Name change part of expanded L-N coverage

Farming & Outdoors. That's the new name of this page - formerly called simply Agriculture.

Outdoors news isn't agriculture, and agriculture, while usually done outdoors, is not outdoors news. But the Leader- News staff felt they were related enough in nature to warrant combining them on the same page each Saturday.

Beginning today, the new Farming & Outdoors page will feature a weekly column written by members of the Oak-Prairie District Staff of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.

Some of these TPWD stories will relate to hunters, others will relate to landowners and still others will be of interest to people who enjoy nature in their own backyards.

"Our topics will target a wide audience including hunters, non-hunters, farmers, ranchers, absentee landowners and rural or urban dwellers," the first release stated.

"We hope to inform readers whether they own 1/3 of an acre in town, or own large acreages in the country."

"Agriculture is not being deemphasized. It's just that week in and week out there isn't always enough current ag news for the page. So it will be supplemented with 'outdoors' news," ECLN Publisher Chris Barbee said.

Leader-News outdoors columnist Judy Bishop Jurek's columns may also be found on this page in the future.

However, depending on the subject or the space requirements, TPWD and Jurek columns could be featured in the Sports Section instead of on the Farming & Outdoors page.

"We hope our readers enjoy the new format," Barbee said.

"Suggestions for story topics for this page are certainly welcome and may be sent to leader@leader-news.com.