Local Farmers, Ranchers Concerned about Future of Their Industry

TYLER � Local farmers and ranchers met Thursday with Texas agriculture commissioner candidate J. Allen Carnes. KETK reports they discussed the future of the agricultural industry in Texas and have many concerns about it. They said Texas is losing agricultural land faster than any state in the country and the future of Texas agriculture depends on the next generation.

As a farmer, Mark Chamblee is worried about the future of Texas agriculture. “We’ve got to feed America and we have to feed other countries because a lot of other countries depend on our food products and agricultural products as exports,” said Chamblee.

Texas is second in the nation in agricultural production, but the state is losing land, and most farmers and ranchers are almost 60 years old. “We need to be able to hold on to our environment and create an environment that entices young people to come into this field — either the actual farmer or rancher or in the allied industry,” said Carnes. Carnes faces East Texan Tommy Merritt, Joe Cotten, Sid Miller, and Eric Opiela in the GOP primary.