This week, members of the Western Growers Executive Committee joined WG President and CEO Tom Nassif and other Arizona board members for our annual Arizona Leadership meetings. During the course of their visit, the WG contingent met with Governor Doug Ducey, House Speaker JD Mesnard, Senate President Steve Yarbrough, Director of the Department of Water Resources Tom Buschatzke, and several key legislators.
Discussions focused on the need for additional funding for the Plant Services Division of the Arizona Department of Agriculture to maintain current staffing levels. Federal funding cuts threaten to reduce staff levels in that division. The group also discussed recent initiative reforms and applauded the efforts already enacted to bring transparency and accountability to the citizens’ initiative process.
DWR Director Buschatzke talked about the plan he is working on with the other Colorado River Basin states to avoid reaching critical triggers at Lake Mead.
Nassif was pleased with the visit, noting that the level of support for agriculture was remarkably strong. “Western Growers’ Executive Committee and our Arizona board members greatly appreciated that Governor Ducey, Speaker Mesnard, President Yarbrough, Director Buschatzke and other legislators spent the time they did with our group,” Nassif said. “Governor Ducey was well-informed and articulate as we discussed both state and federal issues affecting agriculture. Additionally, we were struck by the fact that both Democrats and Republicans in the Arizona Legislature are working hard to support the industry in Arizona. It is refreshing to work with legislative leaders who understand the importance of agriculture to the state.”
For more information on the event, contact AnnaMarie Knorr at (602) 451-0658.