State ag official omits North State specifics

Sandra Schubert covered a lot of ground in her presentation at the 10th annual Farm Show breakfast this week in Colusa, but not much of it was traveled in the North State.

The undersecretary of the state Department of Food and Agriculture spoke on a variety of topics Tuesday — budgets, politics, invasive pests and regulations — and each certainly has a bearing on the farmers, ranchers and other Northern California ag interests who attended the event.

The breakfast is put on by the California State University, Chico, School of Agriculture, the California Agriculture Leadership Foundation and the Alpha Gamma Rho Alumni.

"Everybody loves a farmer and rancher, but are not so happy with agriculture," said Schubert, referring to general opinions from the public.

She said somehow there has been a public breach between what farmers and ranchers do, and the overall impressions of agriculture.

"I know there is a huge disconnect between people and agriculture," she said.

She also said that makes it easier for policymakers to make decisions without agricultural inte ests in mind.

Schubert noted recent budget cuts and the likelihood of more at both the state and federal levels.

She said the federal farm bill could be slashed $25 billion, and most if not all those dollars will come from programs that support farmers and ranchers.

"Twenty-five billion dollars is a huge hit because 75 percent of the farm bill goes to nutrition (and related programs), and that is not where the cuts are going to come," said Schubert, who was once a staffer for Sen. Barbara Boxer. She was appointed to her current position by Gov. Jerry Brown in May.

She said cuts also are likely in invasive pest programs, which could have a serious impact on California, especially since 44 percent of imported goods come through the state's ports.

Most of her examples, however, were about pests that are impacting the San Joaquin Valley, perhaps in part because she grew up in the Fresno area.

And when asked about the regulatory atmosphere in Sacramento, she said there is no push to lower any kind of standards.

Nowhere was the North State more conspicuously missing than in her remarks about water, a point that was not lost on two Northern California representatives who attended the event.

Sen. Doug LaMalfa, R-Richvale, and Assemblyman Jim Nielsen, R-Gerber, were very concerned that storage and origin rights were not part of Schubert's comments, particularly with regard to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta

They believe each is a vital element to any Delta fix being proposed, and should be part of any water discussion.

They also think neither is a serious part of the Brown administration's water agenda.

What is part of the governor's agenda, Schubert said, is the Delta.

"Gov. Brown wants a solution," Schubert said.

She said the loudest voices being heard are not from agriculture, and she urged farmers and ranchers to speak up.

"I don't think that ag will be wiped out in the Delta, but you tend to hear the loudest voices coming from the extremes," Schubert said.

She really perked up the audience when she told them at one time there was a movement to appropriate water based on the economic return.

In other words, how much profit each farmer makes per so much water used, could determine how much water is received.

Schubert said that idea is no longer being considered, but she used it to show that there are still risks to agriculture out there.

"You have a megaphone everyday," said Schubert, returning to the theme that the public still likes farmers and ranchers. "Use it."

LaMalfa suggested the same input-output formula that was being considered for water allocation should be applied to government agencies.

"They would be out of business," the senator said.