| Lack of understanding |
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| Tuesday, 16 June 2009 16:02 |
Sacramento Bee Editor, Jim Jones demonstrates through his writing---Agribusiness puts subsidized crops ahead of people, 6/14/09---that he really doesn't understand farming. He falsely claims San Joaquin Valley cotton totaled 900,000 acres in 2008 when only 275,000 acres were planted and this year the number will be even less. He further discounts the value of alfalfa, wine grapes and almonds, indicating that water to grow these crops would be best utilized elsewhere. These crops would not be grown unless there was a market for them. Think of the jobs they provide not just on the farm but in other venues such as processing, trucking and shipping. We should be glad that exports of these crops help bring revenue into our money-strapped state. Remember, alfalfa provides the feed for the cows that produce the milk that moms pour for their children every day. It is unfortunate that people like Jones are allowed a soapbox to spew false information on how water is used on California farms.
Mike Wade, Executive Director |
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