One of the most critical issues facing agriculture right now is the immigration reform that was just taken up by the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. The House passed an immigration bill at the end of 2005 that could be very harmful to agriculture.

We want to introduce them to the different avenues of agriculture that are available to them; not only can they grow carrots, but they can also create carrot chips, fresh carrot juice, carrot cakes, breads and cookies, the opportunities are vast.

We don't think that is the right reform. This isn't just a system designed to get rid of bad directors or run directors out. It's designed to say to every director, 'you have to get elected.' We want to make every director accountable. . . . If they know they have to get elected, that it's not a foregone conclusion, then boards become better functioning entities and more aggressive in how they do their job.

We're all for reform. But you have to do it right.

I'm one of those that have said, one of my key principles is I will not support a health care reform bill that is not deficit-neutral, period.

That's just a fraction of the rate we saw in the late 1990s.