Policy work is not for the weak. There’s pressure on all sides as small but mighty forces work 80 to 100 hours a week behind the scenes for years to move the needle an inch forward in a positive direction for those they serve. It can be difficult to understand the intricacy and sheer force of will that goes into the day-to-day efforts to protect and promote the interests of the American farmer when you’re not immersed in it.
There are many things about the ag economy that an advocacy organization simply doesn’t have control over. However, when farmers are caught in the crossfire during Administration transitions, geo-political unrest, etc., it’s the local commodity groups that take care of the farmer regardless of size and scale.
We have always been there to represent our producers and industry and help fill in the gaps when times are hard. Many years of labor went into the One Big Beautiful Bill to accomplish just that as many farm bill provisions that hadn’t been truly updated since 2002 were enhanced or increased to provide a better safety net representative of today’s challenges.
Not only that, but local, regional and national agriculture groups also helped to deliver the following aid to Texas farmers in the last two years:
Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) - $826 million Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) $1,099 billion
Farmer Bridge Assistance Program (FBA) $814 million Many organizations also worked tenaciously on House Bill 43 during the 89th Texas Legislative Session. The biggest investment in Texas agriculture in decades. An investment that would not only keep producers in business, but also all the downstream segments that are suffering without a safety net to rely on. An initiative four years in the making created to maintain and enhance our critical agriculture infrastructure and producers in Texas after multiple years of peril — mainly driven by drought, which is something no one except the Lord Almighty can control.
If you ever want to know what your Texas High Plains Cotton Certified Producer Organization is working on, for or against, please call our office or check out our website. It’s our honor to serve our local, regional, state and national cotton industries.