TEXAS NEIGHBORS | SPRING 2018 OPINION Vol. 83, No. 2, Spring 2018 TEXAS NEIGHBORS is published quarterly by the Texas Farm Bureau, 7420 Fish Pond Road, Waco, Texas 76710, (254) 772-3030. Subscription price to Farm Bureau members is included in annual membership dues. The Texas Farm Bureau does not assume responsibility for statements by advertisers or for products advertised in TEXAS NEIGHBORS . For information on advertising, contact: Spring brings renewed hope, new life Spring is here, and it’s a time of new—new life, new crops and new hope. For farmers and ranchers, spring also means being busy. Crops are being planted, and calves are being born. The days get longer, and we use as many of those daylight hours as we can, plus some in the dark. As the days continue to warm up, crops emerge. The green is a welcome sight after months of dreary winter colors. Pastures also transition from brown to green, and ranchers see new additions to the herd as the days go on. But spring also means the dance with Mother Nature begins. Parts of Texas—like the Panhandle—have been dry, suffering from drought while recovering from last year’s tragic wildfires. They’re By Russell Boening even battling fires this year, with more than 52,000 acres burned President Texas Farm Bureau so far in West Texas and the Panhandle. Mother Nature will bring us some much-needed spring rains, along with tornadoes and strong thunderstorms. We’ll probably see some hail damage in areas of the state and some flash floods. Mother Nature is a fickle lady, and we, as farmers and ranchers, play the hand she deals us. We roll with the punches and do our best to prepare for any inclement weather. And we do it all with a glass half-full mentality. In today’s market with lower prices for our crops, it’s easy to get disappointed and have a negative outlook. Instead, we choose to test our ingenuity and develop more efficiency-driven strategies. There’s no challenge too great for farmers and ranchers. Even Texas-sized problems meet their match. It’s easy to be cynical and pessimistic. We could grumble over our never-ending to-do list. But we don’t. Our optimism creates opportunity, and that makes Texas agriculture successful. Advertising Coordinator KELLY BOGARD 254.751.2420 Publication Co-op TIMES CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS 800.442.3276 Texas Farm Bureau website: http:/ /www.texasfarmbureau.org Texas Table Top blog: http:/ /tabletop.texasfarmbureau.org PRESIDENT Russell Boening, Poth VICE PRESIDENT Mark R. Chamblee, Tyler SECRETARY-TREASURER Scott Frazier, Chapman Ranch EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/COO Si Cook COMPTROLLER Cyndi Gerik BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Mark R. Chamblee, Tyler Mark Daniel, Seymour Scott Frazier, Chapman Ranch Larry W. Joiner, Huntington Allen Kaminski, Sealy Pat McDowell, Shamrock Ronnie Muennink, Hondo Jessica Richmond, De Leon Dan B. Smith, Lockney Val Stephens, Lamesa Neil F. Walter, Oglesby Ben F. Wible, Sherman Zachary X. Yanta, Runge Gene Hall —Publisher Julie Tomascik —Editor Jennifer Dorsett —Field Editor Justin Walker —Communications Specialist Kelly Bogard —Food Editor Gary Joiner —TFB Radio Network Manager Jessica Domel —Multimedia Reporter Cindy Wennin —Graphic Designer Angela Lujan —Graphic Designer WWW.TEXASFARMBUREAU.ORG