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An Agricultural Perspective: Water issues should not divide us, but bring us together, says commentary

Posted by: Maven on September 5, 2010 at 7:41 am

From the California Farm Water Coalition, this commentary by Dan Errotabere, President of the Fresno County Farm Bureau:

“At Fresno County Farm Bureau, we spend considerable time educating people who are not involved in farming about the value of local agriculture, how food is produced and the broad economic benefits that derive from crops produced in Fresno County. But sometimes we need to turn our attention to our own agricultural community and the wide diversity of perspectives we bring to a topic as important to all of us as water.

One of our sister county farm bureau publications recently expressed concern about the State Water Resources Control Board’s efforts to quantify the amount of water currently being diverted by farmers in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The article questioned the involvement of the San Joaquin River Group (Modesto Irrigation District and others) and the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority (the west side of the San Joaquin Valley) in these proceedings. And it explained why this particular county is worried that any controversy over in-Delta water use may undercut support for the additional water storage capacity that we all agree California desperately needs.

I respect the autonomy and advocacy efforts of individual county farm bureaus, but there are times when we disagree within the family. Let me provide our perspective on the State Board’s inquiry and the need for all of us in irrigated agriculture to stand together for a healthy Delta and increased surface water storage facilities. … “

Continue reading this commentary by clicking here.

Photo of Central Valley farm fields & canals by Aquafornia.

September 5, 2010 · Filed Under Agriculture

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