ICYMI: Sen. Cruz Champions Agriculture Issues on West Texas Tour
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) kicked off an agriculture tour in West Texas, where he visited local farms and met with Texas agriculture industry leaders to discuss the challenges and opportunities they face.
Specifically, Sen. Cruz visited Ropesville, Meadow, Muleshoe, and Friona and met with cotton, wine and grape, dairy, livestock feed, and maize farmers. Cruz will conclude the agriculture tour today with stops in Dalhart and Cactus.
Following is a summary of news coverage from Sen. Cruz’s events:
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Sen. Cruz Returns to South Plains for Another Ag Tour
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is making his second agriculture-related tour of the South Plains and Texas Panhandle in two months. After a scheduled visit to a Ropesville farm Sunday afternoon, Cruz is expected to tour the Meadow Cotton Gin and Bingham Family Vineyards Monday morning in Meadow before a lunch that afternoon in Muleshoe and making his way north to Friona later in the day… The Senator's office did release a statement Sunday evening after Cruz toured the Dahlen K. Hancock Family Farm in Ropesville, “where he spoke with cotton farmers and industry leaders about solutions that can help Texas agriculture thrive.” “Agriculture has long been a pillar of Texas’ economy and is an integral part of our proud heritage,” Cruz said in the statement.
Amarillo Globe-News: Sen. Cruz Talks About Helping Farmers in Friona
Sen. Ted Cruz visited Friona on Monday as part of a three-day agriculture tour in West Texas. The Texas Republican stopped at Del Rio Dairy and feed manufacturer Hi-Pro Feeds, and later climbed aboard a combine to harvest milo, a crop that has seen tumbling prices… “Agriculture is a backbone of America, and farmers and ranchers are a critical foundation of the state of Texas,” Cruz said in an interview. “I think there needs to be far more national focus…on agriculture issues.” Cruz emphasized the agricultural benefits of his flat-tax plan, which includes a border adjusted business tax that would place a 16 percent tax on imported goods and crops while leaving American exports untaxed.
KCBD (Lubbock): Sen. Cruz Meets with Ropesville, Meadow Cotton Farmers in Agriculture Tour
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Sunday kicked off a three-day agriculture tour in West Texas. Sen. Cruz visited with cotton farmers at the Dahlen K. Hancock Family Farm in Ropesville, and on Monday, met with cotton industry leaders at the Meadow Farmers Co-Op Gin in Meadow. Cruz toured the cotton farms and spoke with the farmers about solutions that can help Texas agriculture thrive. “Agriculture has long been a pillar of Texas’ economy and is an integral part of our proud heritage,” Sen. Cruz said. “Texas farmers and ranchers play a crucial role in feeding our state and our nation, and they provide raw materials for thousands of industries across the country and around the world. Unfortunately, the Obama administration has spent eight years limiting choices and imposing costly regulations on Texas’ agriculture industries. We must address the needs of American farmers and tear down regulatory barriers so that hardworking Texans can grow their operations, innovate, and thrive.”
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Sen. Cruz: Meeting with Farmers ‘Tremendous Opportunity’
Ted Cruz did not promote any immediate solutions Monday morning to agriculture’s troubles. First, the U.S. senator wanted to learn more about specifically about what they are. “I’d love to just hear from you guys — how things are going, what are the challenges you’re facing,” he told a group of cotton growers at Meadow Farmers Co-op Gin… A-J Media was able to ask the senator about specific ideas for policy changes. He responded, “My No. 1 priority in the Senate is jobs and economic growth. The key to jobs and economic growth is reducing the burden from Washington… This has been a tremendous opportunity just to visit with local agricultural leaders and really listen to the farmers in the region,” Cruz said. “Cotton in particular has had a rough journey.”
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