Dr. Butler Speaks at Texas Commodity Symposium

Amarillo Farm and Ranch Show 2006

“Good things are happening on the landscape,” was the message Dr. Larry Butler, Texas Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) state conservationist, presented recently at the sixth annual Texas Commodity Symposium in Amarillo.

Butler thanked commodity association producers for their help in directing program dollars and for their support of NRCS efforts to put conservation on the land. “All of you have a say for how the dollars should be used in Texas, and good communication has made my job easier to administer conservation funding,” he said.

Five commodity organizations united to host the premier agricultural symposium for the sixth year. Texas Wheat Producers Association, Corn Producers Association of Texas, Texas Grain Sorghum Association, Plains Cotton Growers, Inc. and Texas Peanut Producers Board organized the event that was presented during the 22nd Annual Farm and Ranch Show.

The keynote address was given by the Honorable John Cornyn, U.S. Senator for Texas.

Senator Todd Staples, Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner; Larry Combest, former Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture; The Honorable Mac Thornberry, U.S. Congressman representing the 13th District of Texas; and State Farm Service Agency Executive Director John Fuston were among several key individuals from across the state invited to speak at the forum.

Dr. James W. Richardson, co-director of the Agricultural & Food Policy Center, Texas A&M University was on the agenda and presented information on the 2007 Farm Bill. He stated, “Conservation may be the most important component of the 2007 Farm Bill.”

The 2006 Amarillo Farm and Ranch Show was a successful event for the NRCS, as their exhibit was part of the new customer-service web portal set-up with computer technology. Landowners and managers were able to utilize the hands-on visuals and the display screens with assistance from NRCS personnel.

Customer service tool-kit and ortho-imagery using ArcMap were some of the technologies highlighted to show the most up-to-date conservation planning features designed to assist farmers and ranchers in their efforts to apply conservation on the land.

In addition, demonstrations of the new web tool, Customer Self Service Web Portals-- an internet application being developed to allow customers to conduct business with the agency over the internet, provided interested producers the opportunity to view the technology and provide input for user ability.

There was also a demonstration of the web soil survey and how it provides electronic access to soils and other information needed to make land use decisions.

Many producers were interested in the latest technology offered by NRCS and requested further information from their county offices.

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