LUBBOCK – Texas Farm Bureau voting delegates approved a path for the state’s largest general farm organization to follow into the new millennium here at their 65th annual meeting.

"Called Project 2000, the consensus of the voting delegates was to approve and fund a program that will carry Texas Farm Bureau into the next century," said Bob Stallman, who was reelected to his sixth consecutive term as the organization’s president. "The program will allow Farm Bureau to better serve agriculture and achieve our organizational goals well into the next century."

Specifically, the program addresses the following initiatives:

— Increased administrative assistance for county leaders;

– Increased emphasis on agriculture in the classroom activities;

– Increased public relations activities;

– Increased marketing and risk management educational opportunities;

– Establishes a legal defense fund to fight for agricultural interests.

Project 2000 will be funded by a $5 membership dues increase.

"This program will help farmers and ranchers tell the story of the vitally important role agriculture plays in the lives of their urban neighbors," Stallman said. "Agriculture and our organization will be stronger because of it."

Following the convention, Donald Patman of Waxahachie was reelected as vice president of the organization. Delmas McCormick of Floydada was reelected as secretary-treasurer.

Meanwhile, the farm bill and related items dealing with farm policy took center stage the last day of the convention. Delegates said they supported the concepts

contained under the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (FAIR Act), but said the act should be reexamined because of current economic conditions in agriculture.

Delegates also said more emphasis should be placed on risk management in the Fair Act. Specifically, they said more affordable crop insurance programs should be developed. The current program should be revised, they added, to contain adequate program funding, broader coverage at reasonable rates, price and yield protection, coverage for alternative crops, ability to insure for input cost, prevented planting provisions, and other specifics.

Also on the national level, delegates voted to:

– Enhance export competitiveness by utilizing various export subsidies so international economic conditions have less impact on domestic prices.

– Recommend that the agricultural census be voluntary.

– Oppose Environmental Protection Agency implementation of the Food Quality Protection Act unless actions are based on proven scientific facts.

On the state level, delegates voted to:

– Support local Soil and Water Conservation Districts’ ability to provide technical assistance and incentives for voluntary soil and water conservation planning and implementation.

– Favor a state funded program to eradicate the boll weevil.

– Oppose national standards for pollution control. Rather, they said pollution control standards should be developed at the state and local level.

– Recommend that Texas grown beef, lamb and goat meat be incorporated into the menus of Texas public schools and prisons.

– Support the $1.50 per $100 cap on the tax rate for maintenance and operation of schools.