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Local farmer urges Hughson City Council to preserve prime Stanislaus County farmland
Summary
At the Nov. 24 meeting, public commenter Milt Treweiler recounted his family—s farming history and urged the Hughson City Council to halt growth policies that threaten deep, irreplaceable soils in Stanislaus County irrigation districts.
Milt Treweiler, speaking during public comment at the Hughson City Council meeting on Monday, urged the council to act to preserve prime farmland in the Stanislaus County irrigation districts, saying longtime family ties to the land and the soil—s depth make it irreplaceable.
"We must all be good stewards and save this farmland," Treweiler said, recounting a family history that began with his grandfather buying a 20‑acre farm west of Turlock in 1918. He described soils that "go down 20 feet" and listed crops that the ground can sustain, from walnuts and almonds to peaches and nectarines.
Treweiler framed his appeal as an obligation to future generations: he said economic policies that assume perpetual growth are leading to unsustainable land use and urged the council to prioritize farmland conservation in local planning decisions.
The remarks were heard during the council—s public comment period; there was no formal action tied to Treweiler—s statement on Monday. Council members did not announce a follow‑up item or a specific staff direction in response to the comments.
Why it matters: Stanislaus County contains some of the region—s most productive agricultural soils, and local decisions about land use affect long‑term food production, water usage and local economies. Treweiler asked the council to consider the intergenerational impacts of approving growth patterns that convert farmland to developed uses.
The council moved on to other agenda business after public comment; the meeting later included a separate discussion about approving mayoral travel to a national conference. No vote or staff assignment addressing farmland preservation was recorded during the session.
