MONTE VISTA— Senator Cory Gardner stopped in Monte Vista Thursday morning to visit with local growers at the Vali Theater. Gardner toured the San Luis Valley last week, discussing different issues relevant to Valley citizens at each stop.
Gardner noted he understands the economy of rural communities is very different from the Front Range and it’s easy for small towns like Monte Vista to feel disconnected when they hear about all the economic growth and success in places like Denver. At the Vali, Gardner largely let the local growers lead the conversation, asking what they wanted to see included and prioritized in the upcoming farm bill.
Rio Grande County Commissioner Karla Shriver emphasized the Valley’s emphasis on value-added agriculture and pointed out how more protection for hemp growers needs to be included in the new farm bill, noting Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell recently took a very pro-hemp stance. Gardner noted his goals with the farm bill were two-fold: to protect the crops currently vital to Colorado and to add new crops, agreeing with the great things he’s seeing in the hemp industry.
Colorado Potato Administrative Committee Executive Director Jim Ehrlich pointed out the Valley’s need for a more equitable market access program, with one out of every five rows of potatoes being exported. Ehrlich also noted the crop research initiative block grants have been very effective locally and specialty crop research funding is also a necessary way to keep local growers profitable. Ehrlich also encouraged Gardner and the Senate to listen to producers about crop insurance and not to allow any cuts to those protections, all points Gardner readily agreed with.
Gardner jokingly asked Ehrlich if CPAC noted potato sales spike after the debut of the movie “The Martian,” saying he had just recently watched it for the first time, which Ehrlich noted was not the case, although he heard more inquiries about whether or not the potato growing procedures might work.
Another grower noted the importance of revenue insurance and subsidies for producers, adding it was fair to protect the major investment growers make, and there aren’t enough protections on hemp and quinoa. Gardner answered with the passage of the last farm bill there were deep cuts to crop insurance, “that erosion needs to stop” and agreed protecting newer crops is equally important, “if everyone is growing the same thing that’s how we end up in trouble.”
Other attendees emphasized the importance of maintaining the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), which according to the Farm Service Agency “targets high-priority conservation concerns identified by a state, and federal funds are supplemented with non-federal funds to address those concerns. In exchange for removing environmentally sensitive land from production and establishing permanent resource conserving plant species, farmers and ranchers are paid an annual rental rate along with other federal and state incentives as applicable per each CREP agreement. Participation is voluntary, and the contract period is typically 10–15 years.” Gardner agreed it is important but acknowledged other attendees’ noting it was “a paper nightmare” and often excludes alfalfa unfairly.
Another noted they had recently read an article stating the new farm bill would seek to cut $20 billion in SNAP benefits over the next 10 years, but Gardner assured them this wasn’t entirely plausible given the Senate is essentially split with 50 Republican votes and 49 Democrat votes without John McCain’s presence.
Another grower asked about the likelihood of seeing a farm bill pass this year, which Gardner stated gets less likely the longer Senate waits, something he has tried to emphasize to McConnell. Ehrlich stated local growers currently benefit from a program set to expire soon which pays for attorneys in Mexico to protect exports and if the bill doesn’t pass, there won’t be funding for that program and exports will suffer.
One attendee stated local growers need a guest worker program “that works” adding “raids and enforcement causes disruption” and harms the produce industry drastically. Gardner acknowledged he understands that and is working toward an effective program. He has seen growers, even of some of Colorado’s most famous crops, be hurt by a lack of labor, as have other industries. Gardner is working with the current administration to lift some of the immigration caps and make housing requirements easier and will be looking at the touchback provisions as well. Commissioner Suzanne Bothell asked if the problem wasn’t as much about guest workers and immigration or “our welfare overabundance.” Garner agreed “we can’t let people think it’s easier to not work,” and stated he supports a working for welfare program. Gardner acknowledged local labor problems are often rooted in addiction, asking MVPD Chief John Rosecrans if he agrees, which he did in part but noted he believes there is a population here “who won’t step up” that isn’t reflective of the rest of the county.
Ehrlich also pointed out recent changes President Trump has made in trade policies have made growers uneasy, adding “Ag can’t be the whipping boy” before noting Gardner should be cautious of Trump’s statements about leaving NAFTA. Gardner stated he brings a group of Senators to the White House to talk about trade regularly and he thinks Trump understands he can’t just withdraw from NAFTA and he’s made several suggestions on how it can instead be improved. “I did talk to the President about ag directly. I told him ‘When you see economic growth, please know it’s not happening in agriculture’” Gardner said.
Gardner also discussed the gridlock many Americans see in the Senate, noting when the Senate used to get bogged down in discussion, the way to break that was to motion to proceed with the vote, but now that requires 60 votes, making nearly every motion a “I’m going to make up a word here, a filabusterable event,” Gardner said. He emphasized why so many more bills make it through the House of Representatives than the Senate. “That’s how we end up with $1.3 trillion omnibus bills,” but mentioned they are getting closer to rule changes that might eliminate the 60 vote threshold.