Arizona is the 6th largest state. Almost 114,000 square miles of land and yet only 15% is privately owned. And, with the booming metropolis of Phoenix now ranks number 5 amongst the largest cities in the United States, quite a change from the once quiet desert town were my family farmed. The taming of the mighty Colorado and Salt and Gila Rivers, along with water infrastructure secured by prior agriculturalists, created the perfect environment to thrive. Times have certainly changed since I was a boy growing up in Arizona, but even though change may cause us to fear the unknown, we have always survived it. Agriculture has advanced over time, meeting the demands of the markets and we are continuously striving to solve problems about meeting future demands with less. Irrigation practices have changed and now produce more with less water. Arizona agriculture is a $23 billion industry relied upon by millions of people each day. However, the industry is facing vast and intricate challenges including urbanization, threats to water rights, food safety and environmental issues. People don’t often think about rural land uses, the largest of which is agriculture. Urban people seem to want what we have but have no idea of how hard many of us have worked, lifetimes, usually, to provide food and fiber for our communities, state and nation. The fact is, that to compete in today’s markets and to ensure success now and into the future,
we must manage our family operations just like fine tuned businesses using the latest in technology. Amidst Phoenix’s burgeoning population and encroaching metropolitan areas, only three members of a 90-member Legislature are actively involved in agriculture. In short, a mere 3% of elected officials are involved in and advocate for agriculture. Go beyond the local officials and look inside the State and Federal agencies: there are even fewer who understand our business, and these are the people making the rules by which we must operate. Arizona agriculture must move beyond the widely entrenched yet outdated association model, unite with a common voice, and stay engaged if we are to continue as a viable
PG. 34 :: SPRING 2019
Steve Pierce, President/Chairman
part of Arizona’s economy. Look to California where similar association models exist as in Arizona and the industry is very siloed based on what you grow, even down to how you produce it. Many of these associations and models are reaching 100 years in existence, which is a milestone, but one that has not been successful in competing with changing political winds. Everyday a new challenge arises in California, for businesses in general, and how is a farm or ranch supposed to survive? The recent shift in political elections in New Mexico have agriculture in the crosshairs and how do we convince urbanites that taking a predator saves the life of our livestock and also helps mitigate the loss of other wildlife? Arizona almost had a ballot initiative ending lion hunting and hunting of other large cats, while New Mexico currently faces legislation to ban trapping on public land, which Arizona lost years ago. The question remains if agriculture is prepared to meet the challenges outside of raising and growing food, like regulation, ballot initiative and elections. The challenges have changed and the effects are real. Several years ago, I took the chance to run for the Arizona State Legislature against a Senate incumbent because I did not like the way I, or agriculture, was being represented. It took hard work and a great deal of effort from my family, close friends, political consultants and others to get me seated as the Senator from Arizona’s first legislative district. This was no easy task and it is not for the faint of heart;
