March 2025
farmbureaunews Meeting today’s challenges. Planning for tomorrow.
san joaquin
Vol. 110 No. 3
TOP STORY
Tariffs present serious challenges to agriculture
Ag labor needs stability now
By Craig W. Anderson TARIFFS AND THEIR INFLUENCE
on trade are currently the top subject of export-import of agricultural products and because America’s No. 1 export is ag, the impact of tariffs can be wide ranging across the agricultural sector nationwide. “Tariffs are an important ele-
ment of how agriculture functions,” said SJFB Executive Director Andrew Genasci. “But the biggest issue is retaliatory tariffs and because of ag’s size and domination of the export marketplace, ag has usually borne the brunt of retaliatory tariffs.” “Whatever tariffs are imposed See Tariffs, page 6
SOME MEDIA REPORTS have claimed that agricultural employees were being targeted for deportation and reports included claims of large numbers of farm workers being detained by authorities, while other reports alleged that almost half of all farm workers were refusing to work. However, Bryan Little, chief operating officer of Farm Employers Labor Service (FELS), said, “Farm Bureau received scattered reports of employees declining to work, keeping their children home from school or avoiding leaving their homes but no specific verification of farms or ranches where work was significantly hampered has been found.”
INSIDE: 2 Changing the rules
w w w.sjf b.org
San Joaquin County farmers rely on a stable workforce to harvest their crops, many of which are not picked mechanically because of their fragile nature. Instead, skilled workers must pick and pack the fruits and vegetables. In addition, numerous employees in allied industries, including food processing, transportation and equipment suppliers, rely on steady agricultural work.
“The sheriff’s office is cooperating with us because we, employers and employees, need to get through this,” said SJFB President Les Strojan. “We need people who’ve come here year after year to work
5 Stepping up
for agriculture in 2025
Vicky Boyd
During 2023, milled rice was the Port of Stockton's top export with a value of $372 million, according to port figures.
Vicky Boyd
By Craig W. Anderson
and then go home to continue another harvest season. These are honest, hardworking people who benefit agriculture.” He said those among the See Labor, page 3
8 Raising funds
for ag education and scholarships
san joaquin far m bur eau news
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