Saturday, January 7, 2017
Volume 118, Number 55 8 Pages $1.00 www.HerefordBRAND.com
No New Year's baby,
County's first born in 2017 arrives Jan. 2, page 2
Make Newspapers Great Again
Summit focus on agrinomics By John Carson BRAND Managing Editor
Frigid Friday BRAND/John Carson
Residents of Hereford and Deaf Smith County awoke to a winter wonderland Friday as a late Thursday evening and earlymorning snow storm left its calling card blanketing the area. Snow – up to 2 inches and more in some locales – were joined by high temperatures in the teens, lows in single digits and wind chills below 0 for most of the day. The good news was forecast had the snow melting Saturday before highs in the mid-upper 60s for most of next week. Love that High Plains weather, what?
Bolstered by success of last year’s inaugural event, the Deaf Smith-Oldham County Farm Bureau will host its second Ag Economic Summit on Tuesday at Hereford Community Center. The summit is designed to give local agricultural producers an opportunity to expand their knowledge and gain new information and insights into the economics of their industry. “Last year was a success,” Farm Bureau vice president Jared Blankenship said. “Hopefully, our timing is a little better this year. We did it last year in March, and by then, farmers already crops in the fields.” Moving of the date to early January is not only expected to attract more local producers to the summit, but allowed the event to tie into the bureau’s annual student Ag Day at Deaf Smith County Bull Barn. Blankenship said both events are designed to raise awareness that the Farm Bureau is much, much more than what most people think – an insurance company. Admitting that insurance is a part of the bureau, Blankenship was quick to add it is not the only or most important of what there is to offer. “We want to focus on different things in the summit,” he said. “Most producers are good are what they do, and very little really changes in that process. “However, the economics of agriculture is the greatest challenge facing producers – and ultimately, their weakest area of expertise.” While providing information and insight into trends and developments in production, the summit spotlight is honed on the post-production economics of the industry. One of the reasons for the importance of such information, Blankenship said, is producers are facing a variety of sometimes often-changing risks with an ever-narrowing margin of error. “Education never ceases,” Blankenship said. “We want to get the needed information to producers. We want to equip them with all the tools available to minimize risks and enhance profitability. “In essence, the summit will allow for improvements in producers’ marketing plans.” The summit, which starts at noon, will feature an economic overlook for livestock in 2017, as well as a marketing strategies and tools session by James Miller of SW Agribusiness Consulting. The afternoon will wrap with presentation of the Texas Farm Bureau issues to be presented to the state legislature and U.S. Congress. That session will provide local producers info on what the bureau will be doing on state and federal levels for the coming year. Blankenship added that the Deaf Smith-Oldham office will be sending a contingent to both Austin and Washington, D.C., in the coming months to help spread agriculture’s local message to state and national lawmakers.
County approves financial assistance for food pantry By Chris Aguilar BRAND Staff Writer The relocation of Hereford Food Pantry was on the agenda during the last Deaf Smith County Commissioners Court (DSCCC) meeting held Dec. 27, 2016. The discussion was part of an early Dec. meeting regarding the county annex building across Schely Street from the court-
house. Discussion surrounded a “tentative agreement” the county has with Texas Federal Credit Union (TFCU) on the property. County Judge D.J. Wagner reported the issue had come to light after TFCU expressed renewed interest in the property following news of pending relocation of the building’s occupants. The agreement would
turn the annex building ment is set to kick in when over to TFCU in current tenants exchange for the vacate the annex, TFCU property which currently on the corner of houses the State Schely and Fourth D e par tme n t of Street-where a Family Services offree-standing, fices and Hereford drive through Food Pantry. branch currently However, family stands, and an adservices are planditional payment ning a mid-January WAGNER of $30.000. move to new officThe reason for es on the corner of discussion was the agree- 25- Mile Avenue and 15th
Street. “The credit union is interested in obtaining the annex,” Wagner said. “I am confident the building needs to go – particularly since we are no longer required to provide space for state agencies.” The new location is set to be located at 900 N. Lee in a building specifically donated to the food pantry by long time county resident Joe Ward.
While the food pantry is a non-profit organization, Wagner reminded commissioners the county is required to provide indigent assistance. The pantry, which serves some 300 county residents on a monthly basis, provides a majority of that requirement. “They [food pantry] are moving to a very nice PLEASE SEE COUNTY | 2