Betsy Huber, State Master

From the Master's Desk

 

January seems to be filled with the Farm Show. Even though it lasts just 8 days, preparations and clean-up seem to fill up three weeks! Thanks to all of you who volunteered in the Grange booth and the Farmer for a Day booth. Again our efforts were successful and we spoke to many interested people about Grange, even signing two up on the spot!

Numerous groups hold meetings during the Farm Show. Senator Specter held a Town Meeting where interesting discussions took place on immigration, the Farm Bill, estate taxes, and other current issues.

Senator Specter said there is a strong desire of the public to resolve the immigration problem. He said a foolproof guest worker identification program must be in place to identify illegal workers. Employers can’t be held liable for hiring illegal workers unless there is a system to tell them with certainty who is legal and who is not. However, employers who knowingly hire illegal workers should be sanctioned.

Amnesty or automatic citizenship has been removed from consideration, said Specter. He hopes that will allow a plan to move forward in 2008. Landscape, vegetable, and mushroom farmers were present at the meeting and expressed that without foreign workers they will not be able to produce their crops. The current guest worker program quota was filled in early January and they will not have enough workers for this season.

The 2007 Farm Bill has passed the U.S. House and Senate in two different versions and is heading to a conference committee. Specter said hopes are to send a bill to President Bush by March. He said the Senate bill does more for Pennsylvania agriculture than the last 5 to 10 Farm Bills. The funding for conservation programs and specialty crops will be very beneficial to PA farmers.

Women in Ag
PA WAgN (Women in Agriculture Network) held another informational meeting this year during the Farm Show. This group was formed in 2003 and has grown to more than 900 members in just four years! The Grange needs to take some lessons here! Linda Stewart Moist, a senior extension associate (and member of Shavers Creek Grange #353) is the adviser for the group. Their mission is to “support women in agriculture today and in the future by providing a positive learning environment, networking and empowerment.” Several hands-on workshops are held during the year, from equipment operation and maintenance to preparing chickens for market to artisan cheese production. For more information check the WAgN website at http://wagn.cas.psu.edu

Public Officials Day
Another annual event at the Farm Show is Public Officials Day, a luncheon sponsored by the Dept. of Agriculture for public officials from township, borough, county, and state government. Over 800 attended this event, where we heard from the Secretaries of Agriculture, Insurance, Banking, and the Attorney General, who take the opportunity to update public officials on important topics such as the Farm Bill, renewable energy, farmland preservation, economic development opportunities, etc.

Other Meetings
The House Agriculture Committee held a meeting to discuss their priorities for the coming year. Topics introduced were Clean & Green amendments, Dog Law revisions, alternative energy, support for organic farming, a review of REAP, and the Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy.

Representatives also were concerned about the difficulty in purchasing fresh vegetables in the city and the over-regulation of agriculture. Hearings may be scheduled on some of these issues; watch for information because they may be held in a location near you. We always need Grangers to express our policy on issues under consideration by the legislature.

Later in the month I attended the banquet of the PA Association of County Fairs and enjoyed seeing many Grangers there.

By the time you read this our state planning meeting will be completed and plans will be underway for the 5th Annual Family Festival, Junior and Youth Camps, and the 2009 contests and programs for all our departments. We have exciting things planned for the Festival so please remember to put it on your calendar, July 17-20.

Also remember the Regional Meetings this spring. Our plan is to have our new National Master Ed Luttrell attend all or most of the meetings. Plan to come out and hear his goals for the National Grange and how he expects PA Grangers to help achieve them. Many of you have heard Ed speak before so you know the meetings will be interesting and exciting! Those of you who haven’t met Ed, here is your chance. The schedule of Regional Meetings appears HERE.

The Future of Agriculture
North Carolina State Master and National Overseer Jimmy Gentry, who attended our 2006 State Session, recently wrote an article in his NC Grange News that I thought expressed very well the problem facing agriculture in NC, PA, and across our nation. I am reprinting it here for your consideration:

"As I have the opportunity to interact with Grange Presidents from other states, a common problem that is expressed among most of them is the loss of farmland to development. While this is a major problem in North Carolina [PA] the loss of farms and farmland extends across our nation. It is a problem driven by economics. In areas that are ripe for development, farmers can be offered amounts for the purchase of their land that far exceeds the income that could be generated by keeping the farm in production. No one can blame these farmers for selling."

"Business and government leaders see growth and development as a good thing because of the additional revenue that is generated for the community. A new business or industry established on 50 acres of land can often generate more income than a farm on the same 50 acres, not to mention the employment opportunities that are also created. The argument can be made that the influx of new residents, businesses, and jobs is good for the citizens of a given location, and most would agree. However, when we consider the impact of development on the years ahead, concern begins to creep into the picture."

"Farming feeds us! Every acre of farmland that is lost to development reduces our ability to feed ourselves. Because food is currently so abundant, our short-sighted nature helps us to be less concerned about the future. If we continue to lose farmland in the years ahead, food availability and cost will become an increased concern."

"We need to remember that agriculture is currently a major economic force in our country, and is the number one industry in [Pennsylvania]. If we continue to lose farms, this will change. Furthermore, we will be more dependent on other countries to feed us, just as we now depend on other countries for petroleum. It is the responsibility of the current generation to find the proper balance between development and agricultural production, while ensuring that those who want to farm have the opportunity to remain in business. If we fail to do this, the future generation will ask, 'Why did we let this happen?'"