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December 2011
In This Issue
- What's on NEFU's Wish List for this Holiday Season?
- New England Farmers Union Holds Annual Convention and Elects New President
- NEFU Annual Report
- The Farm Bill: Two Upcoming Webinars Offer Northeast Perspective
- Shop at Concord Cooperative Market during December and Support NEFU
- Join NEFU and Help New England Food Banks
- Upcoming Events
- Digging Deeper
- Tools for Growth
What's on NEFU's Wish List for this Holiday Season?
- Join with more than 1,500 individual farmers, fishermen and concerned citizens who are helping to build New England Farmers Union. If you are already a member, please forward this email and invite your friends and co-workers to join. Or give a gift membership this holiday season!
- Increase the amount of money allocated to our Send a Farmer to DC fund. Your tax deductible donation to the New England Farmers Union Education Foundation (of any amount) will be reserved for farmers to visit Washington, to make their voices heard during the next Farm Bill debate. Click here to donate.
- Donate to Feeding America by joining New England Farmers Union. NEFU has joined with National Farmers Union to meet a challenge from Howard G. Buffett Foundation. NEFU will contribute $2.50 for each new member. NFU will match that. Buffett will match that $5.00 bringing the total to $10. Feeding America will then disburse those funds to nine food banks in New England. Learn more about this program.
Thank you for your support in 2011. We, the farmers, fishermen and concerned citizens who are members of NEFU, invite you to join this effort to bring our New England voice to the national table.
Happy Holidays to you from the Board and staff, and best wishes for a prosperous New Year!
New England Farmers Union Holds Annual Convention and Elects New President
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NEFU President Marge Kilkelly. |
More than 80 delegates to the annual convention of the New England Farmers Union elected Marge Kilkelly of Maine as its third President on Friday at its meeting in Concord, New Hampshire. “I am very happy to serve as President of New England Farmers Union,” said Kilkelly. “There is no more important time than now to turn up the volume for New England agriculture. Agriculture in New England does not look like agriculture in other parts of the country. Our immediate job is to make certain that as the next Farm Bill is written New England farmers and consumers are heard and represented at the national table. We have a voice. We have a message. I look forward to working with our Board and members to amplify our voice.”
The convention began with a four hour discussion of New England Farmers Union’s Farm Bill Policy Platform. Topics included dairy, local and regional food systems, conservation programs, organic agriculture and beginning farmer programs. Discussion about genetically modified organism policy was spirited with a recognition that farmers should be allowed to farm in ways that suit their needs, and that the organization would like to see more labeling at the consumer end. Members also strongly supported the International Year of the Co-operative and pledged to conduct activities throughout the year to draw attention to all the ways in which that business model has worked well for farmers and consumers.
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NEFU policy committee members sharing a lighter moment during policy discussions at the convention. |
Members of the New England Farmers Union chose their priorities for the 2012 Farm Bill discussion. Stories of those priorities will follow in the next few months of the NEFU enewsletter. Chandler Goule, Vice President for Government Affairs for the National Farmers Union (NFU) outlined the timeframe for Farm Bill debate: hearings in January-April, language drafted April-July, probably recess until after the election, and resumption of discussion December-February, vote March 2013. NFU will hold a Washington, DC legislative fly-in on April 16-17 just as the legislation is being drafted, and NEFU members were urged to attend.
Keynote speakers at the annual meeting were Ida DeFrancesco and Tess Brown-Lavoie, farmers from Connecticut and Rhode Island respectively. They were selected from a national competition to be part of the National Farmers Union’s Beginning Farmers Institute. Brown-Lavoie spoke movingly about her urban farm in Providence, RI. “I have come to embrace the title ‘farmer’ even though my operation looks very different from those of other farmers in the Beginning Farmer Institute. But we all cherish the land and want to make it productive for others.”
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Keynote speaker Tess Brown-Lavoie, beginning farmer and NEFU member. |
President Kilkelly will lead a board of nine: Erbin Crowell, Neighboring Food Co-op Association (regional), Vice President; Susan Phinney, Whole Foods Market, Weyland, MA; Secretary; Tim O’Connell, Butternut Farm, Milford, NH, Treasurer; Dorn Cox, Tuckaway Farm, Lee, NH; Marydale DeBor, community activist, New Haven, CT; Ida DeFrancesco, Joe DeFrancesco & Sons Farm, Northford, CT; Roger Noonan, Middle Branch Farm, New Boston, NH; and Patricia Richardson, Richardson Family Farm, Hartland, VT.
The Board of Advisors for NEFU are: Noah Fulmer, Farm Fresh Rhode Island, Pawtucket, RI; Jeff LaFleur, Cape Cod Cranberry Growers Association, Carver, MA; Ed Maltby, Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance (regional); Ben Martens, Mid-Coast Fishermen’s Association, Topsham, ME; and Steve Taylor, Taylor Farm, Meriden, NH.
Annie Cheatham, the immediate Past President, will stay involved as the Executive Director for NEFU.
“Members of New England Farmers Union come from all six states,” said Kilkelly. “We are truly a unique regional organization, developing a regional voice for New England farmers, fishermen and consumers.” You could feel that diversity at our meeting. We plan to bring all of that energy and diversity to bear on this next Farm Bill debate as we raise the level of dialogue about New England agriculture and fisheries issues to policy makers in Washington.”
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NEFU President Marge Kilkelly and Joseph Murray on Dragonfly Cove Farm. |
Kilkelly and her husband, Joseph Murray, own and operate Dragonfly Cove Farm in Dresden, Maine, where they raise meat goats, poultry, pigs and garlic. The goat meat is marketed through a collaborative with other growers, dairy and meat they initiated called Thyme for Goat. The farm features a shared-use commercial kitchen where Marge and Joe create and market pancake mix and hot cereal. The kitchen has also been used by two other local food processors.
Off the farm, Kilkelly is the Deputy Director of the Northeast Region Council for State Governments, Eastern Region. She was Director of the Northeast States Association for Agricultural Stewardship (NSAAS) from 2002-2009. From 1986 to 2002 Marge served in both the Maine House and Senate representing the county where she grew up. She chaired the standing committees on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry; Inland Fish and Wildlife; and numerous study committees. She served as both speaker pro tem and president pro tem. She also served as a selectman in Wiscasset, Maine, for four years. Her commitment to elected office and governance also led her to run for and be elected as a deputy from Maine to the National Convention of the Episcopal Church in 2000, 2003 and 2010.
Kilkelly has a master’s degree in community economic development from Southern New Hampshire University. She was an Eisenhower Fellow in Central Europe, a Fleming Fellow, a New England Rural Leaders Fellow and a Brooks Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government. She recently completed a two-year leadership academy with the New England Farm Bureau.
This event was sponsored by generous contributions from Acadia Insurance, Ben & Jerry's Foundation, Blue Seal, Country Folks Weekly Farm Newspaper, Farm Credit East, Farming: The Journal of Northeast Agriculture, High Mowing Organic Seeds, King Arthur Flour, National Farmers Union, Neighboring Food Co-op Association, New Hampshire Audubon, Organic Valley, Stonyfield Farm Organic, and Yankee Farm Credit.
To view our year-end report highlighting all of NEFU's work for 2011 and our plans for 2012, click here.
The Farm Bill: Two Upcoming Webinars Offer Northeast Perspective
Understanding the farm bill reauthorization process is never easy, but this time around it will be more challenging than ever. American Farmland Trust, Wholesome Wave, Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group and New England Farmers Union are hosting two webinars to help Northeast farm, food and conservation advocates better understand the 2012 Farm Bill reauthorization process. You'll learn what's at stake for USDA programs that protect farmland, address environmental challenges, improve food access, and revitalize local and regional food systems in the Northeast.
Save the dates and register for these two farm bill webinars:
- Conservation: Friday, December 16, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Local and Regional Food Systems: Monday, December 19, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The first webinar will focus specifically on the Conservation Title of the farm bill. The second webinar will focus on USDA programs that support local and regional food system development, improve local food access, and help farmers expand production and markets. Webinar speakers will include NEFU's Policy Director, Annette Higby, as well as Congressional staff, staff of national and regional farm, food and conservation organizations, and state government officials.
Both webinars will address these key questions:
- What is the likely timetable for farm bill consideration?
- What are the issues driving this farm bill, and what directional changes in programs and funding in these issue areas might result?
- What are some of the farm bill priorities that have been identified by members of Congress from the Northeast and state agencies and organizations in the region?
We hope you can join us!
Shop at Concord Cooperative Market during December and Support NEFU
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Each month Concord Cooperative Market & Kearsarge Cooperative Grocer offer donations to organizations selected by members of the cooperatives. Based upon the results of their Annual Election on October 24, 2010, New England Farmers Union was chosen as the recipient for December 2011 proceeds. NEFU was thrilled to be selected and thanks co-op members for their votes and support. For more information about the Community Partners Program, click here.
Join NEFU and Help New England Food Banks
New England Farmers Union has joined with National Farmers Union to meet a challenge grant benefiting Feeding America. Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, works with a network of more than 200 food banks across the country to supply 3 billion pounds of food and grocery products annually to needy families. The Howard G. Buffet Foundation has offered to match every dollar given in the name of National Farmers Union to Feeding America, up to his $50,000 challenge.
Howard G. Buffett is a farmer and philanthropist and an advocate for of Feeding America’s fight against hunger. The challenge grant provides a medium for the agricultural community to support hunger relief and help their neighbors in need. Nine food banks in New England will benefit from NEFU-tagged donations.
When you join New England Farmers Union, your membership dues are not only helping NEFU to continue work on our ambitious agenda; they also are helping to feed your hungry neighbors. From now until March 1, 2012, $2.50 of every new member’s dues will be matched by NFU, and then that $5 will be matched by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, resulting in a total donation of $10 to Feeding America. Feeding America will then give all the funds raised from NEFU memberships to nine food banks in our region.
Feeding America reaches 37 million hungry Americans each year, nearly 14 million of them children. Join New England Farmers Union and help feed hungry neighbors.
The Farm Bill: Two Upcoming Webinars Offer Northeast Perspective
Conservation: December 16, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Local and Regional Food Systems: December 19, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Attend these two webinars co-hosted by NEFU to learn what's at stake for USDA programs that protect farmland, address environmental challenges, improve food access, and revitalize local and regional food systems in the Northeast. More details here.
Online Course on Pricing and Marketing Tactics for Beginning Farmers Offered through Cornell University
January 4-February 8, Wednesdays, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
The online course is designed to help farmers better understand how to price products, position yourself in the growing "buy local" marketplace, online and physical location sales, as well as guerrilla marketing tactics.
NOFA/Vermont's 7th Annual Direct Marting Conference
January 8 (South Royalton, Vt.)
The conference will feature 19 workshops on a variety of marketing and market development topics and a keynote co-presentation from Ellen Kahler, Executive Director of the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund, and Jean Hamilton, who recently concluded a four-year term as NOFA Vermont’s Market Development and Consumer Access Coordinator. Kahler and Hamilton will share their thoughts in a keynote titled, Markets in Transition: How Can Vermont’s Direct Markets Evolve with a Growing Local Foods Movement?
Two Versions of Farm Business Planning Course Offered by New Entry Sustainable Farming Project
Option 1: Classroom-Based Course:
January 10- February 21, Tuesdays, 6 to 9 p.m. (Lowell, Mass.)
Option 2: Online Course: January 8-March 4, flexible schedule/location with 2 mandatory classroom sessions (Boston, Mass.)
Learn to develop and plan for your farm business in either a classroom or a web-based learning environment! The course will cover all aspects of planning for the long-term financial success of your farm business
25th Annual NOFA/Mass Winter Conference
January 14 (Worcester, Mass.)
NOFA/Mass is offering a limited number of beginning farmer scholarships to their Winter Conference on January 14, 2012, at Worcester State University. Applicants must have fewer than 10 years farming experience and be members of (or join) NOFA/Mass. Scholarship applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until December 15, 2011. To learn more about the scholarships, visit http://www.nofamass.org/conferences/winter/newfarmer.php.
Carbon Farming 2012: Workshops in Regenerative Agriculture
January 17-February 5 (Chestnut Ridge, N.Y.)
Top farmers and researchers from around the world are gathering at this unique event to train land-owners, farmers, policy-makers, and investors in the best practices of carbon farming, which combines cutting-edge agricultural practices with the tools of ecological design to build healthy soil and profitable farms. Presenters will include Joel Salatin of Polyface Farm, Darren Doherty of RegenAG, Dr. Elaine Ingham of Soil Foodweb, Dr. Wes Jackson of the Land Institute, Dave Jacke of Dynamics Ecological Design, and more. Registration and details here or click here for a fact sheet about the program. Sponsored by The New England Farmers Union, The Northeast Organic Farming Associations of NY and NJ (NOFA-NY, NOFA-NJ), Terra Genesis International, Food Forest Farm, A Growing Culture, and Gaia University International.
NEWS FLASH:
NEFU members who are full-time farmers now have the opportunity to receive substantial scholarships of 25% or 50% off the tuition fees. To do so, register here and enter this code: Farm25.
ABC's of Farm-Based Education: Project Seasons Workshop
March 9-11 (Shelburne, Vt.)
Develop hands-on education programs for your farm that encourage school groups and visitors to learn and explore. Topics include marketing your farm program to schools and the community, creating a safe farm environment for the public, and meeting teachers' needs. For more information and registration, contact Erica Curry at Shelburne Farms.
National Farmers Union Women's Conference
June 21-23 (Bailey, Colo.)
Save the dates for this conference offered by National Farmers Union in partnership with Annie’s Project.
Occupy the Food System II: Education and Policy
"I hope some of the occupiers will continue the struggle by joining with the education and policy organizations that have been working on these issues..." Read more on this topic from NEFU member John Gerber who teaches courses relating to sustainability at the University of Massachusetts.
No Farm Bill Served-up by Supercommittee So Back to Square One
Daryll Ray and Harwood Schaffer write a regular column on agricultural policy called Policy Pennings. We include these in our monthly newsletter for those who want to dig a little deeper into the world of agricultural policy. Daryll Ray is an advisor to the National Farmers Union on agricultural policy. You can find their previous essays here.
CRS Releases Report Comparing Farm Bill Proposals
The Congressional Research Service (CRS) recently released a report entitled “Farm Safety Net Proposals for the 2012 Farm Bill,” looking at various farm bill proposals from members of Congress and agriculture groups.
Annie's Sustainable Agriculture Scholarships
Annie's offers $75,000 in funds to students studying sustainable agriculture. Annie's Sustainable Agriculture Scholarship Program is open to full time undergraduate and graduate students beginning or returning to an accredited 2 or 4 year college program, or graduate school in the U.S. for the 2012/2013 school year. Students must be focusing on classes in sustainable agriculture. Applications are due by December 15, 2011.
Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers
USDA announces the availability of funds and solicits applications from eligible entities to compete for financial assistance through the Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Grant Program (OASDFR). This program will assist community-based organizations, higher education institutions and eligible tribal entities in providing outreach and technical assistance to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. The overall goal of the OASDFR Program is to assist socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in a linguistically appropriate manner in owning and operating farms, ranches and non-industrial forest lands while increasing their participation in agricultural programs provided by USDA. Applications are due by December 21, 2011.
Healthy and Humane Farm Funds
Food Animal Concerns Trust's Healthy & Humane Farm Funds Project will provide small grants to qualifying humane farmers who need assistance in improving the welfare of their farm animals. They will award grants for projects that (1) help farms transition to pasture-based systems, (2) improve the marketing of their humane products, or (3) more generally enrich the conditions in which farm animals are raised. FACT is committed to funding at least five farms each year, with the anticipated grant size of ranging from $500 to $1,500 per farm. Applications are due by April 1, 2012.
High School Equivalency Program
The purposes of the High School Equivalency Program are to help migrant and seasonal farmworkers and members of their immediate family: (1) Obtain a general education diploma (GED) that meets the guidelines for high school equivalency established by the State in which the HEP project is conducted, and (2) gain employment or be placed in an institution of higher education (IHE) or other postsecondary education or training. The estimated range of awards is $180,000 to $475,000. Institutes of higher education or private non-profit organizations (including faith-based organizations) that plan their projects in cooperation with an IHE are eligible to apply. Application deadline is January 18, 2012.
Carrot Project Farm Loan Funds
The Carrot Project is offering loan funds serving farms in Massachusetts and farms and farm related businesses in Vermont and will be accepting applications through January 6th, 2011 for loans of $35,000 or less. There is one additional upcoming deadline on March 2, 2012. Also, the Maine Farm Business Loan continues to accept applications on a rolling basis.
Farmers Asked to Participate in Research on Multifunctional Farms in New England
Dr. Kathleen Liang, University of Vermont, has designed a unique research project to study creative and innovative strategies developed and implemented by small farmers in New England beyond traditional farming operations. The focus of this study is about “multifunctional farm enterprises” which often involves agritourism, value added, and off farm works. A screening survey (postcard) was sent to New England farmers during fall 2011 to gather information about creative/innovative practices. Please respond and participate. For questions or comments. contact Dr. Liang at CLIANG@uvm.edu.
Become an Intern at National Farmers Union (NFU)
NFU’s Internship Program offers a ‘real world’ working experience with opportunities available in NFU’s Washington, D.C., office. The internships typically last two months and may be tailored to the career goals of the individual. Internship areas of interest include communications, cooperative development, economics, education, membership marketing, policy research and political science.
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