Farm Bureau welcomes lifting of agricultural tariffs
The California Farm Bureau Federation supports President Trump’s removal of steel and aluminum tariffs on Mexican and Canadian imports and urges swift ratification of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
“With Canada and Mexico agreeing to lift their retaliatory tariffs on many California agricultural products, it will provide a boost in exports and have a ripple effect throughout the farm and rural economy,” CFBF President Jamie Johansson said. “The president’s action today to remove steel and aluminum tariffs on two of our trading allies eliminates a major obstacle to USMCA moving through Congress.”
The next step is for the president to submit USMCA to Congress for approval.
“We urge our California senators and representatives to work together for quick passage of USMCA,” Johansson said. “This could be a bipartisan achievement resulting in a big victory for the family farm.”
Canada represents the second-largest market for California agricultural exports, with sales of more than $3.3 billion in 2016, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Mexico is the No. 5 foreign market for California farm products, with sales of more than $1 billion in 2016.
Citing his passion for agriculture, his tenacity and his decades of service to Farm Bureau, the California Farm Bureau Federation presented its Distinguished Service Award to former CFBF President Paul Wenger. Wenger accepted the award during the organization’s 100th Annual Meeting last night in San Diego.
A third-generation farmer who grows almonds and walnuts on a family farm in Modesto, Wenger served as CFBF president from 2009-17, ending his term after serving the maximum eight years in office. He has been a Stanislaus County Farm Bureau member since 1980, serving as county Farm Bureau president before being elected to the CFBF board and then as a statewide officer beginning in 1997, when he was elected the organization’s second vice president. Wenger also served on the American Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors.
CFBF President Jamie Johansson described his predecessor as “tireless” in his work on behalf of Farm Bureau and California agriculture.
“In his speech to our Annual Meeting last year, Paul reminded us that those who work the hardest the longest and invest the most are probably going to be successful. Although he was referring to Farm Bureau, the words certainly apply to Paul himself. He has remained actively involved in Farm Bureau and agriculture, and we look forward to his continued contributions,” Johansson said.
In nominating Wenger for the award, the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau pointed to his “lifetime in leadership roles in agriculture,” starting as a state Future Farmers of America officer in 1973, and cited “his passion for the industry and his tenacity to resolve problems and get things done.”
The Distinguished Service Award has been presented annually since 1953 to dedicated Farm Bureau volunteers from California. In addition to the award to Wenger, CFBF presented the Distinguished Service Award to longtime Yuba-Sutter Farm Bureau leader James Marler.
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