U.S. Representative and Farmer John Duarte (CA-R) says resource abandonment is hurting the U.S. economy, and the practice is becoming a major problem for everyday Americans.
“If you look at what we’re doing with our farm water in California, what we’re doing with American energy policy, what we’re doing with minerals, what we’re doing with the Endangered Species Act enforcement with wolves and bears and delta smelt and salmon -- it’s all causing a resource abandonment that’s coming back down very, very hard on the back of the American consumer,” said, Rep. Duarte, who represents California’s 13th District. “The American working family is just not making it. And, as we see today with the economic news, a lot of families are doing quite well. If you’re on the owl camera and sitting in your home working from home, doing a high-tech [job] or communications or service job, you’re doing great. Wages are going up. Now, the government’s talking about raising interest rates some more. That destroys resource industries, destroys capital investment.”
The California congressman says the problems spread into agriculture as well when ag resources go towards efforts outside of feeding humans. He says bad policy is to blame.
“California passed Prop 12 -- this is disgusting -- and I’ve got a few ways I’m responding to this,” Rep. Duarte said. “We care about how many piggies there are in a pig pen. We care about how a chicken lays an egg, although I don’t think most of the people supporting these policies know of either. But then, on moral grounds, there’s no documented animal welfare issue, or anything else. This is just somebody’s morality, exercised in policy in California, affecting the affordability of animal protein.”
Prop 12 was originally passed in California back in 2018 but official regulation began on January 1, 2024.
Related Stories
As the government shutdown pushes the farm economy closer to the brink, Sens. Grassley and Ernst of Iowa are raising their voices for agriculture.
U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) joined us on Wednesday’s Market Day Report to share why Ames is uniquely positioned to support expanded USDA operations.
Iowa land values dropped 3% year-over-year. Sen. Chuck Grassley said this discomforting pattern is a harbinger of crisis for farmers, as seen in the 1980s.
Jed Bower, the incoming president of the National Corn Growers Association, joined us for his sector’s perspective on the ongoing government shutdown.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent last week said an announcement would be made on Tuesday. However, that self-imposed deadline has now passed.
RFD-TV Farm Legal and Tax Expert Roger McEowen with the Washburn School of Law dives into a “potpourri” of ag tax and law-related issues in his latest Firm to Farm blog post.
Lewis Williamson, from HTS Commodities, joined us to share insights on the farm economy from producers in the field.
Congress has just over a month of working days left for the year. Plan for uneven USDA service until funding is restored, and closely monitor Farm Bill talks, as avoiding Permanent Law before January 1 is the single biggest risk to markets and milk prices.
Focus on home radon testing—not changing your diet—because background sources vastly outweigh any exposure from naturally radioactive foods.
