Whereas costs of production increase substantially from year to year, such as: Diesel fuel from between $500 and $800 for 500 gallons last year to about $1500 tbis year; Natural gas from $3 per cu. ft. to $9 per cu. ft. now; Round-up weed-kill from $28 per gal to $58 per gal; A ton of fertilizer from about $450 last year to almost $1000 per ton; Equipment, such as an eight-row cotton stripper, increased 40% from $125,000 in 2001 to $175,000 now, Now therefore be it resolved that the Texas Democratic Party work to have the United States Congress include in the Farm Bill a counter-cyclical safety net, indexed to the cost of production, to support farm income during periods of low commodity prices. Texas Farmers Union, P.O. Box 7276, Waco, Tx 76714-7276