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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re just proud to showcase agriculture here in East Texas,\u201d Watts said. \u201cAgriculture is a large part of our economy here. It creates lots of jobs, lots of revenue. It feeds and clothes the people.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said agriculture in East Texas is \u201creal,\u201d \u201cpresent\u201d and \u201cvibrant,\u201d but said it comes with challenges.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need as much help as possible, from federal policy or state policy,\u201d Watts said. \u201cConsumers need to understand where their food is coming from and support local producers.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe haven\u2019t had a farm bill in many years, and we\u2019ve extended it and extended it,\u201d he said. \u201cThe farm bill is really important, not only from disaster payments or insurance payments, but also food programs along those lines, as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Watts said maintaining crop insurance is a key provision of the farm bill.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese volatile weather patterns that we have right now, when you\u2019ve got a significant investment into the crop and a weather pattern comes and takes it out, it\u2019s devastating,\u201d Watts said.<\/p>\n
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