In an orchard across the street from the Butte County Farm Bureau, Senator Schiff received a crash course on all things almonds. He learned about pest control, harvesting methods, and changes in crop markets, as well as wider issues facing local California farmers.
Schiff is a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry – the first California Senator on the committee in over 30 years. This week he toured the state and met with farmers up and down California to hear their concerns.
"Everything worries us, economically. If there's any slight little bump in any part of what we do, it does create a problem," said Lee, Heringer, a fifth generation California farmer, and board member of the Butte County Farm Bureau. He and other bureau members met with Schiff, and gave him a tour around the almond orchard across the street from their office.
One of Heringer's largest concerns is regulation. He says that environmental regulations can force farmers to purchase expensive equipment to be in compliance - a cost not everyone can afford.
"Over-regulation, in my opinion, has really disallowed us to be farmers," he said. "Now we sit in an office and do paperwork just to make sure we stay out of jail!"
Schiff said his top priority is passing a Farm Bill, which will set the federal government's agriculture policies, and the types of aid programs and subsidies available to farmers. The farm bill also funds the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program -- sometimes known as food stamps
"One of the concerns I have is that there are proposals to make massive cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Program that feeds a lot of lower income families," Schiff said. "That's obviously really bad for low-income families, but it's also really bad for farmers, because it would really diminish the market (for their crops.)"
Schiff said Farm Bills have historically relied on bipartisan support to pass. He's looking to continue working across the aisle, and said he's been in talks with North State representative Doug LaMalfa to protect California farmers.
Schiff said he's also looking into ways to shield farmers from the effects of tariffs and volatile international markets. He cited a bill recently passed by the senate that lifted tariffs on Canada as an example of a way the senate could help farmers out.
"[That bill] passed on a bipartisan basis!" he said. "I don't know that it will get through the House. But the Constitution gives Congress the power over tariffs. It's a power we are not using, and frankly, we really need to."
