California Agriculture

In response to your editorial “Curbing a Thirst for Water and Power” (Nov. 26) and the article “Whitefly Was Invited to Dinner” (by Jennifer Curtis, Commentary, Nov. 27):

The growth and prosperity of California and the United States has been accompanied by the development of an agricultural economy employing intensive farming practices. This key sector of the economy has generated substantial exports as well as cheap food and fiber for domestic consumption.

However, intensive agriculture has entailed both the use of water for irrigation and the judicious use of fertilizers and pesticides; it has also involved changes in the landscape of California. If The Times now believes the state should change the policies that encouraged this development, and that the resources used in agriculture should be allocated elsewhere, then it should say so in a series of properly researched articles that address the costs and the complexity that such a fundamental change would involve.

California is, perhaps for the first time, facing the realization that its resources are not limitless. How these resources should be developed and allocated as the state continues to grow is an issue that should not be dealt with by piecemeal legislation from a New Jersey senator (Bill Bradley) but rather as part of an overall state policy. The discussion that hopefully will precede the adoption of such a policy deserves more than superficial editorials and “perspectives” from elitist groups.

There are still people in the state whose diets and pocketbooks are adversely affected by trebling the price of lettuce.

WILLIAM D. PHILLIMORE, Bakersfield