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. 

Massachusetts Farm Bureau 91^st Annual Meeting, December 2^nd-3, 2010 at the Sheraton Hotel in Springfield, MA.

Join your neighbors and friends in celebrating Massachusetts’s agricultural industry and the successes of the state’s largest general farm organization.

This two-day event is where Farm Bureau members establish policy for the upcoming year, attend workshops and learning sessions, as well as enjoy good food, entertainment and a bit of rest and relaxation away from the farm . This year’s MFBF Annual Meeting is a value-packed program.

Thursday, December 2nd will be full of workshops with an Awards program at lunch.  The dinner banquet will honor the 2010 John Ogonowski award winner as well as the Horse and Dairy Farm of Distinction winners.  There will also be a special recognition of the 2010 Massachusetts Century Farms, compiled by the MFBF Women’s Committee. See below for schedule of events for Thursday the 2nd.

The Delegate Session will be on Friday, December 3rd.  It is our delegate session that helps guide and direct MFBF.  It is through our membership’s grassroots efforts that we develop resolutions which direct our organization for the upcoming year.  Contact your County Farm Bureau President if you would like to become a delegate.

Staying overnight?  Farm Bureau Members can book accommodations for Wednesday, December 1st & Thursday, December 2nd at a rate of $89.95 for a single or double room at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center. Taxes are extra. Contact the Sheraton Hotel at (413) 781-1010 for reservations and mention that you are with Mass Farm Bureau to receive the group rate.

**Click here to register**

MFBF 2011Board of Director Nominees

The 2010 Massachusetts Farm Bureau Nominating Committee has completed its selections for six leadership positions within MFBF. 

The MFBF Nominating Committee is charged with preparing a slate of nominations to be voted upon by delegates at the December 3 MFBF Annual Meeting

Treasurer-
Mark Amato of Worcester County

Directors at Large (2 Seats)-
Jim Larkin of Berkshire County & Jack Angley of Plymouth County

Budget Committee-
Rhett Proctor of Berkshire County

AFBF Delegate:-
A. Richard Bonanno of Essex County

AFBF Alternate Delegate-
Edward Davidian of Worcester County

Any further nominations can be made on the Delegate floor at the MFBF Annual Meeting, Friday, December 3rd, 9:00am at the Sheraton Hotel in Springfield, MA.  Any person nominated on the Delegate floor must be a
Regular member, paid in full at time of nomination.

Mass Farm Bureau Hosts Open House

The atmosphere was festive as Massachusetts Farm Bureau officially welcomed everyone to our new offices at 249 Lakeside Avenue in Marlborough.  Guests were given a tour of the new facility, took time to chat with the staff, and enjoyed refreshments as we took a moment to step back and admire all of the hard work that went into making this transition.  The grounds have been spruced up courtesy of Walnut Hill Lawn Service. We’d like to thank Steve LaPierre and his crew for doing a terrific job in transforming the overgrowth into an attractive landscape. Mums and pumpkins, courtesy of Pleasant Valley Gardens, were placed about the building, adding to the seasonal décor.

The recently installed roadside sign gives our organization great visibility. If you’re headed to a meeting at our offices, we’re easy to find and conveniently located at the intersection of Route 495 and Route 20 at exit 24A. A big thank you goes out to all involved in the purchase and renovation of the building.

Home  and Business Owner Safety: The Do’s and Don’ts of Space Heater:

With cold weather approaching, many people and businesses will turn to portable space heaters for supplemental heat. While these units provide flexibility and efficiency, they can be hazardous if not used correctly.

The Dangers

Fire damage to buildings and personal property can result if space heaters are not used properly. Improper use can also lead to severe burns, other bodily injury or even death. To minimize danger, a home or business owner has to know the do’s and don’ts of space heater operation.

What to Do

Keep children away from the immediate vicinity and never allow them to touch the unit

Consider safety cages for unit to keep children and small pets at a distance

Only use the space heater according to the instructions provided in the owner’s manual

Confirm the unit you’re using is “UL” approved and in proper working condition

Allow a minimum of 3’ between the heater and flammable materials including furniture, drapes and walls

Allow for proper ventilation when using fuel burning heaters, and install carbon monoxide detectors in the area(s) of use

Be sure to plug electric space heaters directly into wall outlets instead of using extension cords

Always make sure the unit is placed on a solid, even surface

What NOT to Do

Never leave a space heater unattended or go to sleep with one operating

Never use a fuel burning heater in a room where there are flammable solvents, aerosol sprays, lacquers, fuel or oil containers

Never fill a kerosene heater while it is burning and clean up any spillage before re-igniting

If an extension cord is necessary, never use in areas with high foot traffic and avoid running the cord under carpets and rugs

Never have electric space heaters near water or use them in the bathroom

Never place a space heater directly on a carpet or rub

Inspection and Maintenance

It’s important to complete a thorough inspection of all space heaters at the beginning of each season. You should always consider the following items:

•       Condition of fuel lines and tanks

•       Condition of all safety guards

•       Condition of exhaust system

•       Burner efficiency

•       Condition of electrical cords

•       Overall cleanliness of unit

Never try to repair a heater yourself. Call a certified technician.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas, which is produced by fuel burning space heaters. This toxic gas can reach fatal levels if adequate ventilation is not provided.

         Be aware of the early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, which include:

•       Dizziness

•       Nausea

•       Headache

•       Weakness/Fatigue

•       Confusion

If you or anyone else experiences these symptoms during exposure to a space heater, get fresh air immediately.

For more information on space heater safety, visit the Insurance Information Institute website at www.iii.org. This article was provided by Farm Family Casualty Insurance Company for informational purposes only. Home and Business owners face unique issues. Talk to an insurance agent who understands their insurance needs. To find an agent near you call 1-800-THE FARM or visit www.FarmFamily.com.

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.

USDA GAP Training

Sponsored by:

UMass Extension and the MA Dept of Agricultural Resources 

Recent contamination outbreaks for tomatoes and spinach have raised concerns about the safety of fresh produce. UMass Extension and the MA Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) are pleased to present a USDA Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Training Program for growers and other fresh produce handlers.

At the training, you will learn more about:

• the costs and impact of diseases and outbreaks caused by food-borne pathogens
• strategies for controlling potential microbial food safety hazards before planting and throughout all phases of production - planting, production, harvesting and postharvest handling
• the USDA Third Party Audit process

You will also:

• receive a manual filled with GAP resources
• receive a CD loaded with templates needed to maintain records to verify USDA GAP that can be customized for your farm

At the end of the session, you will receive a certificate of participation including hours and one pesticide credit for participating through UMass Extension.

The key presenter for the training is Dr. Richard Bonanno, Ph.D. Extension Educator with UMass Extension.  The cost for this GAP training is $50.00.  Send additional employees for $10.00 which includes the presentation, pesticide credit, refreshments, but not the GAP manual.  Space is limited.   Please make your checks payable to University of Massachusetts.  Note that we cannot accept cash payments.  Send the check along with the registration information given below to Doreen York, Agriculture & Landscape Program, 210 Bowditch Hall, 201 Natural Resources Rd., University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003.  If you have questions, please contact Doreen at 413-545-2254 or email at dyork@umext.umass.edu.

Two sessions will be available.  Check off which session you will be attending.

Monday, November 22, 2010  
Farm Bureau Federation Office
249 Lakeside Drive, Marlboro, MA 01752
Registration deadline:  11/12/10      

Thursday, December 2, 2010
Sheraton Springfield/Monarch Place Hotel

In conjunction: Annual Farm
Bureau Mtg.

12:45 PM – 2:30 PM;
3:30 PM – 4:45 PM

Registration deadline:  11/19/10      

Massachusetts BOH Regulation of Agriculture

Massachusetts has a long history of Home Rule. Cities and towns in Massachusetts have considerable authority to set rules and policies in their communities as they see fit. For the most part, this is a good thing. It allows municipal boards to create regulations and bylaws that reflect the values and viewpoint of the community.  In some cases, however, the degree of authority and autonomy municipal board possesses has become problematic. In agriculture, this is particularly true with Boards of Health (BOHs). In fact, members of MA Farm Bureau have ranked this as one of the biggest problems for farms in the state.

Now don’t get me wrong, not all Boards of Health cause problems for farmers. There are plenty of good ones in Massachusetts who work well with the farmers in their communities. Sound public health regulation is in the best interest of farmers.  Just take a look at the spinach fiasco a few years back. One farm in California sold spinach that made people sick and the spinach market throughout North America crashed for months.  Farmers want sound regulation.

However, somewhere along the line, the system in Massachusetts broke. Too many BOHs are putting policies and regulations in place that harm agriculture and don’t make sense.  I get at least one call a week (often several) from farmers who have a problem with their Board of Health. A few examples include:

• One Massachusetts BOH requires that vocal cords be removed from any roosters kept within town boundaries. Note that there is no approved veterinary procedure for removing the vocal cords of roosters. Even if there were, the cost would far exceed the cost of the bird!

• Another town BOH, in response to a neighbor who complained about bees coming onto her property from a nearby apiary, declared honeybees to be livestock. They then invoked a town bylaw which requires livestock owners to keep their animals on their own property. Problem solved – unless you are a beekeeper, or the farmer who relies on the bees to pollinate his crops. Note: bees can range up to 5 miles in search of nectar.

As towns become more densely populated, many have been putting regulations in place governing the keeping of livestock. While some have reasonable, well-researched regulations, too many have adopted regulations which are contrary to sound agricultural practices, or even State and Federal law.

Most BOH members are volunteers, many without any particular expertise in public health. They cover a wide range of issues ranging from Title V to restaurant inspections. Neither they, nor town Health Agents, can be expected to be an expert in everything, especially a field as diverse as agriculture. However state law gives Boards of Health expansive authority to regulate farms. They are not even required to hold a public hearing prior to putting regulations into effect. The growth and success of many farms in Massachusetts is being held back by BOHs.

Against this backdrop, local agriculture is increasingly being recognized for the many benefits it provides, including the health benefits. The Massachusetts Public Health Association even has an Act Fresh Campaign to promote the consumption and availability of local produce.

BOHs have a role in ensuring that all food is produced and sold in a safe manner.  However the time has come for the system to changed, and for checks and balances to be put in place on local BOH regulation of agriculture. The solution is quite simple. Prior to any BOH regulation going into effect, it should be reviewed and approved by a body of individuals knowledgeable in various aspects of agriculture. This is not a Home Rule revolution. It is simply good governance.

MA Farm Bureau is committed to making this change. We have begun discussions with the MA Association of Health Boards, and we have supported and will continue to support legislation to fix this problem.  While Massachusetts may have a long history of Home Rule, Massachusetts agriculture and everyone who enjoys our products is in desperate need of Sound Rule.

Have an opionion? visit blog.massfb.org and post a comment, we look forward to your thoughts.

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
By Douglas P. Gillespie, Executive Director, MFBF

It’s time once again for the MFBF Annual Meeting, and I encourage each of you to make the trip to Springfield on December 2-3 to participate in YOUR federation!   The event is a great opportunity to network with other farmers, catch up on pressing issues facing agriculture, and earn a few pesticide license credits for participating in several of the workshops. 

Thursday’s schedule will include eight workshops for the membership.  These include sessions on Best Management Practices for cranberry production, greenhouse production, and turf and landscape.  A double-session Good Agricultural Practices workshop will help prepare you for eventual GAP certification.  Farm Risk Management is another topic to be covered, as well as Forestry Programs, Alternative Energy of Farms and DAR’s new Commonwealth Quality program. 

On Thursday evening we will celebrate the 2010 “Century Farms of Massachusetts” with recognition at our annual banquet.  The MFBF Women’s Committee in partnership with the Massachusetts State Grange undertook the compilation and recognition of these active farms that have been in the same family’s ownership for at least 100 years.  Some of those included have been in the same family since the mid-1600’s and go back to King’s grants!  This has been a wonderful project, and each farm is deserving of this recognition.  Special Note: Each public library in Massachusetts will receive a copy of the Century Farms publication, following the MFBF Annual Meeting.

Friday’s delegate session is when the business of the federation takes place.  Each county Farm Bureau selects delegates from amongst their members to attend, debate, and cast votes in elections and policy decisions.  Many counties still have vacancies for their voting delegates, so if you are interested, contact your County President.

I also want to call attention to Farm Bureau’s new “Student Membership”, as it provides a great opportunity for young people interested in agriculture to become involved.  I can think of no better networking opportunity if you are serious about careers in agriculture!

   See you in December!

Legal Notes for the Equine Business in a Recession

In hard times, equine businesses face greater challenges than most other businesses:  the clientele is more mobile and there are fewer deep pockets over all, whereas equine professionals and industry suppliers are usually fixed in place with either real estate fixed costs, or the large expenses necessary to produce their particular product.   Also many barn owners and trainers, in good times, do well enough so that good business practices are not strictly necessary to prosper, and so a trend heading towards informal or casual dealings is widespread, which hurts business all the more when finances go south.  The answer is to start practicing good business habits immediately, and to follow through even when the situation is not so dire.  These actions can have legal repercussions, and so what follows is a primer of legal notes for good business practices during hard times.

Insurance:  Many businesses trim down insurance costs in an effort to save money.  This is short sighted.  Businesses don’t need LESS insurance, they need BETTER insurance, usually.  The best thing to do is to bid the insurance out to at least two independent equine insurance agents, and have them explain exactly what the insurance is buying your business, AFTER you invite them to your premises, so that they can walk around and see exactly what your needs are.  Once you are assured that you have exactly what you need, and no more or no less, then from there, you should see which insurance companies offer the lowest price for that particular coverage.  Be careful when you get a suspiciously low bid, as there is no free lunch in this area, and a very low bid usually means less coverage.  If you are comfortable with the lowered protection you can decide to take it, as long as you find out exactly what that means to your bottom line in the event of a problem.  One major area to review for many barns is in how the barn owner deals with trainers who teach on the premises:  such trainers can either be independent contractors or employees.  If the trainer is an employee, that may entitle the business to more income earned by the trainer, but there are increased costs in the form of worker’s compensation insurance and unemployment insurance, and increased responsibilities of oversight over the trainer.  If the trainer is an independent contractor, there are steps that the barn will have to take to ensure that the owner of the barn preserves that designation, which protects the barn from suits and insurance claims, but also lowers the amount of income that the barn owner can earn from the trainer.  Depending on how the business is structured, either decision can be financially sound and appropriate, but the barn owner should consult with an equine attorney to ensure that legal problems will not arise in future.

Contracts:   Review all of your contracts with your clients or suppliers.  Make sure that the contracts fairly and accurately protect you and that all contracts are in writing and signed by the parties.  An oral contract, which many boarding stables rely on, for example, can leave a barn vulnerable to goods and services being extracted and not paid for.  Likewise, a trainer’s services can be used and not paid for.  Suppliers of goods or services, such as hay dealers or feed dealers, should review their invoicing arrangements and the terms under which they allow credit, and whether or not attorney’s fees can be collected in the event of a default.   If the client makes an agreement with the supplier signed in writing that allows for such attorney’s fees in the event that a collection action has to be filed, then the likelihood of getting such fees ordered are greatly increased.  Where there is not a written contract, in the event of a dispute, a court will look to all sources to see what the dealings of the parties was, and in that case, all emails and text messages between the parties become fair game for review by the court.  Many people are not aware of this kind of “look back” available to the court, and may have a view of events not supported by the emails between the parties, and that includes those with that have been sent TO them as well as FROM them.

Employment Matters:  Many equine industries rely on barter services.  Barter services can be taxed just as income and bring with them all the same headaches as regular paid employment, including the need to have worker’s compensation insurance and unemployment insurance.   Therefore, although employers may find it superficially easier to manage barter, in terms of real costs and benefits, there is not much difference.  Barter arrangements also tend to be very informal.  The danger is that when problems arise, a worker may get his rights enforced more quickly than the employer, usually for example, a barn, who did the hiring.  This is because when a worker wants to get paid in cash money for his services, most states have laws concerning wages that tend to be more rigidly enforced and have tougher regulatory protections than do the laws regarding payment for say, goods or board charges.  Barter arrangements should be avoided for these reasons.  Bring all such arrangements above the table and reduced to writing so that problems can be avoided.

With attention to detail and with good business practices, equine businesses can survive a recession.  After all, equine businesses have one thing going for them that other businesses don’t:  the participants will all spend their last dollar, as opposed to their first, to stay in the horse world!

Kathleen A. Reagan, Esq. is an equine attorney practicing in Quincy, MA 02169.  Find her website at: www.kathleenreaganlaw.com.

MFBF Annual Meeting Sponsorship & Trade Booth Information

TRADE BOOTHS

Trade Booth space is being offered again this year.  Trade booth space will be $250 for an 8’x2’ booth. Booth space this year is at a premium and based on prior demand, you  should  act quickly.

ANNUAL MEETING
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

MFBF is again offering annual meeting sponsorship opportunities.  The Board of Directors will recognize your company as an industry leader by sponsoring the 2010 MFBF Annual meeting and its activities.  We are offering four levels of sponsorship:

         Platinum Level- $500

         Gold Level-$350

         Silver Level-$150

         Bronze Level-$50

Please contact us at 508.481.4766 or by email at: john@mfbf.net. You can also visit www.mfbf.net to register online.

We have a special offer for those who sponsor at the Platinum level.  If you contact us no later than November 16th, your sponsorship will include a free booth!

Sponsors receive the following:

Acknowledgement at the Annual meeting & Dinner Recognition in newsletter, Company name and logo at different events farm Bureau attends (BIg E, Equine Affair, Mass Municipal Association, Etc), Your company listed in the Annual Meeting program guide (Platinum level gets full page, Gold-half page, Silver-quarter and Bronze is a listing)

Forest Viability Applications Available

Applications to the Forest Viability and Enhancement Program are currently available and are due on Friday, December 10, 2010.

Forest landowners may apply to the Forest Viability and Enhancement Program under any one or a combination of the three business categories below:

Traditional Forest Products:  Development of a Forest Viability Enhancement Plan to achieve greater economic return though the marketing, processing, and sale of traditional forest products such as saw logs, cordwood, and pulp.

Non-Traditional Forest Products:  Development of a Forest Viability Enhancement Plan to grow, produce, or make non-traditional forest products including: medicinal and nutraceutical plants (ginseng, witch-hazel, and slippery elm bark) food products (maple syrup, mushrooms, and nuts) decorative and handicraft products (wreaths, greens, landscaping plants, basket splints, birch bark or other wood/vine products) or rustic furniture

 Recreation and Wildlife:  Development of a Forest Viability Enhancement Plan to achieve economic return based on recreational and wildlife activities including: cross-country ski/hiking trails, wildlife viewing, and environmental education.  

Groups of landowners may jointly apply for a Forest Viability and Enhancement Plan in order to achieve higher scores for more acres, but in turn they must all agree to sign a letter of intent with DCR to maintain their forest on their respective properties for a 7-year period. Further, they must all agree to sign a 20-year covenant on their properties if they accept funding for Plan implementation. The forest landowner(s) must also agree to sign a contract with DCR to implement the approved Forest Viability and Enhancement Plan

Applications are available on the Farm Bureau website or by mail.  Requests for mailed applications should be sent to Kent Lage 246 Lakeside Avenue, Marlboro, MA 01752.

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Information

Last week, AFBF hosted a briefing from the Department of Agriculture (USDA) Officials on the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB).  This dangerous new invasive pest is spreading rapidly across the United States. Attached are the presentations and informational materials on the BMSB.

IMPACT: 

The BMSB has caused extensive damage to orchard and farm crops in the Mid-Atlantic region in 2010.  It is a threat to almost all food and fiber crop production in the United States.  The BMSB feeds on many kinds of plants, including many fruit and shade trees and other woody ornamentals as well as legumes and various vegetables. In Asia, it has been reported as a significant pest of fruit trees, vegetable crops and corn and soybeans.  Entomologists suggest that the adults entered the United States as stowaways in packing crates from Asia in the mid 1990’s. 

MFBF Board Member Rhett Proctor Selected as a Eisenhower Fellow

 Jim Moseley, former Deputy Secretary for Agriculture announced today that Eisenhower Fellowships will send two USA Agriculture Fellows abroad in 2011. “This program gives these two farmers the opportunity to see firsthand some of the latest techniques in agriculture and to establish international connections for their communities.”

The new Fellows, who were selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants, are Robert Blair, CEO and Owner of Blair Farms in Kendrick, Idaho, and Rhett Proctor, Owner of Proctors Bel Air Farm in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Each will travel on an intensive 4-5 week individualized professional program to meet leaders in agriculture and related fields. Mr. Blair’s fellowship is sponsored by Monsanto Company, a global leader in agriculture. He will travel to South America to explore precision agriculture. Mr. Proctor is interested in travelling to New Zealand to gain firsthand experience of their advanced dairy farming techniques.

The goal of the Fellowship is to engage emerging leaders from around the world to enhance their professional capabilities, broaden their contacts, deepen their perspectives, and unite them in a diverse, global community - a network where dialogue, understanding, and collaboration lead to a more prosperous, just, and peaceful world.

Deputy Secretary Moseley stated that "In this world where tensions between countries mount easily, it's programs like Eisenhower Fellowships that bind us together as ‘people knowing people’ with the powerful and unbreakable bond of helping one another, no matter their backgrounds, to solve our collective daily problems. That is the essence of what President Eisenhower believed in after the horrific World War II experience which he commanded, and which proudly still exists today through this program."

Fellows will use their experiences abroad to enhance their leadership in U.S. agriculture. Christine Todd Whitman, former Governor of New Jersey and Chairman of the Executive Committee for Eisenhower Fellowships commended this new Fellows saying “We live in a globalized world. An Eisenhower Fellowship will allow these outstanding farmers to bring new insights from world experts back to their communities and to form a network of lasting relationships that will make them global leaders in agriculture.”

Chaired by General Colin Powell (USA, ret.), Eisenhower Fellowships is a private, non-profit, non-partisan organization seeking to foster international understanding and leadership through the exchange of information, ideas, and perspectives among emerging leaders throughout the world. Established in 1953 as a birthday tribute to President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the organization has sponsored more than 1800 Fellows from 108 countries.

President American Farm Bureau Federation Re: 2010 Mid-term Elections

“Tuesday’s mid-term elections brought a lot of change to Capitol Hill and Washington. The American Farm Bureau Federation looks forward to working with new and returning members of Congress on issues that are vital to the nation’s farmers and ranchers. 

“There will be many important legislative issues for agriculture in the 112th Congress. A new farm bill will be written by new agriculture committee members who may not be that familiar with farm policy. Farm Bureau will work with these committee members to help them understand the role of farm programs and develop a bill that provides an effective and responsive safety net for producers across the country.

“As businessmen and women, farmers and ranchers understand the need to foster economic growth and job creation. We will work closely with congressional members on tax issues, such as the estate tax and capital gains tax, as well as for common-sense solutions on environmental issues, like the Clean Water Act and greenhouse gas regulations. We will also work with Congress to change the outlook of trade opportunities by passing the stalled free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and Korea.

“As with any new Congress, the American Farm Bureau Federation is looking forward to working with new members to help them better understand agriculture—one of the nation’s most vital industries.

Farmer-to-Farmer Conference

Are you interested in improving your soil fertility?

Need advice on financial planning for your farm business?

Looking to grow your livestock operations?

Discuss these topics with fellow small-scale farmers and learn how their approaches led to successful farm business enterprises!

Mark your calendar for Thursday, December 9th, in Sturbridge, MA, and REGISTER NOW for the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project Farmer-to-Farmer Conference. Receive the early bird discount price of $40 (including lunch) by registering now!

What to expect at the conference:

Farm Business Expertise: Farmers will learn from seasoned experts and from each other about how to maximize farm business enterprise potential.

Diverse Range of Topics:  Speaker panels will cover topics in the areas of soil fertility, farm business and financial planning, strategies for ensuring the health of livestock, and building sustainable communities around food. 

Peer-to-Peer Learning: A facilitated World Café discussion will give farmers a chance to choose discussion topics of interest on site and share best practices.

Good Food and Drink: Enjoy a networking lunch and a farmer-to-farmer networking reception.

Go to www.farmer2farmer.org to register and for more information.

Feel free to contact Kimberley Fitch at 978-654-6745 or e-mail nesfp@tufts.edu with questions.

President’s Corner by Richard Bonanno

I want to start by saying to thank you to everyone involved with the new Farm Bureau building in Marlborough.  We had our first Board of Directors meeting there at the end of October followed by an open house.  I am pleased that this building is in such a great location.  It will serve MFBF as well as the many agricultural groups that have already asked to hold their meetings there.

The state Grange held their annual meeting in Milford recently and took time to honor the Century Farms of Massachusetts.  As you will recall, our Woman’s Committee, chaired by Joyce Ripley, worked with the Grange to develop the list and also hosted our Big E celebration in September.  It is certainly a great accomplishment to keep a family business productive and profitable for 100 years or more.  My farm has been in the family for 101 years and 4 generations but we have a few that are over 300 years old and have been in the family for more than 10 generations.  It is not easy to achieve this milestone in Massachusetts.  Family farms are faced with all the same challenges of any family business.  They include the production of a product that can be marketed profitably, strong management and business sense, changing with the times, and the always interesting and sometimes difficult realities of trying to keep family and business separate.

What is different about agriculture is the added values of farm land for potential other purposes.  Generational changes are especially difficult.  It is not easy to buy another family member out of the business, especially when that farm is in suburbia.  Paying $100,000 or more for an acre of land and then growing lettuce or corn on it does not make the most business sense.  As a result farms can get smaller at each generational change.  Developmental pressure is an added difficulty.  Land values can sometimes exceed one million dollars per acre and it is hard, if not impossible, to say no to that kind of offer.  But state programs including UMass Extension, the APR Program, and the Farm Viability programs at the MDAR have helped farmers stay in business and for that, we thank UMass Amherst, the MA Legislature, and the Department of Ag Resources for their education, foresight and management of these programs.  We certainly hope that many of our new farmers will see 100 years of prosperity.

In my last column, I mentioned a recent trip to EPA in Washington DC.  Despite continuing needs and a willingness on the part of agriculture to work together, EPA is moving away from many years of partnering with agriculture.  The Strategic Agricultural Initiative program that funded many educational efforts through our commodity groups and UMass Extension is being eliminated.  EPA is also looking for new ways to regulate agriculture.  This includes new regulations and oversight on pesticides, manure, dust, and especially water.  Issues in the Chesapeake Bay and an increase in EPA attention to this area of the USA are serving as a lightning rod to expand regulation of agriculture.  The dairy farmers of Lancaster County, PA and elsewhere are on the hot seat these days.  As we have seen many times, regulatory agencies continue to ignore the impact of the public on water quality largely because there are so many of them and so few of us.  AFBF, MFBF, and many other groups will continue to be involved and we hope, in the end, that we all survive. 

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

Dr. Rich Bonanno, President

    Massachusetts Farm Bureau

rich@mfbf.net

AFBF Annual Meeting Convention Info

Massachusetts Farm Bureau is proud to offer the following tour package for the 92nd  AFBF Annual Convention in Atlanta, GA 7-12, 2010

SATURDAY, JANUARY 8, 2011

From Oil to Trout

Description of stops:

Resaca Sun Products is located in the foothills of the Chattahoochee National Forest. Resaca Sun Products, LLC is a family owned and operated Expeller® press Oilseeds production facility processing Non-GMO Canola and Sunflower seeds. Resaca Sun produces Kosher, non-GMO, Expeller® pressed food grade Canola and Sunflower oils for commercial refineries and high quality Canola and Sunflower meals for dairy, beef, and chicken farmers.

Chambers Mill Trout Farm is a seven-acre lake located in the mountains of northwestern Georgia near the city of Rome. The lake is fed and flows at over 2,000 gallons per minute. The trout that are located in the lake were hatched and raised on site.

Hours: 8:30am – 3:30pm

Sunday, January 9th-AFBF Convention

Monday, January 10th-AFBF Convention-Mike Rowe, the creator and executive producer of Discovery Channel’s Emmy®-nominated series Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe, will deliver the keynote address to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 92nd annual meeting on January 10, 2011, in Atlanta, GA.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2011

Poultry & More

Description of stops:

Stork Poultry Processing provides the poultry industry worldwide with the latest technology in processing equipment aimed at increasing the customer’s profitability.  Stork offers complete systems as well as a wide range of equipment, from live bird

handling, eviscerating, cut up, deboning, (fixed weight) batching and packing, up to and including, intelligent management information and production control software.

Hours: 8:30am – 4:30pm

Wednesday, January 12th-DEPART

PRICING:

Single/Double hotel room-               $905 (5 nights)

Annual Meeting Registration:            $100 (per person)

Tours-                                           $140  per person
                                                   (includes both  tours)

                                                   *Tour refund deadline DEC 1

Total cost per person is:                $1145

Total cost per couple is:                 $1385

*Flights and Transportation to and from hotel are to be arranged by individual members-

*A non refundable deposit of $475 will be required by November 1st, 2010 and the final payment is due by December 1st, 2010

Contact John Conners in our Marlborough office to register today! John@mfbf.net or 508.481.4766

Member to Member Marketplace

Roberts Brothers Lumber, 1450 Spruce Corner Road, Ashfield MA 01330, 10% savings on current Lumber Price Sheet, excluding delivery, planning and any other services.

Dowse Orchards, 98 North Main Street, Sherborn, MA  01770, 10% savings on farm produce.  508-653-2639, www.dowseorchards.com.

Twin City Eye Care, 867 Merriam Ave., Leominster, MA  01453, 978-537-6045, www.twincityeyecare.com. 20% discount on lenses and frames.

Budget Truck Rentals – Moving household contents or moving product to that Farmers’ Market, MFBF members get a 15% discount on Budget Truck Rentals by using MFBF account number 56000133689.  Visit www.budgettruck.com/mafbf or call 1-800-566-8422.  (Insert Ad).

Prescription Rx – This benefit helps reduce prescription drug costs.  MFBF members save an average of 30% (some as high as 75%) on prescriptions.  The card is like a coupon that you use over and over again at over 75,000 national and regional pharmacies.  The cards will be sent with your Farm Bureau membership renewal invoice or call the office to request one now.  If your CVS pharmacist or clerk does not recognize the Rx card, have them enter COBRA CODE 25875 for the CVS pharmacy terminal system. 

Dodge – it is a great time to purchase a new Dodge vehicle.  Remember our $500 rebate after you make your “best deal!”

Grainger sales – 10% discount and free shipping on internet orders, www.grainger.com.  Order today, and have the products delivered to you tomorrow!  No traffic, no gas costs, save time.  Last year MFBF members spent close to $300,000 on Grainger products.  Nationally, AFBF members spent almost $14 million and saved more than $1,376,000. Top selling products:  HVACR, material handling, safety, motors and electrical components.

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