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July 6, 2001

AgLead V class visits California

Members of Texas Farm Bureau's AgLead V Leadership Development Class traveled to California in June for the fourth of their nine session curriculum. The purpose of the trip was to allow the participants to understand more about agricultural production in the nation's most prolific, yet highly-regulated state.

The AgLead Class, which consists of 12 Texas agricultural producers, began their tour at the Harris Ranch in Fresno County. Fresno County has the highest total agricultural receipts of any county in California and subsequently, the nation. The group visited Harris' Farming, Horse and Feedlot operations. However, tours of the 100,000 head feedlot have been suspended due to concerns over foot and mouth disease.

The group then worked their way north and made stops in San Joaquin, Napa and Sacramento counties. San Joaquin features an area of numerous winding waterways that are referred to as the "Delta." Water availability is not a problem in this region because much of the plentiful water supply is actually several feet above the farm land that depends upon it. The group also visited several vineyards and wineries in the famed Napa Valley. During their time there, the group was able to meet with vintners, viticulturists and other wine industry professionals and learn about the labor and capital intensive process of the wine business.

"I think that the $200,000 per acre price tag on some choice Napa real estate really shocked our folks," said AgLead Coordinator Si Cook. "Even though that price is admittedly not the norm, I know the group understands the substantial investment that these folks have in their land, as well as the potential for a substantial profit."

In Sacramento, the group was able to view the headquarters of Cal-ifornia's very unique State Water Project. The project, which consists of a large concrete channel and numerous pumping stations and gates, runs for some 600 miles through the middle of the state. The project was California's solution to how to get water, which is mostly in the northern end of the state, to the majority of the population, who live in the southern part of the state. The project is the lifeblood of countless towns, cities and of course, agriculture.

The group also met with attorney Bill Thomas, who represents agricultural interests in the California courts as well as the Legislature as a lobbyist.

"The group learned that California is one of the most highly regulated states, partly because they have a full-time state legislature," Cook said. "This visit served as another reminder that the battles agriculture must fight today and in the future are not just with the weather and markets, but also in various legislative bodies and the courts. Mr. Thomas is both an attorney and a rancher, so he is very well-versed in the difficult legislative and regulatory climate in which California agriculture must operate."

The trip ended with a visit from CFBF Second Vice President Paul Wenger. Wenger, like most of the producers and county Farm Bureau leaders that the AgLead Group came in contact with, voiced his opinion of the many challenges and opportunities that face agriculture. The AgLead group shared Wenger's sentiment that being an agriculture producer will not get any easier in the near future, but that the way of life was well worth the effort it takes, both on-farm and off.

The next scheduled trip for the AgLead V Class will be in November when the group travels to Lubbock to learn about agriculture in the High Plains.