State Government: RIFA: Ant Bill

Farm Bureau supports fire ant eradication

Riverside County Farm Bureau put its weight behind eradication of Red Imported Fire Ant in California, seeking help from government officials, although help from a Riverside County assemblyman was discouraged.

Assemblyman Bruce Thompson decided not to carry legislation for the Farm Bureau to fund the eradication program after encountering resistance from state officials who would have been the beneficiaries of the measure. Thompson's office told Farm Bureau that the California Department of Food and Agriculture was cool to the idea. Meanwhile, Senator John Lewis of Orange County introduced a Senate measure co-sponsored by Assemblyman Campbell .

Thompson had offered to carry a bill for Farm Bureau immediately after learning that the fire ant had spread to Riverside County.

In a letter California Secretary of Agriculture Bill Lyons, Farm Bureau asks that he use his influence to move the eradication effort forward.

Farm Bureau directors called for support for an eradication program at their January 1999 board meeting. They also heard a presentation about fire ants by Dr. John Klotz, urban entomologist with the University of California at Riverside. Klotz showed a locally-produced video on fire ants, handed out a packet of information, and answered questions about this new pest.

Assemblyman Thompson had proposed to introduce legislation on fire ant legislation after extensive infestations were discovered in Orange, Riverside and Los Angeles Counties. Fred Weishaupl, representing Thompson, told directors Thompson was looking forward to carrying the fire ant bill for Farm Bureau. He said several legislators wanted to cosponsor the bill.