Dateline: May 17, 2001

Survey says Texas like ag payments

WACO – A recent public opinion survey of registered Texas voters shows overwhelming support for government payments to farmers in periods of low prices and for protecting America’s ability to grow its own food.

The Texas Interested Citizens Survey, conducted between March 29 and April 4 of this year, concludes that 66 percent of Texans favor government assistance to farmers when crop prices are low.

Even more Texans, 85 percent, agreed that the U.S. should remain independent in the ability to grow its own food supply. Sixty-nine percent said the U.S. should protect the domestic food production system even if cheaper food could be purchased from foreign suppliers.

“The results of this survey are very important because it shows clearly that the public understands just how important it is to preserve national food security,” said Donald Patman, president of the Texas Farm Bureau. “American agriculture today is in deep trouble, and government assistance is vital to the survival of a great many farmers.”

The Farm Bureau is Texas’ largest farm organization. Patman is a grain, cotton, and cattle producer from Waxahachie.

“Texans understand that preserving the viability of our farm and ranch families is an investment in a future that includes food independence. We don’t need to be at the mercy of foreign suppliers like we are for energy,” Patman said.

Susan Combs, Texas Commissioner of Agriculture, says there is increasing public awareness of the importance of agriculture.

“It comes as no surprise to me that Texans are supportive of our farmers and ranchers,” Combs said.

“In agriculture, we’ve had an amazing track record of putting wholesome, safe, affordable and abundant food on our tables, all while doing our best to preserve natural resources and boost rural development.”

Combs said government investment in agriculture pays off in jobs and economic stability because of the $80 billion economic impact on the Texas economy.

The ranking minority member of the House Agriculture Committee, Charlie Stenholm of Stamford, Texas, also welcomed the survey results. “Congress has provided $18.1 billion in emergency income assistance over the last three years recognizing that net cash income, adjusted for inflation, is at the lowest point since the Great Depression,” Stenholm said.  “With no improvement in commodity prices expected, and now with sharply higher natural gas prices, this assistance is clearly needed.”

The Texas Interested Citizens Survey was conducted by the Ft. Worth based Eppstein Group. More than 1,200 registered voters were interviewed, resulting in a margin of error of plus or minus 2.89 percent.