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Could congressional inaction cause YOU to pay higher prices for groceries?

Traditionally, migrant farm workers have harvested much of our nation's agricultural products. However, recently, crops are rotting in California fields because migrant farm workers are being arrested by Border Patrol agents on their jobs. One farmer whom was interviewed mentioned the shortage of such workers, and Congress' lack of provisions for migrant farm workers. He desperately needs them because this year's has produced bountifully, the lack of workers to pick it is making it all go to waste. He is considering cutting down all his 150 year old trees and planting hay... a crop that doesn't need hands.

Rethinking California

...in 2004 contributed $32 billion in direct farm sales

...is the world's 5th largest food supplier

...produces 99% of America's supply of
  • 1)almonds,
  • 2)clingstone peaches,
  • 3)figs,
  • 4)persimmons,
  • 5)raisins,
  • 6)sweet rice,
  • 7)artichokes,
  • 8)dried plums,
  • 9)olives,
  • 10)walnuts,
  • 11)pomegranates,
  • 12) seed & ladino clover


...livestock & poultry account for $8.62 billion (27% of California's Gross Cash Income in '04

...fruits & nuts $9.66 billion - 30%
...vegetables & melons - $7.28 billion - 23%
...nursery & floriculture - $3.31 billion - 11%

...has 77,000 farms & ranches (less than 4% of national total, but accounts for 13% of value from direct farm sales)

...top CA commodities -
  • 1)milk & cream,
  • 2)grapes,
  • 3)nursery,
  • 4)almonds,
  • 5)cattle & calves,
  • 6)lettuce,
  • 7)strawberries,
  • 8)tomatoes,
  • 9)hay,
  • 10)flowers,
  • 11)cotton,
  • 12)chickens,
  • 13)broccoli,
  • 14)oranges,
  • 15)carrots,
  • 16)pistachios,
  • 17)walnuts,
  • 18)avocados,
  • 19)rice,
  • 20)peppers


Fresno county alone, if compared with the value of commodities in other states, would rank above 22 other states.

...exports agricultural products to 150 countries, with the European Union, Canada, Japan & Mexico accounting for 66% of the total

...employs 450,000 migrant farm workers

(facts from California Department of Food and Agriculture)

Using less than one percent of the world’s agricultural workforce, U.S. farmers and ranchers now produce nearly one-quarter of the world’s food supply. Agricultural research is an exceptional investment: the U.S. Department of Agriculture has estimated a 20 percent annual rate of return on public investment in agricultural research and, at the University of California, researchers generate an additional $4 for every $1 in state funding. California is home to more than one-quarter of the biotechnology industry in the U.S. One in four U.S. biotech firms is within 35 miles of a University of California campus, and one in six was started by a UC scientist. Within the state, one in three biotech companies was founded by a UC scientist; of these, 85% employ UC graduates with advanced degrees.

(from address to China Agricultural Univeristy by University of California System Chancellor France A. Córdova)
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I don't trust that information. If you go down to any of our state parks, as I have, you will see an over abundance of illegal aliens roaming around. Not only that they are every where thanks to our crooks in government. All that info you listed could be a trick to help the amnesty crowd ( the wealth corps. that want cheap labor) get amesty for the criminals in the country. I say let the farmers pay more for field hands and lets drive up the cost of food and cut down on imports.

NEWS FLASH!! America has an obesity problem!!
The problem is worse with the poor that sit around and draw welfare.

Walk into Ryans, Barnhills, or any all you can eat buffets and look at the lard asses stuffing thier pie holes. We don't need cheap food any longer.
quote:
Originally posted by Confederate Gentleman:
I don't trust that information. If you go down to any of our state parks, as I have, you will see an over abundance of illegal aliens roaming around. Not only that they are every where thanks to our crooks in government. All that info you listed could be a trick to help the amnesty crowd ( the wealth corps. that want cheap labor) get amesty for the criminals in the country. I say let the farmers pay more for field hands and lets drive up the cost of food and cut down on imports.

NEWS FLASH!! America has an obesity problem!!
The problem is worse with the poor that sit around and draw welfare.

Walk into Ryans, Barnhills, or any all you can eat buffets and look at the lard asses stuffing thier pie holes. We don't need cheap food any longer.



So what happens when the cost of food is more than even you can afford well then you would have to be in the wefare line to.
"I say let the farmers pay more for field hands and lets drive up the cost of food and cut down on imports. We don't need cheap food any longer."
- Confederate Gentleman, Posted 26 November 2006 05:38 AM

There's a whole lotta' issue in the original post.

For example, wars have been started because of a lack of food. It's not uncommon in sub-Saharan Africa or in other parts of the world.

Dare we cause global unrest because we won't (too lazy or stubborn) produce or sell?

Dare we create civil strife in our own nation because we price our nutrition out of our own people's ability to pay?

Dare we become dependent upon other nations to feed us (like we have with oil)?

Dare we risk the collapse of entire industries (fertilizer, combines, processing, metal, transportation, small businesses, advertising, retail, export, etc.) because of such cavalier attitudes toward harvest?

America feeds itself. It is nutritionally self-sufficient. We sell our excess abundance to other nations.

Face it, we're super-blessed in the United States of America. The cornucopia at Thanksgiving is not merely coincidental. It's a fact!

We're blessed to be a blessing!

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