By Gene Hall

How’s that for a provocative headline? Make no mistake, there is a food elite, called “The Food Police,” in an excellent book by Dr. Jayson Lusk that is quite determined to substitute their food choices for yours.

The thing I like about this book is that it so completely explodes all the food myths out there. I am not at all opposed to the local food movement, for example. I guess I assume that when it breaks down, as it must, that there will be exceptions. I hope so, because there just isn’t much commercial fresh fruit and vegetable production in Central Texas, where I live.

By Colin and Laura Chopelas

Every week, it seems there is a new fad or breaking news story on television or the internet.  What happens in the rest of the world can instantly be news in America. The words of our politicians can move commodities or stock markets thousands of miles away.  Some of these issues can inadvertently undermine the hard work and long hours that every American farming family endures daily.

By Mike Barnett

Despite last minute attempts to dampen support, a flood of positive votes ensured passage of Proposition 6, the important water funding constitutional amendment on the Nov. 5 ballot.

Proposition 6 is not a panacea for a serious problem, but it is the huge first step in ensuring water for Texas’ future. The 73 to 27 percent margin by which it passed shows that if you challenge Texans, they will tackle problems head on instead of shifting blame or leaving them for future generations to solve.

By Gene Hall

Farmer Curt Mowery has some advice for farmers who might be considering bringing influencers out to the farm for a look at what goes on there: “Just do it. The rewards far outweigh any concerns.”

When representatives of the International Food Information Council called me some months ago to arrange a farm tour as part of a Houston meeting, I thought of Curt Mowery. His Brazoria County farm is proof of why modern agricultural technology works so well. Curt did his research and concluded that he should reach out to this group of registered dietitians.

By Gene Hall

British environmentalist Mark Lynas is someone I admire. Why? He has that unique kind of courage so rare these days. He admitted he was wrong.

He opposed genetically engineered food for many years. About a year ago, he admitted he was just repeating talking points. After he looked into it himself, objectively, he did what everyone who approaches the subject that way has to do. He changed his mind. He has since been talking a lot about the environmental benefits of genetically engineered food and the fact that the human health damage of the technology still stands at exactly zero.

By Kenneth Dierschke

Water grows Texas.

It always has. Water grows families. Water grows jobs. Water grows food.

Yet Texas is thirsty. Many years of drought have left us with withered lawns, parched pastures and shrinking water supplies. Surface water levels have dropped to 60 percent of capacity and Texas grows thirstier by the day.  A possibility that we turn on the tap and nothing comes out is finally dawning on us. We are realizing the precious resource we’ve always taken for granted is actually limited indeed.