My New Book Is Out and I Am Excited!

   The response already has been great! One friend in Sacramento bought ten copies to pass around. Another friend in Stockton has done the same. A friend in Chicago ordered his copy this week. The Fresno Business Journal had a write up last week.

   The official press release is below. In short, my thesis is we need a healthy environment and a healthy economy. For you producers out there I have  a word of encouragement; you're not crazy, the system is crazy.

   I look forward to hearing your responses. You know me. I am not one to pontificate and then close off dialogue. Let's talk about this.
   We are working on setting up a Facebook page for the book. I'll drop you a note when that is up and running. I just couldn't wait any longer.

California Farmer Betancourt Releases New Book

Ten Reasons:  Finding Balance on Environmental Issues

(Fresno, CA):  There is a lot of nonsense that goes on in the name of the environment.  Farmers and other producers regularly shake their heads at the red tape and Death of Common Sense experiences.  In Ten Reasons:  Finding Balance on Environmental Issues, family farmer and author Paul H. Betancourt seeks to find balance on the very environmental issues that often divide.

“We need a healthy environment and a healthy economy,” says the book’s author Paul Betancourt.  “My book explores how we have lost perspective and how we need to restore balance on environmental issues as we move forward.  As a farmer who faces the overwhelming environmental laws and opinions on a daily basis, I wanted to offer an alternative to the gridlock.   If we are going to do this, let’s do it right.”

In the forward by Congressman Jim Costa from California’s Central Valley those who want to “understand why American agriculture is so exasperated by many in the environmental community” are encouraged to read Betancourt’s book.  A book where the author works to help others understand that the two sides aren’t so different, he cares about the environment too.  In fact, Paul states that one of the very reasons “he became a farmer was to see if he could learn what nature had to teach him.”

While stating his case with great insight and candor for the Ten Reasons why he thinks the environmental movement is unreasonable, Betancourt concludes with those guiding principles he believes can unleash the gridlock and create a “safe and sane environmental policy” for the country.

Paul Betancourt was not raised on a farm, but was born in New York and now farms with his family in California’s Central Valley.  He is the first farmer in his family for more than five generations.  They currently grow Pima cotton, wheat and almonds.  In addition to being a sought after speaker and outspoken advocate for issues facing California farmers Betancourt is an instructor of ethics and political science at the University of Phoenix in Fresno, California and Madera Center Community College.  Betancourt’s observations on life and farming can be heard on 940ESPN radio every weekday in the Fresno area.  You can also follow him on his blog, This Week on the Farm at http://betancourtunlimited.blogspot.com/. 

Ten Reasons:  Finding Balance on Environmental Issues was released on November 20 and is currently available directly through the publisher Xulon Press at   http://www.xulonpress.com/bookstore/bookdetail.php?PB_ISBN=9781624198168 or by visiting Amazon.com.  Barnes and Noble and Costco Wholesale in the Fresno area will have the books available in January 2013.