Protecting land and the competitiveness of cattle markets dominate TSCRA convention

March 30, 2009 05:38 pm

— FORT WORTH — Members of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) passed four resolutions during the closing general session of the 132nd annual convention in Fort Worth. The resolutions concern inactive well plugging, anti-competitiveness of the cattle industry, non-native and invasive plant species and Hurricane Ike.
The slumping economy and the low price of oil have left tens of thousands of oil and gas wells across the state abandoned and unplugged. Many of these inactive wells reside on the land of TSCRA members. TSCRA passed a resolution that would support legislative efforts to require all operators in the chain of title be held responsible for the timely plugging of orphaned oil and gas wells in the state.
“Many inactive wells trade hands and are allowed to ultimately end up in the hands of bankrupt operators who cannot afford to plug the wells,” TSCRA President Dave Scott said. “These wells pose a serious threat to groundwater and create an unsafe and unsightly mess on the land.”
Efforts are underway in the State Legislature to stop the pattern of allowing thousands of wells to go unplugged for years without recourse to the owners.
Cattle raisers passed an additional resolution that opposes any government policies relative to livestock ownership which threaten to dictate market conditions or negatively impact market prices.
“The ability of an individual or corporation to freely buy and sell their cattle through all available marketing channels is key in any cattle producers risk management strategy,” TSCRA President Dave Scott said. “The more the federal government tries to regulate the free cattle market, the more potential there is to disrupt the current market. Our members are already coping with a slowing economy and an historic drought. The last thing producers need is government interfering with the cattle markets.”
A resolution supporting the planting of native species in highway and pipeline rights-of-way, state parks, oil and gas areas, mines, gravel pits and other reclaimed areas also passed, as well as a resolution commending TSCRA Special Rangers and staff for their efforts during Hurricane Ike.