Legislators and Ag
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson. Washington farmers are no strangers to frustration when it comes to new regulations set down by state legislators.
On the ‘Elephant in the Dome’ podcast, State Senator John Braun said farmers are often the target of an urban vs rural take on a couple of different issues …
BRAUN … “Well, what they’ve seen, especially in the last few years, is really an assault on agriculture from the Democratic majority, from a couple of different angles. From an environmental angle. The folks living in Seattle love to assume that folks on the east side don’t really appreciate the environment around them. And they couldn’t be more wrong.”
Urban legislators, Braun says just don’t seem to understand that farmer’s do care …
BRAUN … “They make their living in the environment. They care deeply about it and they understand from real-world, practical experience how to preserve that environment and I think that’s very much underappreciated by folks who, you know, represent downtown Seattle or there abouts.”
The other angle, Braun says is worker’s take on labor …
BRAUN … “And are showing up in good faith saying, hey this will not work the way you think it will work, and it will not provide a better living standard for agricultural workers. And yet, the folks from the urban areas just disregard that. It’s maddening.”
Braun says many new regulations are setting a lower standard of living for workers or forcing farmers out of business.
