On my list of what to do about air pollution, I can say for certain that “destroy Ventura County agriculture� is near the bottom. Yet, that’s what California and Ventura County bureaucrats seem ready to do.

The issue is related to the regulation of pesticides and fumigants, which are toxic substances. But — reality check here — without those substances, we would have no food on our table.

If new plans go forward that restrict the wise and proven use of fumigants like methyl bromide, we might as well just cancel the Strawberry Festival.

If people are really concerned about pollution, how about looking into ships that bring products into the Oxnard Harbor District port and spew black toxic diesel pollution into my lungs.

Let me conclude with a few words about what I’m also concerned about: People who know little — and care less — about agriculture putting forward feel-good rules that won’t have much impact on air quality, but that will do a fine job destroying our way of life.

I am fairly certain that if people stop to think what’s really going on here, they would eventually take action and ensure that the family farm is free to grow and succeed. But by then, will we have wrecked our proud system of agriculture and driven family farms into foreclosure?

— Barbara Burnett, Port Hueneme