Colusa County Farm Bureau members came together on Thursday for their annual business meeting and recognition of the 2022 Board of Directors.
Farm Bureau activities were greatly curtailed last year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the grassroots organization has recharged to represent and protect the farming and ranching way of life at the local, state, and federal levels, officials said.
This year’s meeting in Colusa welcomed Assemblyman James Gallagher, who spoke of state issues impacting farmers, particularly drought, water, and Gov. Gavin Newsom’s executive actions that put environmental agendas ahead of food production.
Newsom, in September, announced that he would aggressively move the state further away from its reliance on fossil fuels by issuing an executive order requiring sales of all new passenger vehicles to be zero-emission by 2035 and additional measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector.
“We are going to have to challenge that executive order,” Gallagher said. “I have already been talking to some folks about it, and we should really think about it. Colusa County is really a great community to do it, because we rely on agriculture. We have oil and gas wells also, primarily gas wells. All these restrictions they (the state) are putting on us by executive order are also bills the Legislature did consider. They reached committee, but they failed. Now they are being done by executive order, and it is something that needs to be challenged.”
While emission bans are targeting passenger and small gas powered engines, such as lawnmowers and chainsaws, Gallagher stressed the farmers’ concerns that eventually the state will come after equipment used in farming.
“I don’t think there is anything in existence as an electric combine – or electric vehicles that we use in farming,” Gallagher said. “Currently, forestry and agriculture are exempt under federal law.”
Gallagher said farmers are good stewards of the environment and that the state should advocate for other states and countries to do their share to protect the environment, instead of “adding on to the pile” for Californians to do.
Those attending the annual meetings also stressed concern that California’s quest to eliminate gas and diesel-powered engines in the state will snowball into a massive reduction in gas taxes that are passed to local communities for road repair.
Colusa County Farm Bureau officials said they remain committed to uniting farmers for the promotion and protection of local agriculture by helping consumers understand where their food comes from, assisting with the challenges associated with producing a safe, affordable food supply, and ensuring consumer confidence in California-grown products, officials said.
Farm Bureau Directors include President Nathan Peterson, Jim Peterson, Theresa Bright, Deanna Jarrett, Jim Seaver, Bill Rohde, Chris Torres, Annelie Lauwerijssen, Heather Ellingson, and Lorraine Marsh.
For those interested in becoming a member or becoming more involved with the local Farm Bureau, contact the CCFB office at (530) 458-5130 to request to attend a meeting. The Colusa County Farm Bureau meets every fourth Monday of the month at 6 PM to discuss the different agricultural issues and policies that affect local farmers and ranchers. ■
