Bullish on Ag Jan 14

For California AG today, I'm Mike Stephens. Karen Ross, Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, at time to explain how she's bullish on California agriculture.

I am bullish, but we are going to tremendous change and I do not underestimate the stress that farmers and ranchers have. Farming is pretty stressful because you're constantly having to make decisions that oftentimes have huge impact on a daily basis. Where are the markets going to be if we lose food service? When you think about all the wildfires and the smoke issues we had last year, when you think about this year's drought, they are huge challenges facing AG right now. You know, people are investing for the future because they know that's part of their adaptation, their resiliency. We've got these constraints on resources and our water is the biggest one right now. So I am optimistic. I am bullish because of how innovative our farmers are. The quality that we do is unsurpassed and the environmental stewardship with which we do it is unsurpassed. California is still the place of inventing it, perfecting it and exporting it. And so we will still be the place of innovation and ideas that there are very real constraints that we're facing right now. And I know that if we will just partner with our farmers and ranchers, we will identify the solutions that will keep us the robust and vital contributor to quality of life for the duration.