County Farm Bureau Seeks More Members

As senior vice president of the Ventura County Farm Bureau, rancher Tom Pecht has learned at least one truth: “Farmers are noted for telling what’s on their minds.”

And it’s the Farm Bureau’s job to listen.

Now in its 77th year, the Ventura County Farm Bureau has launched an all-out membership drive to boost its ranks--and thereby enhance its political clout.

The lobbying and educational organization now counts about 1,350 dues-paying members, and Executive Director Rex Laird hopes to add at least 400 more names to the roster by Oct. 31. Even if the Farm Bureau reaches that target, however, it will fall far short of its peak membership, which topped out at 2,300 in the late 1980s.

“It’s hard to recruit because of the tough economic times,” Laird said, “but we’re still plugging away.”

Annual dues are $90 for farmers, who have voting memberships, and $65 for non-growers, who join primarily to be eligible to buy CalFarm insurance, Laird said. About 85% of the current members are farmers, he said.

“It’s not that the $90 is going to make or break them,” Laird said. “But membership is discretionary, and at some point they have to start cutting costs.”

Culling opinions from family vegetable growers and commercial lemon producers alike, the Farm Bureau polls its members and takes positions on agriculture-related issues. It then lobbies local, state and national politicians on everything from water rights to land use to pesticide regulations.

“The more farmers we have, the more valid our voice is when we lobby in Sacramento or before the Board of Supervisors,” Pecht said.

Directors would not disclose the Farm Bureau’s annual budget.

One of the Farm Bureau’s recent successes was persuading state legislators to continue underwriting efforts to control the pesky Medfly, which has terrorized Los Angeles County growers and threatened to spread to Ventura County, according to Bureau President Chris Taylor.

Locally, the Farm Bureau has worked extensively with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department’s rural crime unit to staunch thefts of produce and equipment. The Farm Bureau has teamed up with the county to study the best means of conserving underground water basins.

A current Farm Bureau project involves asking farmers how the county should handle its budget crisis and which programs should receive priority funding.

Pecht and Taylor were reelected to the Farm Bureau’s Board of Directors at its annual meeting last week. Other directors are Gary Ball, Mike Conroy, John Lamb, Dave Machlitt, Tom McGrath, Mike Mobley, Richard Pidduck, Bob Pinkerton, Larry Rose, David Schwabauer and Fred Van Wingerden. Directors will choose officers in October.