NATIONAL ISSUES
Farm Programs and Policies
RESOLUTION 1:
The Texas Wheat Producers Association (TWPA) supports the CRP. We oppose any actions, which would reduce payments to farmers under existing contracts, such as budget reconciliation. Land use planning should not be a part of any program. Farmers should not lose crop production history on CRP acreage for the purposes of future farm programs.
RESOLUTION 2:
The TWPA supports reverting back to allowing 1 out of 3 years for haying and grazing rather than 1 out of 5 years that is currently in place. (2008)
RESOLUTION 3:
The TWPA opposes CRP land restrictions on wind farms being located on them. Additionally, the TWPA supports wind farm generation with acreage only being reduced for usage of roads and wind towers. (2008)
RESOLUTION 4:
The TWPA recognizes the erodibility index of 8 as a guideline for establishing CRP eligibility, but encourages flexibility to enroll land that does not meet EI 8 when environmental or economic benefits justify. We encourage more priority designation and more access to wind and water points in areas where applicable.
RESOLUTION 5:
The TWPA supports establishing county bid caps on CRP that more accurately reflect fair market rental rate values, and include consideration of a producer’s economic decision making process.
RESOLUTION 6:
The TWPA opposes farm program payment limitations, including limitations on Loan Deficiency Payments (LDP). Additionally, TWPA opposes USDA being able to have automatic access to farmer’s tax returns.(2008)
RESOLUTION 7:
The TWPA opposes means testing as a method to determine eligibility to receive FSA program payments.
RESOLUTION 8:
The TWPA supports the continuation and thrift selection of the FSA committee system to implement and direct the administration of farm programs. Additionally, farmers should be given the option to vote on farmer-elected FSA committees whether they have Legislative Administration (LA) Districts or Single County Districts. Farmers should also be given the right to vote on each member of the committee. TWPA also supports the concept that all voting members of a county committee should be elected by county producers.
RESOLUTION 9:
The TWPA supports the concept of In-Kind payments for a portion of total program payments when such payments could enhance returns to growers and would reduce surplus commodity stocks.
RESOLUTION 10:
The TWPA urges the elimination of offsetting compliance for soil conservation programs on highly erodible land.
RESOLUTION 11:
The TWPA supports the concept of increasing producers’ income. Administrative action and budget restructuring continues to erode or reduce producer payments. Reducing carryover stocks will increase producer income through the market place.
RESOLUTION 12:
The TWPA encourages the production of consistently higher quality wheat; however, we oppose a national wheat variety registry that links government supports to variety selection.
RESOLUTION 13:
The TWPA opposes Congress taking action that would interfere with the ability of the Farm Credit System to continue to serve farmers and ranchers by diminishing its status as a GSE or eliminating the Farm Credit Administration as the independent regulatory agency that oversees the safe and sound operation of the Farm Credit System so that it can continue to fulfill its historic mission of service to U.S. agriculture and rural America. (2008)
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Foreign Trade Issues
RESOULTION 14:
The TWPA is opposed to any lending practices by the World Bank or other international lending institutions to subsidize developing countries that would increase production which is destined to be used in international trade that would cause competition for U.S. wheat exports.
RESOLUTION 15:
The TWPA is opposed to any cargo preference provisions that would affect any commercial sales, blended credit or other export enhancement programs other than those already applying to direct aid programs.
RESOLUTION 16:
The TWPA supports trade policies that give U.S. wheat equal access to markets in other countries to which U.S. gives that country's products when imported by the U.S.
RESOLUTION 17:
The TWPA encourages increasing FAS funding to enhance foreign sales.
RESOLUTION 18:
The TWPA supports the use of provisions of U.S. WTO proposals to develop and encourage trade by the elimination of unfair trading practices. Additionally, the TWPA supports our WTO negotiators position of accepting reductions in Amber Box support to levels no less than $7.6 billion with reciprocal market access gains. (2008)
RESOLUTION 19:
The TWPA supports the renewal of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) with the understanding that the Administration and the Congress will emphasize in its negotiations the development, strengthening, and clarifying of rules that address practices, which unfairly decrease U.S. market access opportunities or distort agricultural markets to the detriment of the U.S. These such practices include unfair or trade-distorting activities of state trading enterprises and other administrative mechanisms, unjustified restrictions or commercial requirements affecting new technologies including biotechnology, unjustified sanitary or phytosanitary restrictions, other unjustified technical barriers to trade and restrictive rules in the administration of tariff-rate quotas. (2008)
RESOLUTION 20:
The TWPA opposes trade and travel restrictions on Cuba.
RESOLUTION 21:
The TWPA opposes any trade-offs between direct government payments to farmers and tariff reductions in future WTO negotiations.
RESOLUTION 22:
The TWPA opposes any effort to re-direct a portion of direct payments to market development programs.
RESOLUTION 23:
The TWPA opposes any attempt in the WTO, or in any other venues, to require that food aid be given as “cash only” instead of allowing donor nations to provide food directly as emergency and development assistance.
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Insurance
RESOLUTION 24:
The TWPA supports maintaining a strong crop insurance program as an important tool for risk management to farmers. A strong crop insurance, however, should not to be viewed as a safety net. Federal premium cost sharing encourages participation and is critical to a successful program. Buy-up crop insurance should be an option available to all farmers and should be voluntary and not be tied to conservation compliance, FmHA, producer payments or any other farm program.
RESOLUTION 25:
TWPA supports holding interest in abeyance on premiums until crop insurance claims are settled.
RESOLUTION 26:
The TWPA urges that the crop insurance program issue new regulations that would recognize and approve generally approved cultural and seeding practices by regional areas.
RESOLUTION 27:
The TWPA encourages RMA to require crop insurance companies to interpret and apply crop insurance rules and regulations in a uniform and timely manner.
RESOLUTION 28:
The TWPA opposes the usage of NASS data in the determination of producer insurance or farm program payments.
RESOLUTION 29:
TWPA supports the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Risk Management Agency (RMA) working closely together in order to reach an agreement on acreage reporting deadlines. This would enable the producer to report to the FSA and crop insurance agency more accurately; eliminating acreage reporting errors and discrepancies between the two agencies’. (2009)
RESOLUTION 30:
TWPA supports a unified network programming system such as a Comprehensive Information Management System (CIMS) or a single hardcopy paper filing system between the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the Risk Management Agency (RMA) for crop acreage reporting. This would eliminate a double paper acreage filing system that results in errors so long as RMA, FSA and approved insurance providers all have access to the system that is currently in place. (2009)
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Taxes (National Level)
RESOLUTION 31:
The TWPA supports the current lifetime exemption on estate taxes and is opposed to any inheritance tax and urges the elimination of Federal estate tax. The TWPA, however, does support an increase in the current monetary exemption on federal estate taxes. (2009)
RESOLUTION 32:
The TWPA supports reinstatement of investment tax credit of 10% or more.
RESOLUTION 33:
The TWPA urges the support of further reducing tax rate for capital gains.
RESOLUTION 34:
The TWPA urges that the federal tax code be made permanent to allow capital purchases of up to $250,000 (or greater) to be expensed rather than depreciated. (2009)
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Research (National Level)
RESOLUTION 35:
The TWPA supports and endorses the expanded efforts of the USDA/ARS U.S. Grain Marketing Research Laboratory to develop technologies needed to implement a total quality U.S. grain marketing system and would support additional permanent funds needed to be allocated to allow this research to progress on a more timely basis.
RESOLUTION 36:
The TWPA supports continued research and development of wheat and other biomass crops for use in cellulosic ethanol or biofuels production.
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Other National Issues
RESOLUTION 37:
The TWPA commends the National Association of Wheat Growers for its efforts to strengthen Political Action Committee (PAC) and encourages all wheat producers to make contributions.
RESOLUTION 38:
The TWPA supports improvements in EPA's pesticide regulation program necessary to restore public confidence in the safety of the nation's food supply, but which would not at the same time overly restrict availability and use of crop protection products. The TWPA proposes repeal of the current worker protection standards that apply to all types of agriculture and urges that EPA and TDA recognize that the exposure to pesticides by workers varies by a large degree according to the types of agriculture. Specific workable worker protection standards should be developed for each type of agriculture and/or commodity produced.
RESOLUTION 39:
The TWPA opposes any plan to inventory wildlife on private property unless agreed to by the property owner. TWPA supports private property rights.
RESOLUTION 40:
The TWPA opposes the public release of producer information, as related to an individual’s operation.
RESOLUTION 41:
The TWPA opposes legislation, which would involve the United States in any global warming treaty, whereas agriculture is dependent on the use of fossil fuels for much of its production inputs. (2008)
RESOLUTION 42:
The TWPA encourages NAWG to develop a position paper that addresses potential amendments to the Plant Variety Protection Act. This paper would address regional wheat seed shortages, the ability to pay royalties on non-certified wheat seed (thus allowing a producer to sell wheat to a neighbor), and address the usage of wheat as a cover crop.
RESOLUTION 43:
The TWPA opposes any retaliation or ban on agricultural exports regarding Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) based on sound science. The TWPA urges the adoption of a nationally and internationally accepted definition of biotechnologically-derived products (GMO). The TWPA urges international harmonization of scientific standards and trade rules.
RESOLUTION 44:
The TWPA encourages the continuation of research and development of genetically modified wheat. TWPA supports the responsible introduction of GM wheat into the market.
RESOLUTION 45:
The TWPA opposes the consolidation of large agribusiness industries whereas it creates a monopolistic enterprise that is detrimental to producers.
RESOLUTION 46:
The TWPA supports and encourages USDA to promote and assist in installation of grain cleaners in the Gulf Port.
RESOLUTION 47:
The TWPA supports the insurability of wheat found to contain Karnal bunt just as any other quality issue.
RESOLUTION 48:
The TWPA supports legislation that would repeal the Supreme Court decision in Massachusetts vs. Environmental Protection Agency, which allows EPA to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the TWPA opposes Climate Change legislation and or EPA regulation unless it is scientifically based and economically proven that agriculture and other industries would not be in a net loss position. The TWPA also opposes EPA regulation and or Climate Change legislation until there is a worldwide adopted greenhouse gas reduction system and it will not hinder the agricultural industry from being competitive on a global market basis. (2009)
Water Management and Property Rights
RESOLUTION 49:
The TWPA supports the current state law that the land surface owner has the right of capture and that they maintain the right of capture with regards to water. TWPA recognizes and supports local water districts and their regulatory authority.
RESOLUTION 50:
The TWPA supports private property rights of producers. The producer should be compensated accordingly should any restrictions be imposed.
RESOLUTION 52:
The TWPA opposes the expansion of eminent domain to allow private companies to acquire private property.
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Research (State Level)
RESOLUTION 53:
The TWPA supports adequate funding of the Texas A&M University System and other universities doing wheat research, AgriLife Experiment Stations and Texas AgriLife Extension to meet their expanded responsibilities in order for producers to meet the challenges of changing farm markets.(2008)
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Taxes (State Level)
RESOLUTION 54:
The TWPA supports the current state sales tax exemptions for all agricultural inputs.
RESOLUTION 55:
The TWPA supports the current agricultural valuation systems for property taxes.
RESOLUTION 56:
The TWPA supports an exemption on all farm fuels whether for on or off road usage.
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Other Statewide Issues
RESOLUTION 57:
The TWPA urges members of the Texas Legislature and the Governor to make certain that the cooperative funding for the Texas Agricultural Statistics Service budget, as a part of the overall budget of the Texas Department of Agriculture, is maintained at the level necessary for that agency to respond to the need for agricultural statistics for Texas. This would insure that sound production and marketing decisions can continue to be made by all segments of agriculture.
RESOLUTION 58:
The TWPA supports the concept of a $100 fee for truckers to permit an increase in gross vehicle weight to 100,000 pounds during harvest time. This would be only for field loading to the first point of delivery.
RESOLUTION 59:
The TWPA supports penalties in the form of reverse demurrage for railroads’ failure to provide notice, cars, power, etc.
RESOLUTION 60:
The TWPA supports the research and control of jointed goat grass and other noxious weeds, and insists that the Texas Highway Department mow the right-of-wayand rail road in a timely manner to prevent seeding of these noxious weeds. (2009)
RESOLUTION 61:
The TWPA supports the development of a federal and state program to control the population of feral hogs. (2008)
RESOLUTION 62:
TWPA encourages TDA to alternate elevator auditors on a biennial basis in order to provide better transparency and clarity in a volatile market. Additionally, TWPA supports the increase in bond figures required by elevators to insure the storage and marketing of grain. (2009)
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