Clayton Conway, Sammy Gunter, Brian Cummins, Kevin Wilkerson, Sandy Scheu, Ernie Ward, and Gregg Beverly of Van Zandt County were among the more than 400 farmers and ranchers from across the state who gathered in Marble Falls recently to discuss rural broadband, feral hog control programs, legislative updates and other issues important to agriculture at Texas Farm Bureau’s (TFB) annual Summer Conference.

“This was a great conference with many relevant topics,” Clayton Conway, Van Zandt County Farm Bureau president, said. “We heard from several experts on some issues that are impacting agriculture and private property here in Van Zandt County.”

During the conference, equipment dealerships discussed do-it-yourself ways to fix farm equipment, and Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar gave an update on the Texas budget outlook and rural broadband program.

Dr. Bart Fischer, co-director of the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M University, presented an analysis of input costs and a commodities outlook.

“Although we are seeing higher prices for crops, we are also experiencing a number of production increases, including rising fertilizer, seed, chemical and fuel prices. Some prices, like fertilizer, have tripled in cost since last year, Conway said. “Uncertainty fuels volatility, and that’s certainly what we’re looking at with this crop year. Add in drought conditions, and farmers are rolling the dice with more odds this growing season.”

The conference also included an update on the Texas Right to Farm Act with State Rep. DeWayne Burns, who chairs the House Committee on Agriculture and Livestock.

“Texas has a ‘right to farm’ law that needs to be strengthened,” Conway said. “In several instances, agricultural land is now part of a city due to urban sprawl. It’s so important that farmers and ranchers are given every opportunity to keep those lands in agricultural production to grow our food, fuel and fiber.” TFB members also heard from a Ukrainian farmer about what it’s like farming in a war zone.

Other sessions included information on endangered species and pesticide registration, grassroots advocacy, a general election outlook and discussing cattle market legislation.

“We brought back a lot of important information for our community,” Conway said. “There’s a lot happening in agriculture right now, and it was good to learn more on how we can work with Texas Farm Bureau, our legislators and fellow farmers and ranchers to enact change.”

The conference was held June 20-22 in Marble Falls.