CFBF chief renews call for activism

The leader of the Golden State's largest farm organization renewed his call for more political activism Dec. 3 in opening remarks at the group's annual meeting in Pasadena.

California Farm Bureau Federation president Paul Wenger urged growers to help shape the future of agriculture through the same “dogged determination” with which they produce crops.

The almond grower from Modesto reiterated that farm productivity has made California the nation's No. 1 agricultural state while acknowledging that growers' input costs have also gone up.

“While we have been so successful at producing more crops and more valuable crops and doing so on a sustainable, renewable basis, it doesn't always translate that our bottom lines have gone up,” Wenger said in prepared remarks to meeting delegates at the Pasadena Convention Center.

That's why there's never been a time that is so critical to work together through Farm Bureau and other allied organizations to advocate for our industry,” he said.

Wenger noted that immigration reform and the implementation of health care reform will be key issues that farmers and ranchers will need to weigh in on in 2013, according to a CFBF news release. Even before then, negotiations on avoiding the so-called “fiscal cliff” could have a big impact on growers when it comes to the estate tax, he argued.

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