California is one of only four states that charge a full state sales tax on farm equipment. Cardoza's bill would give farmers a 6 percent saving on the purchase of tractor and other farm equipment. Pauli said Farm Bureau supports policies that promote fair trade and address trade-distorting barriers and quotas that block California exports. He said several countries flood the U.S. market with heavily subsidized products that undercut domestic producers. Our market is virtually open to imports.
Trade is a two-way street.
When heavily subsidized Greek canned peaches, Australian lamb and Chinese garlic flood the U.S. market, we need to stand up and fight for fair trade. The farm leader sounded alarm about energy and water supplies. Pauli said dwindling water supplies will force farmers to reduce planted acreage and pump more expensive underground water. When we can't plant, it means less food, fewer jobs and reduced benefit for wildlife and the environment. He said the cutoff in water supplies to farmers in the Klamath Basin this month should serve notice to farmers across the state that restrictions to protect salmon and other fish species will siphon water from farms and rural communities.