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November 23, 2022

WG Member JV Smith Hosts Senator Kyrsten Sinema for Farm Tour and Roundtable

Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema toured JV Smith Farms in Yuma this week, hosted by Western Growers member and former Board Chair Vic Smith, CEO of JV Smith Companies, for a chance to see cutting-edge technologies used by farmers in the field.

In particular, the tour focused on technologies employed by JV Smith, including Carbon Robotics’ automated LaserWeeder and pesticide-spraying drones.

Sinema later held a roundtable with a number of WG members and Yuma agriculture community leaders to discuss issues they were facing.

“Arizona’s farmers know best about the challenges and opportunities facing the agricultural industry – and I’m incredibly grateful for their expertise and strong partnership. Meetings and tours like this allow me to better understand their needs while negotiating their priorities in Washington, including drought funding and the upcoming Farm Bill,” Sinema said.

The roundtable topics included the proposed Farm Worker Modernization Act, the need for investment in mechanization, the H-2A program, the Colorado River and the impacts potential changes to water allocation would have in the region, as well as the forthcoming 2023 Farm Bill reauthorization.

“We are very pleased that Senator Sinema took time to visit the agricultural community here in Yuma. We were able to share our collective concerns as she listened very attentively. She has been a great advocate for us in the past, and I feel she will be even better in the future,” Smith said.