TYLER, Texas (KLTV) – A regional vice president for Texas Farm Credit said agriculture remains a major part of the East Texas economy but continues to face challenges from rising costs and barriers for new producers.
Kyle Watts spoke Wednesday at the State of Agriculture Luncheon, hosted by the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce and the East Texas State Fair at the East Texas State Fairgrounds.
“We’re just proud to showcase agriculture here in East Texas,” Watts said. “Agriculture is a large part of our economy here. It creates lots of jobs, lots of revenue. It feeds and clothes the people.”
He said agriculture in East Texas is “real,” “present” and “vibrant,” but said it comes with challenges.
“We need as much help as possible, from federal policy or state policy,” Watts said. “Consumers need to understand where their food is coming from and support local producers.”
Watts said passage of a farm bill is the most pressing federal issue for agriculture. He said the House has passed the bill and the Senate needs to act on it.
“We haven’t had a farm bill in many years, and we’ve extended it and extended it,” he said. “The farm bill is really important, not only from disaster payments or insurance payments, but also food programs along those lines, as well.”
Watts said maintaining crop insurance is a key provision of the farm bill.
“These volatile weather patterns that we have right now, when you’ve got a significant investment into the crop and a weather pattern comes and takes it out, it’s devastating,” Watts said.
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