Saturday, May 17, 1997

Bill would revive eradication program

By ANNA M. TINSLEY

Harte-Hanks Austin Bureau

AUSTIN - Texas senators unanimously approved a measure Friday that will revive the state's controversial boll weevil eradication program recently ruled unconstiutional by the Texas Supreme Court.

Senators, voicing support for the measure during a one-hour debate, said they believe the measure will instill hope among many Texas cotton farmers that crops can be saved.

"Without this, I think the boll weevil infestation would continue to grow and we'd see significant crop losses," said state Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, who crafted the bill to bring life back to the eradication program.

Last month, the court said the Legislature wrongly delegated broad governmental authority to a private entity.

The measure now heads to the Texas House, where state Rep. Rob Junell, D-San Angelo, will sponsor the bill.

Under the bill, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Rick Perry would be put in charge of the Abilene-based Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation. The foundation is designed to help farmers curb weevil woes.

A provision of the bill will establish an advisory committee to be organized in each of the state's six zones. Members will include one producer from each county in every zone and the committee will advise Perry on decisions to be made concerning each zone.

While many Texas cotton farmers praise the program's efforts to do away with the boll weevil, which damages many of the state's cotton crops, other farmers have objected to the program, claimingit costs too much and kills beneficial secondary insects. The program is funded by assessments on farmers.