A number of parents said the issues being brought to the public and elected officials are ones that will have a real impact on whether or not these children will be able to carry on the traditions of California agriculture that are, in many cases, generations old. Starting with no taxes on our equipment would help. We need the message to get to the public that food just doesn't come from the grocery store. 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.
Trade is a two-way street.
When heavily subsidized Greek canned peaches, Australian lamb and Chinese garlic flood the U.S. market at prices well below production costs, we need to stand up and fight for fair trade. Enough is enough. The farm leader sounded the alarm about energy and water supplies. Pauli said dwindling water supplies will force farmers to reduce planted acreage and pump more expensive underground water. Farmers are reporting that the economic crisis is making bankers wary of making farm loans, further hampering some farmers' ability to operate.