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Page 10 Grassroots November 2011 News briefs Congress considers dairy pricing reform By Cathy Mural cmural@nyfb.org In October, Rep. Collin Peterson (D- Minn.) and Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) introduced the Dairy Security Act of 2011 (DSA) in the House. The longawaited bill reflects most of the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) dairy pricing reform proposal called Foundations for the Future (FFTF) with several notable changes. A key change put forward by the DSA is voluntary producer participation in the supply management program component, called the Dairy Margin Protection Program (DMSP), which is activated during periods of low margins. Participation in the DMSP would be required for producers who want to participate in the dairy margin insurance program, called the Dairy Producer Margin Protection Program, which would replace the existing federal safety nets of the Milk Income Loss Contract program and the Dairy Product Price Support Program. Also of note, the DSA dedicates all DMSP revenue, which is generated when the program is activated, to dairy exports, donations and similar activities to equalize supply/demand inequities under the guidance of a farmerdriven program board. The Peterson draft that preceded the DSA called for redirection of 50 percent of DMSP revenues to the U.S. Treasury to help balance the federal budget, which generated a loud public outcry from the dairy community. These and other program changes between the FFTF and the DSA can be found at NMPF’s website www. futurefordairy.com, as well as Rep. Peterson’s website at democrats.agriculture.house.gov. According to Peterson, Congressional Budget Office (CBO) budget scoring shows the DSA provides federal budget savings of $131 million over a ten year period, which is needed to satisfy House finance rules and advancement of the bill. The American Farm Bureau Federation’s board has voted to support the DSA as Farm Bill discussions continue in the shadow of deficit talks and harsh budget constraints. NMPF, IDFA and other stakeholders are also weighing in on this bill as it is being considered for inclusion in the Farm Bill. While no timeline is evident, other members of Congress, such as Sen. Agriculture Chair Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), are rumored to be including provisions of the DSA in their Farm Bill proposals. NYFB is monitoring all dairy policy activity and working with our Congressional delegation for pricing reform that enhances New York’s dairy industry and adequately supports our family farms. NYFB will keep members apprised of developments as they occur. NY groups sign joint Farm Bill letter New York Farm Bureau recently sent a letter as part of a very diverse group of farming and food organizations to all New York senators and representatives, outlining shared concerns for the next Farm Bill. This marked the first time in NYFB’s history that it has joined with such a broad group, representing both rural and urban food interests, to advocate on the Farm Bill. “The needs of our farmers and those people who are looking for assistance in accessing healthy foods are intricately linked. This letter gave us all a great opportunity to show lawmakers how all the pieces work together for a strong food system,” explained Julie Suarez, NYFB director of public policy. “We have never before teamed with such a broad group of organizations to Heard it through the grape vine New York State Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb (129th District) recently toured small businesses in his district to listen to the concerns of constituents. One stop was Frontenac Point Vineyard and Estate Winery in the town of Covert, with owners - and NYFB members - Jim, Carol and Larry Doolittle. Pictured above from left are Bruce MacQueen, Michael Turback, Carol Doolittle, Assemblyman Kolb, Jim Doolittle, Kathy Mac- Queen. In front: Larry Doolittle, Zena and Steve Ahouse. talk about the Farm Bill, but this really makes sense and we’re proud that we could be part of this initiative.” Several of the organizations that signed the letter met at the NYFB offices in Albany earlier this year to talk about the Farm Bill and identify shared priorities. This conversation resulted in writing a joint letter that explored priorities for healthy communities, farms and environment. The recommendations range from improving the nutrition of individuals using SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and strengthening local food infrastructure, to crop insurance reform and protecting “working lands” conservation programs. “This unique group of undersigned organizations has worked together to share and develop ideas on overarching needs of the next Farm Bill to ensure national and state food security, increased access to and availability of healthy foods for all residents, and the long-term sustainability of our farms and regional food systems,” the letter states. This joint letter was signed by: Albany Presbytery, American Farmland Trust, Brooklyn Food Coalition, FO- CUS Churches of Albany Inc., Food Systems Network NYC, Foodlink, Inc., Greenmarket, Hawthorne Valley Association, Hunger Action Network of New York State, Just Food, New York Farm Bureau, New York Sustainable Agriculture Working Group, Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York, 10 separate chapters of Slow Food across New York State, and West Side Campaign Against Hunger. Sprayers exempt from hauling permits Interpretations of laws that regulate transportation within the agricultural industry have been challenged on numerous occasions. This recently occurred in central New York, with a ticket being issued on an agricultural sprayer that measured less than 12 feet. The ticket stated that the implement should have been permitted. This was inaccurate. When implements are used solely for farm purposes they are not required to have permits at that width. The NYS Department of Transportation has verified that agricultural sprayers are exempt from having to apply for and receive special hauling permits, so long as they are used entirely for farm operations. The court in which the ticket was disputed eventually dropped the charges and upheld the exemption. Liquor Authority holds public forum The State Liquor Authority (SLA) recently held an unprecedented public forum in New York City, with satellite connections to the Albany and Buffalo office, to discuss various features of the alcoholic beverage control law. This meeting was convened by Chairman Dennis Rosen and sought to gather the community’s perspective on many issues left unaddressed by the former State Law Revision Commission recommendations for modernizing the statute. The chairman noted that while the Law Revision Commission made some good suggestions, the finalized report did not actually contain specific, concrete language that would serve to recodify the archaic law. What is needed now is an actual rewrite of the statute, with this meeting serving as the first overall attempt to gather opinions from the various levels of the three-tier system. Vigorous debate was held over arcane issues, such as whether or not a retail establishment could locate on the second floor of a building. This illustrates that the legacy of prohibition lives on in somewhat obscure, questionable regulations in contrast to the modern view of necessary controls. Wineries were well represented in the New York City office, with both the Wine and Grape Foundation and several New York Farm Bureau member wineries in the room. NYFB brewer members, along with NYFB staff, were present at the Albany location. While discussion of the wine in grocery stores issue was taken off the table early, since it is a legislative issue, various permitting and streamlining issues were considered. Also notable was the discussion about whether or not the SLA should consider implementing a farm brewery license category to create more opportunities for New York farmers to bring back hops production. The farm distillery license was noted to be a success, but feedback indicated that allowing more opportunities to sell the products would be helpful to farmers and distillers alike. The SLA should be commended for convening this forum, and NYFB hopes to participate in others that are more tailored to the farm winery, distillery and brewery license categories. Coop Extension Forage Exchange A new online forage exchange created by Cornell Cooperative Extension is now available to ensure that flooded New York farms will not run out of feed for their livestock. Hurricane Irene devastated many New York Farms, damaged others, and left still other farms relatively untouched. Many flood-damaged farms are in desperate need of feed and forage. The Forage Exchange provides an online venue for farmers who have available feed and forage to post that information, and for farmers in need to locate feed and forage. All transactions (including making arrangements for transportation) will take place between the farmers themselves. The Forage Exchange is posted online at http://ccetest-lamp.cit.cornell. edu/forage/ Additional resources for farms damaged by the flooding are available at www.cce.cornell.edu Cooperative Extension Educators and Farm Bureau staff across the state will be available to assist farmers in using the exchange. For more information, call your county extension office or log on to www.cce.cornell.edu Cooperative Extension created the Exchange in cooperation with New York Farm Bureau and the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.
November 2011 Grassroots Page 11 Collaboration, commitment help farmers cope with nature’s punch By Carol S. Roberts Farm Family Insurance There’s a saying that crisis doesn’t create character; it reveals it. The character of New York’s farmers, business owners and rural community was recently tested and was proven to be first rate, sound and solid. We all have stories of Irene’s wrath as well as tales of heroic efforts by those who pitched in to help friends and strangers devastated by Tropical Storm Irene. Two months later, we continue to endure and prevail despite the storm’s lingering impact. This determination, fellowship, collaboration and commitment to the success of one another are a true testament to the human spirit in general and the farming community in particular. Irene initially made landfall as a category 1 hurricane in North Carolina, made its second landfall as a category 1 hurricane in New Jersey and its third landfall as a tropical storm in New York. While the losses weren’t as great as forecasters predicted, they were nonetheless very real and devastating to the thousands of people who endured substantial losses. When the National Weather Center forecast Irene, Farm Family Casualty Insurance Company sprang into action. The company had been tracking the storm’s progress, and its catastrophe team convened three days before Hurricane Irene was forecast to make landfall and met every morning before and after the storm to report progress and determine further steps needed in wake of Irene. For Farm Family policyholders, the steps taken before Irene hit made it easier for them to deal with – and report their claims. All calls identified as Hurricane Irene claims had a special priority status. Other non-hurricane claims calls You can make a difference by making a donation to the Irene Relief Fund. were directed to other departments, including our other home office in Springfield, Mo. An independent adjuster company provided damage appraisal services throughout the areas affected by the storm. Farm Family’s adjusters managed the independent adjusters, ensuring coverage resolution and timely adjudication of claims. Before Irene hit, Farm Family published information for consumers on its website, mobile app and Facebook page, including hurricane preparedness tips; hurricane news and status reports; links to FEMA, NFIP and other national emergency sites; how to report a claim; how to check the status of a claim; and post-hurricane loss control material. Our agents are our first line of communication to our policyholders. Therefore, we took great care in keeping them updated and informed. Many agents contacted their clients before the storm, and some were out at their clients’ farms, nailing up boards and shutters. There was a strong possibility that our own agents would be affected by the storm (and were), so Farm Family set up a hotline they could use to report on their own status and needs. On the first day after Hurricane Irene, we had more than 100 claim calls an hour coming in, with a rate of response of eight seconds. That means that no client was waiting on the phone fore more than eight seconds, and all of them spoke to a human being, not a machine. A number of claims were settled on the first phone call (more than 25 percent). All told, Farm Family had close to 3,000 claims reported. Hurricane Irene required employees to show great sensitivity and great service. Fortunately, this is our core strength and we’re dedicated to helping our clients through traumatic events. “We witnessed an exceptional display of teamwork throughout the home offices in Glenmont, N.Y., and Springfield,” said Joseph O’Connor, Claim Director. “Team members worked late every night and through weekends to take care of our policyholders. Adjusters were on site quickly to work with policyholders. Agents visited their clients and lent support – physically and morally.” Many employees volunteered in flooded communities. Donations poured in for our own employees affected by the hurricane, and our employee fundraising efforts are ongoing. Farm Family has also joined forces with the Regional Farm and Food Project. For every Farm Family Facebook “LIKE” we receive from now until Dec. 31 at www.facebook.com/farmfamily, we will donate $1 toward the Regional Farm and Food Project Disaster Relief Fund. One-hundred percent of the proceeds will go to New York farmers in affected areas. You can show your farming neighbors how important they are to our communities and economy by making a donation. Direct donations can also be sent to the fund. Make checks payable to Regional Farm and Food Project/Irene Relief Fund, P.O. Box 621, Saratoga Springs, N.Y. 12866. Farmers who need help from this program can find an application form with submission details online at www. farmfamily.com. AFBF names Julie Anna Potts as Executive Vice President WASHINGTON, D.C., October 5, 2011—The American Farm Bureau Federation board of directors today elected Julie Anna Potts executive vice president of AFBF. In her new role, Potts will lead the AFBF staff in its implementation of all programs and activities for the organization, as well as for the coordination between AFBF and its affiliated companies. She will also serve as treasurer of AFBF and its affiliates. Since March of this year, Potts served as AFBF senior executive director for operations and development, overseeing strategic development and the operations of AFBF’s Organization, Accounting and Administrative Services departments, as well as coordination of the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture and American Farm Bureau, Inc. Potts succeeds Richard W. Newpher who retired after 19 years of service with AFBF, the last seven as executive vice president. Newpher previously worked 19 years with the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau in various capacities. Potts first joined AFBF in 2004, serving as general counsel until 2009. In late 2009 she was named chief counsel of the Senate Agriculture Committee, serving under then-Chairman Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas. She rejoined AFBF earlier this year. Before joining AFBF, Potts practiced law as an associate in the Washington office of Mayer, Brown, Rowe and Maw, where she represented AFBF in environmental regulatory cases. Prior to that, she was an associate with Sonnenschein, Nath and Rosenthal and served as a law clerk for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Potts grew up in Alabama, where her family owns farmland. She earned her law degree from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Grassroots T H E V O I C E O F N E W Y O R K A G R I C U L T U R E Sign a 3-Month Contract for 2012 (ANY SIZE AD) RECEIVE 15% OFF November the December and December 2011 2011 issues!! Issue SPECIAL DISCOUNT OFFER Sign a 6-Month Contract for 2012 (ANY SIZE AD) RECEIVE 20% OFF November the December and December 2011 2011 issues!! Issue Sign a 12-Month Contract for 2012 (ANY SIZE AD) RECEIVE 30% OFF November the December and December 2011 2011 issues!! 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