MFBF New Office Headquarters Address

For your records MFBF has moved to our new location.  The new address is:

249 Lakeside Ave

Marlborough, MA 01752

Phone: 508.481.4766 | Fax: 508.481.4768

**ATTENTION**

The MFBF office will be closed for the week between Christmas and New Years . We will close at the end of the day December 23rd and reopen Monday January 3rd. 

New Policies Voted By MFBF Delegates

The Delegate Session at this year’s MFBF Annual Meeting was well attended, with all the counties well-represented.  This is one of the most exciting aspects of Farm Bureau.  The resolutions process, which takes up the bulk of the Delegate Session, is a great example of true grassroots policy development.

Resolutions are essentially MA Farm Bureau policies. They are intended to make it clear to legislators and other interested parties what the goals and position of MA Farm Bureau are on topics important to Massachusetts agriculture.  Resolutions also provide direction to staff when advocating on behalf of the organization and individual members. 

As occurs every year, old resolutions (they are up for reconsideration every three years) were reaffirmed where continued work was necessary. Others were retired where they were no longer needed or pertinent.  A number of new resolutions also came out of this year’s Delegate Session including ones that:

·     Create a Livestock Committee at MA Farm Bureau Federation.

·     Direct staff to work on efforts that would create a more diverse slaughter and meat processing infrastructure in MA including but not limited to mobile slaughter units and small-scale slaughter facilities.

·     Expands the Board of Agriculture and that the Board represents the general and geographic diversity of Massachusetts. Also, implement term limits and ensure that 2/3 of the Board consists of producers.

·     Calls for utility companies to pay for half the cost of connecting on-farm energy projects to the grid, provided that the projects produce more than 500KW. Farms would pay back half the cost over 10 years with no interest.

·     Supports a continuation of the Dairy Tax Credit and other support programs including those recommended by the Dairy Task Force.

·     Calls for trucks vehicles and trailers operating with farm plates to be able to be used to their full rated capacity.

·     Directs staff to work to attempt to return the farm plate registration to return to the simpler process previously used.

·     Changes state law and policy to allow farmers to be able to deliver raw milk off farms to their customers, either themselves or through a contractor. Also to allow DAR to provide oversight of these activities.

·     Calls for MFBF and other groups to develop a report assessing existing MA laws impacting agriculture and develop a “roadmap” for agricultural legislative reform which is based on the consensus of the agricultural community.

·     Calls for the Department of Conservation to reopen state lands to commercial forestry.

Resolutions passed at the state level that have relevance to national policy, are also brought to the Delegate Session of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF). This year’s AFBF Resolutions Committee Meeting is happening on December 15 & 16.  Our Delegate to the AFBF Delegate Session is President Rich Bonanno. Rich will be promoting resolutions that would call for AFBF to adopt policy that would:

·     Maintain support staff at the Department of Education for Future Farmers of America (FFA).

·     Incorporate supply management as a component of dairy policy.

·     Reject government supported margin insurance as a component of dairy programs.

·     Change AFBF Food Safety policy to address concerns for small farms and require that legislation and regulations be tailored to the size, type and capacity of the farm.

The full text of the new and reaffirmed resolutions as well as all existing resolutions can be found in the MFBF Policy book. This is available online at http://www.mfbf.net/AboutUs/Grassroots/tabid/301/Default.aspx or by requesting a copy of the policy book from the Marlborough Office.

Do you have an idea for a resolution you would like to see passed? Don’t like existing resolutions or think they can be improved? Contact your county Farm Bureau president on how to get involved.

• What steps have I taken to ensure my property is cleaned after a storm?

• Do I shovel walkways, driveways and sidewalks?

•  Do I use salt or another de-icing agent in high traffic areas?

• Are there any dangerous conditions on my property, such as divots, potholes or areas with poor drainage?

•  Are my stairs safe?

• Is there adequate lighting in the area? Are there any bulbs or lights that need to be replaced?

• Do I regularly inspect the premises for defects? (If you’re a business, you should develop a process for performing these inspections.)

• In my business, do I assume responsibility for injuries that happen on another person’s property?

If you have any questions about this change in law or how you can maintain good risk management practices, please contact your local Farm Family agent for additional information. To find a Farm Family agent near you, visit www.farmfamily.com or call General Agent Steve Charette at (978) 686-0170.  

This article was provided by Farm Family Casualty Insurance Company for informational purposes only.

The Farm Family group of insurance companies, headquartered in Glenmont NY, operates in 13 states in the northeast and is a subsidiary of American National Family of Companies. Farmers face unique issues. Talk to an insurance agent who understands agriculture insurance. To find an agent near you call 1-800-THE-FARM or visit www.FarmFamily.com.

This information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. The information is general in nature and may not apply to all circumstances. Farm Family, its affiliates, agents and employees do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information provided and assume no liability, expressed or implied, in connection therewith. Further, the information is not intended to constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon in lieu of consultation with an appropriate legal advisor.

**A Snow Plow Seminar Sponsored by Farm Family Insurance will be
offered on Wednesday, January 19, 2011 at the Holiday Inn, Marlboro, 4:30 to 7:30 pm, RSVP to Susan Corneila at 508.481.4766.**

At the MFBF Annual Meeting in Springfield, I used my report to the delegates to summarize a few of our successes of the past year, and to hopefully motivate members to help address our challenges.  The past twelve months have been a mixed bag for Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation.

Perhaps the greatest highlight to our year came last January, when MFBF received the prestigious “Pinnacle Award” from American Farm Bureau Federation.  Singled out from all the states with 10,000 members or less, MFBF was recognized for our membership growth, as well as for excellence in the areas of leadership development, member services, policy implementation and public relations and information.  Bob Stallman presented the award to President Bonanno before 4,000 members attending the AFBF convention in Seattle. I am extremely proud of the accomplishments of your professional staff, leadership and volunteers, and it was rewarding to be recognized by our peers.

We should also be proud for receiving an award from the New England Association of Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Areas which represents six New England States and fifteen RC&D councils for “Outstanding Supporting Organization”.

As we moved further into 2010, we forged new working relationships with such diverse interest groups as the Northeast Organic Farming Association, Massachusetts Food Policy Alliance, and the forty-some-odd organizations that signed on in support of the Ag-Day priorities.  At the federal level, MFBF and New Hampshire Farm Bureau worked with the Farm & Ranch Freedom Alliance to pass size-based food safety regulations to protect small farm businesses. These new alliances have opened doors, fostered discussions, and helped clear the path to solutions to several issues facing our members. 

This summer the legislature passed, and Governor Patrick signed into law the so-called “small plot farming bill”, which now provides the zoning relief afforded farms of five-acres or more, to farms as small as two acres, provided they reach the sales thresholds required by the law.  This significant achievement would not have passed without two strategies: (1) commodity groups and other partners working together, and (2) Farm Bureau legislative breakfasts…for this bill was all but dead until two State Senators became interested following two county Farm Bureau legislative breakfasts, and they pushed the bill through in an economic development package.

Also becoming law this summer was a bill allowing for the sale of farmer-winery products at agricultural events such as farmers markets and agricultural fairs, with local approval.  This will expand marketing opportunities for this growing segment of Massachusetts agriculture, and will undoubtedly draw a greater consumer audience to these venues.

These are just a couple of the year’s achievements.  Your staff assists members each day in resolving their challenges, and each is significant.

Looking ahead we anticipate significant challenges to Massachusetts agriculture.  Animal rights initiatives, regulation of raw milk sales, mis-regulation and over- regulation of farms by municipal boards of health are all substantive issues that will require active lobbying and debate if we are to preserve agriculture as we know it in Massachusetts. Brad Mitchell and the MFBF Government Affairs Committee will coordinate our strategy, but we will need the involvement of hundreds of members to be successful.

I want to draw special attention to the MFBF Women’s Committee, who partnered with the Massachusetts State Grange to produce the 2010 Century Farms recognition program that was celebrated at our annual meeting banquet.  This is another collaboration which not only has celebrated the farming heritage of Massachusetts, but helped to build another alliance that will benefit us all in the future.

The most disappointing segment of our Farm Bureau year has been membership.  Despite the fact that Regular or Farmer memberships have  increased in 2010, our overall membership declined by more than 10 percent.  Now more than ever, we need you as Farm Bureau leaders to step up the recruiting of new members.  Those new members are out there:  they may be the farmer down the road who dropped his membership ten years ago for some reason, or the new niche operation up the road that is selling at the local farmers’ markets.  It may be the customer at those markets that can’t get enough local agricultural products, or the agricultural student who wants to make a career in a farm-related profession.  It may be the forest landowner in your community who has no other advocacy group out there working to protect landowner rights in Massachusetts.  We know these potential members are out there, but they have  yet to be asked.  YOU, each one of you, recognize the value of your Farm Bureau membership, and YOU are the best one to recruit those new members.  Please take my plea seriously, for I am concerned enough about the trend.  If we cannot rebound from our membership drop in 2010 during 2011, I believe we will need to scale back some of the member services we’ve worked so hard to build.  If each delegate reaches out and recruits two new Regular Farmer members, this negative year will quickly become a positive one in 2011.  It really MUST happen to keep your federation strong.

In closing I want to thank all the volunteers who serve on our commodity advisory committees, county boards, the state board for their leadership, and my superb staff for all their hard work and dedication.  We are Farm Bureau strong in Massachusetts!  But we cannot rest on our laurels…we must continue to strengthen our efforts in every way.  Thank you for the part you play in making that happen.

Maureen O’Mara has been a Farm Family agent for thirty years and was awarded the Farm Family Agent of the Year Award for Outstanding Service at the December 2, 2010 Membership Luncheon of the MFBF Annual Meeting in Springfield, MA.  Maureen also received the Farm Bureau Award back in 1983.  This is not an award won solely for “production”, but an award for those small things done every day that matter most to those around you.  Each Farm Bureau County Board of Directors was given the opportunity to nominate their agent or agents because everyone benefits when agents and the county Farm Bureau leadership have opportunities to work together and learn from each other.  This award recognizes an individual agent for their outstanding contributions, qualitatively and quantitatively, and for serving the needs of farmers, Farm Bureau, and the agribusiness community.

According to her county, “Maureen cares deeply about her community, Farm Bureau, and her clients.  She keeps the county directors updated on changes to insurance products and gives practical advice.  She visits with the sick in the hospital, attends funerals and inquires regularly about people and their activities.  Maureen has a way of knowing and anticipating the needs of her clients and communicating this to them in a way that they can understand. She’s been known to chip in to help the county Farm Bureau run smoothly by typing the minutes of the County Board Meetings.  Together with her colleagues, Maureen is a quiet driving force in Berkshire county increasing membership. Above all, Maureen is loved and respected throughout Berkshire County.”

Maureen was presented with a perpetual award and a personal award to keep and display.

Membership

Full Time Students between the ages of 16-25 can join Farm Bureau for $25 and benefit from the professional affiliation and personal auto insurance savings from their Farm Family Agent.  Find out more by contacting the Farm Bureau office.

Forestry Joint Membership:  For the first time ever and for one time only –Agriculturally producing members of the MA Wood Producers Association and the MA Forestry Landowners Association may join the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation as a Regular ($180, voting) member this January for a dual membership in their organization.  The member must not have ever held a Massachusetts Farm Bureau membership in order to qualify.  The membership year will be January 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012 and the member will have access to all Farm Bureau membership benefits during this eighteen month trial membership.  Join us!

Membership Awards

The highest compliment we can receive from a member is to recommend a family member, friend, or acquaintance to our federation.  This demonstrates confidence in our ability to protect the rights, encourage the growth, and be of service to our members in the best interest of agriculture.  Your referrals help us achieve this goal. 

USDA Announces Sign Up for Conservation Programs in MA

The United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service has announced application cut-off dates for several conservation programs in Massachusetts. These federal programs, authorized under the 2008 Farm Bill, provide financial and technical assistance to help local farmers protect soil, water and other natural resources.

·     Applications for Farm Bill conservation programs may be submitted at any time, however applications received by the dates below will be considered for the next round of ranking and funding in Massachusetts. Farmers should visit their local USDA service center to apply; locations are listed on-line at http://offices.usda.gov or in the phone book under Federal Government, U.S. Department of Agriculture. General program information is available on the NRCS Massachusetts website at www.ma.nrcs.usda.gov.Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) – EQIP helps farmers and forest landowners address water quality, water conservation, invasive species control, soil quality, erosion control, nutrient and pest management, prescribed grazing, irrigation efficiency, energy efficiency, forest stand improvement, and other natural resource concerns. Cut-off date: January 14, 2011.

·     EQIP Organic Initiative – the EQIP Organic Initiative is a nationwide special initiative to provide financial assistance to National Organic Program (NOP) certified organic producers as well as producers in the process of transitioning to organic production. Applicants will be competing only among other organic/transitioning farmers. The objective of this initiative is to make EQIP assistance more available, appropriate and accessible to organic food producers. Cut-off date: March 4, 2010.

·     Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) – GRP is a voluntary program offering landowners the opportunity to protect, restore, and enhance grasslands on their property through easements and rental agreements. This year, farmland under a state Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) will be eligible for GRP rental agreements. Cut-off date: February 18, 2010.

·     Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) – WRP offers an opportunity for landowners to voluntarily protect, restore and enhance wetlands on their property. WRP offers three options to landowners: permanent easements, 30-year easements or 10-year restoration cost-share agreements. Sign-up is continuous so landowners may apply at any time.

“The 2008 Farm Bill provides additional incentives for landowners who are beginning, have limited resources, or who are socially disadvantaged because they belong to racial or ethnic groups that have historically been subjected to prejudice,” said Christine Clarke, NRCS State Conservationist for Massachusetts. “Such landowners can receive up to 90 percent of the costs associated with planning and implementing conservation measures and up to 30 percent of expected costs may be provided in advance.”

NRCS has offices in Greenfield, Hadley, Holden, Hyannis, Pittsfield, Westford, and West Wareham, which work with local conservation districts and other partners to serve farmers and landowners throughout the commonwealth.

President’s Corner by A. Richard Bonanno, Ph.D.

As the year comes to a close, I want to thank everyone involved in making 2010 a successful year for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation.   We have tried hard this past year to bring all members of the agricultural community closer together.  Our legislative successes included the small plot farming bill, improved procedures for government purchases of local food, flexibility on local wine sales at agricultural events, and the creation of the Food Policy Alliance.  Working together as a combined agricultural community has served us well and we will continue to pursue improvements for Massachusetts farmers with this philosophy.

Brad Mitchell and I just returned from Washington, DC where we were involved in the first phases of setting American Farm Bureau Federation policy for 2011.  While we still have one more critical level to go, namely the delegate session at the annual meeting, we did make progress on both the dairy and food safety fronts.  At least as of this writing, the new draft AFBF policy allows for a temporary supply management program for dairy.  Also, food safety legislation/regulation should be based on the “size, type, and capacity of the farm”.  I will continue to stay engaged in the debate on these and other issues at the national level.

On the home front, I am hopeful that the roll out of the Commonwealth Quality program will improve our local sales, demonstrate to our customers that Massachusetts farmers are taking environmental stewardship seriously, and provide a platform for smaller growers to demonstrate that food safety on the farm is taken seriously.  This program will start with fruits and vegetables but will be expanded in the future.  The Massachusetts DAR, UMass Extension, Massachusetts Farm Bureau, the Massachusetts Fruit Growers, and the New England Vegetable & Berry Growers have all come together to contribute to its creation and future success.

As a follow-up to our annual meeting and elections in Springfield in early December I want to thank those members of the MFBF Board of Directors who will be leaving.   John Dougherty is retiring as a member-at-large but will continue to serve as chair of our Equine Committee.  Terri Lawton is rotating off as chair of the Young Farmers Committee.  I want to thank Terri for her efforts in helping staff, myself, and many new young farmers to re-energize this committee.  Finally, I want to congratulate David Mann for his many years of service to MFBF, most recently as a member-at- large.  David also was the recipient of the John Ogonowski Award.

I welcome our new Board members.  They include Jamie Cruz  as Chair of the Young Farmer and Rancher Committee.  Drew Locke will also work with Jamie as committee co-chair.  New County Directors will include Rudy Medeiros, President of Norfolk County FB and Andy Schmidt from Berkshire County.

I always appreciate your comments and concerns.  Let me know what you think at rich@mfbf.net