Learning Is Part Of The Journey For Young Farmers
March 27, 2014 During its winter session in South Florida, Class 3 of FFVA’s Emerging Leader Development program was treated to chilly temperatures, crisp blue skies, and the realities of farming in Florida. The 11 young professionals were joined by nine members of the Western Growers Association’s leadership program during a tour of agricultural operations in Belle Glade, Loxahatchee, LaBelle, and Clewiston.
The group got a firsthand look at a variety of crops and production practices, from sugar cane harvesting, to green bean and sweet corn packing, to citrus production. The visit came on the heels of several nights of below-freezing temperatures in South Florida. Growers shared with the group the challenges of dealing with the weather. Most of them escaped serious damage to crops during the cold snap.
Jamie Williams of Lipman explains the harvesting process to members of the FFVA Emerging Leader Development Program and young leaders from Western Growers in California.
Photo by Lisa Lochridge
Political Punditry
The 2 ½-day trip was topped off by a roundtable discussion with industry leaders. Led by FFVA President Mike Stuart, the group included Tom Stenzel, president of United Fresh Produce Association, and Cory Lunde, policy analyst/project manager for Western Growers Association. The far-ranging discussion included topics such as the Farm Bill, immigration reform, and political challenges.
Stuart pointed to legislative successes in Florida, especially during last year’s session of the legislature. All of the bills FFVA supported passed, and none of those it opposed made it through. Although the GOP controls both the state House and Senate now, the demographics of the state are changing, he said. “There is a growing Hispanic population. Right now, that segment leans Democratic, and you will see a change in the legislative makeup over time.” Agriculture can’t be complacent, he emphasized. “We have to be out there working to make sure people who understand agriculture are elected.”
That’s what the California agriculture community is doing, Lunde said. With the state’s changing demographics has come a shift to the left, and the power center has shifted from rural to urban areas. “The question is, how do we help urban legislators understand the value of agriculture, respond to our needs, and stop passing legislation that’s damaging to the industry?” he said. Western Growers’ strategy is to support opponents of legislators who author bills that are harmful to agriculture. Those efforts are starting to succeed, Lunde said. “In a state where it feels like we’re overwhelmed by political and environmental opposition, we’re now gaining respect from the state legislature,” he added.
Stenzel urged the young professionals in the room to lead, especially as the U.S. House takes up immigration reform. “Call on Congress. Tell them to support reform. Tell them you won’t have a workforce if they don’t act,” he said.
Working To Gain Ground
FFVA, Western Growers, and United Fresh all are founding members of the Agriculture Workforce Coalition (AWC), which has been working to ensure any reform includes a workable visa program for agricultural employers. Now that the House leadership has issued a set of principles for moving forward on reform, the logjam may give way, Stuart said. Advancing ag interests is challenging with a coalition as diverse as the AWC, he added. “Those employers all come with a slightly different perspective. There’s an art form to being able to create something that everyone can support and move it through Congress. It’s one of the most challenging political things I’ve ever done,” he said.
“We’ve got to get something to the floor of the House that will pass. You’ll see some erosion, but we’re working real hard on it. We’re hopeful there will be a window after the primary season is over. The challenge ahead of is to get some of these ag provisions through and get it to conference,” he said. However, he’s hopeful. “In this business, you have to be an optimist or you won’t be able to walk out the door in the morning.”
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