To Be Effective Commissioner Must Remain Independent
Chemicals, pesticides, toxics!
Daily, we confront chemicals of varying toxicity and benefit--whether in our kitchens, workplaces, gardens, schools or parks. In this environment there is some irony that one of the most highly regulated usage areas, agricultural chemicals, has gained public focus. Agriculture appreciates the attention but finds it a little unsettling.
Public safety is always paramount. Only by fair and rigorous enforcement of sound state and federal laws will we as farmers and ranchers continue to have access to vital chemicals necessary to maintain our competitive position in today’s intense domestic and world markets.
As growers we are always actively seeking to reduce our use of chemicals, and we continue to move to more benign chemicals of lower toxicity. Chemical applications to protect crops are very expensive and not our first choice. However, the fact is that chemicals remain an important adjunct to the success of our integrated pest management program (IPM) style of farming prevalent in Ventura County. IPM virtually originated in Ventura County and is now viewed as the state of the art in pest control. Since the 1930s, local growers have embraced IPM for reasons of both safety and economy. Indeed, our two largest pest control cooperatives also operate large insectaries for the production of “good bugs.”
Under IPM, beneficial insects and organic materials are the first choice to control insect and disease problems. There is a strong bias for selective chemicals that do not disrupt the natural populations of “good bugs” in the pursuit of “bad bugs.” Chemical applications for bad bugs are made only when scientifically established threshold levels have been reached. Treatment decisions are made by university-educated pest control professionals licensed by the state. Because of the complexity of the regulations and the science, the vast majority of growers now rely on these licensed consultants for pest monitoring and control services.
The agricultural community has a huge stake in the independence of the county agricultural commissioner’s office. We believe the ag commissioner should be allowed to carry out the duties of the office unimpeded by the special agendas of any interest groups, whether they be from the environmental or agricultural side. A strong and nonpoliticized agricultural commissioner carrying out the letter of the law protects the public health and assures the safe and proper use of chemicals on the farm.
It appears to us that fringe influences among environmental groups are seeking to co-opt the ag commissioner issue as a vehicle to obtain their real objective, an end to the use of pesticides. We urge the public and our political leaders not to fall prey to the emotional response these individuals seek to generate. Sound science does count. Data that pass the muster of scientific peer review are important. It is imperative that our deliberations of chemical health risks and benefits be judged in the civil atmosphere provided by sound science.
*
The agriculture commissioner’s office has been subjected to repeated budget cuts while its responsibilities have grown broader. It is no wonder that this undernourished department has experienced difficulties. Before being too critical of the current commissioner, the Farm Bureau urges that proper resources be provided to the department so that it can fully discharge its duties in an effective and timely manner.
People unhappy with pesticide laws and regulations should address their concerns to Sacramento and Washington, D.C. The local ag commissioner is the traffic cop, not the rule maker. In enforcing the law, the health and safety of the public, including children and workers, should always be the commissioner’s first concern.
Agriculture is a huge contributor to the welfare of Ventura County, economically and in the provision of wonderful quality-of-life attributes. We ship our produce across the United States and around the world. We must. Even a minuscule fraction of our local production would bury every farmers market and every grocery store in the county. And we must grow the exacting quality and variety of produce that the market demands.
In the post-Save Open Space and Agricultural Resources world, the viability of agriculture should remain at the forefront among our public policymakers’ considerations. We must be competitive. Our farms are beautiful, yes, but they are still businesses. Access to all cultural farming tools is very important to us, including the safest array of inorganic, organic and biological chemicals that science can provide. We cannot afford to be stampeded by an irrational chemophobia that would threaten the very existence of our farms and the welfare of our community.