Lynn Bogdanovich: Protecting agriculture is protecting our health
Agriculture is an interconnected industry to businesses: fertilizer/seed suppliers, nurseries, equipment sales/repair, food processing plants, trucking. Reduction of agriculture affects all. Example: Many Modesto canneries are gone due to absorption of fruit/produce ranches for development.
Other cities have promoted growth promising co-existence with agriculture. End results are always the same. It’s myth that a ranch can re-establish elsewhere. Specific conditions are necessary. This valley has some of the richest soils and best weather conditions in the U.S. Land is not an infinite resource. Protecting agriculture protects connected businesses and their labor force, while providing a quality living environment for long-term residents as well as for those moving from congested cities.
In the next five years 15 percent of the malls in the U.S. will close due to online shopping, meaning more empty buildings. Land annexation is not the answer. City operations need complete review, implement policies to deal with decades vacant properties, quit forgiving business fines and realize agriculture is a valuable, viable industry and an asset.
Insure future enjoyment of local/U.S.-grown produce vs. products from other countries that do not regulate pesticides.
Lynn Bogdanovich, Modesto
This story was originally published January 15, 2015 at 9:39 AM with the headline "Lynn Bogdanovich: Protecting agriculture is protecting our health."