Water Education Foundation
This is just one post in the Agriculture Category
Click here to view all posts

Bill McEwen: Farmers, your name isn’t mud

Posted by: Maven on March 11, 2010 at 5:48 am

From the Fresno Bee, this column by Bill McEwen:

“I get it when farmers say don’t complain about us with your mouth full — even though what they mean is don’t complain about farmers at all.

So, I’m not going to complain about farmers. I’m going to suggest — for their benefit — that they talk a lot less about how tough they have it and start bragging about how well they do. The truth is agriculture has been one of the best performers in California’s economy since the housing bubble burst and recession began, according to state statistics and a University of the Pacific economist who has made a point of highlighting this issue.

Yes, there are some farmers, such as those on the west side of the Central Valley, who have been waylaid by drought and environmental restrictions. But, as a whole, farmers are better off than construction workers, real-estate agents and laid-off public employees.

The big-picture view for California is that we should thank our lucky stars that all of our productive farmland hasn’t been turned into subdivisions and parking lots. Otherwise, our economy would be a worse mess. But you wouldn’t know it from the Dust Bowl landscape of Valley agriculture painted by farmers and ally politicians. Like the farmer who drives an old pickup lest someone think he’s making a buck, they peddle fear and pestilence. … “

Continue reading Bill McEwen’s column by clicking here.

March 11, 2010 · Filed Under Agriculture

Comments

Leave a Reply