Farm leaders recently took their concerns directly to Washington, meeting with USDA officials and members of Congress to discuss the challenges facing agriculture. Among those making the trip was Texas farmer Wesley Spurlock of Stratford, who says the conversations focused on how to better serve producers.
“We went to USDA, and they take us into one room, and we started with FSA, and then NRCS came in and visited with them for about an hour, and then we visited with RMA, and where they’re at and what they’re doing, and so we got to spend about three hours and sit and visit with all their people. That was really a good, good meeting, and then met with several of the Texas delegation during the next two days. It was a good trip. Visited on lots of stuff, hoping to get some new stuff done in agriculture.”
One issue Spurlock says remains front and center is the fertilizer industry.
“Right now, the fertilizer problems that we’ve got are really being looked at looked at a couple different levels. So we may be able to get something taken care of there or at least make those companies pay for what they’ve done to us would be a great deal get them back online and taking care of the American agriculture first like they’re supposed to.”
While policy discussions continue in Washington, the reality on the farm remains difficult.
“It has been a challenging year or four, but I mean when I look back there was more there’s been some tough ones through there. Probably the hottest year we’ve ever had, and things didn’t look too good, and it was a tough year was back in ‘11. We come out of ‘11, then we had droughts. We hit just three years in a row. That’s agriculture; it’s just they’re not all fun and games. Some of them are really tough, and tough financially, tough mentally, and tough on family farm families. We’re in one right now that’s hitting on everybody in our region.”
Texas farmer Wesley Spurlock of Stratford says producers across the region continue to rely on irrigation and hope for meaningful rainfall as they work through another difficult growing season. He says meetings in Washington are important, but ultimately farmers need solutions that make a difference back home.