Grassroots
www.nyfb.org the voice of new york agriculture® June 2016
Dairy Outlook: Little Improvement in 2016
By Steve Ammerman
[email protected]
Milk prices have been in a
downward spiral for more than a
year-and-a-half, and according to
Farm Credit East’s outlook, there
doesn’t appear to be much good
news for the rest of 2016.
The financial service agency
held its annual Northeast Dairy
Farm Summary webinar last
month recapping 2015 with a look
ahead towards the future.
Profitability fell 99 percent last
year or more than $1,100 per cow
resulting in a break-even year. In
2016, that number is expected to
drop even further.
“If net cost of production
remains the same, we will have a
significant shortfall in 2016 which
is very concerning,” said Chris
Laughton, director of Farm Credit
East’s Knowledge Exchange.
His team surveyed nearly 500
dairy farms in the Northeast in
putting the report together. The
report shows the wide variation
in financial results among dairy
farms as the top 25 percent of farms
in the summary averaged earnings
of $291 per cow compared to a loss
of $245 per cow for the bottom
quartile.
Barb Hanselman and her family
farm in Delaware County. She says
the significant profits made in 2014
helped them weather last year’s
dramatic drop in prices of around
$7/hundredweight. This year may
be more of a struggle.
“Now we are into yet another
year of lower income, with milk
revenues that are below the cost
of producing milk for most, and
so now the fiscal stress is high,
and the challenges of figuring out
how to pay bills are constant,” said
Hanselman.
What has helped alleviate
some of the stress is the farm’s
diversification. Besides milking 60
cows, they sell row crops, hay, sweet
corn and small vegetables. She also
sells baked goods at local markets
and stores.
It is this diversification and the
use of primarily family labor that
have helped small farms in this
dairy crisis, according to Farm
Credit East. Larger farms that
Continued on page 23
Cuomo Won’t
Defend
Farms
in Labor
Lawsuit
Farm labor activists are turning
to the courts to try and win
collective bargaining rights for
farmworkers, a move Gov. Andrew
Cuomo supports.
Last month, the New York Civil
Liberties Union filed suit in Albany
County Supreme Court on behalf of
farmworkers looking to unionize.
The lawsuit is challenging the
constitutionality of the law that
currently exempts farmworkers.
New York Farm Bureau issued
a statement shortly after the
announcement that read as follows:
“New York Farm Bureau is unable
to comment on specifics of the
NYCLU lawsuit until we have had a
chance to review the case. However,
public allegations being made in
the organization’s announcement
greatly misrepresent dairy farms,
and working conditions of all
farm employees, in New York. In
addition, the allegations contradict
and ignore the valued relationships
that farmers across the state have
with their employees. The farm industry has long
been pushing for comprehensive
immigration reform that will
have many positive benefits for
the employees and the industry
as a whole. However, the right to
organize is a labor union tactic that
may work in a factory setting, but
Continued on page 23
The triplets, Snowball, Snowflake and Snow White with their mother. They were born the end of April at Bilow Farms,
LLC in Franklin County.
Triplet Heifers Milk Attention on Social Media
By Jaclyn Zaleski
[email protected]
Bilow Farms, LLC, located in
Franklin County, got a little more
than they expected when posting
a picture on the farm’s Facebook
page the end of April.
The picture was of the farm’s
recently born triplet heifer calves.
Jessica Bilow Kelley is the farm’s
social media manager and she
posted the picture.
“Everything
we
post
is
educational,” said Kelley, but no
one at the farm was expecting quite
the reaction they got from this
post. It had more than 7,500 likes on
Facebook, almost 4,500 shares, and
almost 900 comments.
Kelley and the farm’s calf
manager, Kia Lamica, have been
the ones fielding the press calls.
“Anytime we get a call from
the press, we use it to encourage
people to attend Franklin County’s
Sundae on the Farm, which we are
hosting this year,” Kelley said.
They anticipate that a lot of
people will attend the event, on
June 12, to meet the triplets.
This is the first time that Bilow
Farms is hosting Sundae on the
Farm, however it is not the first
time they have had healthy triplet
heifer calves born.
In the fall of 2014, they had their
first set of healthy triplet heifers.
Currently, all three of those heifers
Farms Save Millions
with Ag Assesment Cap
Page 3
are confirmed pregnant, one of
which is pregnant with twins.
Triplet heifers are extremely rare,
occurring only once in about eight
million births.
Kelley mentioned that she
recently
started
the
farm’s
Facebook page, and prior to the post
about the triplets it had around 500
followers. They are now up to over
2,000 followers and counting.
The
farm
continues
to
post updates on the triplets,
affectionately named Snowball,
Snowflake, and Snow White. Mom
and babies are all doing well, and
their mother is back on her regular
lactation schedule, and very
healthy.
Butter Is Back
Page 12
Page 2 Grassroots New York Farm Bureau Has Strong Presence at FFA Convention
Holly and Ryan Walters of Studio Black Photography
NYFB President Dean Norton (top right) and Alex Wright (above), Chair of the
NYFB Young Farmers & Ranchers State Committee, addressed the delegation
of FFA members to educate them on Farm Bureau, the Young Farmers &
Ranchers Program as well as the importance of becoming a Student Member
of NYFB. The NYFB Young Farmers & Ranchers Program had an exhibit at the
NYS FFA Convention where FFA members registered for their complimentary
student membership. Right: The newly elected FFA State Officer team, from
left, Camille Ledoux, Beaver River FFA; Seth Browe, Granville FFA; Katie
Killenbeck, South Jefferson FFA; Jacob Ax, Stockbridge Valley FFA; Taylor
McNamara, Madison FFA; Matt Currie, Tully FFA.
June 2016
Grassroots June 2016
Farms Save $23M
Through Agricultural
Land Assessment Cap
ALBANY — Farmers saved more
than $23 million over a two-year
period across the state as a result of
the Agricultural Land Assessment
Cap.
First signed into law in 2013,
the cap prevents agricultural
assessments from being increased
by more than 2 percent per year. The
previous cap was set at 10 percent.
In the seven years before it was
implemented, the base assessment
value for agricultural lands nearly
doubled. In the first year after its
implementation, farmers saved $11
million. By 2015, that annual savings
grew to $12 million. The Department
Report
Confirms
Safety
of GMO
Crops
National Academies of Sciences
An extensive study by
the National Academies
of Sciences, Engineering,
and Medicine has found
that new technologies in
genetic engineering and
conventional breeding are
blurring the once clear
distinctions between these
two
crop-improvement
approaches.
In
addition,
while
recognizing the inherent
difficulty of
detecting
subtle
or
long-term
effects on health or the
environment, the study
committee
found
no
substantiated
evidence
of a difference in risks to
human health between
current
commercially
available
genetically
engineered (GE) crops and
conventionally bred crops,
nor did it find conclusive
cause-and-effect evidence
of
environmental
problems from the GE
crops. However, evolved
resistance to current GE
characteristics in crops
is a major agricultural
problem.
The committee used
evidence accumulated over
the past two decades to
assess purported negative
effects
and
purported
benefits
of
current
commercial GE crops. Since
the 1980s, biologists have
used genetic engineering
to
produce
particular
characteristics in plants
such as longer shelf life
for fruit, higher vitamin
content, and resistance to
diseases. However, the only
genetically
engineered
Continued on page 24
of Taxation and Finance projects
even greater growth in 2016.
“New York Farm Bureau worked
with the governor and lawmakers
in advocating for the agricultural
assessment cap, and it has proven
to be an important cost saving
tool for farmers. The effort to
lower business costs and control
taxes is important to the future
sustainability of the state’s family
farms,” NYFB President Dean
Norton said.
For information on the program,
including
applications
and
instructions, visit the NYS Tax
Department’s website.
Page 3
Grassroots Page 4 June 2016
The President’s Message
NYFB Will Stand Up for Farmers
Grassroots
June 2016
Grassroots is published monthly by New York
Farm Bureau Member Services, Inc. (159
Wolf Road, P.O. Box 5330, Albany, NY 122050330) as a member service. Subscriptions
are available through New York Farm Bureau
membership. Non-member subscription rate
is $12. Periodicals postage permit at Albany,
N.Y. POSTMASTER: Send change of address
notices on Form 3579 to Grassroots, 159 Wolf
Road, P.O. Box 5330, Albany, N.Y. 12205-0330.
EDITORS
Jeff Williams
[email protected]
Steve Ammerman
[email protected]
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Jaclyn (Sears) Zaleski
[email protected]
ADVERTISING MANAGER
Times Citizen Communications
[email protected]
NEW YORK FARM BUREAU
MAILING ADDRESS
P.O. Box 5330
Albany, NY 12205
PHONE/WEB SITE
Phone: 1-800-342-4143
Web site: www.nyfb.org
facebook.com/NYFarmBureau
MANAGEMENT
Jeffery Kirby Executive Director
Kevin Cook Member Services
Elizabeth Dribusch Legal Affairs
Scott Keyes Insurance Relations
Fred Perrin Member Relations
Paul McDowell Financial & Info Systems
Sandra Prokop NYFB Foundation
Public Policy
Jeff Williams
NYFB BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President, Dean Norton
Elba, (716) 474-3901
Vice President, Eric Ooms
Old Chatham, (518) 965-4488
District 1, Richard Kimball
Dewittville, 508-965-6400
District 2, Patrick McCormick
Java Center, 716-984-0085
District 3, John Sorbello
Shortsville, (315) 730-2670
District 4, Ashur Terwilliger
Lowman, (607) 733-3957
District 5, Paul Fouts
Cortland, 607-423-6045
District 6, Jacob Schieferstine
Vernon, 315-404-8417
District 7, David Fisher
Madrid, (315) 261-8231
District 8, Dean Casey
Schaghticoke, (518) 796-4874
District 9, Darin Hickling
Edmeston, (607) 267-0703
District 10, Christopher Kelder
Accord, 845-399-3134
District 11, Robert Nolan
Patchogue, (631) 926-8916
Phyllis Couture, Chair,
Promotion and Education Committee
West Valley, (716) 474-8282
Alexandra Wright,
Chair, Young Farmers Committee
518-409-2740
REGIONAL OFFICES
Western NY Resource Center
877-383-7663 or 585-343-3489
Central NY Office
866-995-7300 or 315-252-1367
Eastern NY Office
866-995-7300 or 518-854-7368
Long Island Office
631-727-3777
On Page One: Three Brown Swiss cows ready
for the show ring.
June is a month of celebration for dairy farmers, but
it’s tough this year to get excited. Low milk prices have
us all concerned. No doubt some
tough decisions are being made
on farms across the state to try
and weather out this storm.
Sadly, it’s a decision in
Albany that also has me gravely
concerned too. Governor Cuomo
has decided to not stand up for
our family farms and won’t
defend New York State in a
lawsuit filed by labor activists
and the New York Civil Liberties
Union. I cringed to read the
malicious
allegations
made
about farms in the lawsuit and
Dean Norton
the deliberate attempt to paint
NYFB President
our great industry in a negative
light.
Governor Cuomo did
nothing to dispel these myths when he spoke out in
favor of the lawsuit.
I’ll never forget the first of his agricultural summits
back in 2012. I sat at the table with him and listened
as the Governor praised dairy farmers and highlighted
the yogurt industry. He saw the potential in what we
do every day on our farms and how agriculture is an
essential part of our rural economy. Time and time
again, he has highlighted the industry as a bright spot
in New York State. He has focused on job creation.
Why? Because our farms create good jobs. If our farms
were remotely like the ones portrayed by activists,
would he have been so supportive? The answer is a
resounding NO!
That is why I was so disheartened to hear his choice
of words now. I heard nothing to counter the argument
and be supportive of the hard work happening on
farms as farmers and our employees work side-byside. Is it an easy job? You’ll be hard pressed to find a
farmer who says yes. But that doesn’t mean we don’t
care about our employees and try and do what is best
for them and our farm. Farmers go to great lengths to
provide competitive wages, housing, transportation
and utilities. It is important to retain good employees,
but in the end, if a farm cannot put out a quality
product, compete in the marketplace and make a profit,
there is no farm and there will no jobs. The latest move
by the governor to create costlier regulations will make
it harder to be successful.
New York Farm Bureau and its Board of Directors
are committed to doing everything we legally can to
defend you. As I’m writing this, our general counsel
is reviewing our legal options. In the meantime, I urge
you to voice your outrage to the Governor as well. We
are still reeling from a hike in the minimum wage and
now we are facing this. Let him know that he should
stand up for farmers.
With all that being said, I still have great faith in the
future of agriculture.
Being that June is dairy month, I want to take this
time to honor our dairy farms in particular. I know it
isn’t easy right now. I know it’s hard for many of you to
pay the bills and then have to hear how our leaders are
making it even harder for you to make a decent living.
Just remember what we have going for us in New
York. First and foremost, we have each other. The
dairy community is truly a family. We may have our
disagreements at times, but we also have each other’s
backs when times are tough. We also have fertile land,
animals to care for, and the ability to make quality
milk and dairy products. And we have our family
traditions. No doubt, generations before us saw their
own struggles as well in this industry that we love.
There aren’t as many of us farming as there used to
be, in part, because of the challenges and prices that
come and go, but we still try and find ways to make it
work. And that includes relying on the lessons we have
learned from our parents and grandparents through
the years.
These same lessons we will be passing down to our
kids, God willing.
So, I encourage you to look for the positives and reach
out for help if the burdens start to wear you down. To
all the dairy farmers across the state, New York Farm
Bureau salutes you.
Next month, look forward to sharing with you the
time I spent with American Farm Bureau Federation
President Zippy Duvall. We spent three days at the end
of May touring member farms and showing him the
great things that make up New York agriculture.
Beyond the Fencerows
TPP Is a Good Deal for Agriculture
Farmers and ranchers know a good deal. We know
how to make every dollar, down to the penny, count.
That’s why Farm Bureau wasted
no time in looking at what
the Trans-Pacific Partnership
agreement would mean in
dollars and cents on farms and
ranches across America.
What’s
the bottom line for agriculture
with TPP? We’re looking at an
expected boost in business just
when farms and rural economies
need it most. Farm Bureau
estimates an annual increase
in U.S. net farm income of $4.4
billion, compared to not passing
the agreement.
Zippy Duvall
In spite of negative political
AFBF President
rhetoric, the fact is that every day
we wait to approve TPP we lose
ground. It’s like showing up at the auction barn with
a load of cattle after the last gavel has fallen. We fall
behind our global competitors. We give up billions in
business. And we lose out on deals that other countries
are ready to make without us.
Our farm and ranch businesses lose when our
nation leaves trade deals on the table that would level
the playing field. American-grown and -made means
quality and customers around the world know this.
But high tariffs and other trade barriers put in place by
countries like Japan will keep shutting out American
businesses and agricultural goods if we refuse to lead
the way in approving trade agreements that would
move us forward.
Our farmers and ranchers need
market expansion like never before. I hear this when I
visit with them.
Thanks to good weather and improved technology,
we expect an abundant grain harvest.
But this won’t yield good prices for farmers already
struggling to get by. It’s no secret that farm incomes
took a nosedive this year—what’s worse, incomes are
expected to drop further still. TPP would increase cash
receipts for a variety of farm products, including rice,
corn, cotton, beef, pork, poultry, dairy, fruits and nuts,
vegetables, soybeans and wheat. Overall U.S. exports
would increase by $5.3 billion per year with this
deal.
But those numbers don’t mean much if we hand
economic leadership over to other countries like China.
“Other countries should play by the rules that
America and our partners set, and not the other way
around,” President Obama wrote recently. “The world
has changed. The rules are changing with it. The United
States, not countries like China, should write them.”
What’s more, other countries won’t keep waiting on
us for enhanced trade rules. In fact, 15 Asian countries,
including China, met recently to start working out
their own trade deal. And we can bet their trade deal
won’t look out for American agriculture.
We live and
work in a global economy today—and that’s good news
for U.S. agriculture.
We’re in a growth business, but if we want to keep
that up into the future, we need good deals like TPP to
remove trade barriers and open up new markets Today,
our auction barn is global, and when the opening gavel
echoes, our lawmakers need to make sure our goods
are in the arena.
Grassroots June 2016
Page 5
Guest Opinions
NY FarmNet a Resource for New York Farmers
Our current situation in the
agricultural economy is resulting
in increased stress on farms
throughout the state.
The volume of calls at NY
FarmNet is increasing, and we
are also receiving calls from agriservices who would like training
in helping their employees manage
job related stress, resulting from
working with farm families in
uncertain economic times. NY
FarmNet was established as an 800
helpline 30 years ago to link farm
families who were experiencing
either personal or financial stress
with free, confidential consulting
and is one of many organizations
that positively impacts agriculture
in New York State.
Our primary method of helping
farms remain viable is through onfarm consulting with farm families
who are in the process of making
critical changes. All consultations
are free and confidential to farmers
within New York. Accessing NY
FarmNet is also free. We can be
reached by calling 1(800) 547-FARM
(3276).
When our program began 30
years ago, most calls were from
farmers experiencing significant
financial pressures. Over the years,
Ed Staehr
Executive Director,
NY FarmNet
needs in the farming community
have changed and our programs
have evolved to meet such needs.
A positive trend is that farmers
contact our office earlier than
in the past, which results in a
higher success rate of helping
farms remain viable. Examples
of reasons why farms call are:
farm business transfer questions,
getting started in farming, business
planning, farm business and
finances, family communication,
personal and financial stress, and
intergenerational conflict.
We have a network of 50
consultants located throughout
the state who are available to meet
with farmers. Our consultants are
either personal/family consultants
or financial consultants. Personal/
family consultants work with
farmers who are experiencing
personal stress, family stress and/
or
communication
problems.
Financial consultants help farmers
and their families develop a plan
for the future by reviewing and
evaluating farm business options.
Our consultants assist farmers in
preparing their own business plan.
Personal consulting services
include resolving intergenerational
conflict, family communication
issues, employee issues, farm
retirement,
transfer
or
exit
adjustment, and additional areas
focused on personal wellbeing.
Our consultants work on teams
comprised of one personal and
one financial consultant. All
consultants have a similar overall
objective of
helping farmers
identify the problem(s), outline
possible solutions, and develop a
plan that will be implemented.
Before a consultant is assigned to
work with a farm family, our office
gathers initial information and
then contacts a consultant, based
on needs identified in the phone
conversation. A consultant then
calls the farm family to arrange an
appointment at the farm. Financial
issues are a primary reason for
farm families to contact the office;
however, almost half of all calls
involve personal or family issues,
due to stress, communication
issues, etc.
Working individually with farm
families continues to produce
excellent program results. More
than 97 percent of farm families we
work with are pleased the services
they receive. Moreover, 85 percent
of farm families would recommend
us to a friend or neighbor. A
Northern NY farmer said, “Our
farm was experiencing many
challenges. NY FarmNet helped our
farm business identify options for
future growth and suggested ways
for us bring the next generation
into the farm business as a partner.
We have expanded our farm as a
result and appreciate the service
that NY FarmNet provides.”
Investment in ADADC Pays Off for Dairy Industry
June is National Dairy Month,
a time to celebrate all things milk,
cheese, yogurt and ice cream.
For the past several years, I’ve
represented New York Farm Bureau
as your representative on the local
checkoff board, American Dairy
Association and Dairy Council
(ADADC) and I want to provide you
with an update on that investment.
A nickel of the 15 cents goes to
Dairy Management Incorporated,
the national milk promotion
organization. One DMI strategy
identifies those companies that are
true leaders in the industry, that
have the desire and will to make
a tangible commitment to change
and that will inspire others to
follow.
These
partners
include
McDonalds, Dominos and Taco Bell.
Did you know that because of our
partnership with Taco Bell, more
than 90 percent of their menu items
include dairy? New introductions
for 2015 (fueled in part by two DMI
staff members housed in Taco Bell
headquarters) included The Biscuit
Taco (made from 40 percent dairy),
and the Steak Doubledilla, with 2
ounces of three cheese blend.
These items, and others, helped
Taco Bell deliver 6 percent growth
in dairy volume in 2015.
On average, for every $1 invested
by farmers through the dairy
Skip Hardie
Dairy Farmer,
NYFB Representative
on ADADC Board
checkoff, these partners contribute
more than $10. Partnerships with
companies like these have taken
the place of the old TV advertising
campaigns like “got milk?” and
others.
A second strategy is to start
companies that will help create
demand for dairy. In 1995, DMI
formed the U. S. Dairy Export
Council. At the time, U. S. exports
totaled $982 million. U.S. dairy
exports now exceed $6 billion,
averaging 21 percent growth per
year for the last decade.
The remaining 10 cents stays in
the marketing area to fund local
programs. Did you know that
milk is a requirement of federally
funded school meal programs?
Increasing the number of students
who eat breakfast or lunch at school
correlates directly to increased
milk sales (as well as yogurt, cheese
and other dairy items on the menu).
That’s why finding new ways to get
kids to participate in school meals
– like serving Breakfast After the
Bell, or offering Yogurt Smoothies
— or Parfaits — is a key goal for
ADADC. In 2015, more than 38,000
additional students in New York
began eating breakfast at school.
Have you seen some of the recent
news stories talking positively
about whole milk? That’s the result
of work done by National Dairy
Council and ADADC to educate
health professional thought leaders
on emerging research. ADADC held
a forum to review and evaluate
the impact of saturated fat in the
diet. Prominent researchers from
The Ohio State University and
McMaster University presented,
alongside Nina Teicholz, “The Big
Fat Surprise: Why Butter, Meat &
Cheese Belong in a Healthy Diet.”
It’s no secret dairy farmers face
challenges from groups spreading
misinformation. To combat this,
ADADC created and leads the “New
York Issues Management Group”
consisting of NYFB, NEDPA and
NYAAC.
When the group learns of issues
affecting the future viability and
productivity of dairy farmers – be
it a story in the news, neighbor
concerns, accidents, or internet
rumors – this team shares
information and works together to
respond. The goal in every instance
is to act, swiftly and responsibly,
to mitigate any effect on the dairy
industry. This can include having
an influential
and appropriate
third party taking the lead (such as
a registered dietitian, physician or
veterinarian).
Earlier this year, the dairy
farmer leadership of MidAtlantic
Dairy Association, Pennsylvania
Dairy Promotion Program and
ADADC, voted unanimously to
create American Dairy Association
North East.
The
new
organization
is
responsible for promoting dairy and
its nutritional benefits to 50 million
consumers within a six state region
including New York, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland,
the District of Columbia and four
counties in northern Virginia.
This consolidation will solidify the
collective marketing strategy and
power of more than 13,500 dairy
farm families in an increasingly
competitive marketplace.
Learn more about member benefits: NYFB.org
Page 6 Grassroots June 2016
From The Field
Solar Seminars
Planned
T
w
o
s e m i n a r s
are
planned
to
address
interest
of
our members
in lease of
large
tracts
of
land for
solar projects. One will have
taken place by
the time you
Tim Bigham
receive
this
[email protected]
and the other
will be June 15
at the Pioneer
Middle School Cafetorium at 7
p.m. Also of note in the region as a
whole is that the Regional Advisory
Committee secured significant
grant monies from from ASCHA
and Farm Credit East to conduct
safety training in Western New
York These trainings will take
place throughout the year starting
in early August.
Allegany County
Allegany County Farm Bureau
met both regular (farmer) and
total member goals to position
its treasury to accomplish all it
hopes. Some farmers who have not
joined in the past are signing on to
support the county Farm Bureau
vision. County leaders are planning
sponsorship of 4-H contests and
county fair awards and are planning
participation in the county fair
through a traditional display and
through support of fair events. The
county Farm Bureau would like to
replicate a Farm-City type event to
make their citizenry more aware
of agriculture in the county and
would like to know if any members
out there are interested in helping
with this objective.
A member picnic at the business
of the county president is being
planned for late summer. The
county annual meeting is planned
for Oct. 11. Allegany County Farm
Bureau is preparing for a visit by
the NYFB state board at the end of
June.
Cattaraugus County
The Cattaraugus County Farm
Bureau board distributed to six
local libraries a set of commodity
brochures produced by NYFB’s
Foundation
for
Agricultural
Education. A county Farm Bureau
logo was placed on each display
case. Magnetic refrigerator clips
with the county Farm Bureau logo
were supplied to participants at
this year’s county Farmer Neighbor
Dinner.
The dinner was very successful
with nearly 300 participants.
A young farmer event is being
planned at a local brewery for
sometime this fall. The policy
development committee met and
developed a set of questions to
ask its membership based on
issues prevalent in the county
agricultural
community. This
questionnaire will be distributed
in the county newsletter and
through email. Activities for the Ag
Discovery Tent at the fair are being
organized by Katie Hill this year.
If you are interested in helping,
please contact Katie or another
Cattaraugus County Farm Bureau
Region 1
ABOVE AND BELOW: Erie County Farm Bureau members tour the Flying Bison brew facility as part of a member Meetn-Greet activity sponsored by thecounty Farm Bureau membership committee.
leader. Cattaraugus County Farm
Bureau is planning its annual
meeting for Oct. 19. Cattaraugus
County Farm Bureau is also
preparing for a visit by the NYFB
state board at the end of June.
Chautauqua County
Chautauqua young farmers had
another successful winery tour
this spring. A first-time Farmer
Neighbor dinner was held and
was very successful. Agriculture
Commissioner Ball was the featured
speaker for this event
A number of school gardens are
desired by schools throughout the
county and the county Farm Bureau
is trying to connect members
willing to help with the schools
needing help. If you are interested
in donating your time and talent,
please make a county Farm Bureau
leader aware of your willingness to
do so.
The county annual meeting is
intended to be held with the other
agricultural agencies in the county
and will be announced as soon as
details are determined.
Erie County
Erie County Farm Bureau
members toured the Flying Bison
brew facility as part of a member
Meet-n-Greet activity sponsored
by
the
county
membership
committee. The county Farm
Bureau participated in the WNY
Farm Show and Equifest earlier
this spring and hope that by doing
so more county residents will be
aware of its organization.
The county Farm Bureau
also tend to pick up some policy
development ideas and meet both
prospective board members and
members willing to help with
projects at these events.
Representatives of Stellar Dental
presented a rate plan to the board
that Erie County Farm Bureau
members can take advantage of by
showing their membership card. Watch for your county newsletter
for more information. The annual
From left, Dan Palladino, Onondaga County Farm Bureau President, Liz Fisher,
Beak and Skiff Executive Chef and Mark Tucker, Onondaga County Farm Bureau
V.P., and Zippy Duvall, AFBF President, pose for a picture during President
Duvall’s visit to New York. New York Farm Bureau will have more coverage of
President Duvall’s trip to New York in the July edition of Grassroots.
meeting is scheduled for October
18 in conjunction with Cooperative
Extension as in the past few years.
Steuben County
The Steuben County Farm
Bureau board is designating
commodity
representatives
through its county newsletter so
that members know who to contact
if they have agricultural concerns
of a specific commodity nature.
The county newsletter is being
produced by Ray Emery. An
agricultural career day combining
students from three local school
districts featured two county Farm
Bureau directors who shared
insights on careers in farming with
the 80 students. The county Farm
Bureau continues to seek events
like this to participate in the area. A
summer picnic is being planned
and plans for the county annual
meeting are under way The county office in Bath no
longer exists and members should
contact the county Farm Bureau
through the county president, Shane
Slayton or any of the officers or
directors. The county Farm Bureau
continues to be in need of a young
farmer interested in filling the role
of a county young farmer chair.
Activity Bustling
in Central New York
Promoting
Farm Bureau
policy
and
promotion and
education have
dominated
county Farm
Bureaus
in
Central
New
York. A special
Farm Bureau
relationship
has
been
developed with
Mark James
Time Warner
[email protected]
Cable
News
including
11
county Farm
Bureaus educating the public on
farms in the region. Over the course
of eight months, Farm Bureau
members will be highlighted on
Time Warner Cable News speaking
about their farm operations.
Cortland County
Cortland County Farm Bureau
is pleased to announce that Sara
Cough has agreed to be the new
Promotion and Education Chair.
Cough is serving in her first term
Region 5
Grassroots June 2016
Page 7
From The Field
on the county Farm Bureau board.
She is actively seeking Farm
Bureau members who are willing to
assist her in promoting agriculture
in the county. Please contact her if
you are interested in helping her
out. Recently, Farm Bureau member
Mike McMahon was interviewed by
WSYR, News Channel 9, Syracuse
about the shortage of farm labor on
farms in Central New York. Reporter
Beth Cefalu did a marvelous job
relaying the frustration by farmers
over the lack of local and seasonal
labor on local farms.
Cortland County Farm Bureau
held a press conference in March
highlighting their opposition to the
proposed minimum wage increase.
The county Farm Bureau was joined
by the Cortland County Chamber
of Commerce, local farmers and
business owners at CNY Farm Supply
in Cortland. A special thanks to the
Law family for hosting this event.
The county Farm Bureau
board of directors is supporting
a proposal for a Charter School in
Truxton focusing on agriculture.
A special thanks to Farm Bureau
member Jeaneatta Laudermilk for
spearheading this effort.
Onondaga County
County President Dan Palladino
welcomed American Farm Bureau
President Zippy Duval to the
county in late May hosted by Beak
& Skiff Orchards in LaFayette. Also
attending were NYFB President
Dean Norton, Vice President Eric
Ooms, State Farm Bureau Board
members, county Farm Bureau
Presidents and Vice Presidents,
State Young Farmer and State
Promotion & Education Committee
members.
A spectacular BBQ
was hosted by Beak & Skiff for all
attendees. Farm Bureau leaders had
the opportunity to ask questions of
our national leader.
President Palladino highlighted
the county’s participation in the
Time Warner Cable News effort to
promote farming in Central New
York. The first feature focused
on Farm Bureau member John
Barone and Barone Gardens
Greenhouse operation in Cicero.
Accompanying this series is a
commercial
promoting
Farm
Bureau membership as well as
recognition of each county Farm
Bureau contributing financially to
this effort. County Farm Bureau
Equine Committee Chair Kim
Allen is working on the August
Horse Show at the New York State
Fair Grounds.
Young Farmer Committee Chair
Marcus Richards organized a social
event for county young farmers at
Local 315 Brewery, a Farm Bureau
member. More than 20 young farmers
attended this very successful event.
A very special thanks to Farm
Bureau member Dan Matthews for
hosting this event.
Busy Spring in the
Mohawk Valley
Fulton County
Fulton County Farm Bureau
is busy making plans to keep its
members informed and educated
during the upcoming national,
state and local political campaigns.
Over the next few months Fulton
County Farm Bureau will be doing
Region 8
everything
in its power
to
keep
its
m e m b e r s
and
the
entire county
informed about
the important
agricultural
issues
that
it faces. The
Todd Heyn
county Farm
[email protected]
Bureau board
of
directors
already
has
a mailing in the final stages of
development that discusses the facts,
figures and issues surrounding
leasing of agricultural lands for the
installation of solar farms. If you
have any issues that you or your
farm are facing, do not hesitate
to reach out to either the county
President, Stanley Korona, at 518727-3715, or the Vice President, Lee
Hollenbeck, at 518-842-8934.
Herkimer County
Herkimer County Farm Bureau
is having a great spring and is
sponsoring the Herkimer County
Farm Safety Day. This activity
exposes hundreds of middle school
children to all aspects of safety
around their farms, homes and
everyday activities.
These children learn how to
stay safe while riding their bikes,
mowing the yard, playing in the
park, driving a tractor as well
as just dealing with everyday
tasks.
Herkimer County Farm
Bureau made a donation of safety
glasses which are given to each
participating student.
Montgomery County
Montgomery
County
Farm
Bureau has been active in reaching
out to area farms, farmers and
related businesses and individuals.
The county board of directors
understands that the strength of
Farm Bureau comes not only from
its number of members, but from the
diversity of its membership as well.
With the direction of the county’s
Vice President and Membership
Chairman, Gordon Schaufelberg,
and President Michael Jennings,
the board of directors spent many
days and weekends knocking
on doors and talking to people
about the importance of Farm
Bureau and how they can support
their neighbors and agriculture
in New York. The county Farm
Bureau is also actively supporting
other organizations that support
agriculture.
Montgomery
County
Farm
Bureau board of directors and
members are active participants
and supporters of the county
Farm
Bureau’s
first
annual
Montgomery County Farm Safety
Day. This event is being run by the
Montgomery County Soil and Water
Conservation District and is being
held at the Fonda Fairgrounds on
June 14. The event will expose and
teach area middle school students
about how to stay safe at home and
in general.
Otsego County
Otsego County Farm Bureau has
been very active in both the political
arena as well as the public education
field. Since the announcement that
the seat for the 19th Congressional
District will be vacant in November,
there have been quite a few people
June Calendar of Events
• Chenango County Dairy
Day, at Fairgrounds in Norwich,
June 18
• Essex County Summer
Picnic- Wednesday, July 13 at
6:30pm at Leerkes Farm 260 Delano
Rd, Ticonderoga, NY 12883.
• Franklin County Sundae on
the Farm, Sunday, June 12 from
12pm-3pm at Bilow Farms, LLC
1144 County Route 24, Malone
•
Genesee
County
Kinderfarmin’, Grassland Farms
in Pavilion, June 1
• Grade Ag Day at Breezy Hill
Dairy Farm, June 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Jefferson County Dairy
Festival and Parade – June 3 at
the Dulles New York State Office
Building in Watertown
• Meet and Greet Iowa Farm
Bureau, Roosterfish Brewing in
Watkins Glen, June 23
• Old MacDonalds Farm,
Chemung County Fairgrounds,
June 10 and 11
• Oneida County Farm Fest –
June 3 at DiNitto’s in Marcy.
• Otsego County Sundae on
the Farm June 5, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Cooperstown
Holstein
Corp.,
County Hwy 33W Cooperstown.
• Saratoga County Sundae
on the Farm, Sunday June 12
from 12pm-4pm at Turning Point
Dairy, LLC 220 Co. Rd. 67 Saratoga
Springs, NY 12866
• St Lawrence County Dairy
Princess Parade and FestivalSaturday June 4, 10 a.m. in Canton.
• Sullivan County Young
Farmer Country Line Dance
June 11 at Stone Wall Farms, 6:30
p.m.
• Wyoming County AgriPalooza at McCormick’s, June 5
interested in representing the
district in Washington, D.C. The
Otsego County Farm Bureau board
of directors, headed by Darin
Hickling succeeded in getting all
five
announced
congressional
candidates to come to its Meet
the Candidates night at Oneonta
High School. During this event,
participants,
candidates
and
constituents enjoyed some ice cream
sundaes and informal interactions.
The evening was capped off with a
public forum where the audience
supplied the questions and each
candidate had a chance to respond
with their opinions and ideas about
what would happen in the district if
they were elected.
The county Farm Bureau is also
planning for its third annual Sundae
on the Farm scheduled for Sunday,
June 5, at Cooperstown Holstein
Corporation, which is owned and
operated by Otsego County Farm
Bureau board member, Jennifer
Huntington.
The county Farm Bureau is
expanding on its success in 2015 by
lengthening the time of the event
and searching for and enlisting
the services of more vendors and
displays.
It is events such as this that do a
great job of educating the general
public about what really happens
every day in agriculture. It is
through this education process that
myths are dispelled and truth is
uncovered.
Schenectady County
Schenectady
County
Farm
Bureau has been very active over
the past few months and continues
to be in the months to come. It
hosted its annual Spring Fling
- Meet Your Legislators dinner
in April.
This dinner brought
together
Schenectady
County
Farm Bureau members as well as
legislators and their staff to talk
about issues that are concerning
to farmers and citizens alike.
Legislative offices represented
were
Congressman
Tonko,
Senator Amedore, Assemblyman
Santabarbara, Assemblyman Steck,
and Assemblyman Tedisco.
The county Farm Bureau is also
planning its annual summer picnic
at Vice President Anne Kulak’s
horse farm. Those in attendance
will enjoy a delicious meal and the
comraderie. Look for a postcard
invite in your mail box later in June.
Schoharie County
Schoharie County Farm Bureau
always has something special
going on. The county Farm Bureau
recently hosted a Farm Safety Day
on SUNY Cobleskill’s campus.
More than 125 people turned
out for lectures, discussions and
demonstrations on subjects such
as chainsaw and logging safety,
livestock handling, as well as PTO
entanglements.
The main presenters were from
New York Center for Agricultural
Medicine and Health (NYCAMH).
Next year the county board of
directors is planning on hosting
a Department of Transportation
truck and trailer training to bring
farmers in the county up to speed
with the current regulations
regarding the proper use of roads.
The Schoharie County Farm
Bureau board of directors is
reaching out to the community
and sponsoring a coloring contest
through the local newspaper, The
Times Journal. Children will get to
decide “What color is your tractor?”
Submissions will then be displayed
at the county Farm Bureau booth
during the Schoharie County
Sunshine Fair in August.
Finally, the county Farm Bureau
directors are also launching a
membership campaign targeted at
local businesses who do a portion
of their business with farmers.
Business such as sand and gravel
dealers, lumber companies, and fuel
and oil suppliers are the main focus.
These types of companies may not
have been asked to join in the past,
but their livelihood depends largely
on the vitality of the local farming
community.
E-lobby Center
www.NYFB.org
Page 8 Grassroots June 2016
Young Farmers and Ranchers
FFA Students Join NYFB as Student Members
Collegiate Chapter Chronicle
2016-17 Cobleskill Collegiate Farm Bureau President Kassi Hetherly of Ravena.
Cornell Chapter
By Carriel Schmitt
2016-17 Chapter President
Young Farmer and Rancher Chair Alex Wright signs up FFA students as
student members. FFA and 4-H high school juniors and seniors can sign up
for a free NYFB student membership.
This past month has a been a
busy one for Cornell Collegiate
Farm Bureau.
In
late
April,
the
club
participated in Ag Day at Cornell
University, where members set up
a table and display and handed
out apples and cabbages grown by
former club President Max Russell.
In addition, club members talked
with Cornell professors, staff and
students about Farm Bureau, its
goal and New York agriculture.
Also in late April, the club
got together to discuss U.S.
agricultural labor issues and
challenges. There was a brief
presentation by Tom Maloney,
senior extension associate in the
Cornell Dyson School of Applied
Economics and Management, on
labor in the agricultural industry.
Following the presentation there
was a group discussion facilitated
by Maloney about agricultural
labor regarding wages, policy, and
immigration. For the club’s last
event of this semester in April,
a few members spent the day
with other Young Farmers and
Ranchers touring Glendale Dairy
Farm.
The farm has a rotary parlor
and direct loads their milk to send
to Cayuga Milk Ingredients. The
speed of growth and management
of this farm left the group very
impressed. Now entering finals
week things have died down for the
Cornell Collegiate Farm Bureau,
but the group is very excited for
the plans we have this coming
semester.
Cobleskill Chapter
By Megan Golden
2015-16 Chapter Farm Bureau Representative
We are very pleased to introduce
to you the 2016-17 PAS/Collegiate
Farm Bureau officer team. These
individuals were nominated and
voted for by fellow members of the
club and are excited for the year of
service ahead.
President Kassi Hetherly is from
Ravena in Albany County and will
be a senior at the State University
of New York at Cobleskill. She is
an Animal Science major with a
minor in Equine Assisted Therapy.
Hetherly plans on continuing
school and pursue a Master’s
Degree in Animal Science or
Equine Assisted Therapy. At
Cobleskill, she has been active
member of the PAS/Collegiate
Farm Bureau Chapter since her
freshman year. She has also been
active in the Pre-Vet Club and the
Student Horseman’s Association.
Hetherly is a SUNY Cobleskill
Student Ambassador and assists
with Admission events. When not
at school, Hetherly can usually be
found at the barn working with
her horses and doing general
barn chores. Growing up, she was
very active in 4-H and now is an
Assistant 4-H Club Leader.
Vice President Kaleb Booth is
from Greenwich.
Booth is currently
studying
Beef
and
Livestock
science for his
Associate’s
degree
and
intends
to
continue on for
a
bachelor’s
Booth
degree in animal
Science. He grew
up on a small farm where they raise
beef cattle and run a composting
business. After SUNY Cobleskill,
Kaleb plans to continue those
operations and use his education
to help their business. Through
PAS, he has had the opportunity to
develop a career plan and travel to
Kansas City, MO, to complete at the
National PAS Conference. There,
Booth presented his plan to a
judge and came in fifth place in the
contest. Booth is looking forward
to the many more opportunities he
has at SUNY Cobleskill to expand
his agricultural education.
Secretary Rachel Lee is from
Vo o r h e e s v i l l e.
Going into the
2016-17
school
year, she will be
a senior in the
animal
science
bachelor
of
science program.
Returning
as
secretary, Lee is
Lee
very excited to
Continued on page 25
Grassroots June 2016
Page 9
Foundation and Education News
We All Need to Share Story of Agriculture
By Phyllis Couture
Chair, NY Farm Bureau Promotion
& Education Committee
Who will tell the story about
agriculture? Does your neighbor
know
why
you
use
no-till
techniques? Does she understand
that you don’t kill the cow to
get the milk? Who realizes how
your manure storage is designed,
regulated, and built to protect the
environment? And at what cost?
Do your neighbors know that they
should not leave the gate open when
they cut across your land to hunt or
hike, with permission we hope?
Blogs, videos, Facebook, YouTube,
news releases, conversations, pictures,
websites – all of these are ways to
communicate. Most of us are not as
talented as the Peterson Brothers, and
we don’t all have time to blog or keep
a website up to date. But it is essential
that every one of us shares the story
of agriculture in some way, every day,
with everyone we can.
Continued on page 25
A Look into
Agricultural Careers
Lindsay Wickham, New York Farm Bureau Area Field Supervisor, and Pat
and Karen Hooker enjoy the refreshments as well as the event. John Pulos of
Fingerlakes Distilling provided one of the tasting areas.
Foundation Feast South
Proves to be a Success
Beth Meyer of the American Dairy Association and Dairy Council.
By Judi Whittaker
NYFB State Promotion & Education Committee
The agricultural industry in
New York is vast.
There are many career choices
that can be found here, from the
farmer to all those involved in the
rest of the industry and food chain.
Our committee is working to show
just how varied agriculture can be
and encouraging our youth to take
a look, or maybe a second look, at
what agriculture can do for them.
Here is the second of three
interviews with people involved
in the agricultural industry.
Beth Meyer is an advocate for
agriculture, working for the
American Dairy Association and
Dairy Council. She answered
questions about her career and
role in agriculture.
Meyer is a great representation
of one of the many careers out
there. Farmers might not always
know Beth personally, but I am sure
they have seen her handiwork.
If you participate in any sort of
media relations or public media
training you will find her. Working
with dairy farmers fits her to
a T, always greeting you with a
smile and kind words. Using her
unending skills, Meyer is able to
reach out and get the farmers’
stories out there.
What is your role at ADADC
and how long have you been
there?
I just celebrated 21 years at
ADADC, and I’ve held several
jobs in the Communications
Department during that time.
Currently, I am Vice President of
Industry Communications. In that
role, I head up our Crisis and Issues
Response team, and work with the
rest of our staff to incorporate
dairy farmers into all aspects of
our programming.
Continued on page 24
Ag Trivia
June is Dairy Month. Do you know which statements are true and
which are false?
1. A cow spends about six hours eating and eight hours chewing
its cud every day.
2. Dairy cows can produce 125 pounds of saliva in a single day.
3. Cows have 28 teeth, all of them on the bottom with a dental
pad on top.
4. Cows drink about 35 gallons of water a day – about the same
amount as a bathtub full of water.
5. Before milking machines were invented in 1894, farmers
could only milk about 3 cows per hour.
6. It takes less than 5 minutes to milk a cow using a milking
machine.
7. The first regular shipment of milk by railroad was between
Orange County, N.Y., and New York City and began in 1841.
By Sandie Prokop
[email protected]
The first Foundation Feast of
the season was held at The Harbor
Hotel in Watkins Glen in April. The
lakeside location complimented by
the locally sourced food and wines
made for a wonderful evening.
An amazing group of agriculture
education supporters joined in the
festivities.
Nicole
Rawleigh,
Schuyler
County Farm Bureau President,
welcomed the group. Dean Norton,
Chairman of the Foundation and
NYFB President, was the skilled
Master of Ceremonies for the
evening. Following an invocation
by Michael L. Lausell, Schuyler
County Legislator and NYFB
member, and a heartwarming
toast by Pat Hooker, Deputy
Secretary of NYS Agriculture and
Markets, guests enjoyed a fabulous
meal that included many local
products. County Farm Bureaus
who sponsored full-tables included
Chemung, Seneca, Schuyler and
Yates.
Earl LaGrou who is the VP and
CEO of Lamb & Webster—the
event’s premier sponsor—added
to the after-dinner message with
his testimonial of the importance
of supporting the Foundation for
Continued on page 24
Food & Farm Experience
Focuses on School Counselors
By Sandie Prokop
[email protected]
Do you want to make
a difference for the
next generation? Have
you shared The Food &
Farm Experience (FFX)
information with your
local school counselors,
board of education, or
superintendent?
If not, do so now and help to be
part of the force that will introduce
counselors to more than 300
agriculture-related careers for their
students. The participants will meet
with industry experts,
employers, and postsecondary educators.
The two-day in-depth
experience is tailored
as an agricultural
education encounter
and is created for this
specific
audience.
Participants will be
selected
through
nominations
and applications. Food, lodging,
and workshop material costs are
covered by New York Farm Bureau’s
Save the Date
Continued on page 25
The 15th annual Foundation Golf Classic Sept. 13, 2016,
at the En-Joie Golf Club, Endicott.
For more information visit www.nyfbfoundation.org.
Answer:
Answers: 1, 2, 4, 6 and 7 are true. No. 3 is false; they have 32 teeth. No. 5 is false;
by hand, they could only milk about six cows.
Grassroots Page 10 June 2016
Compliance Corner
Alcohol and Drug Testing for CDLs
Lisa A. Ovitt, Paralegal
[email protected]
New York and federal regulations
prohibit the consumption of alcohol
or controlled substances during the
performance of “safety-sensitive
functions.”
Safety-sensitive function means
all time from when the driver
begins to work or is required to
be in readiness to work until the
time he/she is relieved from work,
including: time at a shipping plant,
terminal, facility; time inspecting
equipment or otherwise inspecting,
servicing, or conditioning any
commercial motor vehicle; time
spent at the driving controls of
a commercial motor vehicle in
operation; time, other than driving
time, in or upon any commercial
motor vehicle except time spent
resting in a sleeper berth; time
loading or unloading a vehicle,
supervising, or assisting in the
loading or unloading, attending a
vehicle being loaded or unloaded,
remaining in readiness to operate
the vehicle, or in a giving or
receiving receipts for shipments
loaded or unloaded; and all time
repairing, obtaining assistance, or
remaining in attendance upon a
disabled vehicle.
Drug and Alcohol Testing
In January of 1996, the USDOT
enacted regulations mandating that
all companies, regardless of size,
industry, or number of drivers,
are required to provide controlled
substance and alcohol testing
for all drivers holding CDLs. On
Dec. 19, 2000, the USDOT enacted
additional and revised regulations
for transportation workplace drug
and alcohol testing programs. The
new regulations became effective
on Aug. 1, 2001. To ensure that the
policy is being followed, USDOT
conducts audits of all CDL holders.
To Whom Does the Policy Apply?
Every driver holding a CDL is
required to comply with the testing
policy. The Non-CDL C license
carrying a farm endorsement is
exempt from the testing policy.
However, exempt drivers must be
in compliance with the regulations
surrounding the Non-CDL C farm
endorsed license at all times to
remain exempt.
Farm Bureau members are
sometimes surprised to learn that
even farm operations with only one
driver must still be tested and join
a consortium, even if that driver is
family.
Ensuring Compliance
with USDOT’s Drug
and Alcohol Testing Policy
A consortium is an entity
including a group or association
of employers that provides alcohol
or controlled substance testing
for drivers who are all subject to
random alcohol and controlled
substance testing. The consortiums
administer the regulations and
mandatory tests on each pool of
drivers.
A farm with only one CDL holder
must enter into a consortium. A
farm with two or more CDL holders
must also enter the consortium but
are also subject to creating a policy
for employees and must send a
representative (farm employee) to
a supervisor training seminar. (The
farm employee representative is
not required to be a CDL holder.)
Updated proof that the testing
was done must be kept at the
place of business for inspection
purposes. Documentation of drug
testing must be kept on hand for one
year and documentation of alcohol
testing for two years.
Testing by the FMCSA
Ten percent of a farm’s drivers
or 10 percent of the consortium’s
drivers are tested annually for
alcohol and 50 percent are tested
annually for drugs. The FMCSA
Administrator reserves the right
to modify the percentages of those
drivers who will be tested and
the percentages of those drivers
audited for alcohol and controlled
substance testing as is deemed
necessary.
Independently Conducted
Testing Procedures
The employer is responsible
for creating, administering, and
enforcing an employee drug and
alcohol-testing
program
that
complies with USDOT standards.
This includes pre-employment
drug testing, post-accident testing,
random
testing,
reasonable
suspicion testing, return-to-duty
testing, and follow-up testing. If
an employer uses a consortium,
the employer is responsible for
all actions of the consortium in
carrying out the USDOT standards.
Each employer must ensure
that random alcohol and drug
testing dates are unannounced
and spread reasonably throughout
the calendar year. Employers must
require employees to proceed
directly to the test site once selected
for testing. A driver must only be
tested for alcohol while the driver
is
performing
safety-sensitive
functions, just before the driver is to
perform safety-sensitive functions,
or just after the driver has ceased
performing such functions.
What are Some
of the Testing Regulations?
Drivers must undergo testing for
controlled substances prior to the
first time a driver performs safetysensitive functions for an employer.
An employer must obtain and
review the drug and alcohol testing
record of a new hire or employee
performing
a
safety-sensitive
function for the first time for the
past two years before the employee
first performs the safety-sensitive
function. If it is not feasible to
obtain the information before the
employee first performs the safetysensitive function, an employer
cannot let the employee perform
the safety-sensitive function for
more than 30 days unless the
employer has obtained, or made
and documented a good faith effort
to obtain, the required information.
The
employer
must
request
information from firms to whom
the employee applied for safetysensitive work and from previous
employers where there was a
positive test result or refusal to give
consent for the background check.
An employer must receive the
employee’s written consent to obtain
the background information. If the
employee refuses to provide written
consent, the employee cannot
perform safety-sensitive functions.
Reasonable Suspicion Testing
Employers must require drivers
to submit to alcohol or controlled
substance testing if they have
reasonable suspicion to believe the
driver has violated the alcohol or
controlled substance policy. The
employer’s
determination
that
reasonable
suspicion exists to
require the driver to undergo an
alcohol or controlled substance
test must be based on specific,
contemporaneous,
articulable
observations
concerning
the
appearance,
behavior,
speech,
or body odors of the driver. The
required observations for alcohol
or controlled substance reasonable
suspicion testing must be made by
a supervisor or company official
who is trained in accordance with
the specific regulations governing
alcohol and controlled substance
testing. The person who makes
the determination that reasonable
suspicion exists to conduct an
alcohol or controlled substance test
cannot conduct the test on the driver.
Return-to-Duty-Testing
An employee performing safetysensitive functions must see a
substance abuse professional who
will provide recommendations for
education and/or treatment for
the employee. The substance abuse
professional’s
recommendations
must be completed before the
employee returns to performance
of the safety-sensitive function
and before the return-to-duty test
described below is completed. There
are also procedures for the return
to duty of drivers suspended for
an alcohol or controlled substance
violation.
Post-Accident Testing
The employer must test for
alcohol and controlled substances
as soon as practicable following
an accident. Alcohol testing must
be completed within two hours
following the occurrence. If not,
the employer must prepare and
maintain on file a record stating the
reasons the test was not promptly
administered. If the test is still not
administered after eight hours, the
employer must cease attempts to
administer such test and prepare
the same record.
If a controlled substance test is
not administered within 32 hours
following the accident, the employer
must cease attempts to administer
such test and prepare and maintain
a record stating the reasons the test
was not promptly administered.
Records must be submitted to the
FMCSA upon request.
Violations and Penalties
The violations of the USDOT’s
alcohol testing policy are driving a
CMV with an alcohol concentration
of 0.04 or higher; driving under the
influence as proscribed by state
law; or refusing an alcohol test.
First-time offenders of the
USDOT’s alcohol testing policy are
subject to a one (1) year suspension of
their CDL. However, if the offender
was transporting a placarded
amount of hazardous materials at
the time of the violation, he/she is
subject to a three-year suspension.
Any subsequent offenders face a
lifetime disqualification.
First-time offenders of the
USDOT’s controlled substance
testing policy are subject to a
lifetime
disqualification.
Any
individual who has received a
lifetime disqualification is subject
to reinstatement following the
successful completion of
an
appropriate rehabilitation program
Continued on page 24
Grassroots June 2016
Page 11
News Briefs
New York Hosts 2016 Farm to Food Bank
National Holstein
Event Marks ‘Beef
Convention
Month’
Trading System
Announced for Farms
Producing Energy
The 2016 National Holstein
Convention headquarters will be at
the Saratoga
Hilton
in
Sarato g a
Springs June
26-July 1. In
addition
to
its
regular
d e l e g a t e
session, tours
are being held around the region at
local dairy farms.
The 2016 “logo lady” is New York’s
own Gaige Highlight Tamara.
For more information, visit www.
nyholsteins.com/2016convention.
May was Beef Month in New
York. The New York Beef Council
is leading beef industry awareness
month with an unprecedented
“Farm to Food Bank” initiative to
combat hunger.
NYBC has partnered with
Empire Livestock Marketing, DFA
(Dairy Farmers of America) and
NY Beef Producer’s Association
encouraging beef and dairy farmers
to donate cattle sale proceeds for the
purchase of beef for five regional
food banks across New York.
During the month of May Empire
Livestock Marketing assisted NYBC
in collecting contributions from one
of nine livestock auction markets
across the state. The donations
generated will help ensure more
protein will reach families and
individuals in need. Each dollar
donated will provide 3-4 meals to an
adult/child in need.
The New York State Energy
Research
and
Development
Authority has just launched the
New York Generation Attribute
Tracking System, which NYFB
urged to get off the ground. This
is a web-based tracking system
that records electricity generation
attribute
information
within
the state and creates tradeable
certificates. For laymen, this new
online system will allow renewable
energy
generators,
including
farms, to begin to monetize the
environmental
benefits
and
renewable energy credits of their
energy generation.
NYGATS is being launched in
two phases; Phase 1 for Account
Holder and Project Registration and
Phase 2 for Certificate Creation.
Visit the NYGATS website for
more information at http://www.
nyserda.ny.gov/NYGATS.
Honey Production
Increases 9 Percent
H-2A Electronic
Approval System
Announced
Senate Committee
Hears Farm Credit
Testimony
Farm Credit participated in
the New York Senate Committee
on Agriculture, Nutrition and
Forestry’s full committee hearing
titled, “The Farm Credit System:
Oversight and Outlook of the
Current Economic Climate.”
Farm
Credit
Services
of
America CEO Doug Stark testified
about the importance of Farm
Credit’s broad mission to serve
rural communities and agriculture
and how Farm Credit is working
with customers during the current
downturn in the agricultural
economy. The committee also heard
from Michigan farmer and U.S.
Army veteran Jed Welder, Farm
Credit
Administration
board
members
Kenneth
Spearman,
Dallas Tonsager and Jeffery Hall,
along with representatives of the
commercial banking industry.
The complete hearing can be
viewed at http://www.agriculture.
senate.gov/hearings.
Farm Viability
Grants Awarded
The New York Farm Viability
Institute Board of
Directors
announced 20 projects were selected
for funding in its competitive Farm
Viability grant program. The
projects chosen will help farmers
improve yields, lower input costs,
reach new markets and develop
new opportunities. All the projects
funded have the potential to improve
a farm’s economic viability.
All proposals were evaluated by
NYFVI’s extensive farmer review
network to ensure the projects
selected for funding address on-theground priorities. The volunteer
board, comprised of 10 farmers
from across the state made the final
funding decisions.
Grant
applications
were
evaluated in five areas: Producer
Involvement, Relevance to New York
Agriculture, Farm-Level Impact,
Outreach and Budget. The 20
projects selected represent a crosssection of New York agriculture,
with research and education efforts
that will benefit farms of all sizes
and production practices. Project
work is beginning immediately.
According to the United States
Department
of
Agriculture
statistics, which cover beekeepers
with five colonies or more, the 3.6
million pounds of honey produced
in New York in 2015 was a 9 percent
increase from the 3.3 million pounds
produced in 2014.
New York ranked 10th in honey
production in 2015, jumping three
rankings above Idaho, Georgia, and
Nebraska. New York beekeepers
earned almost $10.6 million from
their honey in 2015, an $1.2 million
increase from the year before.
SUNY College of ESF
Receives Biomass
Research Grant
The
U.S.
Department
of
Agriculture’s National Institute of
Food and Agriculture and the U.S.
Department of Energy announced
in May a joint investment of $10
million in grants towards research
that will create more efficient
biofuels production and agricultural
feedstock improvements.
Awarded through the Biomass
Research
and
Development
Initiative, authorized by the 2014
Farm Bill, these grants aim to
reduce America’s reliance on
imported oil and leverage our
domestic energy supply, while also
supporting our rural economies.
SUNY College of Environmental
Science
and
Forestry
will
receive $906,722 to study the
comprehensive life cycle, economic
and environmental understanding
of the production of willow and
forest biomass for the use in heat
and power, combined heat and
power, and biofuels from hot water
extraction. The project will assist
in mitigating investment risk in the
bioenergy sector.
Projects were also awarded to the
University of California-Riverside,
University of Montana, North
Carolina Biotechnology Center and
Dartmouth College.
Starting on May 11, a United
States Citizenship and Immigration
Services and the United States
Department of State, launched
an electronic approval process
for Form I-129, Petition for a
Nonimmigrant Worker, for the H-2A
classification. USCIS also started
using pre-paid mailers provided
by petitioners to send out receipt
notices for H-2A petitions.
This new electronic process
will allow USCIS to send approval
information for H-2A petitions to
DOS by the end of the next business
day. DOS will accept this electronic
information in place of the form
I-797 approval notice and allow
its consular posts to proceed with
processing a H-2A nonimmigrant
visa
application,
including
interviewing. It is believed that
this process will reduce delays for
employers that participate in the
H-2A program, reduce the amount
of paperwork between USCIS and
DOS, and provide greater efficiency
and consistency in transmitting
information to DOS consular posts.
With the new pre-paid mailer,
H-2A petitioners may now submit
two pre-paid mailers if they want to
expedite delivery of both the receipt
notice and the final decision notice.
The submitted pre-paid mailers for
H-2A petitions must still meet the
same requirements for their use
with other forms and classifications.
Until further notice, USCIS will use
any pre-paid mailer provided by
a petitioner primarily to send the
receipt notice and the final decision
notice, only if the petitioner
provided a second pre-paid mailer.
All other notices regarding an H-2A
petition, including any Requests
for Evidence will be sent by regular
U.S. mail.
Grassroots Page 12 June 2016
Commodity Report: Dairy
Butter Belongs in Balanced Diet
By Ivy Jean Reynolds
[email protected]
After years of scrutiny, butter
has stepped into a new light among
nutritionists. While it is unlikely
t h a t
drenching
a lobster
tail in a
golden
river
of
b u t t e r
will
be
the latest
h e a l t h
fad, society can now cook with
confidence. In the past, all fats have
been viewed as one of the worst
things that we can eat, but a recent
study has uncovered that maybe
it’s certain types of fat we need to
avoid.
Michele Barber of the American
Dairy Association and Dairy
Counsel shared that butter is a real
food with vitamins, including A,
D, E, B12, and K2. She says it can
and does fit into a healthy dietary
pattern according to the 2015
dietary guidelines.
These guidelines recommend
consuming less than 10 percent of
daily calorie intake from saturated
fats, like butter, which in a 2,000
calorie diet is approximately 200
calories. One tablespoon of butter
has approximately 12 grams of fat
and 100 calories.
“This research is conducted to
impact the dietary guidelines, and
hopefully this research will impact
those guidelines in the near future.
That would be a win-win situation
for dairy farmers,” Barber said.
Junior Dairy Leaders Set for Graduation
Twenty-nine Junior Dairy Leaders, representing New York, Connecticut, and Vermont, will graduate at Empire Farm
Days on Wednesday, Aug. 10, at 1:30 p.m. in the Dairy Profit Seminar Center at Empire Farm Days. The Cornell ProDairy Junior Dairy Leader is a statewide program for youth between the ages of 16 and 19 with an interest in learning
more about career opportunities in the dairy industry and gaining hands-on experience in the field. Meanwhile, Cornell
has announced a new Pro-Dairy Beginning Dairy Leader Youth Program. The program is designed to give high school
participants, entering at least their sophomore year, the opportunity to explore post-secondary agricultural education
and career opportunities in a networking environment through interaction with faculty and students, college planning,
and personal development. Applications for the new year-long program are due June 30. For more information, please
contact Program Coordinator Deborah Grusenmeyer at Pro-Dairy at [email protected].
This
statement
leaves
us
wondering, is there as visible
impact on dairy farms? Ronnybrook
Farm Dairy has been in Columbia
and Dutchess Counties since the
1940s and has been a family-owned
and operated facility since the
beginning.
For 15 years Ronnybrook has
been producing products like cream
line milk, ice cream and butter.
Rich Osofsky, an owner and
operator at Ronnybrook, explained
that “pure butter fat is called ghee,
and when it is heated up in a pan
it does not burn or spit and jump
around like most of the butter we
see today. A higher butter fat content
results in less butter needed to get
the job done.”
Ronnybrook’s butter has a
higher butter fat content than most
commercial butters in the United
States. The operation has seen sales
double in the last five years and
anticipates that they will continue
to grow.
A recent release from the United
States Department of Agriculture
revealed that in New York, 2015
butter production was 26.3 million
pounds, which is a 20 percent
increase from 2014.
Family Tradition Baked into Butter Cookies
By Emily Ooms
Dutch Butter
Cookies Recipe
New York State Dairy Princess
At a young age I recognized my
love for being on my family’s farm;
whether I was being a copilot in the
tractor or feeding calves, I loved
every aspect.
It wasn’t just the animals that
I enjoyed, but being able to work
with my family, whether it was
my grandfather, father, uncles or
cousins, most days it was enjoyable.
But like most families we have our
disagreements.
Growing up on my family’s
multi-generation dairy has not only
exposed me to all that agriculture
has to offer, but has also allowed
me to learn from my family
surrounding me.
My grandfathers, both farmers,
have gone above and beyond in
their careers, turning their careers
into lifestyles and showing me what
commitment and passion truly
are. Both loved what they do and
because of that never worked a day
in their life. I hope to be able to look
back on my life, and say the same
thing one day.
I know I find it fascinating how
much agriculture has changed, but
for my grandfathers and father, it’s
even more fascinating to see how
advanced agriculture has become,
2 cups butter
2 cups sugar
4 cups flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup milk
2 tsp. vanilla
Emily Ooms with her grandfather Adrian, left, and her father Tim on the family’s
dairy farm in Columbia County.
since they have been doing it for so
long. From milking cows by hand
into buckets, to eventually getting
so advanced to a pipe taking the
milk away from the cows, and now
robots that do all the milking for
you, milking cows has progressed
a lot.
Growing up, I’ve been lucky
enough to have lots of family
members around to help me,
whether it was with my show
heifers or trying to figure out what
was wrong with a tractor (fixing
tractors is not my forte, I’m much
better at breaking them). Without
my family allowing me to grow up
on a farm, and supporting me in my
endeavors to become immersed in
the agriculture community around
me, I certainly wouldn’t be where
I am today without them. I’m very
honored to be able to represent the
dairy farmers of New York this
year.
Over the next year I look forward
to meeting more of our dedicated
farmers and plan to continue
working hard to promote the dairy
products farmers work day in and
Cream together the butter and
sugar. Mix together the flour in
baking soda in one bowl, and the
vanilla and milk in another. Add
the dry ingredients to the butter/
sugar mixture alternating with
the milk/vanilla. Then shape into
rolls, wrap in wax paper and chill
overnight. Dough can be frozen.
Slice and bake on ungreased
cookie sheets for 8-10 minutes at
350 degrees.
day out to produce.
Not only have my dad and
grandfathers greatly impacted
my life, but I’ve been fortunate
enough to be surrounded by my
grandmothers and mom, all of
whom are much better chefs and
bakers than I’ll ever be able to be,
but here is a family recipe that I’m
not able to mess up too much.
Grassroots June 2016
Page 13
The Face of Agriculture
Dick Degraff
Grindstone Farm
Oswego County
Farm Bureau
How did you become involved
in agriculture?
I was raised on a nearby 1,000
acre conventional U-Pick farm,
so one could say that soil is in my
blood. From early youth I became
part of my family’s farm workforce.
Can
you
describe
your
operation?
Our 230-acre Grindstone Farm
is a diverse, certified organic
operation growing approximately 45
acres of 125-plus varieties of fruits,
vegetables, herbs, flowers plus
sustainably and ethically raised
chickens, turkeys and pigs. We
buy in additional certified organic
goods to offer a wide array of food
products delivered year round. Our
business is internet based, directly
marketing to the Central New York
customer through a customized food
box program. We also manufacture
root crop washers, manage nonGMO feed sales and egg distribution
business streams.
How do you incorporate
technology into your operation?
Surely the Internet is the
largest tech component of our
operation. It’s how we connect
with our customers, marketing
through
our
GrindstoneFarm.
com website, email, Facebook, and
advertise our weekly offerings. We
use online systems for customer
order placement, fulfillment and
managing/tracking annual organic
compliance requirements. We are
relatively small, but are looking at
using GPS and drones to enhance
operations.
What is the biggest challenge
facing the organic vegetable
industry in New York?
Similar to conventional farming,
we also struggle with tax and
insurance-related burdens, as well
as shortage of skilled labor and
amenable weather. The majority
of New York organic farmers are
small scale, and are wide-variety
crop producers who have additional
challenges of physical hands-on
planting, weeding and harvesting.
We also grapple with tight pest
control and fertilization method
restrictions. The wide diversity of
crops we grow calls for different
watch points and management
methods for each of those crops,
which can be intense and time
consuming.
What
is
the
biggest
opportunity? Our son, Lucas, has become
actively engaged in the farm
management, making it a second
generation farm with promise of
longevity. The training of young
farmers -- and we have trained
many over three decades who
have begun their own farms - is
an enriching opportunity for us.
Also, advancements of organic
agriculturre, growing consumer
demand,
provision
of
local
employment and feeding the local
economy is important for farmers.
We are fulfilled knowing that
growing organically is the right
thing, ecologically and holistically,
for the planet, our family, workers,
and consumers.
What do you enjoy most about
your job?
The range of day-to-day diversity
ensures that the job is never boring
or tedious. As the seasons progress,
new crops and new issues present
themselves, inspiring different
techniques or solutions. It’s an
evolution throughout each year.
Winter provides time to slow down,
even escape the farm and recharge
before the next season.
If someone is interested in
getting into farming, what
would you suggest would be the
best way to get started?
Connect with a farmer who is
both disciplined and successful in
the sector of agriculture you wish to
pursue. Intern and learn from that
farmer who has already learned
many lessons, often expensive,
hard earned lessons. Consult with
Cornell Cooperative Extension,
join organizations such as Farm
Bureau,
NOFA-NY,
Vegetable
or Fruit Growers Association,
taking advantage of the abundant
information
and
resources
available, especially educational
and experiential learning.
Why
is
Farm
Bureau
important to you?
The opportunity for grassroots
involvement
and
connection
with
other
farmers
is
an
excellent gateway for agriculture
professionals to make inroads. We,
as farmers, have more in common
than we do differences and Farm
Bureau is a forum for education,
along with honing and shaping
change which starts at the local and
county level. Farm Bureau allows
farmers to leverage their collective
strength to invoke advocacy and
change at state and national levels,
resulting in strengthened farming
communities across the nation.
Membership in Farm Bureau
brings great value to our farm and
business.
Page 14 Grassroots June 2016
Farmer Explains Labor Issue to Media
Equine Industry Advocates in Albany
Cortland County Farm Bureau member Mike McMahon is interviewed by
Beth Cefalu, News Channel 9, WSYR, Syracuse on the farm labor shortage.
On May 17, members of New York Farm Bureau and the New York Horse
Council joined forces to advocate for issues impacting the equine industry.
Together they met with 36 legislators and talked about inherent risk relief
and Thoroughbred and harness horse racing. Front row, from left, Betty Holt,
Karen Lassell, Dave Cummings, Steve Ropel, Jennifer Hoyt, Back row, Karin
Bump, Donna Putnam, NYFB’s Lauren Williams, Jeff Cannizzo, Jeannette
Dierich, Dan Gruen, Karen Nowak, Gary Slate, NYFB’s Jeff Williams and Kim
Farnum, and Susan Knauer.
Schoonmaker
Hired as Field
Advisor in the
Hudson Valley
New York Farm Bureau
is pleased to announce
that Renee Schoonmaker
has been hired as the Field
Advisor for the Hudson
Valley region of New York.
Schoonmaker will assist
county Farm Bureaus and
Farm Bureau members in
six county Farm Bureaus
stretching from Rensselaer
county to Rockland county.
Schoonmaker
comes
from a strong farm family
background. Her family’s
farm is the second oldest
operating farm in New
York. The Schoonmaker
family has been active
Farm Bureau members for
many generations.
“Renee brings a strong
knowledge
of
Hudson
Valley Agriculture to her
position,” according to
Fred Perrin, New York
Farm Bureau Director of
Member Relations and Field
Services. Schoonmaker has
worked with famers and
with the public for a number
of years after attending
college in Cobleskill and
New York City.
“We look forward to
her working with the
county Farm Bureaus in
the Hudson Valley as they
work hard to advocate for
agriculture,” Perrin said.
Back issues
of Grassroots
NYFB.org
June 2016
Grassroots Page 15
Inside D.C.
Growing Relationships Through Grassroots
By Elizabeth Wolters
[email protected]
As Farm Bureau members we
are all very proud of our grassroots
efforts to effect change in policy
at the organizational, state and
national levels, but just like our
tried and true farm equipment, we
all need a tune-up now and again.
AFBF has partnered with
the Congressional Management
Foundation to provide Farm Bureau
members and staff the latest in
advocacy research. The CFM works
closely with Members of Congress,
their staff, and advocacy groups to
glean the very latest information
on how best to communicate with
Capitol Hill. CFM conducts surveys,
provides advocacy insight, and
works closely with AFBF to provide
the education and training needed
to improve the communication
process between legislators and
constituents.
In
April,
CMF
provided
information from their survey
question: “what should constituents
or organization do more of, or less
of, to build better relationships
with your office and you Member/
Senator?”
Hill staff place a great amount
of importance on building strong,
positive relationships between
themselves and their constituents
and
the
organizations
that
represent them.
This is also true about the staff
in the district offices.
Seventy-nine percent of staff
said to meet and get to know the
legislative assistant in charge of
the issues important to you, and 85
percent of staff said provide more
material that visually shows the
impact of an issue on the district
or state as a way to help build better
relationships with staff members
in Washington, D.C.
To help build better relationships
in the congressional district;
62 percent of staffers say it is
important to know the district or
state director and 59 percent of
staffers suggest that you organize
meeting is the district.
Building strong relationships
is often the first step to successful
advocacy on our issues.
The information provided by
CMF is a roadmap for our advocacy
efforts at home and in Washington,
D.C.
It’s Time to Re-enroll
for the Residential Agricultural Discount
Each year, by July 1, customers
must re-enroll in the Residential
Agricultural Discount program
offered through National Grid,
NYSEG and RG&E. This discount
is possible thanks to funding from
the New York Power Authority’s
Not
ReCharge NY program. enrolled yet? It’s not too late. Enroll
by July 1 to receive a monthly
discount on your electricity
You’re eligible to
delivery bill.
receive the discount if you meet the
two conditions:
have
an
active
1)You
residential electric service account
with National Grid, NYSEG or
RG&E billed under the following
service classifications:
National
Grid:
Rates
•
beginning with Electric SC1 or
Electric SC1C; refer to page 2 of
your bill.
NYSEG: 12001, 12008, or
•
12012 noted after Electricity Rate on
page 3 of your bill.
RG&E: PSC 19 SC1 or SC 4
•
noted after Electricity Service on
page 3 of your bill.
have
submitted
2)You
one of the following forms
(supporting
documentation)
with your most recent federal
tax return:
IRS
Schedule
F
•
(associated with Form 1040) Profit or Loss From Farming.
IRS Form 1120, 1120S or
•
1065 with an eligible Business
Activity code.
How do I apply or re-enroll?
Complete
a
Residential
Agricultural
Discount
application and submit it to your
utility company along with your
supporting documentation.
How much is the discount,
how is it calculated and how
is it reflected on my bill?
The discount amount varies
each month and will be based
on how many people participate,
the amount of electricity used by
each participant and available
funds from NYPA. The discount
amount is multiplied by your
monthly billed kilowatt-hours
and your discount will appear as
a credit in a separate line item,
“Res agricultural discount,” on
your utility bill.
When does the discount begin?
The 2016-17 discount begins with
meter readings on or after Sept.
1, 2016. However, it’s important to
submit your application by July
1, 2016, to receive the discount in
September 2016.
Can I apply after the deadline?
Applications will be accepted
after July 1, 2016; however, such
applications may not be processed
until after the Sept. 1, 2016 start date.
Please allow up to three months
for processing. The discount is not
retroactive.
How long will the discount be
available?
The program will be administered
annually, Sept. 1 through Aug. 31,
with the monthly discount provided
until funding is no longer available
through NYPA.
For more information and the
application, contact your utility
company:
w w w . n g r i d . c o m /
resagriculturaldiscount 1.800.642.4272, Monday through
Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
w w w . n y s e g . c o m /
ResAgriculturalDiscount/default.
html
1.800.572.1111, Monday through
Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
h t t p : / / w w w. r g e . c o m /
ResAgriculturalDiscount/default.
Monday
html
1.800.743.2110,
through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Page 16 Grassroots June 2016
Innovative Students Look to Capitalize
on Agriculture’s Potential with Business Plans
By Jennifer Rossi
[email protected]
The finals of the New York
Business Plan Competition, held
last month at SUNY Polytechnic
Institute showcased the talent,
innovation and entrepreneurship
growing throughout New York’s
colleges and universities.
The student teams pitched their
ideas and ventures in regional
competitions in New York’s 10
economic development zones to
win a chance to advance to the final
round of the competition. Here they
were given a unique opportunity
to present their business plans
to a panel of national venture
capitalists, angel investors and
investment bankers in hopes of
winning more than $500,000 in cash,
in-kind services and a pathway to
turning their ideas into vibrant
businesses.
If there is any indication that
the future of agriculture is headed
in the right direction, it was seen
through five teams with diverse
plans that will unlock exciting
opportunities for local farmers and
revolutionize the way businesses
in conducted. Competing against a
large pool of talented teams in one
of six categories: Biotechnology/
Healthcare, Energy/Sustainability,
Information Technology/Software,
Nanotechnolo g y/Advanced
Technology,
Products/Services
and
Social
Entrepreneurship/
Non-Profit. The agriculture related
business plans were inspiring, full
Photo courtesy of Karin Bump
From left, Fahria Omar, Kat Cook and Sarah Spoto of Oasis Foods, Caitlin Parruci of Equine Design, David Gevry from
Vets2Farm, Joshua Parker of Parker Maple Syrup and Ryn Adkins and Ryan Pierson of Design to Table
of passion, focus and dedication.
Kat Cook, Fahria Omar and
Sarah Spoto, 2017 MBA candidates
from the University of Rochester,
created Oasis Foods. A venture
focused on alleviating food desertsurban areas where it is difficult to
buy affordable, nutritious fresh
food – with healthy frozen foods.
The team worked closely with
Foodlink to devise a plan to make
affordable nutritious frozen meals
available in strategically placed
vending machines throughout the
City of Rochester. They placed first
in the Social/Non-Profit category
winning $10,000.
Equine Design, led by Caitlin
Parucci from Cornell University,
created a water monitoring system,
that analyzes water intake to drive
a proactive response. The device
attaches to a horse’s water bucket
and measures the horses’ water
consumption throughout the day.
The real-time information is sent
to a mobile application giving
horse owners, trainers and barn
managers the ability to track
and analyze their horses’ water
consumption anywhere. Equine
Design won third place in the
Products/Services category.
David Gervy, a student at
Morrisville State College, created
a non-profit, Vets2Farm, built for
the purpose of providing disabled
Veterans a place to heal, farm, grow
and give back to the community. Its
mission is to provide an array of
needed services to Veterans while
using crop and animal therapy.
Spending time working the soil,
raising pigs, cows and chickens
provides not only therapeutic
benefits, but countless benefits that
make an investment in agriculture.
Gervy’s venture finished third in
the Social/Non-Profit category.
Design to Table is a creative
studio
founded
by
Syracuse
University’s Ryan Pierson and Ryn
Adkins to put local producers on
a platform. They started last year
with the focus of using design to
empower local farmers and have
grown their portfolio to include
work that puts any local producer
on a platform. They are currently
partnering with a Cazenovia farm
to rebrand and package lard.
They felt that lard has been
given an unfair stigma in the last
50 years and will retell this story,
highlighting the local cooking oil
with beautiful ceramic jars and a
jar return system. An opportunity
they hope to expand to even more
upstate farms.
Joshua Parker, attends SUNY
Canton while growing his business,
Parker Maple Syrup. At the young
age of eleven, while on a school
field trip to a local sugar house, he
was inspired to make and brand
his own maple syrup. Starting
with 15 trees and only one pint of
syrup boiled down in his mother’s
kitchen, his dream began to
take shape. Five years later, he
received an investment to expand
operations adding 3,500 trees and
many thousands of gallons of
syrup. Today, his products are in
all 50 states with his sights set on
capturing a bigger share of the
market.
Through his industrious spirit,
drive and determination and
quality of his product, he has been
recognized by top national public
figures for his success and vision.
Dr. Karin Bump, an active
Madison County Farm Bureau
member and Professor of Equine
Studies at Cazenovia College,
was a judge at one of the regional
competitions that saw Design to
Table advance. Their inspiring
presentation and impressive focus
on the importance of creating
innovative avenues to support
agriculture in New York led her to
commit to attending the day long
finals in Albany. She was pleasantly
surprised when the four other
teams presented their plans with
the core focus on agriculture.
“What was particularly exciting
was that these five entrepreneurial
individuals and teams were not
pursuing
agricultural
themed
studies but rather found a niche
that combined their studies with
their passion for an area within
agriculture,” said Dr. Bump. “It was
truly inspiring and reaffirming
that these bright, talented, students
were seeing the opportunities to
support and work within New York
State agriculture along with the
wide diversity of appeal we have
for career growth in areas within
agriculture.”
June 2016
Grassroots Page 17
Farm Bureau Rural Entrepreneurship Challenge
Accepting New Round of Applications
The American Farm Bureau
Federation has opened online
applications for its third Rural
Entrepreneurship Challenge.
Entrepreneurs will compete for
$145,000 in startup funds.
The competition provides an
opportunity for individuals to
showcase ideas and business
innovations that benefit rural
regions of the United States.
It is the first national rural
business
competition
focused
exclusively
on
innovative
entrepreneurs working on food and
agriculture businesses.
Competitors are invited to
submit for-profit business ideas
related to food and agriculture
online at www.strongruralamerica.
com/challenge.
Businesses related to food
and agriculture include farms
or ranches, value-added food
processing, food hubs, communitysupported agriculture programs
(CSAs), farm-to-table restaurants,
farmers’
markets,
wineries,
breweries, cideries and distilleries.
Businesses can also support
food and agriculture such as
crop scouting, agritourism, ag
advertising
agencies and ag
technology companies.
“Owners of all types of businesses
across the food and agriculture
supply chain are encouraged to
enter the competition,” said Dr.
Lisa Benson, AFBF’s director of
rural development. “Through the
challenge, we’ll provide 10 rural
entrepreneurs with access to
funding to take their businesses to
the next level.”
All applications, which include
a business plan, video pitch and
photo, must be submitted online
by June 30. Judges will review the
applications and provide feedback
to the participants.
The top 10 teams will be
announced
in
October.
This
includes six teams who will each
win $10,000 in startup funds.
The final four teams will compete
in a live competition at AFBF’s 98th
Annual Convention in Phoenix on
Jan. 8 to win:
• Farm Bureau Entrepreneur of
the Year award and $30,000 (chosen
by judges)
• People’s Choice award and
$25,000 (chosen by public vote)
• First runner-up prize, $15,000
and
• Second runner-up prize, $15,000.
The Entrepreneur of the Year
award and the People’s Choice
award will be awarded to two
different teams.
The team that wins the
Entrepreneur of the Year award
will not be eligible for the People’s
Choice Award.
The
competition
timeline,
detailed
eligibility
guidelines
and profiles of the 2015 and
2016 finalist teams are available
at www.strongruralamerica.com/
challenge.
EPA, Army Corps
Violate Law,
Oppress Farmers When asked how much acreage they farmed, the survey responses are provided below and are compared to 2012
NASS census data for farms with at least 180 acres of harvested cropland:
Farm Bureau Survey: Farmers
Want to Control Their Own Data
WASHINGTON, DC – Farmers
and ranchers want to control the
information
their
equipment
collects every time it passes
through a field, a survey released
by the American Farm Bureau
Federation shows. Farmers also
believe that creating a cooperativestyle central repository for their
data is the best way to enhance its
security and maximize its value.
“We asked our members what
they thought about data, and
it is clear that boosting farmer
confidence in security and data
management will be critical
to unlocking the potential this
technology holds,” said AFBF
President Zippy Duvall. “This
survey also shows that we are
on the right track with various
ag group initiatives designed to
improve data integration and
promote transparency about how
the data is collected and used.”
AFBF is a founding member
of the Ag Data Coalition, an
organization created by several
leading agricultural groups and
companies to help farmers better
store and manage their information
in a central location. The ADC will
establish a co-op-style repository
for agricultural data, with farmers
having a governing role over the
group.
Duvall said that is consistent
with survey findings that 71
percent of respondents said they
are interested in having access to
the kind of data bank that ADC is
developing, while 82 percent say it
is important that farmers have a
voice in the ag data co-op.
Survey respondents also ranked
vendor transparency high among
their priorities. Farm Bureau and
other groups recently introduced
a tool, the Ag Data Transparency
Evaluator, to explain in plain
English the convoluted details
often found in data contracts
with agricultural hardware and
software providers.
The survey, meanwhile, revealed
a high level of misunderstanding
among respondents regarding data
details in their contracts. When
asked whether they knew if their
contracts indicated they owned
or controlled their own data, 55
percent of those surveyed said
they did not know. Twelve percent
said the contracts did not indicate
control or ownership, and only
33 percent said their contracts
specifically indicated that growers
owned or controlled the data they
generate.
When asked whether contract
details about sharing data with a
third party, business partner or
affiliate required approval of the
grower, only 32 percent said they
did. Fifty-four percent were unsure
and 14 percent said prior approval
from a grower was not required for
data sharing.
“This indicates a higher level of
clarity and transparency is needed
to secure grower confidence,”
Duvall said. “One of the topics
I hear most about from farmers
on the data issue is having a
clear understanding about the
details of ‘Terms and Conditions’
and ‘Privacy Policy’ documents
we all sign when buying new
electronics. You should not have
to hire an attorney before you are
comfortable signing a contract
with an ag technology provider.
Farmers have real questions and
the Transparency Evaluator goes a
long way in helping farmers better
understand the contracts before
they sign on the dotted line.”
The survey also revealed other
issues that must be addressed to
help promote farmer acceptance,
noting the following:
• Seventy-seven percent are
concerned about which entities can
access their farm data and whether
it could be used for regulatory
purposes;
• Sixty-seven percent said they
will consider how outside parties
use and treat their data when
deciding which technology or
service provider to use;
• Sixty-six percent believe
farmers should share in the
potential financial benefits from
the use of their data beyond the
direct value they may realize on
their farm;
• Sixty-one percent are worried
that companies could use their
data to influence market decisions;
and
This year’s poll follows a 2014
survey that led to the development
and publication of a set of Thirteen
Principles on Data Privacy and
Security that same year.
Thirty-eight
different
agricultural companies and farm
groups have signed on to the
principles, to date.
Since then, Duvall said Farm
Bureau has focused its efforts on
“bringing life” to the principles.
Farm Bureau’s work to date has
primarily centered on three major
projects:
• Creation of the Ag Data
Transparency Evaluator;
• Development of a cooperative
data repository by the Ag Data
Coalition; and
• Additional education for
farmers and ranchers on issues
pertaining to data technology.
The Environmental Protection
Agency and Army Corps of
Engineers have violated their own
regulations and effectively invented
new ones in enforcing the Clean
Water Act, the American Farm
Bureau Federation said recently.
Don Parrish, senior director of
congressional relations at AFBF,
told the Senate Subcommittee on
Fisheries, Water and Wildlife on
May 24 that the Army Corps’ novel
interpretations of environmental
law are threatening the very
livelihoods of ordinary, middleclass Americans who happen to
farm for a living.
“Based on what we see in
California, it is clear that the
expansions in jurisdiction over land
and water features on the farm are
already happening,” Parrish told
the subcommittee. “Most ordinary
farming activities conducted in
areas under jurisdiction will require
permits if and when the Corps
chooses to demand them. And when
they demand permits, delays and
costs will mount until most farmers
simply give up. Congress needs to
step in and give farmers some real
certainty so they can plan their
farming operations and protect the
environment at the same time.”
Parrish’s testimony also included
a detailed analysis of recent Army
Corps actions by Jody Gallaway,
an environmental scientist and
California Farm Bureau member
who has consulted on numerous
discussions
between
local
farmers and the Corps. The Army
Corps interprets and executes
environmental regulations that are
largely determined by the EPA.
Parrish
cited
numerous
examples of EPA and Army Corps
mismanagement:
•
The
Corps
has
made
jurisdictional determinations and
tracked farming activities based on
classified aerial photographs and
LIDAR imagery that is not publicly
available, even to farmers under
investigation.
• Army Corps officials have forced
farmers to sign non-disclosure
agreements – gag orders, in effect
– as part of their enforcement
actions.
Grassroots Page 18 June 2016
Dangers
of Manure
Gases on
Dairy Farms
Explained
By John VanDerwerken
Agricultural Safety Educator – NYCAMH
New York Farm Viability Institute grant recipient Dr. Daryl Nydam, left, and New York dairy owner Matt Frisbie.
NYFVI Grant Will Help Develop
Better Dairy Cow Management
Capturing the Power of Data on Dairy Farms
to Reduce Antibiotic Use
Since the early 1970s it
has been a common practice on dairy farms to use
“blanket” dry cow therapy; that is to administer
antimicrobial drugs that prevent and treat costly
mammary infections to all cows as they enter a dry
off period.
Although the practice may have been warranted
as it began, animal care and the milking process has
become much more sophisticated over time, with
many dairies keeping detailed, cow specific records.
Dr. Daryl Nydam of the College of Veterinary
Medicine at Cornell has received a New York Farm
Viability Institute grant of $102,036 to develop and
test an algorithm that will provide dairy farmers with
the information they need to move to “selective” dry
cow therapy protocols.
This will help dairy farms meet the public’s desire
for more judicious use of antibiotics, and reduce
operational costs on the farm.
2016 NYFB Foundation Feast
Sept. 30, Tupper Lake
With larger dairy operations,
the need to be able to store manure
is an extremely important issue.
Manure storage can pose hazards,
especially when it is confined
because the gases will concentrate
more in this instance.
Farmers are at the highest risk
when they are agitating or emptying
the stored manure, because that
very action is what releases the
gases. There are four main gases
that are associated with manure to
be aware of:
• Hydrogen Sulfide: At a low
levels, this gas smells like rotten
eggs; however the gases dull the
ability to smell at around 100 parts
per million (ppm) and so it can be
very deceptive. This is the most
fatal of the four.
• Ammonia:
This gas is a
corrosive, and it can be an irritant
to the eye and also to the respiratory
system at about 25 ppm.
• Methane: The biggest issue with
this particular gas is its explosive
nature,
becoming
severely
dangerous around 50 ppm.
• Carbon Dioxide:
this gas
replaces oxygen and can cause
asphyxiation.
The combination of
these
four gases can make for a deadly
combination and you will want to
use extreme caution if you have to
get into a manure pit or lagoon for
any reason.
It is also noteworthy that even
in outdoor open facilities, some
of these gases could still be at
dangerous levels because they are
heavier than air (Hydrogen Sulfide,
Continued on page 22
June 2016
Grassroots Food Leaders Meet in Mohawk Valley
Members of the Food to Institute New York State leadership team meet recently
to discuss ongoing and future efforts to support institutional procurement
from New York’s farmers. During the meeting, the group toured the USDAapproved New York Custom Processing plant in Bridgewater, which has been
processing beef since 2010 and is both certified organic and Animal Welfare
Approved. The group is led by American Farmland Trust in New York and has
members from state agencies, Cooperative Extension, school food programs,
universities and non-profits, including NYFB’s Kelly Young, far right.
Page 19
Grassroots Page 20 June 2016
RTV Accidents Pose Serious Risk for Children
Recreational Terrain Vehicles
are frequently used on farms and
ranches to haul feed, equipment
and people. RTVs are also used for
fun by both children and adults.
Unfortunately, kids are often the
victims of RTV and ATV accidents.
According to the U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission, there
were an estimated 93,700 ATVrelated, emergency departmenttreated injuries in the United States
in 2014. An estimated 26 percent of
these involved children younger
than 16 years of age. Don’t think this
can happen to you or members of
your family? Consider the following
accident that was reported as a
claim a few years ago:
A farmer’s 14-year-old son got
permission from his dad to use the
farm’s RTV to transport two 14-yearold friends and camera equipment
to a field to film a documentary for a
school project. The young men were
properly seat-belted when they left.
Instead of coming straight home
following filming, the young men
rode to a public gravel parking lot
to horseplay and do donuts. While
the farmer’s son was driving, the
RTV tipped over—trapping the
passengers’ legs under the unit.
Personal injury
Both passengers suffered serious
injury. One passenger sustained
a degloving leg injury—resulting in
extensive nerve and muscle damage.
The second passenger sustained a
fractured arm, multiple leg breaks
and a degloving leg injury. Due to
the severity of the injuries, both
passengers will require treatment
throughout their lives.
Personal responsibility
Police came to the scene of the
accident and interviewed several
witnesses who reported seeing
the driver operating the unit in a
reckless manner. As a result, the
farmer’s son received several tickets,
including reckless driving, operating
a motor vehicle without a license
and parental permission to operate a
motor vehicle without a license.
Financial consequences
All of the families were friends,
but due to the severity of the
injuries both sets of parents
immediately sought legal counsel.
The farmer had a farm policy with
a $ 1 million limit and an umbrella
policy with $1,000,000 limit. The full
limits of both policies were paid to
resolve this claim.
Accident prevention
Parents
should
determine
each family member’s readiness
to operate an RTV or ATV based
on physical size, coordination,
balance, ability to judge distances,
willingness to follow rules and
peripheral vision. Visitors to your
farm should never be allowed to
ride or operate your RTV or ATV.
Careful operation is your best
protection against an accident.
All operators should read and
understand the vehicle operator’s
manual and other related manuals
before operating the vehicle or any
implement attached to it. It is the
owner’s obligation to instruct all
operators in safe operation.
Otsego County Farm Bureau Hosts Meet the Candidates Night
Otsego County Farm Bureau hosts a Meet the Candidates Night in 19th Congressional District race. NYFB State Director Darin Hickling welcomed the panel,
which included candidates Andrew Heaney, John Faso, Bob Bishop, Zephyr Teachout, and Will Yandik.
June 2016
Grassroots Page 21
Page 22 Grassroots June 2016
Changes Coming to the F, G and Z Endorsements for Farm Vehicles
Effective July 11, 2016, Federal
regulations and New York State
law are amended to change the
term “farm vehicle” to “covered
farm vehicle”, to define covered
farm vehicles, and to include
a new “Covered Farm Vehicle
designation” requirement.
Under the new law, a covered farm
vehicle is defined as a vehicle or
combination of vehicles registered
in this state which must:
• have a covered farm vehicle
designation (Designation as a New
York State Covered Farm Vehicle
(form CFV-1))
• be operated by the owner or
operator of a farm or ranch, or
an employee or family member of
an owner or operator of a farm or
ranch
• be used to transport agricultural
commodities, livestock, machinery
or supplies to or from a farm or
ranch
• not be used for for-hire motor
carrier operations, exclusive of
operation by a tenant pursuant to a
crop share agreement to transport
the landlord’s crop
• not be used to transport
hazardous materials.
Where can a covered farm
vehicle be operated?
• A single or combination covered
farm vehicle weighing over 26,000
pounds may only be operated in
New York and within 150 air miles
of a person’s farm or ranch.
• A covered farm vehicle
weighing 26,000 pounds or less may
be operated anywhere within New
York State and in any other state as
long as the state honors the Covered
Farm Vehicle designation.
If a vehicle displays a “FARM”
plate, it may only be operated
within 25 miles of the farm.
What effect does this have on
license holders operating vehicles
over 26,000 lbs. with an F or G
endorsement?
If a driver currently has an F
or G endorsement, or are applying
for one, effective July 11, 2016, they
must have a Designation as a New
York State Covered Farm Vehicle
form (CFV-1). The CFV-1 serves as proof that
the individual has the Covered
Farm Vehicle designation and are
exempt from needing a CDL to
operate a covered farm vehicle. A
copy of form CFV-1 in each covered
farm vehicle, as it indicates to
law enforcement personnel that
the driver is exempt from CDL
requirements and the abovementioned federal regulations.
This vehicle may only be operated
in New York State and within 150
air miles of the individual’s ranch
or farm.
What effect does this have
on license holders operating
covered farm vehicles weighing
26,000 lbs. or less?
Effective July 11, 2016, drivers
must have a Designation as a New
York State Covered Farm Vehicle
form (CFV-1). The CFV-1 serves as proof that the
individual has the Covered Farm
Vehicle designation and are exempt
from needing a CDL to operate a
covered farm vehicle. A copy of
form CFV-1 must be maintained
in each covered farm vehicle that
a farm operates, as it indicates
to law enforcement personnel
that the driver is exempt from
CDL requirements and the abovementioned federal regulations. This
vehicle may be operated anywhere
in United States, as long as the state
honors the covered farm vehicle
designation.
The Covered Farm Vehicle
designation means that the driver is
exempt from needing a commercial
driver license to operate a covered
farm vehicle. It also means the
driver is exempt from federal
regulations related to:
• Hours of Service
• Medical certification
• Drug testing
•
Inspection,
maintenance
and repair requirements (State
requirements still apply)
A copy of the CFV-1 designation
will be available for free at local
DMV offices as well as online.
Elimination
of the Z Endorsement
Under the amendments to
state law, a person transporting
hazardous materials will not
be allowed to operate a Covered
Farm Vehicle. In the past, farmers
were able to transport hazardous
materials with a Z endorsement
on their license, but the new law
eliminated the Z endorsement. On
July 11, 2016, the “Z” endorsement
will be removed from an individual’s
license record.
If an individual no longer
transports
farm
hazardous
materials and wishes to obtain a
new license document without the
“Z” endorsement, they may apply
for a replacement license after July
11, 2016. If an individual wishes to
Gases
Continued from page 18
Carbon Dioxide). Make sure to have
a lot of ventilation, especially when
agitating.
If you ever have to enter a pit,
make sure there are at least two
people present. Also, never follow
continue
to
transport
farm
hazardous materials on or after
July 11, 2016, they must first obtain
a commercial driver’s license,
and undergo a criminal history
check. In order to transport
hazardous materials, farmers will
need a commercial driver license
with a H (hazardous materials)
endorsement.
To receive a H endorsement,
drivers must take the appropriate
written tests, and depending on
which vehicle class you are applying
for (CDL A, B or C), individuals may
be required to obtain a commercial
learner permit and take and pass
a skills test in a representative
vehicle. Drivers also may be required
to pass a written test for the “H”
hazardous materials endorsement.
Drivers must also complete an
Application for a Hazardous
Materials Endorsement (HAZ-44),
and make a copy of one or more of
the legal status documents that are
listed on the form.
The individual must contact
MorphoTrust Enrollment Solutions
to
schedule
fingerprinting.
Fingerprinting
is
done
by
appointment only. In addition,
individuals must complete Request
for NYS Fingerprinting Services –
Information Form (HAZ-600), and
bring it to the appointment along
with your NYS CDL and one of the
second proofs of ID that are listed
on form HAZ-600.
These regulations were adopted
by New York State to comply
with
federal
transportation
requirements.
For
more
information relating to Covered
Farm Vehicles, please visit the
Department of Motor Vehicles
website at: https://dmv.ny.gov/
commercial-drivers/covered-farmvehicle.
into a confined space to aid a
victim, because you will most likely
succumb to the gas as well; wait
for first responders to come and
do their job. If you want to learn
more about this topic visit http://
nasdonline.org/.
For training on this topic and
many others feel free to contact
NYCAMH at (607) 547-6023, or find us
on the web at http://www.nycamh.
org/, thanks and stay safe.
Grassroots June 2016
Page 23
CALS Forum Explores Future Of Agriculture
Jordan Fisher, left, talks about what factors impacted
his choice to join his family’s Mapleview Dairy and
the changing workforce needs he anticipates in the
industry during a recent forum held by Cornell’s College
of Agricultural and Life Sciences in Albany. The forum
allowed lawmakers and their aides to hear what CALS
researchers and program experts are learning and
exploring on the topic of “Local Farms, Local Food:
Attracting the Next Generation.” This event was cosponsored by Senator Patty Ritchie and Assemblyman
Bill Magee.
Outlook
Continued from page 1
have the efficiency of scale also are
faring better. Laughton says the
biggest struggles remain on farms
with between 100 and 300 cows.
That was the category where they
saw the poorest financial results
from last year.
Neal Rea, chairman of the
Agri-Mark Cooperative, milks 265
cows with his family. He says the
lower milk prices have delayed
needed investment in equipment
and infrastructure. In times like
this, they also can work with their
lender to reschedule debt payments
and look at other costs.
“We continue to scrutinize
feed costs to milk production and
extensive soil testing,” Rea said.
“We also did a complete remodeling
of our free stall facilities last fall.
This allows for ease of feeding and
improves cow comfort.”
Though, experts cautioned on
the webinar that simply scaling up
to produce more milk may not be
the answer for many farms.
Variable costs like feed, labor
and fertilizer would also rise in
that situation, and they warned
that unless a farm produces more
by maximizing what they already
have, they could run into bigger
financial problems.
“So adding more cows is not
generally the answer in a low margin
situation when your variable
costs are high,” said Laughton.
“Producers tightened their belts
last year, and hopefully there is
room for some cost reduction in
cost spending.”
A saving grace in the downturn
may be that some of those variable
costs also saw a reduction as well.
Fuel alone was down 37 percent
compared to 2014 on the farms
surveyed. Feed dropped nearly 11
percent and the cost of repairs was
down 17 percent. Labor costs fell
two-percent, but that was attributed
to greater milk production per cow
and not from an actual drop in farm
wages.
Another
positive
may
be
increased capacity by cooperatives
in the coming year or so. Dairy
Farmers of America announced
plans to build a small cheese plant
in Livingston County. Agri-Mark is
undergoing a $30 million upgrade
to its cheese plant in Chateaugay.
“Investments by producers is one
safe way to provide a market for
our milk. However, the Chateaugay
investment will take several
years for the plant to be able to
increase capacity,” Rea said. “In the
meantime we will continue to look
for short-term solutions.”
There are additional expansions
outside the state as well. The more
places to bring milk the better.
Right now, the supply of milk is
out of sync with the demand, both
domestically and internationally,
which is responsible for the drop in
prices.
“With a strong dollar and
international prices higher, it looks
like export markets will not save
the day,” said Laughton.
Advice for farmers included
seeking outside help, whether
through a dairy profit team or
working with their veterinarian
or nutritionist to better manage
costs and output. Jan Bitter, a Farm
Credit East manager, said the farms
handling the situation better right
now are those who understand that
they can’t continue to do things like
they’ve done them in the past.
“Producers who are taking their
destiny into their own hands are the
ones who can better manage during
these times,” said Bitter.
Hanselman’s farm always is
looking to find ways to improve
what they are doing. Cow comfort
and quality roughages are a big
focus to improve milk production,
and they are looking to perform
more services themselves.
“We are trying to be as efficient
as we can be,” said Hanselman.
She calls this current stretch
wretched for the dairy farmer. It
is going as far as affecting farmers
emotionally.
“It affects a farmer’s feelings of
self-worth, because they might be
doing almost everything right, and
work many hours every day, and
yet they feel like they have failed
because they are struggling to
pay their bills, and support their
family,” she said.
She said it may be especially
tough on the young farmers who
may not have the equity to carry
them through these tough times.
“It is such an oxymoron that
the people who work to feed the
world have to struggle to feed their
family,” she said.
Despite the tough conditions, she
also looks at what the dairy industry
has going for it in New York. Farmers
are close to their customers. There is
ample water and a climate conducive
to cow comfort. And most of all,
there are the outstanding dairymen
and women who care about what
they do.
“They are good business people
and they know how to take great
care of their cattle and land,” said
Hanselman.
Rea echoes the sentiment, with an
added concern. “We have adequate
feed supplies and the opportunity
to cull at a higher rate, but as long
as the governor keeps flexing his
authority, dairy people will look for
opportunities to exit New York,” he
said.
The hope is now most farmers
can hang on during this tough
stretch.
“Dealing with this situation
will be more of a marathon than a
sprint,” Laughton said.
Lawsuit
Continued from page 1
not on a farm where the planting
and harvesting of crops and the
milking of cows are extremely time
sensitive and weather dependent.
For a farm to lose employees to an
untimely walk-off of the job could
jeopardize a season’s crop and place
livestock health at risk.”
But what added insult to injury
was Gov. Cuomo’s quick support
of the lawsuit and his refusal to
defend New York State labor law
in court, a move backed by the
attorney general as well.
The
governor’s statement also offered
up no support for family farms or
a defense against the outrageous
allegations being made by the
activists in attacking the industry.
In response, New York Farm
Bureau’s President Dean Norton
issued a second statement on May
10 condemning the Governor for his
position.
“We are extremely disappointed
to
hear
the
Governor’s
Administration
supports
the
NYCLU lawsuit regarding collective
bargaining rights for farmworkers. Following on the recently enacted
$15 minimum wage increase, the
governor’s decision to not defend
the state’s labor law is an affront
to agriculture and good farmers
across the state,” said Norton.
His statement went on to say,
“The NYCLU’s assertions regarding
farmers and their treatment of
their employees are erroneous,
insulting and disparaging and we
are frustrated that the governor’s
statement does not even recognize
this fact. Up until now, he has
publicly praised the dairy industry
and agriculture in general for the
good jobs that they create. It should
also be pointed out that farmworkers
are not the only employee class
that does not have the ability to
collectively bargain by virtue of the
nature of their job. The governor’s
position, in choosing not to defend
the state’s labor law, represents a
disservice to farmers that make up
the backbone of our rural economy.”
As of Grassroots’ press time, New
York Farm Bureau was reviewing
the case to determine what legal
action may be taken in response.
Grassroots Page 24 Careers
GMO
Continued from page 9
Continued from page 3
What impact does your job
have on farmers?
More than ever, people want
to know about all aspects of food
production – not just ‘is this food
nutritious and affordable?’ but how
animals are raised, what they’re
fed and where they live. People
not only want to know, they have
opinions – lots of them — which can
be very different from the opinions
of the men and women who spend
their days actually involved in food
production. Uniting the industry
to answer consumer questions and
encourage that dialogue is a huge
part of what I do every day, and
I’m convinced it’s absolutely vital
in order for farmers to continue to
have the social license to farm in
the future.
What do you see for the future
of agriculture?
I envision a future of amazing
technological advances, coming
from the farmers in our own
backyards. I see them rising to the
challenge of feeding a growing
world population more efficiently. And I’m very optimistic that
farmers will continue to share their
stories with their communities,
making it possible for everyone to
get their questions answered by the
real experts.
characteristics that have been put
into widespread commercial use are
those that allow a crop to withstand
the application of a herbicide or to
be toxic to insect pests.
The committee examined almost
900 research and other publications
on the development, use, and
effects of genetically engineered
characteristics in corn, soybean,
and cotton, which account for almost
all commercial GE crops to date.
“We dug deeply into the literature
to take a fresh look at the data on
GE and conventionally bred crops,”
said committee chair Fred Gould,
University Distinguished Professor
of Entomology and co-director
of the Genetic Engineering and
Society Center at North Carolina
State University.
In addition, the committee heard
from 80 diverse speakers at three
public meetings and 15 public
webinars, and read more than 700
comments from members of the
public to broaden its understanding
of issues surrounding GE crops.
“The committee focused on
listening carefully and responding
thoughtfully to members of the
public who have concerns about GE
News Updates
NYFB.org
Compliance
Continued from page 10
and a 10-year suspension.
Employer Record Keeping
As an employer, you must keep
records of your employee drug and
alcohol testing. Records that must
be kept for five years:
• employee alcohol test results
indicating an alcohol concentration
of .02 or greater;
• employee verified positive drug
test results;
• documentation of employee
refusals to take required alcohol
and/or drug tests;
Feast
Continued from page 9
Agricultural Education.
Mike
Spaulding of Nationwide Insurance
added his positive comments
and the evening proceeded to an
June 2016
crops and foods, as well as those who
feel that there are great benefits to
be had from GE crops,” said Gould.
The
committee
carefully
searched all available research
studies for persuasive evidence
of adverse health effects directly
attributable to consumption of
foods derived from GE crops but
found none. Studies with animals
and research on the chemical
composition of GE foods currently
on the market reveal no differences
that would implicate a higher risk to
human health and safety than from
eating their non-GE counterparts.
Though long-term epidemiological
studies have not directly addressed
GE food consumption, available
epidemiological data do not show
associations between any disease
or chronic conditions and the
consumption of GE foods.
There is some evidence that GE
insect-resistant crops have had
benefits to human health by reducing
insecticide poisonings. In addition,
several GE crops are in development
that are designed to benefit human
health, such as rice with increased
beta-carotene content to help
prevent blindness and death caused
by vitamin A deficiencies in some
developing nations.
The use of insect-resistant or
herbicide-resistant crops did not
reduce the overall diversity of
plant and insect life on farms,
and sometimes insect-resistant
crops
resulted
in
increased
insect diversity, the report says.
While gene flow – the transfer of
genes from a GE crop to a wild
relative species – has occurred,
no examples have demonstrated
an adverse environmental effect
from this transfer. Overall, the
committee found no conclusive
evidence
of
cause-and-effect
relationships between GE crops and
environmental problems. However,
the complex nature of assessing
long-term environmental changes
often made it difficult to reach
definitive conclusions.
The available evidence indicates
that GE soybean, cotton, and maize
have generally had favorable
economic outcomes for producers
who have adopted these crops, but
outcomes have varied depending on
pest abundance, farming practices,
and agricultural infrastructure.
Although GE crops have provided
economic benefits to many smallscale farmers in the early years of
adoption, enduring and widespread
gains will depend on such farmers
receiving institutional support,
such as access to credit, affordable
inputs such as fertilizer, extension
services, and access to profitable
local and global markets for the
crops.
• reports of substance abuse
professionals; and
• all follow-up tests and schedules
for follow-up tests.
Records that must be kept for
three years: information obtained
from previous employers of
employees as part of the drug and
alcohol testing background check.
Records that must be kept for two
years: information of inspection,
maintenance, and calibration of
breath testing devices for alcohol.
Records that must be kept for one
year: negative and cancelled drug
test results and alcohol test results
with a concentration of less than
.02.
More information may be
found on the Code of Federal
Regulations website at https://
www.transportation.gov/sites/
dot.dev/files/docs/PART40_2012.
pdf. Information on this and other
topics can be found in NYFB’s
publication Farmer’s Guide to
Truck & Farm Implement Laws &
Regulations, 4th ed., which can be
purchased by members by calling
Member Support at 1-800-342-4143.
The information contained in this
article is provided for informational
purposes only. It is not intended to
be, nor should it be considered, a
substitute for legal advice rendered
by a competent attorney. If you have
any questions about the application
of the issues raised in this article to
your particular situation, seek the
advice of a competent attorney.
introduction of a significant 2016
Foundation Program, the Food &
Farm Experience. The 2016 Food
& Farm Experience will provide
tools, resources, contacts and
information for counselors and
advisors of middle and high school
students about education and
careers in agriculture.
The “tasting” reception featuring
local cheeses, crackers and meats
and a Champagne toast kicked
off the evening.
Following was
a wonderful dinner showcasing
many local partners, including the
numerous wineries, distilleries,
and breweries who donated product.
The last course was a trio of dessert
items accompanied by Riesling Ice
Wine and a final taste of local Port
and Sherry.
The evening wrapped up with the
raffle drawing, which reached an
all-time high for sales. The grand
prize was a Childress framed print.
Other raffle items included the
12 New York “local” Commodity
Collections,
Senator
O’Mara’s
donation of two flags that have been
flown over the state Capitol, and
many more.
Sincerest thanks to all who helped
in so many ways planning the
event, and to the many supporters
and sponsors of the Foundation.
Please be sure to check the
Foundation’s website for a listing
of the many donors and sponsors
who all support its agricultural
education programs.
Grassroots June 2016
Story
Continued from page 9
As the population of our country
becomes farther and farther
removed from actual production
agriculture, it is increasingly
important for us to tell the story
of agriculture. If we as farmers,
farm children, and those involved
in various agriculturally related
occupations don’t tell the story—
Collegiate
Continued from page 8
use the experience she gained in
the past year to continue being a
leader for PAS/Collegiate Farm
Bureau. Lee has really enjoyed
her time in PAS/Collegiate Farm
Bureau and being an officer is a
great way for her to contribute to
the success of the club. Throughout
her years growing up in a 4-H club,
Lee can use her experience within
an agricultural leadership position
and share her knowledge with the
continuing and new club members.
When she finishes her degree
at SUNY Cobleskill, Lee plans
on continuing her education in
graduate school, where she will be
pursuing a career in Agricultural
Education and Biology. Lee looks
forward to another successful year
with the new officer team.
Treasurer Ashlynne Ratner is
from Livingston
Manor.
Ratner
is
currently
pursuing
a
bachelor
of
technology degree
in
agricultural
business in hopes
of one day working
for Farm Credit.
She grew up on a
Ratner
Trout Farm in the
lower region of
the Catskill Mountains, which has
since inspired her to pursue a career
within the agricultural industry.
Ratner would like to one day return
to her family’s Trout Farm and
continue the tradition. She is very
excited to serve as Treasurer for
SUNY Cobleskill PAS/Collegiate
Farm Bureau this upcoming year
and looks forward to all the new
experiences and opportunities that
will come upon her in the future.
who will? We don’t need to quote
statistics, cite research, or provoke
debate on controversial issues.
Simply sharing our story, explaining
our everyday lives, taking pictures
of our farm crops and machinery
are several ways of sharing.
Every one of us needs to share
not only our love for our way of
life, but also the facts and reasons
why we do what we do. It is a slow,
painful process but one that must
be done. If we don’t do it, those
who react with emotions, not
Farm
Bureau Representative
Natalie Majewski
is from Winsted,
CT. In the small
town she grew
up in, Natalie
discovered
her
love of the animal
industry,
and
was an active
member of the
Northwester n
Majewski
Regional
FFA
chapter. In the
fall, she will be a sophomore in the
agricultural business management
bachelor of technology program.
Majewski is also working towards
her associate’s degree in animal
science. She would like to work
toward promoting the agricultural
industry
and
agricultural
awareness. Natalie looks forward to
her year of service as Farm Bureau
Representative and everything she
will learn in that position working
closing with NYFB.
Public Relations officer McKenzie
Brown is from
Truxton,
NY.
Brown is studying
beef and livestock
production
at
SUNY Cobleskill.
She found her
passion
for
agriculture
through
her
high
school
Brown
agricultural
e d u c a t i o n
program and by showing cattle at
her county fair. After completing
her degree at Cobleskill, Brown
hopes to head west to Montana
where she can specialize in Range
Land Management and work on a
large cattle operation. She hopes
to own her own cattle operation in
the future. Brown is very excited to
serve this year as Public Relations
and looks forward to the many
opportunities ahead of her.
science, will share the scare stories,
misinformation, and create doubt
in the minds of the masses.
So, what can we do? First, we can
all be good neighbors. Don’t spread
manure next to the house next
door the day of their graduation
party. Use your slow moving vehicle
signs properly and be sure your
vehicles and implements have
proper lighting. Some farms send
a seasonal letter to their neighbors
FFX
Continued from page 9
Foundation
for
Agricultural
Education.
The FFX is scheduled for
Oct. 19-21, 2016, in Batavia,
during which participants will
have the opportunity to share
with
individuals
representing
agriculture. Participants will visit
and tour a variety of stops along
the journey from farm to fork,
and get a feel for the multitude of
career opportunities available in
the agricultural industry. They
will receive high-quality materials
and resources that will provide
easy access to the core of New York
agriculture, as well as being exposed
to panels representing agricultural
expertise, jobs, and education.
Interested in attending the 2016
Food & Farm Experience or know
someone to nominate? Contact New
York Farm Bureau’s Foundation for
Agricultural Education at 1-800-3424143. More information is available
at www.nyfbfoundation.org.
Page 25
explaining what will be happening
on the farm in the coming months.
Take a few minutes to be neighborly
and visit with your neighbors the
day before you spread manure or
plant corn until midnight.
A personal Facebook page is
relatively easy to do, but must have
frequent posts to get shared with
your friends and the public. One of
the New York Farm Bureau Board
of Directors takes five minutes
or less almost every day to snap
a picture with his phone, write a
brief explanation, and post it. He
may show a new calf, a piece of
equipment at work, a sunrise, or
tackle more difficult topics like why
corn seeds are blue or how a cow
needed help to give birth.
If your county Farm Bureau
has a Facebook page or website,
visit it frequently. Add a comment,
or contribute information to the
administrator. Read and share the
Grassroots publication and your
county Farm Bureau newsletter.
The Farm Bureau Foundation
for Agriculture Education has a
number of commodity brochures
which are available on the website.
Several county Farm Bureaus
have purchased bulletin racks
and placed the brochures in local
libraries. Your county Farm Bureau
might like to adopt this idea. Of
course, summer fairs and festivals
are a good place for displays and
demonstrations.
The bottom line is that sharing
the story of agriculture is up to us,
as farmers. Everyone must help.
Hopefully you can find an idea here
to get started, and have fun doing it.
Don’t forget to share your ideas and
plans with others.
Grassroots Page 26 June 2016
Grassroots Farmers’ Market
Classified Ads FREE to NYFB members
HAY
HAY FOR SALE. Quality timothybrome-orchard grass mix. Small
square bales for pickup or delivery
in
Westchester, Dutchess and
Putnam area. 845-475-7100
ALPACA HAY. Tender, soft 3rd
and 4th cut grass and some alfalfa.
Caseyland Farm 518-461-7922
STRAW FOR SALE.
Skanda
Equine in Cazenovia has beautiful,
soft straw for sale. $4.10/bale. 917940-4963
HAY FOR SALE. Nice quality dry
hay. Small, well packed square
bales. No chemicals. Never wet.
1st cutting $2.75/bale, 2nd cutting
$4.00/bale. 315-562-8280
TOP QUALITY tested horse hay;
references available. Timothy/
Orchard mix, RFV 92-98. Small
square bales $5.50-$6.50 each. Can
ship anywhere in continental USA.
607-538-9685 or scotchvalleyranch@
gmail.com.
FOR SALE. 4x4 rounds. Grass hay,
1st cutting. Organic Certified. $35/
each. 607-849-3798
HAY FOR SALE. Alfalfa & Alfalfa
Mixed. Quality tested. Round
processed baleage. 1st, 2nd & 3rd
cut available. Malette Hy-View
Acres. 518-497-6837
HAY FOR SALE. Legume grass 4x5
baleage, 2nd & 3rd cutting which
has been tested. Also stored inside
1st cut 4x5 hay. Chemung County
607-962-1477
HAY FOR SALE – Orange County
area – Mixed grass/timothy/
alfalfa. Standard 40lb bales (10 &
up). Pick up or delivery for fee.
845-374-5471 ask for Jeff Soons.
[email protected].
HAY FOR SALE. Tubed round
bales of oatlage and 3rd cutting
alfalfa mix balage; 1st & 2nd
cutting Savanah-Sorghum balage
and round dry bales under cover.
518-753-4387 or 518-466-1457
HAY FOR SALE. Pure Alfalfa
and forage soybean bailage. $75/
bale. 50lbs corn $6.00. Potsdam/
St.Lawrence County. 315-265-6788
STRAW FOR SALE. Clean/dry 3x4
wheat straw for feeding or bedding.
Delivered by truckload. Wes at 866575-7562
HAY FOR SALE. 4x4 netted round
bales. Timothy/mixed grasses. Good
feed, never wet, stored inside, no
chemicals. $50 cash upon loading.
585-637-9632 leave message.
STANDING HAY for sale. Timothy
and red clover on Story Road,
Sparta, NY. 585-669-2214
TRACTORS,
MACHINERY
JOHN DEERE
1070 JD 1020 Row Crop tractor
with bucket, rear PTO & 3 pt hitch.
Runs. Have manuals. $4000. 631827-4891; 1978 Troy-Bilt H61E
Reach Farm Bureau members throughout the state!
Sell equipment, real estate or a service, you name it!
One free ad — up to 30 words — per month for every member, as long
as we receive your ad by the 15th of the previous month.
Want an additional up-to-30-word ad? No problem.
Members pay just $15. Non-members pay $30.
We gladly accept ads by e-mail at: [email protected].
or mail to: Grassroots Classifieds, PO Box 5330, Albany, NY 12205
or fax to: 518-431-5656 For more information call: 518-436-8495
Advertisers in this section support the mission of
the New York Farm Bureau. NYFB reserves the right
to refuse to accept any classified ad, paid or unpaid, at its sole
discretion. Payment must accompany order with all paid ads.
rototiller. Needs magneto. $400
631-827-4891; 1984 10,000 lb WARN
electric winch with 100 ft SS cable.
$350. 631-827-4891
JD Combine 1972, 4400, 6 cylinder
Diesel, has 13’ grain head, runs and
operates. $4200 obo. 607-652-7590
STORED INSIDE. JD 430 round
baler. $3500. 585-591-0795
JD 4430 with loader. Runs good.
$10,000. 315-447-3196
JD60 NFE with 3pt hitch and JD
snow plow. Runs good. 315-626-2881
JD 2840 Tractor, good engine, rear
end. 315-695-5738 for more info.
JD1327 Discbine 9ft cutting width,
has cut about 100 acres since cutter
bar was rebuilt. $3900. Also 336 JD
Baler with hydraulic ejector $2500.
716-266-3041
JD245 Hydro Lawn tractor. 48”
mower, snowblower, chains, wheel
weights, Ag Tires, lights, manual,
completely serviced. Mint Condition,
was $9600 new. Asking $2600.
Harpursville, NY 607-437-8886
1945 JD Model B Farm Tractor.
Restored, 4 new tires, parade ready.
$3000. Daniel 607-359-2693
2014 JD MX-10, like new, mowed
10 acres. Semi-mount $6,000. AC
160, good shape Perkins diesel and
remote $4500; Athens 62 Disc 10.5ft,
notched front, excellent $4250. 914621-7582
ALLIS CHALMERS
AC B tractor with belly mower,
snow plow, tire chains and
cultivators, VG, runs great. ONAN
commercial 5k generator on trailer
with flood lights VG; Yamaha G1
golf cart VG. 315-263-0872
MASSEY FERGUSON
1990-91 MASSEY 1035. Many new
parts,has front bucket and rear
backhoe. Runs very well. 4 wheel
drive. $12,000 518-733-9332
FERGUSON 30 Tractor with rebuilt
engine, good rubber. 315-691-2013
MOLINES
1946 Molines RtU. Runs good
$1500. 716-472-9928
NEW HOLLAND
NH 575 Baler, 13’ White 256
disc, Allied 51’ elevator, Landoll
V-ripper, White 10 shank chisel
plow with colters. 845-427-2254
NH Model 326 small square baler
with pan thrower. 1800 bales
this year. Always stored inside.
$7700.00. 315-430-3252
790 NH 1000rpm chopper with 2
heads (grass and 2 row corn); 9’
Agbagger; Dion S.O. wagon. Field
ready. 518-569-1954
NH 489 Haybine, stored inside, in
good condition. $3800. 518-827-6733
FARMALL
FARMALL Super-H, live hydraulic,
excellent tin $3000; Farmall Super-M
excellent sheet metal $3000; SUPER
“C”. Excellent condition $2500;
Farmall 504 Hi-Clear. Also have
International 4166, good condition.
315-536-9438
FARMALL 560 Diesel. Strong engine,
strong TA. 95% rear tires, 3 sets of rear
weights. Runs great, needs batteries.
Asking $4200. 607-264-3947
FORD
FORD TW25-2; 137hp; 540and 1000
pto, 5100 hrs. New tires and clutch.
$16,000 obo. Runs great. 315-2121386
1980 FORD 30’ bucket truck. $1200
obo. Repair or salvage. Also have
1973 - 353 Diesel log skidder, asking
$10,000 obo. 518-733-9332
FORD 1900. 4 wheel, has ROPS,
power steering, 5’ bucket, block
heater, ag tires, loaded, 5’ rear
finish mower. 845-227-0405 leave
message
5ft snowblower. New, never used,
front load, hydraulic directional
chute. $5500. Located between
Lowville and Watertown, NY. 315955-2898
CASE 2470 with 12ft Degelman
Blade, front duals, works very well.
$11,000; 3588 2+2 duals, all 4 tires
newer, 466 engine, looks and works
good. $11,000 315-822-5255
DOZERS
DRESSER 175C crawler loader.
1995 with 1800hrs. 4in1 bucket,
new undercarriage. Exc. Condition.
$20,000 negotiable/trades.
516767-1528 or Ralph@rbonavitacola.
com.
2008 KOMATSU CK35-1 Crawler
Skid Steer with only 1036 hours! 2
speed, turbo charged diesel engine.
$25,500. 518-251-2424
CATAPILLAR 955L Track Loader
with new tracks, rollers, sprockets.
Has 4 in 1 bucket and rear winch.
$12,500. 914-949-4100 or GFN870@
aol.com
EQUIPMENT
OEM Massey, Gleaner, New Idea,
White, Agco, & Challenger parts.
0% financing on Hesston and
Massey Ferguson round balers,
mowers & most hay tools. . www.
mabiebros.com or 315-687-7891
CALL US for KRONE hay tools and
parts. Tedders and Rakes in stock.
www.mabiebros.com or 315-6877891
ANTIQUE OLIVER Super 88 all
new tires. Mint. $5,000; 1949 JD
B Series, all restored $5,000; 1960
705 MOLINE, all restored $6,000;
1944 D2 CAT tractor, never had
a blade on it, all restored $5,000;
2 new 20x30 tractor chains $300;
new 20x25 articulator loader chains
$300. 845-726-4180
ANTIQUE JD Manure spreader.
Horse drawn or tractor adaptable.
All parts complete. “Slats & Chain”.
Mint condition. Illness forces sale.
$400.00 845-226-1424
M70-60 Kubota. 2013. Bucket, cab,
weights, air and radio. 70 horse,
loaded. 20 hours. 845-857-0242.
BELARUS 805 85hp with cab.
1460 hrs, 2 wheel drive, 18 speed
forward 4 speed reverse. Pto 540
and 1000 rpm, 3pt hitch, very good
condition. $8900 obo. BELARUS
250AS 31 hp, 244 hrs, 2 wheel drive,
540 pto, live hydro, 3pt hitch, 8
speed forward and 6 reverse. Very
good condition. $3500 obo. 315699-2459
2001
INTERNATIONAL 4700
DT466, 5x2, air brakes, 33,000 GVW,
Arbortech 14” dumping multipurpose tree chip body with 2500
lb tuck away hydraulic lift gate and
full through tunnel box.. 27k miles
$29,500. Adams Tree Service, Inc.
914-241-3849
Jay-Lor 3425 Vertical feed mixer with
hay knives. Has crosscut converter
so it can feed either side. Can be
seen anytime. Mexico, NY 315-9637311 or 315-727-3860 $23,000.
KUBOTA
CASE
INT 574 gas tractor with loader.
Well maintained, have records
and manual.$6800. Farmall H with
hydraulic controlled front snow
blade. Good condition. $975. JD
ZERO TURN MOWERS by BIG
DOG. 7yr warranty, 0% (48 month)
financing available. Oh, My!
Mowers. Stanley, NY 585-314-4912
FARM KING 17ft pull tedder; Farm
King 6ft rotary cutter; Farm King
5ft rotary tiller; Farm King 5ft finish
mower and a used Ford Landscape
Rake. 607-529-3294
June 2016
Grassroots Grassroots Farmers’ Market
KICKER BALE WAGON in Watkins
Glen area. 73/4 ft high (10ft. with
running gear) x 8ft wide x 17ft long.
Ex. Cond. $1000. jcsgrecci@gmail.
com or text 607-846-8557
HESTON PT-7 Mower Conditioner
and NH56 Hay Rig. Asking $1500
for Hay Rig and $1500 for Mower
Conditioner.
Good running
condition. Photos available. 845658-3584 or robharemaker@gmail.
com for inquiries.
NEW Holland 770 chopper $500;
International 3388 tractor offer;
Hesston 8200 self propelled haybine
$15,000; JD 348 baler ¼ turn acid,
moisture tester $6500. Lockport NY
716-433-3370
PTO driven generator 35kW. Please
call evenings. 716-942-3889
AGCO PARTS – Massey Ferguson,
Challenger, White, New Idea,
Oliver, Allis Chalmers and more.
We ship UPS daily! 518-731-6019
or www.maxwoodequipment.com.
WILD WOMAN COMPANY, INC.
All types of survey equipment.
GPS – Repairs – supplies –
accessories. We repair all brands
of survey equipment. 30 years in
business. Woman owned firm.
Call Laurie Mass. 516-922-7740 or
wildwoman@survey-equipment.
com. Please call for a quote.
WANTED
WANTED: Feeder wagon with or
without head locks. 315-839-7237
WANTED: Front Bucket loader
assembly for a Zetor 9540 farm
tractor. 607-965-2174
WANTED. Old grist mill stone,
iron garden gates ,fencing & anvils
201-906-2135 or [email protected].
WANTED. 17 or 20ft Woods batwing
fine cut mower. 516-380-2184
VEHICLES
PICKUP TONNEAU black soft cover
used 1 year, like new , fits 1999-2012
full size Chevy GMC or 2013-2014
Ford F150 with 6.5 box. Asking $200.
Binghamton, NY 607-722-2499
LUX Undercover SE – Tonneau truck
bed cover. Will fit all Fords from ’09
to ’14 F-150 with the 5.5’ beds (short
bed). White. Perfect condition with
all parts. Installation constructions
included. Has inside LED light.
$600 or best. 315-682-5552
2001
INTERNATIONAL 4700
DT466, 5x2, air brakes, 33,000
GVW, Arbortech 14” dumping
multi-purpose tree chip body with
2500 lb tuck away hydraulic lift
gate and full through tunnel box.
$31,500. Adams Tree Service, Inc.
914-241-3849
1969 INT 1900 like new. 30k miles,
30yrs in barn. 8x16x4 box. 2 speed
axel, air brakes, 2 50 gallon gas
tanks $6,000. 845-726-4180
2000 FREIGHTLINER FL70. 14k
original miles, dump body with
swing gate, cummins 15B230, 5.9
litre diesel, 6speed, air brakes, ex.
Cond. $37,500
914-949-4100 or
[email protected]
2002 JAYCO 5th wheel. Needs some
repairs. $1500.00. 518-372-0936
SPECIAL OFFER TO NYFB
Members – GM Preferred Pricing
and additional $500 rebate on
new Chevrolets from Ken Barrett
Chevrolet in Batavia. Great
selection of New and Used. 585344-1000 or www.kenbarrett.com.
GET YOUR BEST DEAL with
personal service at Emerling Chevy,
the #1 Fleet Sales Volume Chevy
Dealer in NYS. Call, email or stop at
the dealership. All NYFB members
are eligible for an additional $500
rebate. Bill Solak. 716-941-5255 ext.
205 or [email protected].
EQUINE
WESTERN CHAPTER NYS Horse
Council. Serving the equine
community in WNY. www.
wcnyshc.org. 716-941-9120.
NYS Horse Council “To create a
strong unified voice for all interests
toward the preservation of a future
for horses in New York State”. New
2015 Membership Opportunities.
www.nyshc.org.
JD NORTH Farm Trail Challenge,
Stanley NY. Sunday, Sept. 18th,
first ride out at 9am. Benefits Light
Hill Hospice and Stanley/Hall/
Gorham Ambulance. Six divisions
including leadline. FMI Debbie at
585-526-5803, happy.hunter.deb@
gmail.com.
LOOMIS QUARTER HORSES:
Training reining and performance
horses, Halter, Pleasure and
starting colts. Western lessons and
clinics available. Short and long
distance trucking. 315-388-7736 or
[email protected].
RAYCLIFF FARM – Foundation
Bred Quarter Horses.
Blue
Valentine – Peppy San Badger
and more. Ranch Bred, wonderful
conformation, disposition, color.
All ages and stages. 315-823-4321
SHOW HORSE Appraiser. Maple
Row Farm. 716-435-0114 (cell) or
716-741-6900
EQUINE
CONNECTIONS
©
MASSAGE THERAPY. Enhance
Performance. Safeguard against
injury. Give your horses the best
possible care.
CJ Mathewson.
Certified Equissage © Therapist.
Info@ www.equitouch.webs.com
518-848-4599
A HORSE DRAWN AFFAIR/BROE
FARM home of Rosevale Leggo.
16.2 black morgan stallion standing
at stud. Boarding ,lessons, training,
dressage, driving ,hunters, Sales
518-329-5249
60 FOOT ROUND PEN COVER.
Excellent condition.
View at
FarmTek, priced at less than half for
a new one. $15,000. Beautiful light,
creates safe footing year round,
protection from the elements. cari@
cariswanson.com or 914-456-3155
HORSE STALLS. 10x10 modular
assembled, total of 10 stalls back
to back, grilled sliding doors,
free stand option, never used.
Bought for $15k, sell as is for $12k.
[email protected] or
518-325-1287
6 ROLLS (660’) white polymer 4inch
RAMM Horse Flex fencing, never
used, still rolled up and covered.
510 brackets, 50 nails, 48 tensioners
$2400, save over $500 OBO. 2-12ft
Corral Panels, Behlan Powder
coated 1 – 12’ panel with 6’gate.
Never used. $250. 315-737-9952
BOARDING/LESSONS
AUBREY HOUSE FARM, Copake,
NY features indoor and outdoor
arenas, an outside course, trails and
many acres of turnout. Our trainer
specializes in Hunters, jumpers and
equitation. www.aubreyhousefarm.
com , 518-325-1287, Catherine@
aubreyhousefarm.com.
AERING GREEN EQUESTRIAN
CENTER. Schodack, NY is a full
service dressage and eventing
facility. Offering board, training,
lessons on our well trained horses
and day camp. With out indoor and
Olympic size outdoor and ample
turnout, our horse are spoiled year
round! Laura Fay at 518-429-6825
or www.aeringgreen.com.
BEDNAREK QUARTER HORSES
Offering boarding and training
of all breeds. We have 40 years
experience in the horse world.
10x12 stalls, indoor ring. Jamesville,
NY 315-243-4387
CHESTNUT RIDGE STABLE in
Cambridge, NY: Boarding (indoor
or outdoor), lessons and training.
12x12 box stalls, 72x200 indoor
arena, 125x250 outdoor arena. 518677-3545
DUTCH MANOR STABLE – Since
1967. Where quality board, training
& instruction are a Capital District
tradition. Large heated indoor
and outdoor riding arenas. USHJA
certified instruction. 518-456-5010
www.dmstable.com
HIGHLAND MEADOWS Equestrian
Center in Newark, NY offering
boarding, training, lessons and
summer camps. Large indoor and
outdoor arenas. Contact farm manager,
Madelyn Hersh 347-886-7030
AFTER HOURS FARM, Clifton
Park NY. Specializing in “TLC”
horse boarding, superior English
riding lessons and training. Indoor
and outdoor rings. Horse shows
and clinics. (518)384-6441.
QUALITY STABLES. Quality care
for boarding and training horses.
Large lesson program for all ages.
Visitors welcome. Oneonta, NY 607432-8977. www.qualitystables.com.
LUKENS STABLES – nationally
known trainers of American
Saddlebreds, Hackneys – road
horses. Also boarding for retirees
& broodmares. Excellent run-in
facility, lessons by appointment.
Ravena, NY. 518-756-9777
ISLAND HILLS STABLE for all
your equestrian needs. Boardingtraining, we specialize in lay-ups
also have a selection of horses &
ponies for sale or lease. Excellent
turnouts with 24 hr care, large
matted stalls fully bedded, large
indoor & 3 large outdoor lighted
tings. Lessons for all levels, Clinics,
USEF rated horseshows year
round. [email protected]
or 631-924-4046
Page 27
BRING
YOUR
HORSE
TO
COLLEGE!!! Large family operated
equestrian
facility
offering
boarding and lessons near SUNY
Canton, SUNY Potsdam, SLU and
Clarkson. Full board starting at
$350/month tax included. www.
honeydewacres.org.
NATURAL HORSE LOVER FARM.
Holistic care & education for people
and animals – helping everyone
live happier and healthier, balanced
lives. Lessons, clinics, consultations,
classes, Reiki, aromatherapy and
more.
315-389-5817 or www.
naturalhorseloverfarm.com.
RETIRED
horse
boarding.
Binghamton area. Custom care.
12x12 stalls, turnout with sheds,
pasture. Specializing in nutritional
problems related to age and
illness. References upon request.
30 yrs experience. www.equineretirement.com or 607-639-2409
EQUIDS FOR SALE
MORGAN MARE 6 yrs old, Liver
chestnut by Bell Flaire. Rides
English/western, long lines,clips,
cross-ties, jumps 3’, light mouth,
15.1 hands. Barefoot. Death in
family forces sale. $7500. Warwick,
NY 973-615-4795
MORGAN HORSES- We offer the
finest in trained mares, geldings and
outstanding young stock. Terrific
quality, sane, and sound. Hartland
Morgans, www.hartlandmorgans.
com Windsor, NY, 607-655-2604.
AMERICAN
SADDLEBRED
youngsters for sale. All impeccably
bred for show and breeding. Priced
to sell. Contact Brian Ferguson,
Valleyfield Farm, Victor, NY. 585-7663323 or www.valleyfieldfarm.net.
ARABIANS
AND
HALFARABIANS for sale!
Well
mannered, family friendly Sugar
Hill Farm show horses bred here
and started under saddle. Also
retired show and seasoned lesson
horses available to love! Betsy
Kubiak 585-924-8240 or visit Victor,
NY. www.sugarhillarabians.com.
TRANSPORTATION/
TRAILERS/OTHER
1990 Circle J 2-Horse trailer,
straight load w/ramp, storm doors,
2 escape doors, tack compartment.
4 new tires. Very good condition.
607-225-4909
1983 horse trailer, gooseneck,
4-horse with dressing room. $3000
obo.
Antique cast iron wood
cookstove $350 obo. 607-775-4196
LUKENS HORSE Transportation.
Providing the best care for your
horse for over 25 years. Weekly trips
from the Northeast to Kentucky.
Give us a call! 1-800-621-1225 or
www.horsetransport.com.
HORSE TRANSPORTATION: Fort
Christopher’s
Thoroughbreds,
LLC
transportation
division
offering affordable weekly trips to
KY,MD,NY and all major sales. Fully
insured with new trucks/trailers
and professional drivers. Proudly
served the thoroughbred community
for past 12 years. Please contact
Christopher Shelli at 518-858-1790 or
[email protected].
Page 28 Grassroots Grassroots Farmers’ Market
2009 Barrett Aluminum livestock
trailer. 28’x8’x8’. Built for draft
horses. Cross members every 6”, 1
gate & winch. Stored inside, never
used in winter, used less than 1000
miles. $25,000. 315-346-1482
TACK
SADDLE: 17”, wide tree, Country
All Purpose. Excellent Condition
$2000 and a 17” wide tree, Carlyle
(made by Harry Dobbs). Very good
condition $1000. Bharris62@aol.
com. 585-472-5188
RUBBER TIRE DRAFT Wagon,
cutter sleigh, 17” Ammerman
Roping Saddle, collars, draft
blankets, 2 outback oilskin dusters,
farrier supplies. 518-692-1041
LIVESTOCK
EXOTICS
DISCOVER
THE
BISON
ADVANTAGE: New producers
wanted to raise 100% grass-fed
bison. Established markets. No
special fencing needed. Technical
assistance provided. Breeding stock
available. 518-588-1402
GOATS, pasture-raised without
any grain, hoof rot free. www.
whitecloversheepfarm.com , Email
[email protected].
Phone 585-554-3313
PUREBRED KIKO Performance
Bucks. Excellent bloodlines from
Dr. Ann Pieschel. Goats Unlimited.
Healthy and hardy bucks of various
ages and colors from a closed herd.
Upgrade your kiko herd or add
hybrid vigor to other breeds with
the Kiko Advantage for $600. Ask
about our started packages! www.
Roll-n-HillsRanch.com or Ken at
607-760-5660. Johnson City, NY.
REGISTERED NIGERIAN Dwarf
dairy goats – small and easy to handle.
breeding stock, ideal for personal
milk supply, 4-H projects, Can pull
carts or be a pack animal. Does
and bucks available. Shots-wormedDownsizing herd. Binghamton area,
call evenings 607-693-2682
CATTLE
TEXTEL RAMS for sale. Yearling
and ram lambs.
Textels have
remarkable muscle development
and leanness. Very easy keepers
and thrive on grass. Docile and easy
to work around. Lambs are very
hardy. Ewes are excellent milkers.
518-853-3678
CATTLE oilers and scratchers
for sale, have brushes and parts.
Ron. 585-267-6307 or ronferris@
rochester.rr.com.
TWO Registered Suffolk ewe lambs.
Born Feb. 2015. Used as 4H projects.
Downsizing. $500 for the pair. Good
maternal line. 716-531-1697
JERSEY BULLS for sale. Electric
fence trained. Located in Tully, 20
minutes south of Syracuse. 315391-4290
POLLED HEREFORD bull coming
3 yrs old. 315-626-2881
LIMOUSINE-cross beef feeder
calves for sale. Small family farm
in Ransomville, NY. 716-791-0034.
[email protected].
REGISTERED Hereford breeding
stock and Black Baldies since
1967. Straight Hereford and
Angussimi bulls ready for duty.
“Put Heterozygous Vigor into your
program”, it pays!. ABC Ranch.
607-324-2286
REGISTERED HOLSTEIN for sale.
Coming 6 year old, just fresh, big
typey, well mannered. $2500 obo.
518-268-0311
2 REG. POLLED Hereford heifers.
Organically fed hay and pasture,
excellent bloodlines. Ready to
breed or beef. 518-368-2663 or 518663-5718 leave message
GOATS/SHEEP
BABY Lambs and goats and baled
hay available all year long. Mike
845-434-7764
PUREBRED SHEEP FOR SALE. Fine
wooled MERINOS. Meat producing
SHOPSHIRE. Yearling ewes, spring
lambs, some brood ewes, starter
flocks. Excellent breeding stock.
Wayland, NY 585-721-3038
BABYDOLL LAMBS. Born spring
2015, off white ewes (2), 1 ram, can
be wethered. Registered NABSSAR.
Schuylerville
area.
www.
cabincreekacres.com or 518-587-6008
WHITE DORPER SHEEP shedding,
no shearing needed, and KIKO
RECORDED GRADE Dairy Goats
(Alpine/Oberhasli). Does can be
registered, bucks cannot. All have
great milk production lines. $150
for does, $50 for bucks. Otsego
County. 607-293-8174
FRESHLY shorn sheep fleeces from
Elihu Farm, Washington County,
for handspinning and crafts. Our
fleeces win prizes at fairs and
festivals. Farm open April 23-24 or
by appointment. 518-744-3947 or
[email protected].
SWINE
Two Yorkshire-cross sows. 2yrs old,
each has had a successful liter; 1
yr old @200# barrow for sale. Also
looking for Limousin or Angus bull.
716-791-0034 or thymesrightfarm@
gmail.com
KUNEKUNE Heritage Grazing
piglets. Easy on fence, do not root.
Gorgeous colors, heavily boned,
short snouts. Weaned, wormed,
registered
and
microchipped.
Quality breeding stock $800 and
feeders $400. 607-221-6629
WORKING DOGS
AKBASH Livestock Guardian dogs.
Taking reservations for puppies in
late spring. Experienced dogs also
available, guarding sheep, alpacas
and goats. We sleep at night,
because they don’t! Springside
Farm. 315-683-5860
POULTRY
DAY OLD POULTRY – Layers,
Broilers, Turkeys, Ducks, Geese,
Guineas, Bantams, Rare Breeds,
started laying hens. Farm Family
Owned, NPIP TESTED, DEC
Licensed, Humane & Organic
practices, pasture raised. FB-FFA4H & Farm discounts – Pick up
OR shipping. 855-824-4257 www.
Thepoultryhatchery.com.
BLACK COPPER Muranas & other
chickens or chicks. 585-300-7898
ALPACAS/LLAMAS
HUACAYA ALPACAS – Heavenly
Sunset Farm, Woodhull, NY. Not
going out of business…downsizing
necessary due to health issues.
Superior bloodlines at low prices.
Perfect for start-up or to add to
existing herds. www.alpacanation.
com/heavenlysunsetfarm.asp. All
prices negotiable…call for discussion
607-458-5499 or 607-765-0306.
ALPACAS. Pets and breeding
females. Also raw alpaca fiber sold
by the pound. 518-497-6009
BEAUTIFUL and reasonable huacaya
Alpaca sales, fiber, yarn and finished
goods in the store and farm visits
ongoing. Cria due mid-summer.
Call for appointments 607-397-8051.
www.prestonsalpacasllc.com.
AT ALPACA SHACK’S LOFT.
100% alpaca handmade hats,
scarves, mittens, cowls, shrugs and
more. See our complete inventory
at www.alpacashackloft.com.
ALPACAS for sale at reasonable
prices; males, females and a gelding.
Visit us at Inghams Mill Farm for
pictures and more info. 315-8231605. We will consider all offers.
ALPACAS
at
CABIN
VIEW
ALPACAS. Superior genetics for seed
stock/breeding; foundation females
and pet/fiber boys. Top quality
service, boarding, breeding and highend alpaca products. 607-279-3567 or
[email protected].
LLAMAS – we offer animals that can
fill a variety of purposes; a loveable
companion, show animal, pack, guard,
or a source of exquisite fiber. www.
dakotaridgefarm.com, llamawhisp@
aol.com. Ballston Spa, NY.
ALPACA SALES & BREEDING.
High-quality huacaya alpacas.
Exceptional new owner support.
Yarn & handmade garments.
Faraway Farm Alpacas, Yorktown
Heights, NY. Visitors welcome by
appointment. 914-962-2110 www.
FarawayFarmAlpacas.com.
FORESTRY
CUSTOM SAWING of logs, rough-cut
hard and soft wood lumber available.
Mill Blades Hammered. Call Ken.
585-547-9269 or 585-591-0180
CEDAR FENCE POSTS. 6’,7’,8’
and other sizes and diameters
by request. Grays’ Garden and
Greenhouse. Saint Johnsville, NY
518-568-5764
BARK MULCH, used 8”x48”x18’
CRANE mats. Treated Ties, Stone
pallets stock and made to order;
Rough cut Pine and Hemlock
lumber stock and cut to order.Air
dried speciality lumber; Curly,
Wormy, Butternut, etc. Buying logs
and standing timber Cannonsville
Lumber, Inc.
607-467-3380 or
[email protected].
GUTCHESS
LUMBER
CO.
since 1904 has been purchasing
hardwood standing timber, logs &
forestland in NY & PA. Put your
June 2016
woodlot to work and speak to our
Foresters. 607-756-0942 or www.
Gutchess.com.
THE WAGNER COMPANIES.
Purchasers of hardwood logs,
standing timber & forest lands.
Forest Management & Timber
Appraisals by Certified Foresters.
Seven locations from Allegany to
Boonville, The Wagner Companies
procurement department has a
certified forester or log buyer ready
to serve you. www.wagnerlumber.
com or 607-687-0270
LOCUST POSTS, poles, up to 30ft.
Authentic locust split rails, posts.
Sawn lumber 4x4,6x6,1x6 ect. 8-16ft
oak * cherry 1x4,1x6 other sizes and
species available. Buy standing
locust and log length locust. Tom
518-883-8284 leave message.
TRAVEL
COME VISIT OUR FARMS!
New York Deer & Elk Farmers
Association invites you to come visit
a deer or elk farm near you! There
are over 540 farms in New York
State! Contact NYDEFA at 716-6854019 or [email protected] to
locate a farm near you!
HOGANS BED & BREAKFAST in
East Moriches, Long Island, the
Gateway to the Hamptons. An hour
away is the Montauk Lighthouse,
Minutes away are the Long Island
Game Farm, Wineries, fishing. 631878-1964
LAMPPOST BED & BREAKFAST
in Lansing, NY. A 200 year old
home in the heart of where the food
is grown. On the Cayuga Wine
Trail. Lamppostbandb.com. 607351-7030
VACATION in the US Virgin
Islands on St. Croix. No passport
required.
An
uncrowded
agricultural island with rain forest,
livestock, and secluded beaches.
2 bedroom,2 bath villa with your
private pool and ocean view. www.
stcroixrentavilla.com/SunKissed.
html or call Anne at 800-533-6863
and ask about SunKissed Villa.
STEP BACK into the 19th century
at Raked South Garden Bed and
Breakfast.
See the orchard in
season from your 2nd floor room.
Call Dottie at 315-589-8012
SUPPLIES
PESTICIDES
PESTICIDES – Springwater Ag
Products. 8663 Strutt St. Wayland,
NY. Farmer friendly prices. Call for
a quote.. Serving the Finger Lakes
area since 2004. 585-315-1094
OILS/LUBRICANTS
“SLIPIT general purpose lubricants.
Use in USDA inspected facilities.
FDA food grade for incidental food
contact. Made in the Hudson Valley
New York, Please try some. www.
slipit.com/shop.html;
845-7787219“
Buy AMSOIL at wholesale prices.
AMSOIL Preferred Customers save
25-30% off lubrication products
shipped to your door! AMSOIL
made in the USA, the first in
synthetic lubricants. Call/text 607226-1195 www.myamsoil.com.
Grassroots June 2016
Page 29
Grassroots Farmers’ Market
HONEY BEES
VSH ITALIAN Queen Bees.
Upstate NY raised from USDA VSH
&Pol-line stock. Available MayAugust $30 each. 315-939-0321 or
[email protected]
SPECIALTY PRODUCTS
WINE!
$1 shipping to NYFB
members in NY State. Go to our
website:
Atwatervineyards.com,
place order, use NYFB as coupon
code, all other discounts apply.
607-546-8463
STOP FYRE Fire Extinguishers.
Ake.com. Statt’s Response Kit
LLC. An independent authorized
dealer. 26 Church Street. Honeoye,
NY 14471. The ONLY NYS dealer!
585-489-9408 or toddstatt@hotmail.
com.
NEW
PRO-AGRICULTURE
THEMED GIFTS. Mugs, cell phone
cases, mouse pads, humorous tees,
kid’s tees, etc by farmers, for farmers.
Visit www.AGtiveWear.com Be an
advocate. Wear your pride!
AQUACULTURE
ALL POND FISH, Grass Carp,
Forage & Supplies SHIPPED TO
YOUR DOOR. Pond dye, muck,
algae & weed control solutions. Full
service management, consulting,
aquaponics, solar, windmill, electric
aerators & fountains. 585-322-7805
or www.smithcreekfishfarm.com.
HORTICULTURE
JEFFERSON COUNTY SOIL &
WATER Conservation District’s
annual tree sale is underway. Order
forms available online at www.
jeffersoncountyswcd.org or 315782-2749
HAZELNUT AND CHESTNUT
Trees for sale. Grown in zone 5a,
Cortland, NY. Enjoy your own nut
trees for commercial orchard, home
planting or erosion control. www.
znutty.com or 607-656-4409
CERTIFIED ORGANIC herb and
vegetable transplants, compost
based organic potting soils, custom
grown
transplants,
produce
and more. Wholesale and retail
customers welcome. Honeoye Falls,
NY 585-582-5725 www.lighthousegardens.com.
GIANT VARIETY Vegetable Seeds
– grow giant pumpkins, corn,
sunflowers, etc. and make a show
for your farm market. Start a contest
and involve the kids! Set World
Records! www.bigseeds.com.
COVER CROPS. Winter Rye, Winter
Wheat, also Barley, Teff, Alfalfa,
Clover, Timothy and many more
forages and turf grasses and Mixes.
Deer plots. Grain and Silage corn,
Soybeans, Bulk vegetables and Flower
Seed. Page Seeds. 607-656-4107
MEDIUM Red Clover. Cleaned and in
50# bags. $80 per bag. 315-539-9439
I SELL “De-Dell” seed corn plus
lubricants, paints and roof coating.
Call Bob at 814-331-9335
BLACK PLASTIC Mulch 5+1/2
4000ft rolls of 3ft, 1mil. Embossed
at ½ price. Berry Plants: Raspberry,
Blackberry, Currants & Grape Vines.
Many varieties. 716-337-3162
OPEN
POLLINATED
CORN
SEED. Silage, grain, wild life plots.
Available Certified Organic. Early
Varieties.
75,85,87,95,100,114,120
Day field corn varieties, sweet
corn, pop corn. Non GMO ear and
shelled corn for feed also available.
Green Haven Open Pollinated
Seed Group. 607-566-9253. www.
openpollinated.com.
GRAINS. Whole corn $10; Ground
corn $11; Wheat $10; Clean Oats
$15. Prices are per 100 pounds.
716-984-8088
NORTHERN WHITETAIL SCENTS
sells premium scents direct from the
deer to your door! Scents are 100%
natural, the way nature intended!
Bottled to order. From 1oz. to a
5-gallon pail! Consumers, retail and
wholesale. Call 1-800-683-3002 or
visit www.NorthernWhitetail.com.
AG LIME/FERTILIZER
½ PRICED PELLETIZED Fertilizer.
Delivered in bulk, including spreader.
Down2earthfarms.
D2efarms@
gmail.com or 908-859-2619
ORGANIC COMPOST – Produced
locally in Farmington, NY. We offer a
NOFA approved organic compost and
regular compost, purchased in bags
or bulk, pick-up or delivery. www.
vermigreen.com or 585-289-7267
COMPOST. 100% organic. NOFA
approved. For lawn or landscaping.
Bulk or Bag. Material sold FOB site
or delivery available. 518-762-1467
or 518-848-7185
REAL ESTATE
PUTNAM NY. 163 acres +/- house,
barn, brook runs through property,
Combo wood open land. Excellent
hunting. $260,000. 518-585-7907.
FOR RENT. Hen layers house, hog
barn, cattle barn. Odessa, NY. 607594-3688
COUNTRY ESTATE on 28+ acres.
Convenient to Cayuga Lake, Cornell
& Rt 81. Newer 40x120 main
building includes custom home &
dream workshops. Woods, fields,
1 acre pond, outbuildings, view.
[email protected] 607-838-3311
LAND WANTED FOR SOLAR
FARMS:
Competitive lease/
purchase options. Adjacent to threephase power lines. 15 acres or larger.
Zoned
Agricultural/Industrial/
Commercial. Contact Solar Land
Solutions LLC. 805-765-2776 or
[email protected].
www.solarlandsolutions.com.
FOR SALE. 30 acre gentleman’s farm
in Saratoga County. Prime location.
Quiet neighborhood, big country
home, picturesque views, move in
condition, 4-stall horse barn with
storage, large paddocks, pond, mowed
fields and historic outbuilding. 518827-5396 call for more info.
25 ACRE farm in Preston Hollow
NY for rent. 2 barns, out building,
2 bedroom house, apple grove.
Rent $1500/month. eacciardi@aol.
com or 201-906-2135
SULLIVAN COUNTY FARM has
compost for sale. Buyer responsible
for trucking. Dry manure available.
845-295-0063.
OPERATING MANUAL Sawmill
business on 96 acres in western
Orange County.
70% wooded
with stream,state highway, ag
district, sawmill, old house, barn,
workshop, greenhouse, buildings
need restoration, includes sawmill
equipment. $295,000. 315-271-6565
SAWDUST. $16 per yard. Delivery
available, call for price. 570-5372937
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY –
Dutchess County 1.4 acres on a
heavily traveled central road. 2
buildings ,formerly feed store/
grain center. Motivated seller.
$140,000. 845-485-5800
SAWDUST/WOOD
PELLETS/BEDDING
BEDDING FOR SALE: Clean
Cow Premium Dairy Bedding. A
premium dairy bedding alternative
to sand, sawdust, shavings and
straw designed to deliver total farm
health from stall to field. Clean Cow
bedding is a pH adjusted blend of
thermo-mechanically
processed
virgin wood fiber, cellulose fiber,
lime and clay. Clean Cow bedding
is custom formulated to meet your
farm’s particular needs; fiber,lime
and clay content can all be modified
per your specifications. Available
picked up in Glens Falls NY for
$10/ton
($4/cu.yd).
Delivery
available. Call CTI at 413-552-3688
for more info.
BEDDING FOR SALE. Quality
wood shavings can be picked up or
delivered. Load size 20 or 40 yards.
Friendly service and a dependable
source year round. 585-289-7267 or
[email protected].
BULK KILN DRIED sawdust and
wood shavings. 100 yard loads
or pick up available. Year round
availability. Prompt, courteous
service. 315-729-1499
BUY LAND. 40 years experience
in Farm and Land sales in Orange
County. D.L. Hawkins & Assoc.
845-629-6896
BUYING or SELLING Property?
Offering $1000.00 seller/buyer
BONUS! Call Nicolas Carbone for
details. 845-590-9831
15
YEARS
EXPERIENCE
specializing in Farms & Country
Estates in Orange, Ulster, Sullivan
& Dutchess Counties. Exclusively
Equine Properties, LLC. Jess Gocke
Licensed NY Broker. 845-294-4224
[email protected] or www.
hudsonvalleyfarmforsale.com.
EMPLOYMENT
SHOW HORSE FARM needs
experienced help. Heated indoor
facility. Housing plus salary. Call
518-756-9755.
PROMINENT LONG ISLAND
farm is seeking general farm labor
including mowing, plowing etc.
516-885-5952
MONROE
COUNTY
SOIL
&
WATER
CONSERVATION
DISTRICT is hiring a Planning
Technician to implement the
Agricultural
Environmental
Management program in Monroe
County, NY. Certified Crop Advisor
preferred. 585-753-7380
AGRI-BUSINESS
Retention
&
Expansion Coordinator. Programming:
Agricultural Business Management
including tax management, estate
planning,
business
planning,
business
expansion,
succession
planning. Bachelor’s: Agricultural
Business Management, Agricultural
Economics.
Application/complete
position
description
http://
sullivancce.org/jobs.
JOBS! Class A & B Drivers and
Plant Laborers – required preemployment drug screen and
clean license. Apply in person at
Carolina Eastern – Crocker, LLC,
8610 Rte 237, Stafford NY 14143
64 ACRE fruit orchard for sale.
None organic. Fenced in with 8’
perimeter fencing, irrigation well.
Wading River, Suffolk County.
$28,000 per acre. 631-928-6105
LOOKING FOR Feed Mill Manager.
716-761-6141 or ronmeeder@gmail.
com.
215+ acre farm. Madison County,
farmhouse, large barn, machinery
barn, free-stall heifer bldg.., 1000+
ton bunk silo, 100 cow eating
bunker, well/spring, 2 ponds. Price
negotiable. [email protected].
HORSE BLANKETS: Cleaned,
waterproofed and repaired. Over
30 yrs experience. 845-677-6906
Serving Westchester, Putnam,
Dutchess, Columbia Counties and
Long Island.
NEAR ITHACA. Exactly 30 minutes
to Cornell and Ithaca Commons.
Land Only: 116 acres of pasture, hay
fields, and hardwood forest with
lowered agricultural assessment.
Breathtaking panoramic view.
Candorlandforsale.blogspot.com
or 518-461-3244
FOR RENT: Start your animal
enterprise here. Estate setting in Tioga
County. Five level bank barn on five
dry acres. 4,000ft on wood, 7,600ft on
concrete. Many extras. JHowland@
HowlandFarm.com 607-242-9299
REAL ESTATE BROKERS
FARMLAND for sale. nyfarmquest.
com.
SERVICES
NEW
pro-agriculture
themed
apparel.
Pro-GMO, humorous
tees, kid’s tees, etc by farmers, for
farmers. Makes a great gift! www.
AGtiveWear.com. Be an advocate.
Wear your pride.
DANS
ELECTRONIC
REPAIR
Service. Repair vs replace. I can
repair Boomatic, Elavale, West Surge
and most circuit boards. 406-590-7754
COUGARS
&
COWBOYS
Nutrition. Farmers helping farmers
achieve weight loss, increased
energy, overall health goals. Free
coaching. Katie & Adam Becker.
www.cougarsandcowboys.com.
716-698-1310
or
716-474-4738.
Supplemental income opportunity.
Page 30 Grassroots Grassroots Farmers’ Market
EARLY AMERICAN Cobblestone
and masonry restoration using
lime mortar. Reproducing any
19th century mortar for perfectly
matching repair to original. Also
plastering and early paint color
analysis. 315-515-8805
CUSTOM HAY BALE WRAPPING.
Round or square, inline tube
wrapped or single bale wrapped.
Seneca Falls area. 315-745-9924
CERTIFIED Animal Aromatherapist.
Available for the common and
uncommon:
environmental
issues, trauma, immune system,
show placing and rescue animals.
Appointments for the 4 & 2 legged.
[email protected] or 607-862-9536
CUSTOM CARDING & SPINNING.
Processing all fiber types. Batting,
roving or yarn from your own
fleece – no minimums. Visit OnLine www.battenkillfibers.com or
come for a tour. 518-692-2700
POND SERVICE and supplies,
fish stocking and algae control.
Contact us for help enjoying your
pond more. 585-394-5890. www.
nationalpondservice.com.
RB ROBINSON CONTRACTING,INC.
Excavation company with 48+ years
experience.
Competitive pricing
on directional boring, drainage tile
installation, pond construction, site
work, trucking and more. rbrhlrinfo@
robinsoncontracting.com or 607-6595153
CENTRAL
NY
Insulation
Contractor. 25 yrs experience; fully
insured. Custom fiberglass and
Blown-in High Density Fiberglass.
New and existing buildings.
Residential/Commercial/Homes/
Pole Barns/Garages. Snowbelt
Insulation. 315-865-4186
REDLINE DRAINAGE – Tile
Drainage Installation contractor
with 10+ years of experience
providing a high quality professional
install. www.redlinedrainage.com
or 518-846-3620
M&M TRANSPORT SERVICE. Roll
back flat bed for hire. Tractors,
machinery or vehicles picked up
or moved. 10% off all Farm Bureau
members. 631-655-3333 or 607-8634510
AG FENCING/TREE
SERVICES
FENCING. Serving Western New
York for over 14 years. We install
livestock, horse, deer and many
other types of fence. All designed
to fit your specific needs. Call R&R
Fencing. 585-599-3489
SHAMROCK FARMS FENCING
– “If we can’t fence it, it can’t
be fenced”.
All Agricultural,
livestock,horse,predator & wild
life. Installations since 1981. Call/
email Dan: Wayland, NY. 585-6692179, [email protected].
FENCING: we install agricultural
and residential fencing to meet
your needs. Post pounding, woven
wire, board, split rail, chain link,
vinyl. 25 years experience. Serving
Western and Central NY. Stable
fences & Vineyards, LLC. 585-3494119 www.StableFences.com.
OVERGROWN
pastures,
hedgerows, and field edges? We
can bring them back into shape with
our excavator mounted mulching
head. Machine cuts and chips
brush and trees in place. Vegetation
Management LLC. 607-423-6145
AG ACCOUNTING/TAX
SERVICE
ACCOUNTING
and
TAX
SERVICES available year-round
for sole-proprietor farms and
small businesses. Tax prep for
individuals. Finger Lakes Farm
Services. William Hudson, EA,
Bath NY. Phone/Fax 607-776-6479
or [email protected].
FARM FUEL: Farmers are eligible
for a refund of NYS taxes paid on
qualified fuel. Contact Melissa at
The Peachin Group, LLC to file for
a refund. Melissa@peachingroup.
com Or 607-432-5314
NEED HELP in building your
financial self-security? FB member
discount applies. tommoneyllc@
gmail.com.
AG & ENGINE REPAIR
TIRES: ALL YOUR TIRE NEEDS!
www.FarmersTires.com or 518712-3394
SEAWAY RENTAL CORP: A
Honda dealer for sales & service of
generators and pumps. We stock
Honda parts and rent equipment for
general maintenance. 315-788-4700
or www.seawayrentalcorp.com.
HEAVY
EQUIPMENT
&
AG
REPAIR.
Lowest
shop
rates
guaranteed.
Service
calls,
Hydraulics, Welding, Fabrication
and Machining. Matt Sigler. 518-8759238 or [email protected].
FUEL SERVICES
FUEL SERVICE: Call for Special Fuel
Pricing. Mohawk Home Comfort
Services a full service Heating & Cooling
installation company delivering
Oil,Kerosene,Diesel,Gasoline
and
Propane products. Ed @ 1-800-4328669
LOW COST DIESEL in 48 hours or
less! Farm Diesel delivered to you
at affordable prices. Use over 1000g
a season? Call your trusted energy
partner Blueox Energy at 800-7232583. Serving Broome, Chenango,
Delaware, Otsego and Madison
counties.
SOLAR/WIND ENERGY
WIND
TURBINES/SOLAR
SYSTEMS. Check out the benefits
of Ownership over leasing. We
have highest approval for USDA
REAP Grants in NYS. Call for
free proposal . 716-215-1930 www.
niagarawind.com.
WIND
TURBINE
ELECTRIC
GENERATORS.
We
offer
all
NYSERDA
approved
manufacturers from 3.5kW to
775kW. Free site evaluation and
help with permitting, grantwriting,
design,
construction
and installation, operation and
maintenance. Chase Wind 1-845380-2831 or [email protected].
SOLAR PV SYSTEM – no cost for
equipment or installation. For
qualifying residential locations.
Sound too good to be true? We
thought so also but our electric bill
is halved. 845-901-4779
WIND TURBINE. Lease a wind
turbine for $0 down and power your
home or farm today with United
Wind. 800-268-9896 or visit www.
unitedwind.com to learn more.
AG LEGAL SERVICES
IMMIGRATION
ATTORNEY
(H-2A/H-2B):
Experienced
Immigration attorney to handle all
aspects of visa processing, including
advertising, forms preparation,
consular
processing,
legal
consulting, I-9 issues. L.J. D’Arrigo,
Esq.,
Whiteman,Osterman
June 2016
& Hanna, LLP. 518-487-7642
[email protected].
LEGAL SERVICES: Farm Products
Liability, Seed, Fertilizer, Sanitation
Chemicals,
Barn
Collapse,
Insurance Claims, Personal Injury.
Call Welch, Donlon & Czerples
PLLC 607-936-8057
LEGAL
SERVICES:
Personal
Injury, Agriculture & Markets
Law, Criminal Defense, Litigation,
Family Law, Real Estate & Right
of Way, Investigative Services.
Stanclift, Ludemann, Silvestri
&McMorris PC. 518-745-4343 info@
stancliftlaw.com.
MISCELLANEOUS
WANTED TO BUY. Old American
made firearms for my own collection.
I have a FFL Collectors License
(C&R). Will pay fair prices. 716-6640006 or [email protected].
HEN HOUSE TOUR. June 25th.
10am-3pm. Cornell University’s
North Fork Hen House Tour on
eastern Long Island. 631-727-3595
or [email protected] or www.
LongIslandHort.cornell.edu.
PLATTSBURGH BREWFEST 8-616 online ticket sales at www.
PlattsburghBrewfest.com. 5% Farm
Bureau discount with code FARMER.
HANDCRAFTED SPIRITS from
our family farm distillery. Free tours
and tastings at Old Home Distillers,
Lebanon, NY. Corn whiskey, gin,
applejack and more. 315-837-4123
or www.oldhomedistillers.com
MCFB members are invited to
nominate themselves or another
farm for the Pioneer Award,
recognizing farms in their first 5
years of new family ownership.
Contact WNYFB Office 585-3433489
SAVE THE DATE!!
Celebrate
Agriculture Dinner August 13,
2016. Enjoy some delicious Monroe
County grown food while getting
to know your neighborhood
farmer! Sponsored by MCFB, the
MCSWCD & CCE-MC.
DISCLAIMER: New York Farm
Bureau reserves the right to refuse
to accept any classified ad, paid or
unpaid, at its sole discretion.
June 2016
Grassroots Page 31
Page 32 Grassroots June 2016