Protecting agriculture is
critical to national security
http://www.cfbf.com/agalert/2004/05_05_04_4_aa.aspx
Issue Date: May 5, 2004
In the wake of events on Sept. 11, 2001, our
country has stiffened its response to terrorism,
and it has taken steps to prevent future
assaults on Americans and their freedom. The
Bush administration, in examining critical
infrastructure needs in the U.S., has identified
agriculture as vital for food production, and it
has placed a priority on keeping this sector
strong in the future.
In its February 2003 report, "National
Strategy for the Physical Protection of Critical
Infrastructures and Key Assets," the
administration states that agriculture and food
systems "are a source of essential commodities
in the U.S., and they account for close to
one-fifth of the Gross Domestic Product."
This week, a group of Farm Bureau leaders
from California visited Capitol Hill to enforce
the message that agriculture is a vital
contributor to national security. Members of
Congress can play a supportive role to help
address threats like bioterrorism, exotic pests,
the spread of disease and the cumulative impact
of regulations on family farmers and ranchers.
Every vote in Congress-whether it concerns
endangered species, labor, water, taxes or
trade-can be a vote to help or hurt farmers and
our national security.
This week, our delegation focused on
additional funding for border security to help
prevent disease outbreaks that threaten our food
supply. We also supported country-of-origin
labeling as a way to inform consumers about
their food choices and to help our farmers
compete more equitably in the global
marketplace. And we delivered important messages
that farmers are under siege from costly
regulations.
In an election year, much attention will be
focused on the economy. We think the farm
economy deserves to be front and center as a
significant issue. Candidates who support
national security should support farm security.
California agriculture supports more than 1
million jobs and a significant portion of the
Gross State Product. It is a major contributor
to the rest of the nation by virtue of our
position as the top farm state, which provides
more than half of the country's fruits,
vegetables and nuts.
If anyone doubts the impact of government
regulations on agriculture, they only need to
look at the state's timber business. Over the
years, environmental regulations have cut a path
through the heart of California's vital timber
sector. Today, mills have closed, people are out
of work, communities are suffering, and there is
a greater reliance on imported lumber. And, the
threat of catastrophic wildfire in our
forestlands has never been greater.
A recent report by the Property and
Environment Research Center found that
government agencies have underestimated the cost
of regulations to protect endangered species by
billions of dollars. Too often the intended
benefits of regulations fail to materialize and
government wastes money and misplaces
priorities.
This week, we told members of Congress that
they should refrain from supporting legislation
that does not rely on incentives to meet
environmental objectives. Laws passed by
Congress often become mandates for states to
implement. According to the National Council of
State Legislatures, states pay nearly $30
billion in unfunded costs each year to implement
federal programs. So when the state is on the
ropes financially and trying to comply with
these mandates, it cuts programs and services,
including ones that are vital to agriculture. It
makes no sense.
The government's report on critical
infrastructures and key assets indicates that
"agriculture and food markets are highly
competitive, and many parts of the food system
operate within slim margins." Family farms in
California cannot continue to operate and
contribute to the national security without a
lot more support from elected leaders,
especially those in urban areas who may not see
farmers as constituents.
It's time for Congress to work better to help
maintain a healthy economy and to secure our
critical infrastructure role for the United
States. That's an issue that should be a high
priority-in an election year or not.
Permission for use is granted, however,
credit must be made to the California Farm
Bureau Federation when reprinting this item.
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