Sustainable farming in Arizona: Working on Agriculture's Future
Working on Agriculture’s Future
By Kevin Rogers
President, Arizona Farm Bureau
A Chinese proverb suggests you cannot step into the same river twice, and so it is with Arizona agriculture – it is a changing industry and the challenge is how to manage it for a sustainable future.
It may surprise some, but the economic impact of Arizona agriculture is on the increase, i.e. from $6.6 billion in 2000 to $9.2 billion in 2004 for food, fiber and ornamentals. Diversification, more intensive operations and vertical integration have consistently propelled this upward movement.
Specialization, increased mechanization, and an embrace of sophisticated scientific tools have paved the way for increased productivity, in both crop and livestock production, and this will continue. There will be further growth potential for Arizona agriculture in areas such as biotechnology and alternative energy production.
Arizona farmers and ranchers have learned to compete in a global market-oriented economy where producers make production and marketing decisions based on non-trade distorting market signals. Continued government assistance is needed to assure a level playing field in this marketplace. Agricultural products can no longer be the sacrificial lamb for other industries to move their products to export. We need a hand up vis-à-vis trade issues and not a handout from the federal government.
Despite mechanization there will be a continued need for a legal and reliable labor supply for agriculture – something much discussed and not yet properly addressed by the federal government. However one views it, the reality is we either import our labor or we will export our food production. It is that simple.
Arizona agriculture responds to economic signals and is a significant contributor to the state’s economic vitality. Less recognized, yet equally significant is the role in managing natural resources, and making our space more livable. Just as one example, consider the flexibility agriculture adds to the state when it continues to manage a water resource that might be called upon in some emergency. If agriculture were to disappear so would this flexibility for urban areas.
Conservation of natural resources in an economic framework while enhancing the environment are a valuable contribution to the state. These contributions have yet to be properly considered and valued by the citizens of this state. This discussion must go forth in Arizona for agriculture to be sustainable – otherwise urbanization of our lands rolls on, and in the southwest this always occurs where the water is or where it can be transported.
Lastly, a lack of commitment to a sustainable agriculture needs to be recognized as a direct threat to our security. Arizona agriculture is part of a very efficient system that produces the safest and most diversified food supply at the lowest price for any developed society in the world. Our food production is taken for granted by the consumer. Without some attention and thought this security will be outsourced.
For Arizona agriculture to be sustainable, our farmers, ranchers, dairy and nursery operations must continue to do what they do best as efficient producers. But they also need the public’s recognition, understanding and assistance as to trade, labor reform and the non-economic contributions made by agriculture to the state.
