annual meeting Friday through Monday at the Marriott Rivercenter in San Antonio.

Stenholm will address the general session of the national gathering on Monday.

The 17th District congressman serves on the U.S. House Agriculture Committee.

Chris Matthews, Washington Bureau Chief for the San Francisco Examiner, also will be on the program that day. Matthews also hosts "Hardball with Chris Matthews" on CNBC.

The meeting is expected to attract more than 1,100 leaders from the U.S. cotton industry's seven segments.

That number will include 376 voting delegates who will set national policy resolutions and guidelines for action.