Emerson's annual farm tour includes questions on immigration, tax system

BENTON, Mo. -- Guest workers, pesticides and taxes topped the list of issues David Diebold wanted to discuss with U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson Thursday during her stop at his orchard on her annual farm tour.

Diebold said the problem is not immigration, it is discrimination against the workers.

"All that stuff needs to be taken care of before they get to our point," Diebold said. "We need guest workers that have been approved."

He wants to see the whole process simplified so workers can get started working right away.

Pesticide policies have the future of fruit farming looking bleak, too, Diebold said.

"So many of the good pesticides have disappeared. It used to be that you could get them with a one-two-three punch rotating different classes of pesticides, and whole classes are disappearing now."

Now, he said growers are sitting there just jabbing at the bugs, and all the bugs have to do is duck.

Back in the 1970s, Diebold's uncle offered $1,000 to someone who could find a wormy peach. Now, they do not see a large amount but due to pesticide resistance they are finding wormy peaches and apples -- something never found when they were younger.

Diebold maintains that nearly 100 percent of any toxins consumers ingest occur naturally in the product.

Fair tax question

Diebold's brother, Joe, wanted to talk to Emerson about high taxes. Both Diebolds are proponents of a new tax system proposed in the book "The Fair Tax" by Neal Boortz and John Linder.

The book proposes that Americans should spend taxes on what they spend, not what they earn.

"I don't see how you can go wrong on it," Joe Diebold said. "I think the system we have now is treason."

Emerson promised them that the book is on her summer reading list.

After her stop at the orchard, Emerson continued on to Marco Vineyards in St. Francois County and the 50th anniversary Cross Country Trail Ride in Eminence. Today was the last day of her 24th annual farm tour, though she will continue to meet with local producers throughout the month.