Texas Commodity Symposium Here Again

The first week of December means one thing in the Texas High Plains, the opening of the Amarillo Farm Show and the Texas Commodity Symposium. This year the Symposium will be held December 1, 2010, with registration at 8:30 and the program will kick off at 9:00 am.

Another new highlight this year is the joining of the Amarillo Chamber Ag Appreciation Luncheon and the Texas Commodity Symposium. The joining of the two events will provide a great opportunity for Amarillo businessmen to communicate with those in production agriculture on the High Plains.

Please glance over the agenda and join us at the Civic Center for this great event.

Cleavinger Defends Farm Programs on CNBC

David Cleavinger, wheat producer and Texas Wheat Producers Board member from Wildorado, Texas, appeared on CNBC’s Squawk on the Street Monday to defend farm programs.

David was put head-to-head with Sallie James of the CATO Institute to discuss farm subsidies in the U.S.  Watch the seven minute video to see the debate in action.

Wheat Field Sprouts on National Mall

Earlier this year the Texas Wheat Producers Board participated in the Urban Wheat Field II.  The event brought an acre of growing wheat, full-size combine, mobile milling and baking stations, and a retail aisle to the heart of Washington, D.C.

Throughout the course of the two-day event consumers, legislators and D.C. locals toured the exhibit to learn about the farm-to-fork journey of wheat.

Probably the highlight of the event was the leading the school groups through the display.  Most of the kids had never seen growing wheat, and loved the opportunity to see the entire process of wheat products as they move from the farm to the grocery shelf.

Baking demonstrations were done hourly and were a huge hit with the crowd.  No doubt, the free samples must have had something to do with that.

As everyone exited the exhibit, they toured a grocery aisle filled with wheat products and had the opportunity to talk to Registered Dietitians about including wheat in a healthy diet.

As much misinformation is out there today about production agriculture and wheat products, events like these are essential in promoting the facts.  Someone has to tell the great story about wheat, it might as well be us!

Texas Wheat Meetings Discuss Market Issues

Two wheat producer meetings will be held at the end of July to discuss important issues in the wheat industry that have been a big concern to producers around Texas.

The first meeting hosted by the Texas Wheat Producers Board will be held July 23, at 8 a.m., in Vernon at the Wilbarger County Exhibit Building.  Important topics such as the current wheat market and insect problems will be discussed at the event, followed by a question and answer session.

Another meeting hosted by Texas AgriLife Extension and the Texas Wheat Producers Board will be held at the Burkburnett Community Center on July 30, to discuss similar topics.  The meeting is set to start at 10 a.m.

For more information contact Kody Bessent at (806) 352-2191.