Summit Executive Committee
March 30, 2001 Telephone Conference Call 8:00a.m.-8:30a.m.
MINUTES
Members Present:
John Abernathy Cullen
Looney
L.G. Raun, Jr.
Graddy Tunnell
John Anderson
Dan Gattis
J.B. Cooper
James Stewart
Donnis Baggett Ed
Hiler W.E.
"Bill" West, Jr. James Butler
Others in Attendance:
Ryan O'Neal
Introductions - Chair Graddy Tunnell welcomed SEC members at 8:02 a.m. Due to time restraints Tunnell moved right into the agenda. The minutes from the last meeting (November 13, 2001) were excepted and any corrections identified by members forwarded to Ryan O'Neal.
Budget Report - Jim Butler indicated the current Summit Initiative balance
to be $25,000. Butler reported that the International Ag. Trade Summit was in
the red, but a donation of $15,000 from the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo
has offset that expense. The Texas Beef Industry Summit Workshop did not exceed
any great expenses and for the most part broke even.
Membership Update - Graddy Tunnell indicated that the SEC is always
seeking additional members in order to keep it representative of the various
sectors of Texas agriculture. Graddy mentioned the SEC has a few members with
expired terms as of January 1, 2001. Those are:
John Anderson Daniel
Brackeen
J.B. Cooper
Dan Gattis
Cullen Looney Wayne
Martin
Pierce Miller
L.G. Raun, Jr. John
Schneider
Tunnell declared that the SEC will wait until the next formal meeting to go into further detail regarding these terms and asked members to please mull over new individuals that would be apt to serving on the SEC.
Texas Beef Industry Summit Workshop (TBISW) - Ryan O'Neal reported the TBISW held January 15-16, 2001in Fort Worth as a success. There was lots of participation and interaction. The final report is off the press and has been mailed to the participants, various Texas agricultural organizations, and select elected officials. It will be posted on the web site (http://agsummit.tamu.edu/) within a few days. O'Neal reported that a good spectrum of recommendations for state agencies, industry organizations, and research groups were made at the Summit. Jim Butler voiced that one recommendation that was formulated was the concept of a Beef Roundtable that will meet at least once a year to discuss issues facing the industry. Butler expressed that Matt Brockman, Executive Director for the Independent Cattlemen's Association, has volunteered to initiate the Beef Roundtable. John Anderson asked if the livestock industry is in deep trouble due to recent events - mainly foot and mouth disease. Butler responded that he has been following the recent developments regarding this matter in Austin. The Texas House Agriculture Committee has had a hearing pertaining to the disease that basically defined what exactly the disease is and what Texas and the United States is doing to prevent an outbreak. John Anderson and John Abernathy indicated that we must stay on top of this issue due to the devastating impact it imposes on the livestock industry. Dan Gattis commented that the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is monitoring this topic greatly due to the volume of animals that come through their gates. Graddy Tunnell asked if the Summit Initiative could play a role in some manner regarding foot and mouth disease. Cullen Looney stated that there should be some dialogue between the U.S. and Mexico on this issue and may lend one approach to take. Ed Hiler stated that the Beef Roundtable recommended at the TBISW could play a role in this matter. Jim Butler agreed; however, did not believe the Summit Initiative itself could play a fast enough role in facilitating any debate on foot and mouth disease.
Federal Agriculture Policy Summit (FAPS) - Jim Butler commented that a outline for this activity had been produced by some faculty at Texas A&M University (TAMU) that indicates the purpose and goal of the event. Butler went on to mention program highlights, such as, current ag situation/outlook, farm program benefits, program alternatives, crop insurance, etc. Tentative dates have been established for August 13-14, 2001 for this activity based on the Congressional recess and correspondence with Rep. Stenholm and Rep. Combest. It will most likely be located in Lubbock at the Holiday Inn Park Plaza. J.B. Cooper remarked that the Texas Agricultural Forum will help in anyway with this event. Jim Butler asked for volunteers from the SEC to serve on the planning committee for the FAPS. L.G. Raun voiced that he would serve on the planning committee. Butler envisions the co-chairs of the planning committee as representatives from TAMU and Texas Tech University (TTU). John Abernathy stated that he would identify a representative from TTU to serve in that role.
Open Forum - Graddy Tunnel inquired about future summit activities related to water and rural issues. Jim Butler reported that a lot of activity regarding water is happening in the state legislature. There has been a flurry of activity establishing water districts in the state. Ed Hiler expressed that a summit must focus on the importance of water to agriculture. It must not be broadly covered. Bill West commented that this is an appropriate topic and that we must not forget that this involves much more than water just for ag irrigation. John Abernathy suggested that this activity hold off until the first of next year due to the legislative activities that are going on with water. This would shed more light on the issue and help in directing the correct approach to take in addressing it.
Graddy Tunnell entertained a motion to have a formal meeting this May in Austin. No one objected and the general consensus was that it is always good meeting face to face. Tunnell asked members to please check there calendars and asked Ryan O'Neal to followup with the SEC on meeting at an undetermined date in May. Tunnell contended that the SEC would discuss in more details at the formal meeting member term limits, FAPS, water, and rural issues. Tunnell thanked everyone for participating in the call and for their committed efforts on behalf of the Summit Initiative. The meeting adjourned at 8:30 a.m.