Farmers eschew advocacy group

Some farmers and others say they don’t want a state council of political appointees as their advocate in state government. The senate agriculture committee is considering formation of an Agricultural Advocate’s Office within the state agriculture department. The office would be run by an 18-member council. Farmers opposing the idea are joined by the Sierra Club. Small farm groups say they don’t need a politically-appointed council deciding what is best for farmers in terms of local, state and federal policy.