Trump brings bad, good for farms

Congratulations to President-elect Donald Trump on his victory. California farmers are especially euphoric. They believe that he will bring them more water and relief from burdensome government regulations. Maybe this will happen, but could there be a downside?

Trump said he will impose a tariff of 45 percent on Chinese imports. Will a trade war ensue? I believe they will retaliate against our exports. According to an article in Ag Alert, a Farm Bureau magazine, 80 percent of our tree nuts are exported. Citrus, a crop that I grow: a significant portion is exported, mostly to Asian countries.

Another of Trump’s campaign promises is to build a wall and send home most illegal immigrants. OK, but who will do the work? (It’s no secret that many farm workers are illegal aliens.)

I assume Trump is a man of his word, and will act on these issues: the blue-collar workers in Ohio and Pennsylvania are expecting it. They got him elected; he owes them his election, he owes California farmers nothing!

So lots of water and less regulations, great. But a soft market for our crops and no way to harvest them: not so great! Geeze, Donald, what’s youse gonna do?

This story was originally published December 1, 2016 at 4:55 PM with the headline "Trump brings bad, good for farms."