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Texas Agriculture Archive

January 20, 2006

TFB Leadership Conference
to offer important updates

The Texas Farm Bureau Leadership Conference, slated for Jan. 30-Feb. 1 at the Omni Hotel, San Antonio, is aimed at preparing leaders for policy implementation in 2006.

Registration will be held from 3-6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29, and runs from 7 a.m. -5 p.m. the following day. Commodity issues conferences are slated from 8 a.m. to noon. Following opening remarks by TFB President Kenneth Dierschke, speakers and topics planned are "Proposed Premises Registration Rule," Richard Traylor, Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) chairman; "TAHC Pilot Project on Animal Health Update," Dr. Bob Hillman, state veterinarian; "Avian Influenza," Caroline Rydell, American Farm Bureau Federation farm policy specialist; "Crops for Renewable Energy," Travis Miller, Texas Cooperative Extension agronomist; "Farm Bill: Effects of WTO and Budget Cuts," Vernie Hubert, general counsel for the Senate Ag Committee; and "Soil Testing (Phosphorus)," Linda Brookins, TCEQ Watershed Management team leader.

The Advisory Committee Luncheon follows from noon to 1:30 p.m. Monday.

The afternoon schedule features the following commodity issues conferences, from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.: "Land Fragmentation," Neal Wilkins, TCE wildlife specialist; "Alternative Income Opportunities," Dr. Jim Cathey, TAES wildlife specialist, Uvalde; "Conservation Easements and Development Rights," David Nelson, Harris CFB president; "Rural Development Opportunities," Brian Daniel, USDA/Rural Development director; and "Texas Invasive Plant Council," Charlie Hart, TAES range specialist, Ft. Stockton.

Advisory Committee meetings will be conducted from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Monday evening.

On Tuesday, Jan. 31, registration will run from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. The President's Breakfast is set for 7-8:30 a.m. The Leadership Conference General Session begins at 9 a.m. and runs until noon. The morning agenda is as follows: TFB President Kenneth Dierschke will offer comments; Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott will give an update on Texas school finance; Media Award winners will be announced by Public Relations Division Director Gene Hall, who will also cite Food Check-Out activity winners; Mel Vargas, Parsons Engineering, and TFB Commodity and Regulatory Activities Director Ned Meister will give the Lake Waco BST report; and TFB National Affairs Director Steve Pringle and the Austin legislative staff will give a legislative update.

The Board/Advisory Committee Luncheon is set from noon to 1:30 p.m.

A political forum is planned for the afternoon, starting at 1:30 p.m. and ending at 5 p.m. Conferees will hear from a panel made up of State Supreme Court Judges, followed by a panel of judges from the State Court of Criminal Appeals. Gene Hall will serve as moderator of both forums.

Also slated for Tuesday afternoon's program are Ken Hodges, Texas Farm Bureau associate legislative director, and Si Cook, TFB Organization Programs director, who will discuss political/campaign education.

Those who are interested can earn four CEUs by attending a session from 8 a.m. to noon Wednesday, at which time the conference adjourns.