2014 In the Rear View Mirror...

   We got the first wheat field planted this week. We are rocking and rolling to get the next one ready.
   In this picture we are land planing the field. This smooths the bumps and ruts out so we can irrigate more efficiently. Next we will disc, the furrow out.

2014 in the Rear View Mirror

by Paul H. Betancourt

copyright November 2014

            “What would [the drought] have been like if we did not have access to ground water?”

                                                          Dr. Richard Howitt

                                                          Professor Emeritus UC Davis

Water

            The dominant issue in California agriculture this year, of course, has been water. Former UC Davis professor Dr. Richard Howitt reported that this year 17,000 jobs have been lost and there have been $2.2B in production losses. Howitt;s question is, “What would [the drought] have been like if we did not have access to ground water?” That is a key question.

            I find it frustrating and ironic that the same year the cut off surface water activists and our friends in Sacramento discover, “Oh, you have a groundwater problem.” Excuse me, THAT”S WHY WE PUT IN THE SURFACE WATER SYSTEMS DECADES AGO! (Sorry, I told you I was frustrated.) We realized a long time ago we could not increase production with the risk of over drafting the groundwater aquifer. With amazing foresight and working with slide rules those guys created an amazing and effective surface water system.

            We did pass a water bond this year. Now we will see if we squander that opportunity, or build for the future.

Other Issues

            Of course there have been other issues in Ag this year. At the conference hosted by Fresno State’s Center for Agricultural Business earlier this month two other issue were highlighted: Immigration Reform and Food Safety.

            Regarding food safety, let’s be clear: our food supply is safe. The issue is documentation. The government and buyers are demanding more and more documentation from growers.  While food safety is everyone’s concern, the pendulum is starting to swing too far. One friend is doing the right thing. He and his wife are growing organic produce. She spends her summer selling at various farmer’s markets in the area. But, he is ready to quit because he is spending over five hours a week just filling out paper work. Another neighbor grew his first crop of cherries last year. He was given three, three inch thick three ring binders to fill out.

            As I said above, the pendulum is swinging too far. An organic food activist from the Bay Area asked what he could do to help farmers. I said, “Get the documentation  down to one binder.” We know we are going do have to do reports. But, how many of you have time to fill out repetitive reports? I thought so.

            Food safety is a serious concern. As a farmer I want you to be confident that the food you are eating safe. Paper work is not reality. Reality is what happens in the fields.

            Immigration reform is a political hot potato in Washington. President Bush tried to make reforms, but was shot down by members of his own party. President Obama is getting criticized for supporting the Hispanic community on this issue during election campaigns, but failing to make any serious effort after elections. The good news for the Ag community and workers here in the Valley is that this is no longer a farm issue. When the Immigration and Control Act of 1986 passed the issue was agriculture and it was focused in Florida and the states that border Mexico. Now it is an issue in all fifty states, many industries and immigrants from countries other than Mexico. Hopefully with more people and more states involved we can find a solution.

Looking Back and Looking Forward

            So meanwhile, taking a look at 2014 in the rear view mirror. If you have water farming is fabulous. Commodity prices were strong. Production was down in many crops. Almonds, for example, were down 20-30 percent. But, prices pushed up. The real restriction for prosperity on the farm was the issue of water.

            In 2001 Fresno State celebrated the one millionth volume at the Madden Library. California State Historian Kevin Starr spoke at the event. He said the history of the last hundred years in California was the development of the coast and the history of the next hundred years will be the development of the Valley. This year has shown us that If we don’t figure out this water thing, that future will be dry and dusty.