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Water usage and allotment come to mind when
thinking about some of the most challenging issues farmers are faced
with today, particularly in the Klamath Basin. The fight over
surface water and the allotment of water to different areas and for
different purposes is a serious issue for small farmers who
continually find themselves losing access to the precious resource.
Water is not only a valuable asset but a necessary one, and without
it small farming will cease to exist.
California is a difficult state for small
farmers to conduct business. California farmers are quickly losing
access to water and are inundated with health care issues. With so
many concerns outside of the actual cultivation of crops, I worry
that corners will be cut and businesses will no longer be
sustainable. In order for small farming to continue to be viable,
the government must focus on helping to lift these burdens from the
backs of farmers or more small farms will go under and more large
corporate farms will emerge.
On top of all of the concerns small farmers
must deal with on a day-to-day basis, we must also deal with the
constant competitive pressure from global producers. Programs that
decrease domestic agriculture’s competitiveness will only increase
consumption of imported goods. I wonder how long it will take until
we begin to import foreign apples to Washington? Do our overseas
competitors have the same environmental and social standards that
small farmers in the United States have? And how can our industry
continue to be sustainable with these issues creating such an
adversarial environment for production?
Solutions to these vexing questions must be
sought. The source as to why farmers are finding it to be
increasingly difficult to produce crops and run a successful
business should be studied at length and addressed. Just
implementing punitive measures is not productive and cannot
guarantee a future for small-scale farming.
Fortunately I do not have the responsibility of solving all of these
complex problems, but we as an agricultural community should voice
our concerns and make them known. We must offer solutions to the
issues we are faced with on a daily basis in order to remain in
business. Become an active part of ABC and be a voice for an
industry with little extra time to dedicate to these concerns.
It is my wish that you all have a bountiful and
profitable harvest season.
Jack Hay Hay Ranch
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