Duvall, Costa discuss outlook for agriculture
ByChristine Souza andKevinHecteman
whether you’re farmers, ranchers, dairy- men or women, or in the cattle business, poultry—that you have ideas on how we can better deal with it,” he said. “As a result of this pandemic, peopleare beginning to realize that their fooddoesn’t come fromthegrocery storeor their favor- ite fast-food place or restaurant,” he said. “It comes fromall of you.” Costa also predicted Congress would debate a bipartisan infrastructure bill covering schools, transportation and ac- cess to broadband. “You sure as heck can’t do telemed- icine, let alone virtual learning, which is hard enough, if you don’t have access to broadband,” he said. Farmers’ resiliencywillhelpthemsurvive thedisruptions of thepandemic, he said. “I truly believe that we’re going to get through this,” Costa said. “We’ll be tested like our parents and grandparents were tested” during the Great Depression and WorldWar II. “When we come together and put our differencesaside,”hesaid, “there’snochal- lengewe can’t overcome.” (Christine Souza and Kevin Hecteman are assistant editors of Ag Alert.)
Reflecting on the disruptions of 2020 and the outlook for 2021, American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall and U.S. Rep. JimCosta offered their opinions on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic during separateappearances aspart of the California FarmBureauAnnualMeeting. Duvall and Costa spoke with California FarmBureau President Jamie Johansson during “coffee talk” sessions within the virtual AnnualMeeting format. Speaking wi th Duval l via Zoom, Johansson noted how Farm Bureau, at both the state and national levels, made a point early in the pandemic to reassure people that foodwould be available. Duvall said Farm Bureau worked with the Trump administration and govern- ment leaders to secure relief for farmers, adding that the pandemic also brought people together. “Thepandemiccrisisbroughtmoreuni- ty andbroughtmore foodandagricultural groups together more than ever before,” he said. AsPresident-electBidenprepares totake office,Duvall andJohanssondiscussedad-
American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall, right, speaks with California Farm Bureau President Jamie Johansson at a virtual “coffee talk” during the California Farm Bureau Annual Meeting.
vocating for farmers in the coming year. Duvall noted a congratulatory social media video he addressed to Biden was intended to “start building a bridge to this new administration and so that we can have a seat like we had with the Trump administration.” Duvall said he has spo- ken toBiden’s transition teamand to Tom Vilsack, who has been nominated as U.S. agriculturesecretary, adding, “We’rework- ing real hard to try to build those bridges
and toget usprepared.” (See story, Page9.) During his coffee chat with Johansson, Costa,D-Fresno, saidheexpects the117th Congress, which takes office Jan. 3, to look at foodsupply-chain issueswithaneye to- ward amore resilient supply chain, using knowledge gained during the pandemic. Farmers and ranchers will have “valu- able input” in the process, Costa noted. “I think all of you, our producers—
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4 Ag Alert December 16, 2020
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