By Mike Barnett

A march against Monsanto and GMOs? Give me a break. Jeez.

I normally wouldn’t pay much attention to the group named Occupy Monsanto who is expected to protest against genetically modified foods and modern agriculture this weekend. They have a bone to pick with Monsanto and I imagine you’re going to see them on the 6 o’clock news Saturday evening.

I’ve tried to be kinder and gentler over the past year in my approach in dealing with those whom I disagree but I can’t in this case. Occupy Monsanto is a bunch of experts in pseudo-science who mine the Internet to support their misguided cause of getting biotechnology out of our food system. And of course, if it’s on the internet, it must be true.

By Gene Hall

Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey killed a spider  in front of school kids a few days ago. As far as I know, no arrests have been made in that “spidercide.” No articles of impeachment have yet been introduced against the governor. Sure, folks at the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) are upset. Darn.

If there is any action in which nearly 100 percent of the adult population of the world has engaged, it’s the swatting and subsequent crushing of a spider. I’ve done it. My wife is most aggressive at it. It’s a sight to see.

By Billy Howe

We heard it when Texas Farm Bureau fought for private property rights and eminent domain reform.  We heard it when we fought for groundwater rights and surface water rights. Lately, we have heard it all again as we fight for landowners over common carrier pipelines: “What Texas Farm Bureau wants is just going to enrich trial lawyers and cause ‘thousands of lawsuits.’”

What complete nonsense!

Texas Farm Bureau is fighting for the constitutionally-guaranteed right of landowners to protect their property.

That’s lawsuit abuse?

By Mike Barnett

Total devastation visited Fleming Grain and Cattle Company Thursday evening. The storms that rolled through Texas that day damaged and destroyed thousands of acres of corn and wheat on several farms in Bell and Falls counties and other parts of the state as well.

The year started with promise for farmers like Robert Fleming. His crops looked good. It was a bit dry, however, and he was optimistic for the moisture Thursday’s cold front would bring. He didn’t bargain for the pea-sized hail driven by straight-line winds that peppered the crops like a mini-machine gun.

By Si Cook

TFB Organization Director

I was in South Texas the last weekend in April trying to accomplish a week’s worth of ranch work in one day. On Saturday, my time was cut short by a strange and wonderful event–a three-and-a-half inch rain!

By Steve Pringle

TFB Legislative Director

For years, Texas claimed to be a property rights state. Our politicians waxed eloquent on the stump about the sanctity of private property in Texas. Sometimes you get the idea that Davy Crockett died at the Alamo strictly because of Mexico’s eminent domain policy. It was, however, a sham. Texas, until the legislative session of 2011, had one of the nation’s worst eminent domain laws.