Challenging Farm Bureau's position

Paul Wenger, an officer of the California Farm Bureau, recently appeared on a local talk radio program to support Proposition 98. Proposition 98 would have limited the ability of government to take property for other private uses. The measure would also have protected properties not already so encumbered from rent control and affordable housing requirements.

We agree with Wenger's comments that the issue comes down to property rights. What Wenger didn't tell listeners is that his organization does not oppose the exaction of mandatory agricultural easement requirements placed upon others. When a farmer sells land zoned as agricultural, they enjoy the full profit of the sale. If the buyer of the land chooses to develop the land -- whether the land is in agricultural production or not -- the agriculturally zoned land must first be mitigated on a 1:1 basis. Only existing agricultural land can be used for mitigation.

This, of course, doesn't preserve any ag land.

It simply allows landowners in the path of development to make a fortune off of their land, while landowners not in the path of development can continue farming with many tax deferred benefits, including new easements. That's some property rights!

PAM FRANCO

president, Building Industry Association

of Central California

Modesto