Grassroots
www.nyfb.org the voice of new york agriculture® april 2016
Final State Budget Dramatically
Increases New York’s Minimum Wage
Beneficial Budget Actions Overshadowed by Wage Increase on Farms
By Jeff Williams
[email protected]
The 2016-17 State Budget was
finalized by the Governor and
Legislature at the last possible
moment on March 31, before the
start of the new fiscal year, and the
document does not spell good things
for agriculture. There are positives for the
farm industry in the final budget
document,
such
as
funding
for
critical
farm
research
and
promotional
programs,
increased funding for agricultural
environmental projects and upstate
road and bridge infrastructure.
New
funding
for
secondary
agricultural education programs
and county fair infrastructure were
also included in the final document. However,
in
the
end,
a
dramatically increased minimum
wage and a most-generous-in-thenation paid family leave program
will leave farms upstate and on
Long Island grasping for ideas on
how to compete against farms in
other states and countries with
much lower labor costs, tax burdens
and business expenses.
Upstate, the minimum wage will
be phased-in over five years, starting
in 2017, to $12.50 an hour and then
will increase each year according
to a formula based upon economic
factors and the rate of inflation
developed by the Department of
Labor and Division of Budget. The new phased-in wage will start
on December 31st of this year and
increase by 70 cents each year for
five years in Upstate New York. On
Continued on page 25
Encouraging Discussions About Agriculture
Through Humor: The Peterson Farm Brothers
By Jaclyn (Sears) Zaleski
[email protected]
The Peterson Farm Brothers,
from Assaria, KS, have learned
a thing or two about projecting a
positive image of agriculture over
the past few years.
What started as a joke at a Sonic
drive-thru in 2012 quickly became
a heavily viewed and entertaining
parody video, “I’m Farming and I
Grow It,” that was shared and seen
by individuals worldwide nearly
ten million times. Since then, they
have a number of different parody
videos, have spoken across the
United States and the globe, all
while two of them attend college
and they all work on and help run
their family farm.
The Peterson Farm Brothers
were the keynote speakers at New
York Farm Bureau’s Celebration
of Agriculture Conference in
Syracuse in March. They spoke to
nearly 200 attendees from a variety
of age groups.
The totally unexpected rise
to internet fame was not only a
surprise to these farm boys from
rural Kansas, but it became a
phenomenal platform for them to
spread a positive message about
The Peterson Farm Brothers deliver the keynote address at New York Farm Bureau’s 2016 Celebration of Agriculture
Conference in March in Syracuse.
agriculture, how they farm, and
why they do it. Their sense of
humor along with the deeply
ingrained knowledge of their
family farm and agriculture turned
into humorous yet factual videos
of day to day operations on a farm
in the mid-west. The videos help
to explain their way of life to their
more suburban or urban friends
and followers.
All
three
brothers—Greg,
Nathan, and Kendal Peterson—
either went to school for agriculture
NYS Agriculture Program
Budget Breakdown
Page 13
or are currently attending school
for agriculture at Kansas State
University.
All three brothers
monitor all of their social media
pages; especially if there is any
Continued on page 25
Agricultural Youth
Scholarship Winners
Page 15
Grassroots Page 2 Local Roads Matter to NYFB
A Not So Typical
New York Winter
By Jennifer Rossi
[email protected]
New York Farm Bureau’s Public Policy Director, Jeff Williams, speaks at a rally
in the Capitol in Albany to call for increased state support for local roads,
bridges and culverts. It was part of a bipartisan group of 114 state legislators,
organized by state Senator Tom O’Mara, R-Big Flats, and Assemblyman Phil
Palmesano, R-Corning, and they were joined by county and town highway
superintendents and other local leaders from across New York. “The parity in
upstate-downstate road and bridge infrastructure funding remains a priority
for farmers across the state. They need access to safe, well-maintained roads
and bridges in order to move equipment to farm fields and transport their
goods to market. Our rural communities can’t afford to be left by the side of
the road when it comes to keeping our state’s infrastructure in good shape,”
Williams said.
April 2016
As New York Farm Bureau
District 3 Director John Sorbello
likes to say “the farmer has a silent
partner named Mother Nature and
every once in a while she likes
to remind us that she is still in
charge.”
She has certainly kept farmers on
their toes over the last two winters
doling out a weather bag full of
extremes. We went from a polar
vortex that gave us months of bitter
cold and the constant presence of
snow to conditions influenced by El
Nino that left you wondering when
the other shoe was going to drop.
From the winter of our discontent
to a winter that never really was,
what is left in its wake is a mixed
bag for farmers.
The mystical force of nature
pushed
ahead
many
maple
producers’
production
season
and by the looks of things they
may be tapped out way ahead of
their normal schedule. Typically,
late February brings in optimal
conditions, nights below freezing
and daytime highs in the low 40s.
This year, conditions were right in
January allowing for the earlier
than normal start.
The not so typical winter is
causing more trepidation for fruit
producers and vineyards.
“There
are
major
concerns of an early or
‘false’ spring where trees
bud and open early then
get hit with a killing frost,
resulting in little or no fruit
set,” Sorbello said. “This
happened in 2012 and there
were almost no New York
peaches at all.”
While working conditions
outside have been much
improved over last winter,
many would have traded it
for the sustained cold.
The lack of snow cover
this year will also be in the
minds of farmers as they
head out early to begin
spring planting. While it
may play little or no role, it
has the possibility of setting
up
drought
conditions
for the growing season.
Sorbello said that without
the snow pack to melt it
could affect germination,
herbicide
efficacy
and
ultimately reduce yields.
“With that said, last June
we had 10 inches of rain
here at my location in the
Northern Finger Lakes
Region, so you never know,”
he said.
Farmers would tend to
agree that they would rather
have it a little dry than too
wet. On a dry year, plants
will be deeper rooted and
generally speaking will do
better and produce a higher
quality crop compared to a
wet year.
Farmers are optimistic
and full of
ingenuity.
They are also realistic and
understand that changing,
unpredictable
weather
patterns are becoming the
norm and will no doubt be
able adapt and withstand
anything
that
Mother
Nature chooses to throw at
them.
Like
NYFB
on Facebook
April 2016
Grassroots Page 3
NYFB Holds Lobby
Day Reception
in Albany
By Steve Ammerman
[email protected]
If you want to draw out a crowd,
offering up some great New York
food and drink will do the trick.
New York Farm Bureau’s Taste of
New York Reception may have been
the biggest and most successful yet
as farmer members, lawmakers and
staff packed the Empire State Plaza
Convention Center in Albany on
Feb. 29.
Seventy county Farm
Bureaus and agricultural
organizations
hosted
tables
featuring
local
farm products for people
to sample. It was a great
opportunity to showcase
the diverse farm products in
the state and have some fun
interactions with decision
makers in Albany.
Following the evening
event, nearly 250 members
participated in New York
Farm
Bureau’s
annual
Lobby Day where they
met with both their local
and adopted Senators and
Assembly members. The
organization’s
executive
committee met personally
with all four legislative
leaders, including Senate
Majority
Leader
John
Flanagan and Assembly
Speaker
Carl
Heastie,
and had a meeting with
the
Governor’s
Deputy
Secretary for Food and
Agriculture, Pat Hooker.
“This was one of the most
successful lobby days we’ve
held, and it couldn’t have
come at a more pivotal time
for New York agriculture.
The issues that will be
decided upon in Albany
this year will have profound
impacts on farming in this
state for years to come,”
said Dean Norton, New York
Farm Bureau President.
Topping the list of state
priorities is opposition to
the proposed $15 minimum
wage and the impact that
it will have on New York
farms. State funding for
critical farm programs is
another top priority for
Farm Bureau. The governor
included a number of
things in his budget plan
which would help the farm
industry. This includes
increased funding for the
Environmental Protection
Fund, which will assist
farms with water quality,
conservation and farmland
protection programs, as well
as necessary investments
into
animal
health
programs. Farm Bureau
also
asked
lawmakers
to support funding for
promotion and research
programs that also benefit
agriculture in the state.
Members also asked for funding
parity when it comes to repairing
upstate roads and bridges, and the
organization remains committed to
securing funding to assist schools
in starting up new FFA programs as
well as for agricultural education
programs
In addition to advocating for
Continued on page 25
New York Farm Bureau holds high profile meetings with State Legislative leaders
including Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan. From left, NYFB President
Dean Norton, Sen. Flanagan, NYFB V.P. Eric Ooms and NYFB State Director
David Fisher.
Grassroots Page 4 April 2016
The President’s Message
Grassroots
April 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: Hives full of bees ready to
pollinate New York crops.
Minimum Wage Outcome Can’t
Diminish Member Involvement
I have conflicting emotions as I sit down to write
this column. Lawmakers are wrapping up budget
negotiations and it looks as though a deal has been made
to increase the minimum wage.
It is disappointing that family
farms and small businesses
will face the most devastating
impacts once the increase is
fully in effect.
The politics of the issue
trumped the facts, and our farms
will be facing an even greater
competitive disadvantage when
it comes to selling agricultural
products. What a shame!
As much as I am frustrated at
the outcome, I also could not be
Dean Norton
more proud of this organization
NYFB President
and you, our members. New York
Farm Bureau stepped up like no
other group in the state when it
came to mobilizing our members, speaking our minds
and staying out in front of this issue.
We sent thousands of postcards and emails to Albany,
made phone calls, and delivered signed banners to the
legislative leaders, all opposing the $15 minimum wage.
We were outspoken on lobby days and wrote letters to
the editor. We took part in the Minimum Wage Reality
Check Coalition with more than 50 other business
organizations. And it all culminated with a series of
press conferences in the middle of last month. Fifteen
events in all were held in every region of the state.
This was no ordinary effort. Our state board of
directors, county leaders, field advisors and state staff
worked together to bring a coalition of members and
other small business owners together for the events.
Our members broadened the message and shared
personal stories of what an increase will mean to
their farms, their employees, and the future of their
businesses. I attended the event in Batavia, and it was
sad to hear the worry come from each speaker, one
after another.
Seeing the outcome, you may wonder if it was all
worth it. Were the cards stacked against us from the
get go? Perhaps to a degree, but the day after the press
conferences across the state, the needle shifted. While
we already had a major public presence in the press, it
became difficult to read or view a news report about
the minimum wage without seeing Farm Bureau
mentioned. Newspapers came out with editorials in
support of our effort. County legislatures passed
resolutions in support. But the biggest prize of all,
lawmakers, including the governor, publicly recognized
the burden being placed on agriculture and how our
circumstances were somewhat unique. Yes, they went
with a wage increase, but rural New York was now part
of the equation that mattered in the final discussions.
They felt your heat.
I cannot be more grateful to the legislators who have
stood with us during these past many months. We still
have much more to accomplish in Albany in the weeks
and months ahead.
The value of the press conferences also built new
bridges with the business community, chambers of
commerce and other entities impacted by the wage
increase. Perhaps Farm Bureau wasn’t a big blip on
their radar screen, but we are now after they saw what
we could accomplish.
Finally, I have to give a heartfelt thank you to you,
our members. This effort revealed the strength of our
grassroots organization. Together, we have the ability
to mobilize on issues that affect agriculture and small
businesses across New York. We do make a difference.
We cannot let our membership shrink or this power
will fade. Let this be a reminder to importance of
having every farmer be a part of Farm Bureau.
Beyond the Fencerows
Sowing Seeds for a Future Harvest
Farmers are blessed to get a front row seat each
spring to fresh beginnings and new life. Each year we
plant our crops and care for the animals and land we’ve
been entrusted with, not just for
ourselves but for those who will
come after.
Here in Washington, we take
planting season just as seriously
as we work to ensure farmers
and ranchers have the tools
they need to plant, care for and
bring those crops to harvest.
Our
team is constantly scanning the
policy field to move our issues
forward. The political climate
can change as quickly as the
weather, but whether that brings
challenge or opportunity, it’s all
Zippy Duvall
the more important for us to get
AFBF President
ahead on the key issues affecting
agriculture.
And that’s just what we’re doing this spring.
AFBF
already has taken the lead in tackling budget talks that
could threaten important farm bill programs. Some
would like nothing more than to cut programs that have
been carefully streamlined to fit today’s marketplace.
We’re partnering with a variety of organizations and
members of Congress from both sides of the aisle to
guarantee the 2014 farm bill accomplishes its goals
of supporting conservation, providing nutrition
assistance and helping farmers manage through
challenging economic times.
Taken as a whole, it is about keeping healthful,
affordable food on America’s dinner tables.
We also
want farmers to have the security of knowing the seeds
they’re planting this season, including those enhanced
through biotechnology, will be available in the future.
For more than two decades now, we’ve seen increased
production, reduced pesticide use and restored soil
with the help of improved seeds.
But misleading biotech labeling initiatives at the
state level continue to threaten these vital tools. It’s
time for Congress to put a stop to this confusion and
protect the freedom of all Americans to choose safe and
affordable food.
Of course, not all spring “planting” at
AFBF is in the policy field. Some of the most important
work we do is in connecting farmers and ranchers from
across the country and helping them develop as leaders
in their businesses and communities.
This spring, we’re expanding our new Patriot
Project, which pairs military veterans just getting
started in agriculture with experienced farmers who
provide guidance and insight along the way.
We can think of no better way to thank our heroes
than by helping them succeed as they return home and
take up farming and ranching. It’s our hope that the
program will build meaningful relationships that last
a lifetime.
As American farmers and ranchers, we approach
every spring with hope and faith that the seeds we sow
will fall on good ground and yield a fruitful crop. Like
our members across the country, we at Farm Bureau
are planting lots of seeds this spring.
We sow the desires of our farmers and ranchers every
day. Sowing seeds about agriculture and our beliefs
requires determination and faithfulness. Let us pray
that the seeds we sow fall on ears that hear—and are
moved to act! (From the Parable of the Sower, Matthew
13:9—“Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.”)
We
will nurture those seeds and pray for good growing
conditions, so that we can harvest successful outcomes
by the hundredfold for all farmers and ranchers.
April 2016
Grassroots Page 5
Guest Opinions
NYS IPM Program More Relevant Than Ever
The NYS IPM program is
celebrating 30 years. Some of you
were farming back in 1985 and
helped support the creation of the
program and our critical mission
of reducing environmental, health
and economic risks. Others grew
up on farms around the state where
IPM has become standard operating
procedure.
In the early days of IPM, our
mandate was cutting back on
pesticides. We worked hard to
gather baseline data on what pests
plagued our farmers and how
much pesticide they were using.
Then we showed them how to use
less. And though prevention was
foundational, everyone knows pests
happen.
So from the start, IPM helped
farmers identify pests and their
predators correctly, scout for them
(noting results from field to field
and block to block), learn if and
how the weather favored them
— and tailor their management
approach based on this knowledge.
This
fine-tuning
resulted
in
tremendous reductions in pesticide
use — often 30-60 percent. Yes, these
reductions had major and positive
environmental impacts. And they
also saved growers a lot of money.
That was “Phase I” IPM. New
York’s growers are well into Phase
II and Phase III now. Long gone
are the days of calendar-based fewer staff and less programming in
sprays or guessing at what disease every commodity area: Vegetables,
might have been plaguing your Livestock and Field Crops, Fruits,
fields.
Sophisticated,
modern and Ornamentals. Restoring that
IPM
includes
historic level will
i n t e n s ive,
help us reach more
coordinated
farms statewide
monitoring
of
on such critical
plants, pests and
issues as weed
weather; making
management,
decisions
with
biocontrol,
the help of webp o l l i n a t o r
based and handprotection
and
held apps; and
to
build
an
consideration
ever-better
pest
of
the
and
weather
e nv i ro n m e n t a l
forecasting
and
health
network: NEWA—
effects of
all
the Network for
management
Environment
practices.
and
Weather
IPM
has
Applications.
been there to
Our
mission
help
growers
has evolved over
make
pest
the years. We’ve
Jennifer Grant, PhD.
management an
gone
beyond
Director,
integral part of
simply
cutting
NYS Integrated Pest Management
the multitude of
pesticide
use
long-term
and
to tackling the
day-to-day decisions it takes to run broader goal of reducing risks
a farming operation. This year we from pests and the ways people
are gratified that the Governor’s control them. And we’ve brought
proposed budget includes restoring communities into the mix, from
Agricultural IPM to its historic level small towns to major cities.
of $1 million. State funding was cut
Indeed, when we built the
in half during the great recession in Community IPM program in the
2009 — and stayed there. This meant 1990s, farmers on our advisory
committee
were
among
the
biggest supporters. They knew
that when families understand
pest management in their schools,
homes and parks, they better
understand the farmer down the
road. We’ve reached out to New
York’s 700 public school districts,
showing how to keep mice and
cockroaches out of classrooms and
sports fields dense with turf instead
of injury-inducing mud and weeds.
We’ve helped communities facing
pesticide phase-outs, revolutionized
golf course management, and
helped the staggering numbers of
people facing bed bug crises.
Really, IPM has something for
everyone. Among today’s issues?
Protecting pollinators. Keeping
your cows happy and free from
irksome barn and pasture pests.
Growing
organically.
Invasive
species.
The farmers of New York called
for the NYS IPM Program. You’ve
proven it can work for you to solve
the problems of the day. Thank you
for your support and partnership
— and for joining in our birthday
celebration!.
If you haven’t seen our Thirty
Year Anniversary Report, please
visit our website or call our office
to request a copy. www.nysipm.
cornell.edu/reports/ann_rpt, 315787-2208.
Local Roads Matter to New York Farmers
The New York State County
Highway
Superintendents
Association (NYSCHSA) “Local
Roads Matter!” campaign stresses
the importance of maintaining the
local system of roads, bridges and
culverts in a condition of good repair
to a variety of user groups and for
the benefit of the state’s economy.
We recognize agriculture—and
its related activities—as one of
the more significant of these local
roads dependent users in New York.
NYSCHSA continues to partner
with our friends at New York Farm
Bureau in calling for additional
state investment in our local
transportation infrastructure.
Local
governments
are
responsible for 87 percent of New
York State’s highway mileage and
more than half of the 18,000 bridges.
A safe and efficient statewide
highway infrastructure is necessary
for trade, economic development
and revitalization, agricultural
operations, our schools, businesses,
health and hospital facilities,
emergency responders, and the
traveling public. Forty-eight percent
of the vehicle miles driven in the
state are driven on local roads.
Today,
public
highway
professionals can treat only a
fraction of the road mileage that we
were just a few years ago. Despite
well-timed and targeted preventative contribute more than $6.4 billion in
maintenance measures, the age direct sales to the state’s economy.
and condition of many of our Together, we need to ensure that
locally-owned
transportation regular increases in funding for
assets means that
local
road
they are beyond
projects and a
preservation
robust state aid
and in need of
to local bridge
much more costly
and
culvert
rehabilitation and
program
that
reconstruction.
provides
for
E s t i m a t e s
local input on
by
the
State
project selection
Comptroller, DOT,
is part of a state
and independent
transportation
studies show a
5-Year
Capital
large number of
Program. This
road mileage is
will
enable
deteriorating and
local
highway
many
bridges
officials to better
in the state are
serve our farm
rated structurally
communities
deficient
and
by
providing
functionally
an
improved,
Tracy J. Eldridge
obsolete.
Thirtymore functional
President,
four percent of
system on which
NYS County Highway
local bridges are
to do business
Superintendents Association
deficient and fortyefficiently. These
eight percent of
investments
road pavements are rated fair or are critical in order to alleviate
poor and getting worse.
farm access barriers as when
Because
much
of
this municipalities are forced to lower
infrastructure is located in rural weight limits on bridges due to
areas of the state, its condition is insufficient funds to effectively
of vital importance to farmers. address structural problems.
New York’s nearly 36,000 farms
NYSCHSA
recognizes
the
importance
of
getting
farm
products to market efficiently and
at low cost. When local roads and
culverts are damaged and bridges
are weight limited or closed, the
increased transportation costs can
impact farm revenues and market
costs to consumers. Further, road
and bridge conditions can make
it difficult or inconvenient for
consumers to access New York farm
products directly, causing them to
seek other food options that may
not be locally produced.
Our
county
highway
superintendents look forward to
continuing to partner with NYFB
to create a healthy and robust
“farm to market” transportation
system as part of a successful state
agriculture industry that strives to
grow a quality local farm product
for the benefit of all New Yorkers.
Tracy J. Eldridge is President of
the New York State County Highway
Superintendents Association and
Highway
Superintendent
for
Hamilton County. NYSCHSA is
a non-profit organization whose
members have gathered since 1909 to
share their knowledge and experience
to promote the construction and
maintenance of a safe and modern
system of county roads and other
allied transportation infrastructure
maintained by county government.
Learn more about member benefits: NYFB.org
Page 6 Grassroots April 2016
From The Field
County FBs Turn Out
for Lobby Day
The month of March was packed
with membership and social
activities
in
District
2.
The counties
worked
on
membership
throughout the
month. All six
counties were
represented
at the NYFB
Lobby
Day
event.
They
purchased
Amanda
books and read
Krenning-Muoio
in schools for
[email protected] A g r i u l t u r a l
Literacy Week,
and several counties held “Celebrate
Ag” dinners. Here is a brief recap
of some of their activities.
Genesee County
Genesee County Farm Bureau
and Christian Yunker specifically
were invaluable in organizing the
NYFB Press Conference in Batavia
on March 21 in opposition to the
proposed minimum wage increase.
Thank you very much for your help
in making the event a success. We
would also like to thank Dan Ireland
from United Memorial Medical
Center in Batavia for speaking at
the event. His insights into the
impact of the proposed increase
on the health care industry was
appreciated.
In addition, the
Genesee County Celebrate Ag
Dinner was held on March 19 at the
Alexander Fire Hall.
The evening is a cooperative
effort between Genesee County
Farm Bureau, Genesee County
Cornell Cooperative Extension,
Genesee County Soil and Water,
and the Chamber of Commerce
and features dishes prepared with
Genesee County products. It has
become a highly anticipated event
and there were almost 400 people in
attendance this year.
Livingston County
Livingston
County
Farm
Bureau would like to recognize
David LeFeber’s contribution to
the press conference in Batavia
as well. LeFeber is a dairy farmer
and the Town of Avon Supervisor.
His support of NYFB’s efforts
on the minimum wage issue was
greatly appreciated. In addition,
Livingston CFB, in conjunction
with the Livingston Chamber of
Commerce, held their 19th Annual
Livingston County Farmer to
Neighbor Dinner on April 1 at the
Genesee River Restaurant and
Reception Center in Mt. Morris.
As always this event was well
attended and a wonderful time was
had by all.
Monroe County
Monroe County Farm Bureau is
very close to making their farmer
member goal for this membership
year. It has been putting a lot of
effort into getting to goal before
farmers get ready with their spring
work. In addition, I would like to
thank Kim Zuber for speaking
at the NYFB press conference
opposing the proposed minimum
wage increase.
He
offered
a
compelling
perspective on how it would affect
his farming operation.
Region 2
Chip Ellms, of Ellms Family Farm in Ballston Spa, hosted more than a dozen
Farm Bureau members and small business owners for a press conference
opposing the $15 minimum wage. The Saratoga county event was one of 15
held across the state.
Niagara County
Niagara County Farm Bureau
will be participating in the
Earth Day festivities at Niagara
University on April 22. This will
be the second year NCFB will be
attending this event and is an
excellent opportunity for students
to ask questions about agriculture
in their community and get the facts
about agriculture’s impact on the
environment. In addition, Niagara
County Farm Bureau is working on
plans for a Safety Night on May 12,
7-9 at Niagara Frontier Equipment in
Lockport. This is a wonderful family
event and will feature different
workshops including one on tractor
and lawnmower safety. We hope to
see you there! Lastly, I would like
to thank Kevin Bittner for speaking
at the press conference on behalf
of Singer Farms. His calculations
on the financial impact to their
operations were enlightening.
Orleans County
Orleans County Farm Bureau sent
a great group to NYFB Lobby Days
this year. John Kast, David Bittner,
and Jeff Toussaint were accompanied
by five students from Albion High
School FFA. The students observed
the appointments and got to see the
legislative process in action. It was
an excellent educational opportunity
for them and an opportunity for
the legislators to see the impact of
agricultural education. In addition,
OCFB partnered with the Orleans
County CCE, Orleans County Soil and
Water, and the Albion FFA Alumni
for this year’s Farmer to Neighbor
Dinner. The Dinner was held on
March 12 at the Village Inn in Albion.
There were almost 200 people
in attendance at this year’s event.
Finally, I would like to thank Darrel
Oakes of Lyn Oaken Farm for
joining us at the minimum wage
press conference. He discussed
how the proposed increase would
affect his farming operation
and also discussed how he felt it
would impact health care in the
community. He offered excellent
examples of how businesses in New
York State would be damaged by the
proposed increase to $15.
Wyoming County
Wyoming County Farm Bureau
President and District 2 Director
Pat McCormick spoke at the
minimum wage press conference
in Batavia and I would like to
thank him for his assistance in
organizing the event. It was an
amazing team effort all the way
around and I was proud to be a part
of it. Also, Wyoming County Farm
Bureau met with the Wyoming
County Board of Supervisors
on March 8 at the new Wyoming
County Ag Center in Warsaw. This
year topics for discussion included
funding of the County’s Contract
agencies, roads and bridges, and
the County Hospital. In addition,
Wyoming County Farm Bureau is
working with Wyoming County
Cornell Cooperative Extension,
Chamber of Commerce, Soil and
Water
Conservation
District,
and Agriculture and Farmland
Protection Board on Wyoming
County’s
6th
“Agri-Palooza”.
The event will be held June 5 at
McCormick’s Farm and is designed
to
educate
attendee’s
about
agriculture in Wyoming County. We
hope you can make it.
Success Meeting
Membership Goals
Like most of the state we have
had a pretty mild winter here in
the
Finger
Lakes
with
the exception
of a couple of
very cold days
and nights in
February. Some
of the fruit
growers have
reported some
cold
damage
to their fruit
crops from that
Skip Jensen
cold snap. We’ll
[email protected]
have to wait
a little longer
to find out for sure when the buds
finally push out this spring. The
maple season got started much
earlier this year than last year and
most reports are that producers
are having a pretty good flow. I am
very proud of all six of my Region
Three counties for reaching the
Lobby Day membership bonus goal.
The goal is to have more members
by Lobby day 2016 than they had by
Lobby Day 2015. Everyone worked
very hard getting renewal and new
memberships to reach the bonus.
Now we are all working hard to
achieve final goal. Membership
workers are out signing up new
members and renewing some of the
non-renewal to finish up the job.
Cayuga County
Each year, Cayuga County Farm
Bureau budgets a substantial
amount of money for schools in
the county to do agriculture related
field trips. It really helps the schools
to provide them with some financial
help for the students to visit a
farm or the O’Hara Agricultural
Museum in Auburn. This is their
main funding project for the year.
We have also been working hard
on getting multiple memberships
on several of the large farms in
the county. We have been quite
Region 3
successful. Cayuga is close to
reaching total goal. Hopefully they
can report membership goal soon.
Ontario County
Ontario County Farm Bureau
will be having its annual golf event
to raise money for young farmer
events. The young farmers have
been on educational trips in past
years and the money raised also
helps sponsor several scholarships
for high school graduating seniors
heading off to college. Ontario has
teamed up with Seneca, Wayne
and Yates County and Workforce
Development at the local BOCES
to promote agricultural jobs.
There will be a daylong event
at three locations to promote
agricultural jobs. The students
will be visiting Spring Hope Dairy,
the New York State Agricultural
Experiment Station in Geneva
and the Viticulture Center on the
Experiment Station campus. The
four county Farm Bureaus are
working together to sponsor Tee
shirts with the Farm Bureau logo
and county name on each one.
Ontario County Farm Bureau
recently held its annual Agriculture
Appreciation Dinner. Outstanding
individuals
were
recognized
for their accomplishments in
leadership at both the county
and state levels. It’s also a time to
recognize some high school seniors
with scholarships. Six deserving
students
were
awarded
$500
scholarships.
Seneca County
By the time you are reading this,
Seneca County Farm Bureau will
have had its annual Rural Urban
dinner. This event is co-sponsored by
Farm Bureau and the local Rotary,
Kiwanis and Lions Clubs. The
county Farm Bureau does a great
job putting on a “Taste of Seneca
County” before the dinner with
cheese, wine and other products
grown in Seneca County. It’s always
a great time and lots of good fun and
some education about agriculture
too. Once again this year Seneca
County Farm Bureau is planning
their “Grains and Planes” event for
later this fall. This is a family fun
event to showcase local agriculture.
There are fun events and educational
exhibits for everyone.
Tompkins County
Tompkins County Farm Bureau
will be trying something new this
year. Instead of their Agstravaganza
that they have held for several
years at the Ithaca Mall, they will
be participating in the Veterinary
College Open House. County leaders
thought they could get much more
exposure at this event than they did
at the mall. In recent years several
thousand people have attended the
Vet College open house. We will
have several educational exhibits
on display and volunteers will be
on hand to talk about Farm Bureau
and local agriculture.
Wayne County
Plans are under way for the
Wayne County Farm Bureau annual
consignment auction. Like other
county Farm Bureaus, Wayne uses
the proceeds from this auction to
fund Young Farmer programs and a
Washington, DC, lobby trip for two
or three members each year. Gary
Orbaker and County President
Zack Debadts went to Washington
to lobby March 15 and 16. They
April 2016
Grassroots Page 7
From The Field
had a good trip and felt they were
successful in getting our priority
issues before our legislators.
Yates County
The county Farm Bureau is
making their usual donation to the
county fair. In return the county
fair displays a large banner with
the Yates County Farm Bureau logo
on it promoting membership in
Farm Bureau. They are very close
to membership goal as well and
everyone is very busy working on
membership. Board member Paul
Enos does a great job signing up not
only regular farmer members but
agricultural related businesses as
well. Good work, Paul.
Active Winter
Rockland County
Rockland County Farm Bureau
held a meeting in mid-January. It
recapped
the
State Annual
M e e t i n g ,
where
Jane
Vlastelica and
Scott Turner
represented
Ro c k l a n d
County Farm
Bureau.
We
are currently
working
on
Victoria Meiller
m e m b e r s h i p,
[email protected]
where
the
county
is
staying steady compared to last
year. The county Farm Bureau will
be having another meeting in May
to plan for their county annual
meeting.
Dutchess Putnam Westchester
This year has jumped off to a
busy start for Dutchess Putnam
Westchester County Farm Bureau.
They have been continuously
working on membership goals and
would like to thank Betty Albrecht,
the office secretary for Dutchess
Putnam Westchester County Farm
Bureau, for all her hard work on
membership. They reached their
Lobby Day goal and the board
is constantly seeking out new
members to join.
On Feb. 29, Dutchess Putnam
Westchester County Farm Bureau
attended the Taste of New York
Reception in Albany. They had
products ranging from apples and
donuts to juices from Micosta
Enterprise Inc. from Fishkill
Farms,
located
in
Hopewell
Junction. Also, there was a variety
of sweets from Adams Fairacre
Farms. We also had a booth from
Madava Farm featuring a variety of
their delicious Crown Maple syrup
and sugar. The next day Dutchess
Putnam Westchester County Farm
Bureau visited local legislators at
the Capitol.
The Promotion and Education
Committee
participated
in
Agricultural Agricultural Literacy
Week, which was very successful.
During this week, they promoted
Agriculture in the Classroom by
reading a book about apples to
second grade classes throughout
the county. Dutchess Putnam
Westchester County Farm Bureau
sponsored the Agricultral Breakfast
held at the Cornell Cooperative
Extension on March 15. This was a
great event, with the Commissioner
of Agriculture Richard Ball there
Region 10
as the guest speaker. The board is
currently working on sponsoring a
Dressage Show, on July 17, located
at Tymor Park in Union Vale. The
county is also excited to host an
Agriculture Day at the Renegades
Stadium on Aug. 18. The board is
currently reviewing their bylaws
and seeking out a couple members
to form a Young Farmer and
Rancher Committee.
Columbia County
Columbia County Farm Bureau
appointed a new board member,
Peter Trowbridge. Peter comes
from a beef cattle operation,
located in Ghent. The Taste of New
York Reception in Albany was well
represented by Columbia County
Farm Bureau. The county booth
featured Hudson Valley Harvest
cider donuts, located in Valatie, a
variety of Chaseholm Creamery
Cheese from Pine Plains and
apples form Yonder Fruit Farms
Inc., located in Valatie. It also had
11-year-old Daisy Trowbridge help
out at the booth. Also, Hudson
Valley Fresh had a booth featuring
their refreshing varieties of milk
and a selection of yogurts.
The county Farm Bureau was
also represented very well at Lobby
Day held the following day on March
1. Columbia County Farm Bureau
President Jim Davenport and New
York Farm Bureau Vice President
Eric Ooms were accompanied by
a few other members. Jim also
represented Columbia County on
the trip to Washington, DC, in midMarch.
Linda Fix went to the Celebration
of
Agriculture
Conference
as the district representative
on the State Promotion and
Education Committee. There she
congratulated Emily Ooms as the
New York State winner of the 2016
Scholarship Award. Ooms has
served as the Columbia County
Dairy Princess since spring of 2015,
and in February of this year she
was crowned New York State Dairy
Princess.
Columbia County Farm Bureau
also co-hosted an agricultural
brunch on March 23 with the
Columbia County Chamber of
Commerce. The event for Chamber
members in the area was held at
Helsinki in Hudson and featured
a several agricultural educational
booths. Linda Fix helped organize
the event that included a Wheel
of Fortune style game with farm
clues. Jim Davenport also spoke and
introduced New York Farm Bureau
Public Affairs Manager Steve
Ammerman who talked about the
importance of Farm Bureau and
agriculture in the Hudson Valley.
Columbia County has been
working very hard on their
membership and have reviewed
their bylaws.
Ulster County
Ulster County Farm Bureau has
appointed a new member to its
board, Len Bourne. Len has already
proven to be an asset to the board by
gaining quite a few new members
and striking an interest in others
throughout the county to be a
part of the county Farm Bureau.
Ulster plans on co-sponsoring with
Dutchess Putnam Westchester
County Farm Bureau
Farm
Bureau for an Agriculture Day
at the Renegades Stadium. While
currently reviewing their bylaws,
Ulster is preparing for events to
come throughout the year.
Orange County
Orange County Farm Bureau
enjoyed its meetings with its
legislators at Lobby Days on
March 1. John and Diane Lupinski
represented the county and brought
back positive feedback for the
board to hear. The county Farm
Bureau had a booth at Dairy and
Livestock Day, which was a wellattended event. Chip Watson did
an outstanding job promoting
Orange County Farm Bureau and
even signed up a student member.
Orange County has many events
that they are planning for the year
to come and are still striving to
increase their membership. This
should be an excellent year for
Orange County Farm Bureau.
Rensselaer County
2016 has already proven to be a
busy year for Rensselaer County
Farm Bureau. Paul Molesky, the
Young Farmer and Rancher County
Chair, worked with Saratoga and
Washington County Farm Bureau
Chairs to put on an event earlier
this year for young farmers. They
held a social gathering at Sammy
Cohen’s and had more than 25
attendees. This was a great turnout
for the Young Farmer and Ranchers
group, and it interested those who
Continued on page 25
Grassroots Page 8 April 2016
Young Farmers and Ranchers
Young Farmers and Ranchers Extend
‘Celebration of Agriculture’ Conference
By Patti Dugan
[email protected]
After a great day attending
various educational and interactive
workshops at the New York Farm
Bureau Celebration of Agriculture
Conference March 11 at the
DoubleTree Hotel in Syracuse,
the young farmers extended their
stay to experience more leadership
training, networking and to have a
good time.
An evening out at Dave & Buster’s
provided the young farmers with a
team building and communication
challenges while participating in
the “Ultimate Quest” Scavenger
Hunt. Fifty young farmers were
divided into teams and given
assignments to find answers to
questions and gather items required
on their scavenger hunt list. The
teams raced around Dave & Buster’s
to play specific games to fulfill their
mission within an allotted amount
of time. When the teams gathered
to turn in their results, team cheers
were shared and a winning team
was announced and awarded their
prizes.
Everyone really enjoyed the
opportunity to have fun and learn
more about the other young farmers
on their team.
Saturday provided another full
day of activities for the young
farmers.
After breakfast, Greg
Peterson of the Peterson Farm
Bros. spoke about how they make
their videos, giving a behind-thescenes viewpoint.
He shared information on how
they encouraged all young farmers
to become agricultural advocates
and share their stories.
The young farmers then had the
chance to visit Cargill Feed Mill
and the Central New York Regional
Market.
At Cargill Feed Mill, the young
farmers toured the mill and learned
Young Farmers in the New York Farm Bureau Celebration of Agriculture Conference last month visit the Central New
York Regional Market, above, and Cargill Feed Mill, below.
about the products they produce and
its importance to the agricultural
industry in the area.
The Central New York Regional
Market
provided
insight
to
the young farmers about the
importance of access to locally
produced fresh produce, dairy and
meat in Central New York and
how the farmer vendors market
their product to the consumers.
The Celebration of Agriculture
Conference and the Extended
Young Farmer Session proved to
be a successful venture where the
participants were energized with
a commitment to share their farm
stories and become an “ag-vocate.”
District 2 YF&R Dinner
Dance Attracts Agricultural
Professionals from WNY
By Leslie Hamilton
District 2 NYFB State YF&R Committee
Photos courtesy of Laura Audrey Photography, Pavilion, New York (Livingston County board member).
ABOVE: From left, Joe Morgan, Natasha Southerland, Emmaline Long, and
Leslie Hamilton sit at the entry table for the fun Young Farmer and Rancher
Dinner and Dance at at BW’s Restaurant and Sports Bar in Pavilion. BELOW:
Guests at the District Two Dinner and Dance include, from left, Chris Burke,
Brian Stekel, Lucille Stekel, Melinda Canton and Paul Canton. Each year Livingston, Genesee
and Wyoming counties hold a tricounty Young Farmer and Rancher
Dinner Dance. This year the event
was held at BW’s Restaurant and
Sports Bar in Pavilion on Feb. 27.
Young farmers from the entire
District II region were invited and
there were more than 170 attendees
of various ages and backgrounds.
The event was hosted by Young
Farmers and Ranchers, hoping to
put emphasis on connecting young
agricultural professionals, though
the event is open to both young and
young at heart.
This year’s dinner was planned
by Genesee County YFR Co-chairs
Natasha Sutherland and Emmaline
Long, along with Livingston County
YFR chair Leslie Hamilton.
The evening began with a social
hour followed by a buffet dinner
and drinks. Dessert was provided by
Greg’ry’s Bakery, a local business
in Bergen. Dinner was followed
by a 50/50 raffle that included
donated prize choices such as a
Stihl weedwacker and a toy tractor,
among other prizes. Sponsorship
from many agricultural companies
and farms around the district helped
to offset the cost of ticket prices and
donated prizes; their businesses
were promoted at the event.
After dinner, live music was
provided by Worthy Duncan as an
acoustic opener, followed by The
Eric Van Houten Band, a country
singer/songwriter out of Buffalo,
as the highlight of the night. The
evening was a tremendous success
with record attendance and a good
time was had by all.
Grassroots April 2016
Page 9
Young Farmers and Ranchers
Valentine’s Day Buffet Held in WNY
By Darin Hill
District 1 NYFB State YFR Committee
A minus-20 windchill wasn’t
enough to stop the Young Farmers
of District 1 from enjoying a
spectacular buffet on Feb. 13 at the
Seneca Allegany Casino.
Seventeen Young Farmers from
four counties got together to get
informed about what’s going on
in the Farm Bureau community
as well as brainstorm ideas of an
annual district event.
“There isn’t a long term running
event in District 1, but we sure
would like to create one. We have
some great members in our area
that are eager to learn more about
Farm Bureau and take advantage
of all that it has to offer,” said Darin
Hill.
Darin and his wife Katie are now
representing District 1 on the YF&R
state committee. The buffet at the
casino is first class and offers nearly
every type of food that is found at
top end restaurants. Nothing tells
your sweetheart how much you care
like taking him or her to a buffet
and a Farm Bureau event.
YF&R
Program
Seeks Event
Applicants
Collegiate Chapter Chronicle
Students from the SUNY Cobleskill PAS / Collegiate Farm Bureau chapter who competed in competitions at the National
PAS Conference in Kansas City, MO. From left, Kassi Hetherly, Kyle Trombley, Stephanie Vopelak, Shane Phenicie,
Megan Andersen, Kaleb Booth, Geoff Peck, McKenzie Brown, Xavier Almeter, Rachel Lee, and advisor Zach Metzler.
Cornell Chapter
The Collegiate Chapter at
Cornell had nine students venture
to Albany in March for the New York
Farm Bureau Taste of New York
Reception and Lobby Days. While
manning a Cornell University
table, the students interacted with
reception attendees and handed
out Cornell ice cream.
On Lobby Day, students attended
legislative visits with Farm Bureau
members from their home counties.
The chapter also had two students
attend the NYFB Celebration of
Agriculture Conference.
At its last chapter meeting, a
new slate of officers was elected
for the 2016-17 year.
President: Carriel Schmitt from
Cayuga County; Vice President:
Mattie Stark from Louisiana;
Treasurer: Gavin Gates from
Schuyler County; Secretary: Emily
Chittenden from Rensselaer County
and Agriculture Ambassador: Greg
Zimmerman from Ulster County.
Cobleskill Chapter
March has been a busy month
for Cobleskill Collegiate Chapter
members, in addition to having
six students attend the NYFB
Celebration
of
Agriculture
conference, 10 members of the SUNY
Cobleskill PAS / Collegiate Farm
Bureau chapter recently traveled
to the Postsecondary Agricultural
Student Organization’s national
conference in Kansas City, MO.
While at the conference the
students represented the college
Cornell Chapter members attend the NYFB Taste of NY Reception. Pictured
are Emily Chittenden, Carriel Schmitt, Max Russell, Colleen Cargile, Theresa
Sweeney, Quade Kirk, Kaitlyn Kelder, Andrew Lefever, Ashley Howlett
and the state of New York in
numerous
competitions
and
also participated in workshops,
tours, professional networking,
and hearing from motivational
speakers including Damian Mason
(damianmason.com) and Greg
Peterson from the famous Peterson
Brothers (petersonfarmbros.com).
Regarding the competitions,
students had to apply a combination
of technical skills and knowledge
they have learned through classes
and work experiences along with
soft communication skills, such as
interviewing and public speaking.
Many
of
the
competitions
required
significant
paperbased preparation in the form of
resumes, cover letters, application
forms, essays, career goal writing,
education lesson plans, speech
manuscripts, etc. They dedicated
two nights per week since the
beginning of February to be
prepared for the contests and the
results were outstanding.
The New York Farm Bureau
State Young Farmers & Ranchers
Program is excited to announce the
2016 Young Farmers & Ranchers
Competitive Events - Achievement
Award, Excellence in Agriculture
Award and Discussion Meet.
All Young Farmers, 18-35 years
of age as of Jan. 31, 2017, are
encouraged to participate in these
events to compete for recognition
and prizes. The winners of the New
York State contests will represent
New York at the national contests
which will be held in Phoenix, AZ,
in January 2017.
The
Achievement
Award
recognizes young farmers for their
farming pursuits and participation/
leadership within agriculture and
their own community. The ideal
candidate(s) for the Achievement
Award is an individual or married
couple involved in production
agriculture with a majority of
their income subject to normal
production
risks.
Applicants
complete a written application
which is judged to select up to three
finalists who then complete a more
detailed application and participate
in an interview this fall.
The Excellence in Agriculture
Award
is
designed
as
an
opportunity for young farmers to
earn recognition while actively
contributing and growing through
their
involvement
in
Farm
Bureau and agriculture. The ideal
candidate(s) for the Excellence for
Agriculture Award is an individual
or married couple who do not
have the majority of their income
subject to normal production risk.
Applicants must not have derived
a majority of his/her income from
an owned production agriculture
enterprise in any of the past three
years. Applicants complete a
written application which is judged
to select up to three finalists who
will give a presentation of their
application this fall.
Up to three finalists, singles or
married couples, will be selected for
both the Achievement Award and
Continued on page 24
Continued on page 24
Grassroots Page 10 April 2016
Foundation and Education News
Lobby Day Is All
About Education
By Ann Peck
District 3 State Promotion & Education Committee
From left, Harry S Truman High School football coach John-James Shephard,
Dwayne Harris of the New York Giants and Sandie Prokop.
NYC is Hungry for
Agricultural Careers
By Sandie Prokop
[email protected]
On Feb. 25, I had the opportunity
to visit students at the Harry
S Truman High School in the
Bronx. I was amazed at the sheer
size and scope of their school and
programs.
The word agriculture is not a
common one in this area, so talking
with them about dairy farming
was a true pleasure. We were
treated to a breakfast prepared by
the student culinary group and the
event was captured by the student
media group.
This was a perfect opportunity
to speak with Principal Keri
Alfano about the more than 300
agriculture related careers and
how many of the students may very
well be interested. This led directly
to our Food & Farm Experience
2016, which will focus on school
counselors who work with career
exploration and development.
While there, I also had the
opportunity to represent American
Dairy Association and Dairy
Council (ADADC) and present the
team with the 2016 New York City
Public School Athletic League
Championship for their varsity
football team. These students have
so much potential, and I hope that
some of it will focus on agriculture.
What a wonderful opportunity and
privilege to get to know them a
little bit and introduce agriculture
into their vocabulary.
I also learned a bit about football
and life from Dwayne Harris, No.
17 of the New York Giants. He is a
wide receiver, and signed with the
Giants just about a year ago. Before
that, he played four seasons for the
Dallas Cowboys. At East Carolina
University, he played four seasons
and set team records for most
receptions and receiving yards.
The first week in March saw
Farm Bureau members descend on
Albany and our legislators.
I was one of them and witnessed
what Farm Bureau can do at Lobby
Days. Farm Bureau exists for
several reasons and one of the main
ones is to talk with our legislators
to convince them to pass laws that
benefit agriculture and keep a
viable agricultural industry in the
state of New York.
Part of this talking with
legislators is educating them on
the issues important to farmers.
They can’t make the right decisions
unless they understand how an
issue affects farmers and the rest of
the community.
Lobby Days starts out in the
afternoon with speakers from
various departments within state
government talking about issues
important to farmers.
That evening Farm Bureau
puts on a wonderful reception for
legislators and their staff to show
them in an informal way how a
strong agricultural economy is
important for all citizens of New
York.
The reception put on by New
York Farm Bureau is considered
one of the best in Albany. It is filled
with county Farm Bureau and
related agriculture organizations
and exhibits featuring food and
flowers from their counties. It is a
time for farmers to be able to talk
to legislators informally. There are
some great conversations on the
reception floor.
The reception this year featured
a calf and a small tractor. Senator
Rich Funke even was spotted bottle
feeding the calf.
The next day those attending
Lobby Days met with their
legislators and their adopted
lawmakers.
Adopted legislators
are those from cities and downstate
communities where there isn’t
much agriculture. These are the
most fulfilling visits.
It gives us a chance to educate the
legislators about agriculture and
how some decisions they may make
against what farmers need will
adversely affect their constituents
too.
The discussions were most
interesting. I talked so much that I
got tired but it is very rewarding.
This dialog between legislators and
farmers is one of the best parts
about Lobby Days.
Those of you who haven’t tried
it should. These men and women
who serve in our state legislature
are just people like you and me. So
if you can talk with your neighbor,
you can talk to them.
I found this year’s Lobby Days
to be the best I have ever attended.
Yes, it was a lot of hard work and
it did take me away from the home
but this activity is by far one of the
most beneficial activities of New
York Farm Bureau.
In the spirit of Dr. Seuss’ book,
Green Eggs and Ham: Try it you
might like it.
Promotion & Education Committee Welcomes Smith
By Sandie Prokop
[email protected]
The NYFB Board of Directors
recently approved the election and
appointment of Jodi Smith to the
State Promotion and Education
Committee as the District Two
Representative.
Smith is an extremely active
member of the Wyoming County
Farm Bureau Board of Directors.
Growing up on a small hobby
beef farm in West Virginia, she
participated in her county fair
showing her market steers and
hogs. As her dad’s off-farm career
elevated, the herd was sold, but
she remained a lifelong member
of 4-H and FFA in West Virginia.
Today, Smith takes advantage of the
opportunity to help out on friends’
farms and, through her work in
the dairy industry, is able to put
her education and experience to
work as the
Senior Dairy
Market
and
Policy Analyst
for
UpstateN i a g a r a
Cooperative,
Inc. She holds
a bachelor’s
degree
in
agribusiness
management
and rural development from
West Virginia University, and a
master’s degree in agribusiness
from Arizona State University. Her
professional experience includes
an amazing capacity to analyze
and advise in an ever-changing
and dynamic marketplace and
effectively
communicate
her
Continued on page 23
Ag Trivia
How many pounds of wool can a sheep produce in
one year?
Top row, from left: Nancy Tracinski (District 8); Jodi Smith (District 2); Judi
Whittaker (Dist. 5); JoEllen Saumier (Dist. 7); Linda Fix (Dist. 10; Susan Martin
(Distirct 9). Seated: Lori Behling (District 6); Phyllis Couture, Chair; Debbie
Teeter (District 4).
Promotion and Education Committee meets
The Promotion and Educatino
Committee met the evening
prior to the Celebration of Ag
Conference, where work was
undertaken
on
scholarship
application updates, Empire
Farm
Days
exhibits,
NYS
Fair exhibits, and Consumer
Education projects including
shooting
quick
videos
of
our “New York Farmers” to
coordinate with the Foundation
Commodity Collection and the
Ag Facts Calendar.
Answer:
Two to 30 pounds. Shearing usually happens in the spring, so the sheep are cool for
the summer.
Grassroots April 2016
Page 11
News Briefs
Waters of the
U.S. Litigation
Waters of the U.S. Litigation
The slog through the Federal
Court system continues for AFBF
and other interested groups
regarding their challenges to the
recently enacted Waters of the
United States (“WOTUS”) rule.
Numerous lawsuits have been
filed around the country. The big
question is which federal court--a
federal district court or a federal
circuit court of
appeals--has
jurisdiction over a challenge to the
WOTUS rule.
On Feb. 22, 2016, a three-judge
panel of the 6th Circuit Court of
Appeals decided that jurisdiction
over the legal challenges to the
WOTUS rule lies in the circuit
court of appeals, and not the
district courts. The three judges
on the panel wrote three separate
opinions, each with a different view
of the law on this complex issue.
Two, however, agreed (for different
reasons) that jurisdiction belongs
in the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Given the uncertainty generated
by this fractured decision by the
panel, the AFBF coalition filed a
petition on Feb. 29, 2016, seeking a
rehearing by the full 6th Circuit.
Also, Plaintiffs in a North Dakota
WOTUS district case filed a
petition, and additional petitions
are expected to be filed. AFBF also
filed notice with the district court
in Texas, to prevent a possible
dismissal of its suit based on the
6th Circuit panel’s decision. In the
meantime, until the jurisdictional
issues are finally resolved, the
nationwide stay of the WOTUS
rule likely will remain in place.
The question of
jurisdiction
must be solidly resolved before
the challenges to the rule can be
pursued on their merits.
Soon after the 6th Circuit’s
decision, EPA asked the district
court in North Dakota to dismiss the
lawsuit pending before that court.
In addition, the judge presiding
over the WOTUS lawsuits filed in
the Northern District of Oklahoma
dismissed those cases without a
request from EPA. Meanwhile, a
stay on litigation in the district
court for the Southern District
of Texas (where AFBF’s district
court suit is pending) expired, and
the states of Texas, Louisiana, and
Mississippi on Feb. 12, 2016, renewed
their requests for a preliminary
injunction from the district court
against the rule. The states’ efforts
should enable the court to act
quickly if the full 6th Circuit finds
it lacks jurisdiction and the current
nationwide temporary stay is lifted.
As this case continues to
progress, we will keep you up-todate.
Agri-Mark to
Modernize Franklin
County Plant
Empire
State
Development
announced that dairy cooperative
Agri-Mark, Inc. will invest nearly
$30 million to expand its cheese
manufacturing facility in Franklin
County and retain 106 jobs in
the North Country Region. The
An aerial photo of Agri-Mark’s Chateaugay plant provided by the company.
expansion will enable Agri-Mark
to continue to thrive and support
future generations of New York
dairy farmers.
The expansion and restoration
of
Agri-Mark’s
Chateaugay
facility
in
Franklin
County
involves rebuilding the current
110,641 square-foot manufacturing
facility, reengineering the layout
of the facility, and purchasing new
machinery and other equipment.
Empire State Development will
support the dairy co-op with
up to $6 million in funding,
including $4 million in Economic
Transformation Program funds
to retain 106 full-time jobs and
modernize
its
Chateaugay
operations.
The Economic Transformation
Program (ETP), enacted in the
2014-2015 State Budget by Governor
Cuomo, committed $32 million to
support economic development
initiatives and provide tax credits
for projects that create jobs in
communities affected by the closure
of state correctional and juvenile
justice facilities. ETP funding is
administered by Empire State
Development in consultation with
Regional Economic Development
Councils
and
the
affected
communities.
NMPF Approves
New Animal Care
Standards
Training materials and resources
will be available starting this month
to help dairy farms prepare for
the new version of the National
Dairy FARM (Farmers Assuring
Responsible Management) Program.
The National Milk Producers
Federation Board of Directors
approved changes last month to
strengthen the effectiveness and
credibility of its animal care
standards. Their implementation
will begin in January.
Revisions to the FARM Program
occur every three years and are
based on input from farmers,
veterinarians, and others involved
in the FARM Program’s Technical
Writing Group, NMPF’s Animal
Health and Wellbeing Committee,
and recommendations received
through a public comment period.
“The core of the FARM Program
is the concept of continuous
improvement,”
said
NMPF
president and CEO Jim Mulhern.
“Not only do dairy farmers in the
program work hard to evolve and
improve their practices over time,
but we work hard to ensure that
the FARM Program guidelines
reflect the most up-to-date scientific
research and advice from our
technical experts.”
One outcome of the revisions is a
greater emphasis on accountability
among program participants. The
advisory committees identified
several FARM Program guidelines
which they felt deserved heightened
focus and attention. Such criteria
include a greater emphasis on
employee training, having a
documented
Veterinarian-Client
Patient
Relationship,
updated
protocols on euthanasia and nonambulatory cattle, and the cessation
of tail docking.
For a complete summary of all
the changes made to the program,
visit www.nationaldairyfarm.com.
Farm Worker
Housing Loan Funds
Available in N.Y.
Farm Credit East announced that
it is currently taking applications
for
farm
worker
housing
construction and improvement
loans up to $100,000 per year from
the New York State Farm Worker
Housing (FWH) Loan Program.
These loans are available to New
York
agricultural
producers,
including fruit, vegetable and dairy
operations.
The FWH loan program is
administered by Farm Credit East
in partnership with New York
State Homes and Community
Renewal (HCR), and provides
no-interest loans to help finance
improvement of existing housing
or the construction/purchase of
new housing for farm workers.
The program is administered
as a revolving loan fund, with
loan repayments made by the
borrowers applied to the balance
of available funds. Applicants must
demonstrate the need to improve
seasonal or year-round farm worker
housing, which they own or operate,
in order for the housing to comply
with the applicable state building
and health codes or to construct
new seasonal or year-round farm
worker housing. The funds cannot
be used for housing for the farm
owner’s family.
To apply for a loan, contact
your local Farm Credit East office.
Agricultural producers may apply
at any time; however, funds will be
available on a first-come, first-serve
basis.
Farmers’
Market Manager
Certification
Program Launched
The New York State Department
of Agriculture and Markets and
The Farmers’ Market Federation
of
NY, in partnership with
SUNY Cobleskill and Cornell
Cooperative Extension of Broome
County, announced the Farmers’
Market Managers Professional
Certification Course: FMM PRO
to grow and professionalize New
York’s increasing number of
farmers’ markets.
The program, funded by the
FreshConnect Program, creates
New York State’s first market
manager certification designation,
which is recognized through the
SUNY system. FMM PRO is a
part of the Governor’s efforts to
open new markets and increase
opportunities for New York State
agriculture producers.
The cost of the SUNY Farmers’
Market Managers Professional
Certification is $200 for 12 months
of access to the online curriculum. Discounts
are
available
for
multiple registrations for market
organizations. Participants will
need to complete all 22 sessions
within this time frame, including
a quiz and homework assignment
from each section in order to receive
certification. In addition, they
will need to earn two continuing
education credits bi-annually by
attending special sessions at the
Federation’s
annual
Farmers’
Market Managers Conference and/
or specified manager training
webinars in order to maintain
their certification. The program
is also available to out-of-state
participants. Registration for the course is
ongoing, enabling participants
to register and complete the full
curriculum at their convenience. To
register, a participant will need to
complete an online application and
submit payment online. Once your
payment is received, participants
will be emailed a code to access the
online course. To register for FMM
Pro: Farmers’ Market Managers
Certification Program, go to: http://www.nyfar mersmarket.
com/fmmpro.
State Announces
Farmland
Protection Funds
$26 million is now available
through the Farmland Protection
Implementation Grant program
to help farmers across New York
State protect valuable and at-risk
farmland. This year marks the 20th
anniversary of the program which
supports conservation easement
projects.
The
Farmland
Protection
Implementation Grant program
is part of New York State’
Environmental Protection Fund,
which Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s 2016
Executive Budget proposal has
more than doubled, raising the
funding level to $300 million. The
proposal also increases funding
for farmland protection by $5
million. Municipalities, counties,
soil and water conservation
districts and land trusts are eligible
to apply for individual grants
through the program’s Round 14
Request for Proposals to protect
viable agricultural land from being
converted
to
non-agricultural
use. The application is available
at www.agriculture.ny.gov/RFPS.
html.
Since 1996, New York State
has awarded more than $140 million
for 233 preservation projects that
protect nearly 60,000 acres of
farmland across the state.
Page 12 Grassroots April 2016
Inside D.C.
Senate Fails to Move a GMO Labeling Compromise
By Elizabeth Wolters
[email protected]
In March, after the Senate
Agriculture Committee had voted to
move a compromise biotechnology
labeling compromise bill, the full
Senate failed (48-49) to invoke
cloture and continue debate on
Chairman Pat Roberts, R-KS,
compromise amendment to the
Biotech Labeling Solutions Act.
This was the last opportunity for
Congress to act before the Vermont
mandatory labeling law goes into
effect July 1, 2016.
The amendment was compromise
language that would have provided
strong preemption of individual
state laws and a definition of
‘bioengineering’ as soon as the bill
was signed by the president.
Within one year, the USDA
would have to develop standards
and definitions for the voluntary
labeling of foods from biotechnology
ingredients.
After three years, USDA would
have to make a determination as
to whether there was substantial
participation by the market place
in making information available
regarding the presence or use
of bioengineering in food. The
threshold that was expected was
70 percent of most frequently
Zach Debadts, Gary Orbaker, Dean Casey, Jim VanOrden, Sarah Blood, Marc Silva, and Mike Gile pose for a picture between
meetings with Representatives during the March Washington, DC, lobby trip.
consumed labeled foods. Should the
industry not meet this threshold,
USDA would then establish a
national
mandatory
standard
that would allow for a variety of
disclosure methods, including: onpackage labels, websites, scannable
technology, call centers or other
options considered appropriate by
the Secretary.
Within a week of the failed vote
several large companies announced
that they will begin labeling their
products to meet Vermont’s new
law nationwide.
Although Vermont is a small
market, with only 626,000 residents,
the integrated nature of supply
chains makes it complex and
expensive to create a separate
distribution network for the state
of Vermont.
Companies face fines up to $1,000
per product.
2016 Advocacy Conference
In February, several New York
Farm Bureau board members
and members of AFBF’s Issue
Advisory Committees traveled
to Washington, DC, to attend
committee meetings, workshops
and to lobby Congress on NYFB’s
2016 national priority issues.
Issue
Advisory
Committees
replaced AFBFs Commodity Advisory
Committees (CACs) last year.
Similar to CACs, they are made
up of Farm Bureau members with
knowledge and direct involvement
on issues of importance to
Farmers and Ranchers. Unlike
CACs,
committee
members
discuss cross-commodity concerns
for agriculture. New York Farm
Bureau has four members on
different IACs including: Jim
Bittner on the Trade Committee,
Paul Virkler on the Animal Care
Committee, Roxaina Hurlburt on
the Trade Committee and Ron
Dougherty on the Water Supply
and Quality Committee.
At the conference, members
were able to select from several
workshops to get the most up-todate information on issues like
trade, biotechnology, and farm
economy. Members were also able
to brush up their skills on social
media and how to communicate
effectively to lawmakers.
On the last day of the conference,
New York Farm Bureau members
headed up to Capitol Hill to meet
with lawmakers from New York to
talk about the 2016 New York Farm
Bureau priority issues.
Farm Bureau Supports TPP
Last October, the Transpacific
Trade Partnership (TPP) was
announced by the United States
and 11 other countries including
Australia, Brunei Darussalam,
Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia,
Mexico, New Zealand, Peru,
Singapore, and Vietnam. Since the
details of the trade agreement have
been released the American Farm
Bureau Federation (AFBF) has been
working on an economic analysis
to demonstrate how approval of
this agreement will benefit U.S.
agriculture.
AFBF’s
analysis
indicates
Congressional approval of the
agreement would boost net farm
income by $4.4 billion, over the
levels expected if Congress fails to
act. In New York, TPP is expected
to increase cash receipts by $111.4
million and net exports by $66.2
million.
The
increased
marketing
opportunities for New York farmers
will add more than 500 jobs to the
New York Economy.
Dairy,
the
state’s
largest
agricultural industry with more
than $3.5 billion in cash receipts,
would see an increase to dairy cash
receipts by $18.7 million per year.
This is driven by an $8.9 million per
year increase in direct exports to
TPP countries.
“While our farmers and ranchers
have a lot to gain with passage, the
consequences of not approving
the deal would be harmful,” AFBF
President Zippy Duvall said. “Every
day we delay means lost markets as
other TPP countries implement the
deal’s advantages with each other.
We are already arriving at the party
late because, right now, expanded
trade due to TPP is going on across
the Pacific Rim – just without us.”
TPP is a multilateral agreement
intended to create rules and market
access across the 12 member nations,
however, outside of the agreement,
other member countries will (and
some already are) negotiate and
implement bilateral agreements
without waiting for the United
States to approve the measure.
2016 NYFB Foundation Feast Dates:
April 29, Watkins Glen; Sept. 30, Tupper Lake
Grassroots April 2016
NYS Agriculture Program Budget
Page 13
NYFB Members Travel to Capitol Hill
From left, Paul Virkler, Richard Kimball, David Fisher, Pat McCormick, Paul
Fouts, John Sorbello, and Dean Norton meet with Sen. Charles Schumer
(center) during February Advocacy Conference in Washington, DC, to discuss
NYFB’s 2016 national priorities.
Page 14 Grassroots April 2016
Apple Association Holds Lobby Day
Members of the New York Apple Association Board of directors met
in Albany in February. Pictured from left are: Front Row, NYFB Staff Ivy
Reynolds, Lauren Williams, Sarah Dressel, Molly Zingler, Kaari Stannard;
Back Row, Will Gunnison, Jason Woodworth, Abram Peters, Kevin Bittner,
Jack Torrice, Jim Allen, Kurt Borchert, NYFB Staff Jeff Williams, Kelly Young,
and Paul Baker.
Chautauqua County’s YF&R Wine Tour
Photo courtesy of Erin Urban
On Feb. 20, the Chautauqua County Young Farmers and Ranchers held its
second annual Wine Tour. There were 24 people on the tour, including
some young farmers from Cattaraugus and Erie counties. It was a beautiful
day, and they visited Merritt Estate Winery, 21 Brix Winery, Noble Winery,
Quincy Cellars, Sensory Winery and the Grape Discovery Center. The young
farmers would like to thank these wineries for having us and sharing their
local products, and they are looking forward to next year’s Young Farmers
and Ranchers event.
Grassroots April 2016
Page 15
Agricultural Youth Scholarship Winners Named
The 2016 New York Farm Bureau
Agricultural Youth Scholarship
winners have been selected.
Each student has won one of the
11 district-wide scholarships, and
three of them have now moved on
to the state level. These students
must have a family Farm Bureau
membership or a Student Farm
Bureau membership. They have
been selected based on their essay
submissions, as well as their
applications, which include their
community
and
agricultural
engagement.
The first place winner is Allison
Herrick of Bliss in Wyoming county.
Herrick grew up on her family’s
dairy farm where she started a herd
of her own, however staying on the
farm just was not enough. She took
her passion for the dairy industry
and her skill of public speaking and
started educating the public about
the industry. Herrick is a senior at
Pioneer Central School and plans to
attend college at either Penn State
University or Cornell University
where she will study dairy genetics.
The second place winner is
Emily Ooms from Valatie. Getting
her start in 4-H and the Junior
Dairy Leaders, Ooms is invested in
pursuing a career in agriculture.
Her hope is to carry on the family
of commitment and passion for the
industry. Upon graduation from
Chatham High School, Ooms plans
to attend Cornell University where
she will study animal science with
a focus in dairy
The third place winner is Julia
Fouts of Cortland. Fouts’ passion
for agriculture is something
she learned from her father, she
said, “I hope that I would one day
continue his dream.” From the
Dairy Princess Association to the
National 4-H Dairy Conference,
Fouts has surrounded herself with
agriculture. Now a senior at Homer
Senior High School, Fouts will be
attending SUNY ESF pursing a
degree in environmental biology.
Other
District
Scholarship
winners include:
District 1: Matthew Spoth is
from Clarence Center, where he
attends Clarence High School. Upon
graduation he will be attending
Cornell University studying
environmental engineering
District 3: Jessica Skellie is
from Newark, where she attends
Midlakes High School. Upon
graduation she will be attending
Cornell University studying
animal science.
District 5: Victoria Peila is
from Bainbridge, where she
attends Oxford High School.
Upon graduation she will be
attending
Morrisville
State
College studying agricultural
business.
District 6: Amanda Bond is
from Adams, where she attends
Belleville-Henderson
Central
School. Upon graduation she will
be attending Cornell University
studying agricultural sciences.
District 7: April Gokey
is from Malone, where she
attends
Franklin
Academy.
Upon graduation she will be
attending
SUNY
Cobleskill
studying agricultural business
management.
District 8: Ashley A. Gifford
is from Greenville, where she
Emily Ooms
Allison Herrick
Matthew Spoth
Jessica Skellie
Ashley Gifford
attends Greenville High School.
Upon graduation she will be
attending either SUNY Cobleskill,
Oklahoma State, Kansas State or
Cornell University studying animal
science with a focus in livestock
genetics.
District 9: Andrew Fletcher is
Victoria Peila
Andrew Fletcher
Julia Fouts
Amanda Bond
Courntney Dearnley
from Cobleskill where he attends
Cobleskill- Richmondville High
School. Upon graduation he will
be attending Paul Smith’s college
studying forest operations.
District 10: Courtney Dearnley
is from Copake, where she attends
Taconic Hills High School. Upon
April Gokey
Caroline Keil
graduation she plans to attend
Cornell University pursing a degree
in animal science.
District 11: Caroline Keil is
from Mattituck, where she attends
Mattituck Junior -Senior High
School. Upon graduation she plans
to attend Cornell University.
Page 16 Grassroots April 2016
New York Farm Bureau Members Mee
NYS Dairy Princess Emiliy Ooms poses with Senate Agriculture Chair Patty
Ritchie
Eric Ooms, David Fisher, Sen. Catharine Young and Dean Norton.
Darlene Mullally, Eric Ooms, Speaker Carl Heastie, Assemblyman Bill Magee and Dean N
Dr. Karin Bump, Madison County Farm Bureau, introduces her students from
Cazenovia College to Commissioner Ball.
Senate Minority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins meets with leaders from
Dutchess Putnam Westchester Farm Bureau and NYFB’s Executive Committee.
Norton with Senator Tom O’Mara.
Molly Zingler, NYS Apple Association, Roberta Reardon,
NYS Labor Commissioner, Richard Ball, NYS Agriculture
and Markets Commissioner, Will Gunnison, Gunnison
Orchards
Sen. Rich Funke bottle feeds
Senator Sanders and Linda Fix, Columbia County Farm
Bureau.
Montgomery County Farm B
and Gordon Schaufelberg w
Assembly Agriculture Chair Bill Magee (center) meets with constituents from Tioga
County Farm Bureau in his office during lobby day.
Grassroots April 2016
Page 17
et with State Officials on Lobby Day
Norton and Assemblywoman Carrie
Woerner.
Norton with
Palmesano.
Assemlyman
Phil
Norton.
Senator David Valesky samples products from NYS FFA.
s a calf.
Commissioner Ball, Judi Whittaker of Broome County
Farm Bureau, Sen. Frederick Akshar.
The NYS FFA Officer Team.
Bureau members John Fidler
with Sen. George Amedore.
Dean Kathryn Boor and Julie Suarez of Cornell CALS and
NYFB President Dean Norton.
Assemblyman Santabarbara chats with constituents.
Members gather for the breakfast briefing at the start of Lobby Day.
Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush speaks with members from Jefferson County
Farm Bureau.
Page 18 Grassroots April 2016
Commodity Report: Apiculture
What’s the Buzz on Bees?
By Ivy Jean Reynolds
[email protected]
Bees play a sweet role in New
York agriculture and in 2014, they
produced more than 3 million
pounds of honey, in addition to
providing over $500 million in
pollination services to crops like
apples, berries and tomatoes.
Scott McArt, a research scientist
in the Department of Entomology
at Cornell University, was excited to
share that there are over 400 species
of bees in New York State.
Most people would assume that
honeybees are the only species
used, however, the bumblebee and
Blue Orchard bee can also be used
to pollinate crops. McArt explained
that bumble bees use high frequency
sound waves or ultrasound waves to
pollinate crops like tomatoes.
While bee keeping isn’t the
largest agricultural sector in the
state, there are approximately 40
commercial bee operations that
transport big semi-trucks full of
bees to not only farms in New York,
but farms across the country, to aid
in the process of pollination.
As a researcher, McArt has been
working on a very large project
with the New York Farm Viability
Institute. Researchers are studying
why pollinators are not doing as
well in recent years, and what is
causing colonies to collapse.
“Thirteen percent of bee species
are dying and 50 percent of honey
bee colonies are lost, that is why
this program is so essential to the
continuation of pollinators in our
state.” McArt explained.
The NYFVI project is focusing on
the relative importance variables
within the environment around
the hive and how they relate to
hive health. The project includes
120 colonies in 30 different apple
orchard across the state. Currently
the research team is getting ready
to see how the hives survived the
winter. They will be evaluating
Scott McArt, a research scientist in the Department of Entomology at Cornell University, and his research team are
conducting field research across the state to examine why some bee colonies are collapsing.
hive health based on the relative
importance of pathogens, the
landscape of the particular orchard,
the type of pollen that the bees are
in contact with, and the pesticides
used in that location.
McArt also
announced the
addition of Extension Associate,
Emma
Mullen.
Mullen
will
be working with beekeepers
around the state to provide them
with education and beekeeping
resources. She has been working
very hard to create a website for
pollinator’s in the state. You can
check it out at http://pollinator.
cals.cornell.edu/. This website
includes resources for bee keepers
to help them manage their hives
and also features fact sheets on the
bee keeping industry.
Mullen has also been working
on a “Master Bee Keeper” course
which will be offered online
through Cornell University. The
course is more than just workshops
and is available to bee keepers with
2-3 years’ experience. The course
allows beekeepers to learn online
and then travel to Cornell for one
weekend, where they will take an
exam and receive a certificate that
will allow them to become educators
in their communities.
For
more
information
on
programs for bee keepers in New
York you can contact Emma Mullen
at (607)-319-0752.
Grassroots April 2016
Page 19
The Face of Agriculture
Andrew Card
Merrimac Valley Apiaries
Cattaraugus County Farm
Bureau
How did you become involved in
agriculture?
My parents started beekeeping with one hive
in Billerica, Massachusetts after World War
II. As their number of hives increased they
rented them to local apple growers and later to
cranberry growers near Cape Cod. As other
farm kids often do, I grew up with the chores
of beekeeping, summers through high school
and college and finally purchasing the farm
consisting of approximately 3,000 hives, from
my dad in 1985. Merrimack Valley Apiaries
remained local to its namesake in eastern
Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire,
for over 20 years. In 1977 we began to send hives
to Florida to help with winter survival. In 1985
we sent our first hives to New York State after
cranberry pollination and in the following year
we purchased 800 hives in Louisiana.
Can you describe your operation?
Today we operate two farms in Otto and
Minden, with two additional farms in Bunkie
and Jennings, LA., while maintaining the
original farm in Billerica, MA. We are among
the largest contract pollination farms in the
nation providing close to 1 percent of the hives
used for California almond pollination, and we
produce approximately 1 percent of the national
honey crop each year.
We also grow and sell nucleus hives to
beekeepers from our farms in Otto NY, and
Billerica, MA.
How has the apiary industry changed
since you started?
From the beginning most beekeeping
practices were
performed
by hand, and
many
still
are.
Hives
were
moved
i n d iv i d u a l l y
on trucks to
pollination and
honey
crops.
Nowadays
hives
and
supers
are
palletized.
Back
then
there were no
parasitic mites
among
the
bees. American
foulbrood,
a
bacterial
disease,
now
controlled by
antibiotics was the major problem. The number
of colonies kept commercially has declined over
the past 50 years probably due to loss of forage,
development of modern pesticides and foreign
competition, that pushes prices down, in the
domestic honey market.
What is the biggest challenge facing the
apiary industry in New York State?
The biggest challenge facing New York
beekeeping is the recognition and preservation
of safe, non-crop forage including but not
limited to spotted knapweed, purple loosestrife,
volunteer sweet clover, Dutch white clover,
Japanese knotweed, milkweed, goldenrod and
fall asters. Other challenges include control of
parasitic mites as well as mitigating the lethal
and sub-lethal effects of modern pesticides and
fungicides.
What is the biggest opportunity in
beekeeping?
New York State has a great history of honey
production. Probably the biggest opportunity
lies in improving honey crops through
increased understanding of the requirements
and dynamics of population build-up coinciding
with blooming of nectar producing flowers in
sufficient quantities to produce a profitable
surplus.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
The most enjoyment comes from working
with my two sons, Wesley and Glenn. After
graduating from Cornell, Wes moved to
Louisiana where he oversees the two production
farms there. Glenn manages the Northeastern
pollination contracts for apples, blueberries
and cranberries; honey sales and distribution
at the Billerica Massachusetts location, as well
as honey production at the Minden, New York
farm.
If someone were interested in beekeeping
what would you suggest would be the best
way to get started?
If you Google “how to get started in
beekeeping” you will find equipment supplies
and basic information about beekeeping. There
are several bee clubs located around the state
some of which offer “bee schools” to demonstrate
techniques required to keep and maintain
colonies. The 2015 edition of The Hive and the
Honeybee is considered to the standard textbook
on beekeeping. You can purchase bees from
Betterbee Inc. near Saratoga or from our farm in
Otto New York. (www.MerrimackValleyApiaries.
com)
Why is Farm Bureau important to you?
Though beekeeping has been called the
backbone of agriculture, the beekeeping
industry is tiny when compared to other
agricultural interests. Beekeepers depend on
Farm Bureau to represent their interests at the
local, state and federal levels.
Page 20 Grassroots April 2016
Annual Farm Insurance Reviews
Can Eliminate Surprises
Economic
volatility
in
commodity prices, construction
expenses and labor costs may mean
your insurance coverage no longer
meets your current situation. The
worst time to find out you don’t
have enough insurance is when you
have a claim.
“We recommend farmers ask
their agents for an insurance
review at least once a year,” says
Jerry Hillard, AVP, Agribusiness
Regional Sales, Des Moines, Iowa.
“A lot can change on a farm that
could impact your coverage needs,
things you may not even think
about until it’s too late.”
If
your
farm
or
r a n c h
changes,
take a look
at
your
i n s u r a n c e.
For instance,
liability
coverage under your policy is
intended to provide protection
for liabilities incurred from your
personal and farming or ranching
activities. When you branch into
other business activities, you may
not be covered. The grain farmer
who decides to run a corn maze,
or the hay
farmer who
adds some
c u s t o m
farming,
may
need
additional
coverage.
That’s
why it’s so important to keep your
insurance agent advised of both
current and planned changes in
your farm or ranch activities.
“It’s also a good idea to have your
agent update the values on your
policy,” Hillard said. “With the
roller coaster volatility we’ve seen
in commodity pricing over the last
few years, there is a good chance
that your inventory may be either
over- or under-insured.”
Let your agent know about
changes on your farm or ranch and
in your home
Anything
new
should
be
reviewed. Building costs for repairs
or new construction also need to be
considered, along with any major
new purchases. If you’ve bought a
new diamond ring for your spouse
or a new shotgun for yourself, you’ll
want to review your coverages with
your agent.
Be sure to let your agent know
about any major life
changes, like marriage,
divorce, death in the
immediate
family
or
new income sources. All
of these can alter your
succession/estate planning
needs, which should be
adjusted to meet your
changing wishes.
Nationwide
has
developed the On Your
Side® Farm Certification
training program that
encourages an annual
review. Farm Certified
agents will use their
additional training in farm
loss control to help ensure
you have exactly the right
protection – not too much
and not too little – for your
current needs. Farmers or
ranchers can find a Farm
Certified agent by using
the agent locator at www.
farmagentfinder.com.
“Your insurance agent
should be a trusted member
of your team,” Hillard
said. “Your agent should
work with you to structure
the right program for your
needs. The more your agent
knows, the better he or
she is able to help protect
you, your family and your
farm.”
Please contact Scott
Keyes, NYFB’s Director
of
Insurance
Partner
Relations & Membership
Marketing, to find a
qualified Nationwide agent
near you. Scott can be
reached at 518-431-5615 or
[email protected]
Connect
with us!
Like New York
Farm Bureau on
Facebook and stay
up to date with all
the latest
NYFB news.
facebook.com/
nyfarmbureau
April 2016
Grassroots Page 21
Grassroots Page 22 April 2016
Compliance Corner
Registration of Cooling Towers
for On-Farm Refrigeration
By Lisa A. Ovitt, Paralegal
[email protected]
On July 21, 1976, the American
Legion opened its annual threeday convention at the BellevueStratford Hotel in Philadelphia.
More than 2,000 Legionnaires,
mostly
men,
attended
the
conference.
On July 27, three
days after the convention ended, a
61-year-old Legionnaire died of an
apparent heart attack.
This was quickly followed by
four more deaths of convention
attendees, apparently of heart
attacks,
although
all
had
complained of fatigue, chest pains,
lung congestion, and fever. By the
end of the first week of August,
more than 130 people, mostly men,
had been hospitalized, and 25 had
died.
The U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention mounted an
unprecedented investigation and,
by the end of September, shifted
their focus from a disease carrier to
the hotel environment. In January
1977 the Legionella bacterium was
finally identified and isolated and
was found to be breeding in the
cooling tower of the hotel’s air
conditioning system which then
spread it through the building. This
finding prompted new regulations
worldwide for climate control
systems.
Just last summer, health officials
identified a cooling tower at the
Opera House Hotel as the source of
a Legionnaires’ spike that sickened
more than 120 people in the Bronx,
killing 12 of them, marking the
largest outbreak of the disease in
New York City history. This has
prompted additional regulations
for cooling towers in New York,
particularly regarding registration
of the units. These new regulations
took effect March 1, 2016 and
do impact some agricultural
operations.
What is a ‘Cooling Tower’?
Under the Legionella regulation,
the term “cooling tower” means
a cooling tower, evaporative
condenser, or fluid cooler that is
part of a recirculated water system
incorporated into a building’s
cooling,
industrial
process,
refrigeration, or energy production
system. Most cooling towers are
used for air conditioning, and are
shut down in the fall and opened
again in the spring.
Editor’s Note
In the March issue of
Grassroots, Compliance Corner
informed readers about medical
variances for CDLs. The opening
paragraph discussed the truck
weights that require a CDL.
We neglected to clarify that the
weights discussed refer to the
vehicle’s GVWR – Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating -- the weight of a
vehicle consisting of the unladen
weight
and
the
maximum
carrying capacity recommended
by the manufacturer.
On a farm, however, many fruit
and vegetable packing buildings
have evaporative condensers that
have refrigerated coils that are
cooled with water from a basin
which is pumped up and distributed
to them.
The fan can likely
aerosolize the water delivered to
cool the coils. That function is
covered by NYS Department of
Health regulations.
Electronic Registration
of Cooling Towers
Owners of
cooling towers
must register their tower with
the NYS Department of Health
(the “Department”) prior to the
initial operation of the tower and
whenever any owner of the tower
changes. This filing must be done
electronically at
http://www.
ny.gov/services/register-coolingtower-and-submit-reports. Some of
the information required includes
the street address of the location
of the tower; the intended use; the
name of the manufacturer, model
number and serial number; and
specific capacities of the unit, such
as cooling (tonnage) and basin
capacity.
Maintenance
Program and Plan
Owners of
cooling towers
must obtain and implement a
maintenance program and plan
developed in accordance with
section 7.2 of Legionellosis: Risk
Management for Building Water
Systems
(ANSI/ASHRAE
1882015), 2015 edition. The latest
edition of ASHRAE 188-2015 may
be purchased from the ASHRAE
website (www.ashrae.org) or from
ASHRAE Customer Service (see
information at end of this article).
The following standards must be
incorporated into your plan:
Equipment siting;
New-system start-up;
System maintenance;
Water treatment;
Shutdown and start-up;
Disinfection;
Location of make-up valve; and
Contingency response plan.
In addition, the Department
requires the following elements be
included in your program and plan:
A
schedule
for
routine
bacteriological
sampling
and
analysis;
Emergency sample collection
and submission of samples; and
Immediate action in response to
culture testing.
Culture Sampling, Testing,
and Disinfecting
Culture sampling and testing
must be carried out by tower owners
every 90 days while the tower is
in use. In accordance with your
maintenance program and plan,
immediate action must be taken in
response to such testing as specified
in the plan, including interpreting
Legionella culture results, if any.
Appendix 4-A of the regulations
(see link at the end of this article)
is a chart which clearly outlines the
action that must be taken according
to specific test results.
Cleaning
and
disinfecting
of cooling towers may only be
performed
by
a
commercial
pesticide applicator or pesticide
technician who is qualified to
apply biocide in a cooling tower
and certified in accordance with
the requirements of Article 33 of
the Environmental Conservation
Law, or by a pesticide apprentice
under the supervision of a certified
applicator.
Farmers who are
private pesticide applicators should
be aware that they are by law not
allowed to clean and disinfect their
own cooling towers.
Inspection
Owners of cooling towers must
ensure that the towers are inspected
every 90 days while in use. All
inspections must be performed
by a New York State licensed
professional engineer, certified
industrial hygienist, certified water
technologist, or environmental
consultant with training and
experience performing inspections
in accordance with current standard
industry protocols including, but
not limited to, ASHRAE 188-2015.
Each inspection must include an
evaluation of:
The cooling tower and associated
equipment for the presence of
organic material, biofilm, algae,
and other visible contaminants;
The general condition of the
cooling tower, basin, packing
material, and drift eliminator;
Water make-up connections and
control;
Proper functioning of
the
conductivity control; and
Proper functioning of all dosing
equipment (pumps, strain gauges).
Certification – Deadline
Nov. 1, 2016
Each year, the owner of a cooling
tower must obtain certification
from a person identified in the
Inspection paragraph above that
their cooling tower was inspected,
tested, cleaned, and disinfected
in compliance with this Part, that
the condition of the cooling tower
is appropriate for its intended use,
and that a maintenance program
and plan has been developed and
implemented as required by this
Part. This certification must be
obtained by Nov. 1, 2016, and by
Nov. 1 of each year thereafter. This
certification must be reported to
the NYS Department of Health.
Recordkeeping
An owner of a cooling tower
must keep and maintain records of
all inspection findings, deficiencies,
corrective actions, cleaning and
disinfection, tests performed, and
certifications, for at least three
years. An owner must maintain a
copy of the required maintenance
program and plan on the premises
where a cooling tower is located.
Such records and plan must be made
available to the Department or local
health department immediately
upon request.
Enforcement
An officer, employee, or agent of
the NYS Department of Health or
local health department may enter
onto any property to inspect the
cooling tower for compliance with
the requirements in accordance
with applicable law. Where an
owner does not register, obtain
certification, clean or disinfect,
culture test, or inspect a cooling
tower within the time and manner
set forth in the regulations,
Continued on page 23
SCOTUS Passes on Chesapeake Bay TMDL Appeal
The United States Supreme Court has decided
not to hear an appeal from a Third Circuit Court
of Appeals decision in AFBF’s challenge to the
Chesapeake Bay TMDL.
This case has far-reaching implications for
agriculture in the Chesapeake watershed and
beyond. AFBF had sought Supreme Court review
of the decision of the 3rd Circuit upholding the
Chesapeake Bay TMDL.
AFBF President Zippy Duvall said, “We, of
course, are disappointed by the Supreme Court’s
decision not to examine the lawfulness of EPA’s
Chesapeake Bay ‘blueprint.’ EPA has asserted the
power to sit as a federal zoning board, dictating
which land can be farmed and where homes,
roads and schools can be built. We remain firm in
opposing this unlawful expansion of EPA’s power.
We will closely monitor the agency’s actions in
connection with the Bay blueprint, as well as any
efforts to impose similar mandates in other areas.
This lawsuit has ended, but the larger battle over
the scope of EPA’s power is not over.”
Madison County Farm Bureau supported
AFBF’s lawsuit with a financial contribution
to its advocacy efforts. Also, Madison County’s
government showed its opposition to the EPA
overreach by participating in a “friend of the
court” brief filed by several impacted counties
in the watershed region in support of AFBF’s
petition for permission to be heard by the U.S.
Supreme Court.
“Farmers are justifiably proud of their
successes in reducing agriculture’s impact on
water quality in the Chesapeake Bay,” Duvall
continued, “and they remain committed to
further improvements. We will continue to
support state and local programs to improve
agriculture’s environmental performance, and
we will continue to oppose EPA overreach.”
Grassroots April 2016
Onondaga County Farm Bureau
Hosts Assemblywoman Hunter
Assemblywoman Pamela Hunter tours Beak and Skiff Orchards outside
Syracuse with her constituent, Pete Fleckenstein, of Beak and Skiff. She also
met with Onondaga County Farm Bureau President Dan Palladino and Joann
Delaney of Delaney Farms to discuss important issues concerning farmers in
her district.
Smith
Continued from page 10
analysis.
Her interaction with
cooperative members and all within
the dairy cooperative network
provides an opportunity which
in turn can be put to tremendous
use on the Promotion & Education
Committee.
Smith works with the Wyoming
County Cooperative Extension as the
Chair of the Program Committee,
Chair of the Scholarship Committee
and with numerous other programs
and projects. As a Director for her
County Farm Bureau, she never
sits still.
She
works
with
Policy
Development,
Promotion
and
Education, Scholarship, Strategic
Planning and is actively engaged
as a member of the Ag Field Day
Committee and was Chair of
the Spudventure Ag Education
Committee, a project which won the
NYFB Outstanding Promotion and
Education, Award and the AFBF
County Activity Excellence Award.
Smith is a valued member of her
County, and we are so appreciative
that her many talents will be shared
with the NYFB State Promotion
and Education Committee. Her
expertise and talents will help us
to make a difference and adds to
the diversity of skill sets, which
equates to tremendous value If
you are from District 2, be sure to
reach out to Jodi with suggestions,
comments and ideas.
Towers
Continued from page 22
the Department or local health
department may determine that
such condition constitutes a
nuisance and may take action as
authorized by law.
A violation of any provision
of the regulations is subject to
all civil and criminal penalties as
provided for by law. Each day that
an owner remains in violation of
any provision of the regulations
constitutes a separate and distinct
violation of such provision.
Electronic Reporting
In
addition
to
electronic
Page 23
NYFB Joins Coalition on Small Business Day
A coalition of small business groups came together on March 8 in Albany
as part of Small Business Lobby Day at the Capitol. The effort, organized by
the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) kicked off with a
press conference where a number of small business owners spoke about the
impacts of $15 minimum wage. NYFB State Vice President Eric Ooms was a
featured speaker and addressed what the dramatic wage hike will mean for
farms across the state.
Farm Bureau Members Save More with New Grainger Agreement
An updated agreement between
the American Farm Bureau
Federation and Grainger allows
Farm Bureau members to enjoy
more money-saving opportunities
when they shop at Grainger
Farm Bureau members can
save up to 30 percent on products
purchased through Grainger, and
they also receive free standard
ground shipping on all standard
Grainger products, including orders
placed in-store, by phone or online.
The Farm Bureau Grainger
Program now includes discounts
on 12 product categories. The
discount ranges from 10 percent to
30 percent off the catalog prices on
more than 1 million products:
• 30 percent off motors and
electrical;
• 25 percent off cleaning
consumables
and
janitorial
supplies; plumbing pipe, valves and
fittings; worker safety equipment,
hand tools and welding;
• 20 percent off
outdoor
equipment, power tools and facility
safety; and
• At least 10 percent off all
other products found in Grainger
catalogs.
Farm Bureau members in
participating states are eligible
for Grainger benefits. Discounts
cannot be applied to past purchases.
For information on your state
discount, visit www.fbadvantage.
com/grainger.
State Offers Wage Deductions Guidance for Seasonal Employees
NYS Department of Labor
It’s the start of the growing
season and your workers have just
arrived on the farm, where they
will live and work until the end of
the season.
Because they haven’t received
their first paycheck yet, they
don’t have the money they need
to purchase basic necessities like
toiletries and groceries. Can you
advance their wages to them that
first day of arrival and then deduct
that money on pay day? The answer
is yes.
But prior to September 2012,
the answer to that question would
have been ‘no’ because making
deductions to repay an advance
violated NYS Labor Law Section
193, which prohibited an employer
from making deductions that were
not either required by law or for the
benefit of the employee. Now those
registration of all cooling towers
with the Department, periodic
reporting of testing, inspection, and
certification of cooling towers, as
discussed earlier in this article, must
be done electronically at http://
www.ny.gov/services/re gistercooling-tower-and-submit-reports.
Discontinued Use
The owner of a cooling tower must
notify the Department within 30
days after removing or permanently
discontinuing use of a cooling
tower. This notice must include a
statement that the cooling tower
has been disinfected and drained in
accordance with the same procedures
as set forth in the shutdown plan,
as specified in the maintenance
program and plan discussed earlier
rules have been expanded to allow
deductions for the repayment of
wage advances and for the recovery
of overpayments. But before doing
so, an employer must provide
detailed documentation to the
worker before an advance is given
and before making overpayment
deductions.
Wage advances are similar to
loans in the sense that a contract
must be signed before the money
is provided. Unlike loans however,
wage advances cannot charge a
worker interest or fees and the
signed contract must detail the
rules for the repayment. It must
also describe a dispute procedure
that must be made available to
the worker in the event that there
is a disagreement regarding the
repayment deductions. To help
employers comply with these
requirements, The NYS DOL has
created a template called Written
Authorization for Wage Advances
(LS 70,) and it is available online.
In other cases, an employer may
wish to make deductions from a
worker to recover an accidental
overpayment. For example, perhaps
there was a math error and payroll
calculated a farmworker’s wage rate
at time and half for all hours worked
in that pay period, rather than at
the regular hourly rate. In this
instance, an employer may deduct
the overpayment, but must provide
the worker with a written Notice
of Intent before those deductions
are made. Like the Authorization
for Wage Advances, this notice or
letter must also explain the dispute
procedure if the worker objects or
disagrees with the deductions.
For more information, please
visit:
http://labor.ny.gov/
immigrants/wagedeductions.shtm
and required by law.
Regulations:
h t t p : / / w w w. h e a l t h . n y. g o v /
diseases/communicable/
legionellosis/docs/emerg_regs.
pdf (Includes Appendix 4-A, which
clearly outlines the action that
must be taken according to specific
test results.)
Electronic Report Submission:
www.ny.gov/services/registercooling-tower-and-submit-reports
Reference:
Legionellosis: Risk Management
for
Building
Water
Systems
(ANSI/ASHRAE 188-2015), 2015
edition: https://www.ashrae.org/
resources--publications/bookstore/
ansi-ashrae-standard-188-2015legionellosis-risk-managementfor-building-water-systems.
May
be purchased from the ASHRAE
website ( www.ashrae.org) or from
ASHRAE Customer Service, 1791
Tullie Circle, NE, Atlanta, GA 303292305. E-mail: [email protected].
Telephone: 404-636-8400, or toll free
1-800-527-4723. Copies are available
for inspection and copying at:
Center for Environmental Health,
Corning Tower Room 1619, Empire
State Plaza, Albany, NY 12237.
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.
Page 24 Collegiate
Continued from page 9
Chapter President Kassi Hetherly,
of Albany County, was elected to
serve the 2016-17 year as a National
Vice President for the organization.
In addition to her successful
interviews with the nominating
committee, she also participated in
the Employment Interview contest
where she was the national winner
in the Feeds and Animal Health
category and was also the second
place individual in the Equine
Specialist competition. Hetherly’s
teammate in the Equine Specialist
competition was Rachel Lee, our
chapter Secretary who also comes
from Albany County, and together
they were ranked the 11th place team
overall. Lee also had great success
individually. She placed second in
the Career Progress program in the
category of Agricultural Education
and was also the third place winner
in the Agricultural Education
Applicants
Continued from page 9
Excellence in Agriculture Award.
The finalists will compete in the
fall for the opportunity to be named
the NYFB 2016 Award Winner.
Prizes for the state winners will be
announced at a later date.
The application deadline for
the Achievement Award and the
Grassroots April 2016
Specialist contest where she had
to prepare a lesson and teach it
to a panel of judges made up of
Agricultural Educators.
Kaleb Booth, McKenzie Brown,
and Megan Andersen teamed up
to take on the Livestock Specialist
competition in the category of
Beef and placed 5th in the nation.
Andersen, from Delaware County,
was the national winner of the
Career Progress program in the
area of Agribusiness Sales and
was the seventh place contestant in
the Employment Interview contest
in the category of Agribusiness
Management
and
Marketing.
Brown, from Cortland County,
took on both the Impromptu and
Prepared Speaking contests and
placed third in Prepared. She also
placed third in the Employment
Interview contest in the category of
Livestock Production. Booth, from
Washington County, placed fifth in
the Career Planning competition in
the area of Ruminant Animals.
Five members who all happen
to be Agricultural Equipment
Technology students at Cobleskill
also participated in contests. They
were chapter Vice-President Geoff
Peck (Delaware County), Xavier
Almeter (Wyoming County), Kyle
Trombley
(Rensselaer
County),
Shane Phenicie and Stephanie
Vopelak (both of Middlesex County,
CT). Almeter and Trombley teamed
up to take on the Agricultural
Machinery
Service
Technician
Award program where they were
tested on their technical knowledge
and challenged to diagnose multiple
pieces of agricultural machinery
in a limited amount of time. They
placed 14th in the nation. Peck and
Vopelak also teamed up for the same
contest and finished in 16th place.
Phenicie competed in the Precision
Ag Specialist contest and finished
in eighth place. Vopelak was the
national winner of the Career
Progress program in Agricultural
Equipment. The same contest and
category saw Trombley take third
place, Phenicie fifth, and Peck sixth.
Almeter and Trombley also competed
in the Employment Interview
contest where they swept the top two
spots in the category of Agricultural
Equipment Service with Almeter
taking first place honors and
Trombley placing second.
All 10 members, two teams of
five, participated in the college
bowl contest as well, which is an
agricultural trivia buzz-in type of
challenge that is structured in a
tournament bracket system that
simulates the March Madness
NCAA tournament. One team
made it to the third round (sweet
sixteen) while the other team
made it to the second round. All
of the students had great fun with
this, and overall had a wonderful
educational experience at the
conference. The students would
like to thank all of the advisors,
volunteers, and college faculty
and staff who worked with them
to prepare for these competitions.
We would also especially thank
Metzler for his efforts to organize
the travel, chaperone and supervise
the students at the conference, and
play an important role in assisting
with preparations and judging of
the AMSTA contest.
Excellence in Agriculture Award is
Aug 15, 2016. Contact NYFB at 1-800342-4143 or visit www.nyfb.org for
an application. If you would like to
nominate a young farmer to receive
an application to apply for one of
these awards, please contact NYFB
by July 1 so that the pertinent
application and information can be
sent to the young farmer.
The Discussion Meet is a contest
involving four to six participants,
a
moderator
and
relevant,
controversial
issues
affecting
agriculture. It is an exercise in
cooperative problem solving.
This contest is designed to
simulate a committee meeting
where discussion and active
participation are expected from
each committee member.
The
participants are scored on their
effectiveness in bringing out all
information the group has on the
specific issue and how they work
cooperatively to develop possible
solutions. The 2016 Discussion Meet
contest will be held this fall. Watch
your NYFB mail for more details.
On the national level, the
winners of the New York contests
will be able to compete for awards
and prizes. The national winners
will be determined during AFBF’s
98th annual convention in Phoenix,
AZ Jan. 7-11, 2017..
Application
information
is
available on the NYFB website,
www.nyfb.org, For information
contact: Patti Dugan, Deputy
Director of Member Relations at
1-800-342-4143.
Grassroots April 2016
Page 25
State Pro-Ed Committee Participates
in Agricultural Literacy Week
NYFB’s State Promotion and Education Committee members present scholarship
winners with awards at the Celebration of Agriculture Conference in March.
L-R Linda Fix, Tim Ooms, Emily Ooms, Allison Herrick, Louise Herrick, Phyllis
Couture.
Jo Ellen Saumier, Franklin County Farm Bureau member and NYFB State
Promotion and Education Committee representative, reads to elementary
school students on March 22 at Davis School in Malone. It was part of
Agricultural Literacy Week across the state that featured the children’s book
“The Apple Orchard Riddle.” She also spoke to students at Flanders School as
well. In addition to the book, Saumier conducted an experiment with apples
and discussed the science of apple breeding. She says the students really
enjoyed the lesson and her stories about farming.
NYFB’s Steve Ammerman moderates a panel discussion on enhancing
agriculture’s image at the at the Celebration of Agriculture conference featuring
NYFB board members Alex Wright, Paul Fouts, and AFBF’s Lindsay Calvert.
Conference
Continued from page 3
Continued from page 1
potentially ‘controversial’ posts or
comments.
“Even if Kendal and I are in
class, we watch the comments,”
said Nathan, the middle of the
three brothers.
While they regularly engage
with their followers and those
commenting, they often “encourage
civil discussion,” Greg said.
For the followers that may be
unsure of why or why not they
support the Peterson Farm Brothers’
agricultural practices “you can at
least make them think,” Greg said.
They will often direct any negative
comments to their blog, where they
regularly and thoroughly explain
why they do what they do when
it comes to the farm. In addition
to their parody videos, they have
also produced educational videos
on various issues—proving that
they practice what they preach
and are equally proficient in the
agricultural industry as they are on
social media.
The brothers all noted that they
have enlightened some followers on
controversial issues such as the use
of GMOs and conventional versus
organic agriculture. They are able
to do all of this without negating
one practice or the other, and they
certainly do their research.
One of their greatest pieces of
advice is for other agriculturalists
to get out there and “tell your
Field
Continued from page 7
were not already members of Farm
Bureau. Molesky also attended
the Celebration of Agriculture
Conference on behalf of the Young
Farmer and Rancher Committee.
Rensselaer County Farm Bureau
has been working hard on
membership. The first weekend in
March, the board did a membership
drive where they split up the nonrenewal list and went door to door
Reception
The Peterson Farm Bros. posed for
pictures with NYFB members at the
Celebration of Agriculture Conference
in March, including this picture with
Rensselaer County Farm Bureau board
member Sandy Washburn.
story, we may know our farm but
we can’t speak for all the other
specific agricultural commodities,”
said Greg. He also stresses that all
types of agriculture are important,
and encourages others to do what
they can to have those positive
conversations about their farms.
The bottom line about these
boys is they love the farm, they
are passionate about agriculture,
and they are savvy enough to get
their message across social media
channels.
“The farm is still our number
one priority,” said Kendal.
They all hope to go back to the
farm full-time one day, but they
are also aware that they may still
need off-farm income. They also
periodically include their younger
sister “honorary bro” Laura
Peterson, in their videos, when she
isn’t behind the camera.
to visit those who had not renewed
their membership.
The county Farm Bureau is
looking forward to its annual Local
Farm and Agriculture Night with
the Tri-City Valley Cats. This year
the event will be held on Friday, July
15. In previous years, the county
held a consignment auction in the
spring which has been moved to the
fall this year. The committee has
been working hard on preparing for
the auction.
There will be more information
to come for this event as it gets
closer.
priorities with lawmakers, members
also participated in a special panel
discussion with the Commissioners
and representatives from the
Departments
of
Agriculture
and
Markets,
Environmental
Conservation and Labor.
Members were able to ask the
public officials questions about a
number of issues facing the state’s
Budget
family farms. It was a positive
and informative dialogue for all
involved.
“I cannot thank our members
enough for the time spent away
from their farms to visit with
their lawmakers in Albany. I also
appreciate the time lawmakers took
to speak with our members both at
the reception and in their offices.
New York Farm Bureau’s strong
relationships with Senators and
Assembly members on both sides
of the aisle were on full display,”
Norton said.
the eligibility requirements for
the program, Paid Family Leave
will be yet another burden on farm
Continued from page 1 employers in New York.
A total of $5 million in budget
funding was included for county
Long Island, where many farms fairs across the state to invest
are in operation in Suffolk County, and improve their crumbling
the minimum wage will be phased- infrastructure, which was a New
in over six years to $15 an hour or York Farm Bureau priority. New
a $1 per year increase. Wages in York Farm Bureau was also pleased
New York City will be phased-in to see that agricultural education
on a quicker schedule. These wage received an increase in funding
increases will cost farms hundreds which will help to prime the pump
of millions of dollars a year and for new secondary agricultural
will make it extremely difficult for education programs. In addition,
farms, which exist on a razor thin farm environmental programs were
margin at best, to remain profitable. extremely well-funded in the final
Limited assistance has been Environmental Protection Fund.
offered in the State Budget to
Agricultural promotion and
help farms offset increased wage research orders will be moving from
payments. Farms that make over the Department of Agriculture
two-thirds of their income from and Markets to the Empire State
their farm operation and have a Development Corporation, despite
gross income of at least $30,000 strong attempts by both houses of
will be eligible for a per employee the legislature and NYFB to remove
refundable tax credit at the end of this from the budget.
the tax year. The tax credit would
These orders include dairy
begin at $250 per employee (as long promotion, apple promotion, tart
as they work at least 500 hours in the cherry promotion, apple research,
year) and increase to $600 over five onion research and cabbage
years before expiring. Also included research. While some authority
in the budget are Personal Income for the Agriculture Commissioner
Tax reductions for households was retained, the orders will now
making up to $300,000 annually.
be under the authority of the
A new Paid Family Leave President of ESDC, who will be
program will allow workers who advised by producer committees.
work six months to take employee- This provision has a two-year
funded leave starting in 2018 of sunset that will require renewal
up to eight weeks and phasing in and an opportunity for any needed
to 12 weeks by 2021. The employee revisions at that time.
leave benefits will be a portion of
A number of research and
their normal wages and funded by promotional agricultural programs
a weekly payroll tax deduction that saw their funding restored in the
will be determined by the state. final 2016-17 State Budget. An
While New York Farm Bureau analysis of farm program funding
was successful in strengthening can be found on page 13.
Grassroots Page 26 April 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
[email protected].
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
STRAW and hay for sale. $3.00/
bale. 315-469-1668. Syracuse, NY.
HAY FOR SALE. 1st and 2nd cut
small square bales. Also have corn
silage. All good quality and price.
518-569-1954
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 balabe; 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
315-265-6788
County.
HAY FOR SALE. Water resistant
double NET wrapped 4x4 round
bales. Does not require inside
storage, perfect for horses. Also,
small squares. All hay is a timothy
mix. Call Dave at 518-966-8130 or
text 518-649-7058 anytime.
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.
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.
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
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. 315-6262881
JD213 Flexhead, Houle Lagoon
Manure Pump, NH 258 hay rake,
NH 166 inverter, 3 kinze fertilizer
boxes with extensions, 6” transport
auger 30’, brillion 10’ smooth roller.
315-335-0369
JD 2840 Tractor, good engine, rear
end. 315-695-5738 for more info.
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
MASSEY FERGUSON #124 baler
with thrower, shed kept, good
shape, 2nd owner $3500. Went to
all round bales in 2010, no longer
needed. Steuben County. 607-5224350
MOLINES
NEW HOLLAND
NH 575 Baler, 13’ White 256
disc, Allied 51’ elevator, Landoll
V-ripper, Automatic roller mill
845-427-2254
NH Model 326 small square baler
with pan thrower. 1800 bales
this year. Always stored inside.
$7700.00. 315-430-3252
NH 1465 Haybine 9 ft cut w/
hydraulic
hitch;
excellent
condition, always stored inside,
pictures available, asking $9,500 or
best offer call (315) 761-9770
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. 607264-3947
FARMALL 1466 –Cab $9900.00; 2D
348 Kicker Baler, excellent shape
$15,000. 585-591-2959
FORD
FORD TW25-2; 137hp; 540and 1000
pto, 5100 hrs. New tires and clutch.
$22,500 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 7710 TWD cab tractor
$12,000. MYT Handy hay and grain
elevator, used very little $3500.
#350 Kilbros wagon, like new. 315399-6829
KUBOTA
M70-60 Kubota. 2013. Bucket, cab,
weights, air and radio. 70 horse,
loaded. 20 hours. 845-857-0242.
CASE
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
2470 CASE with 12’ Degelman
blade, front duals, heat, radio,
lights, wipers, all work well.
$11,000 315-794-5803
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
5ft snowblower. New, never used,
front load, hydraulic directional
chute. $5500. Located between
Lowville and Watertown, NY. 315955-2898
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
CAT 955L Track Loader with new
tracks, rollers, sprockets. Has 4 in
1 bucket and rear winch. $12,500.
914-949-4100
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
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
ZERO TURN MOWERS by BIG
DOG. 7yr warranty, 0% (48 month)
financing available. Oh, My!
Mowers. Stanley, NY 585-314-4912
RETIRED! Selling 26” wil-rich field
cultivator; 26’ Bob’s hydraulic fold
roller; IH 720 6-18 on land plow;
1970 Chevy C-60 with hoist and 16’
stake deck. 315-521-8379.
CLOSEOUT PRICE on 2015
GRASSHOPPER
Zero
Turn
Lawnmower. Model 620 with 52”
deck. Priced to move at $9500. Call
Dick at 607-529-3294.
24 inch TEW fruit and vegetable
grading and washing line. Abbott
Farms, Baldwinsville 315-638-0308
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.
April 2016
Grassroots Grassroots Farmers’ Market
WANTED
WOODEN Poultry transport crate;
rabbit hutch. 315-839-7237
WANTED: Front Bucket loader
assembly for a Zetor 9540 farm
tractor. 607-965-2174
WANTED. Old grist mill stone,
iron gates & fencing, car hood
ornaments.
201-906-2135 or
[email protected].
WANTED: Whiskey barrels for
cider. 585-739-4433
WANTED.
FORD
COUNTY
TRACTORS any condition, all
models, parts or complete. Frank
315-271-4490
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 607722-2499
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. 315-6825552
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
2002 JAYCO 5th wheel. Needs some
repairs. $1500.00. 518-372-0936
2000 Freightliner FL70. 14k original
miles, dump body with swing gate,
cummins 15B230, 5.9 litre diesel, 6
speed, air brakes. $37,500. 914-9494100 or [email protected].
LIQUID MANURE TRUCK, 250
Cummins, 15k original miles. All
new auxillary pto hydraulic pump
and hydraulic motor, 4000 gallon
tank and working winch. $25,000.
607-427-8216
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.
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
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 347-8867030
QUALITY STABLES. Quality care
for boarding and training horses.
Large lesson program for all ages.
Visitors welcome. Oneonta, NY
607-432-8977. www.qualitystables.
com.
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
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
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
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
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 , 518-3251287, 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
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. 585766-3323 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.
AFTER HOURS FARM, Clifton
Park NY. Specializing in “TLC”
horse boarding, superior English
riding lessons and training.
Indoor and outdoor rings. Horse
shows, clinics and summer camp. TRAILERS/TRANSPORTATION/
(518)384-6441.
OTHER
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
BLAZING STARS 4-H Club
tack sale. Sat. April 9 from 102. Immanual United Methodist
Church, 303 Kasson Road. Camillus
13031. Buy a table space $25, sell as
many items as you want! 315-4272966 [email protected] or
www.blazingstars4hclub.com.
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
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
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
Christohper’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 518858-1790 or info@fortchristophers.
com.
RED horse drawn wagon. Black
vinyl seats, like new. Pioneer
undercarriage, holds up to 8 people.
Has pole, shaft and tractor pole.
asking $2500 obo.845-226-1424 or
cell 845-309-4444
1991 PEGASUS 5 horse trailer.
Gooseneck, good condition. One
owner. $5000 obo. 716-807-9066
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
DRAFT HORSE INTERNATIONAL
Walking Plow. Has rare slatted
moldboard. Excellent condition,
ready to plow. $275.00 585-7628697
Page 28 Grassroots Grassroots Farmers’ Market
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
CATTLE
CATTLE oilers and scratchers
for sale, have brushes and parts.
Ron. 585-267-6307 or ronferris@
rochester.rr.com.
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 POLLED Hereford
Heifers. Two coming 3 year old
heifers, fed only organic hay and
pasture.
Excellent bloodlines,
ready to breed or beef. 518-3682663 leave message.
REGISTERED HOLSTEIN for sale.
Coming 6 year old, just fresh, big
typey, well mannered. $2500 obo.
518-268-0311
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 585721-3038
BABYDOLL LAMBS. Born spring
2015, off white ewes (2), 1 ram,
can be wethered. Registered
NABSSAR. Schuylerville area.
www.cabincreekacres.com or 518587-6008
WHITE DORPER SHEEP shedding,
no shearing needed, and KIKO
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. An 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. ShotswormedDownsizing
herd.
Binghamton area, call evenings
607-693-2682
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
TWO Registered Suffolk ewe
lambs. Born Feb. 2015. Used as 4H
projects. Downsizing. $500 for the
pair. Good maternal line. 716-5311697
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
PIGLETS.
Yorkshire/Berkshire
cross feeder pigs. 716-791-0034 or
[email protected]
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.
Superior bloodlines at affordable
prices.
Several herdsires and
breeding quality females to choose
from. Also many with excellent
fiber quality for companions and/
or pets. Friendly customer support.
Farm visits encouraged. Farm store
on premises. www.alpacanation.
com/heavenlysunsetfarm.asp.
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 midsummer. Call for appointments 607397-8051. 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.
315-823-1605. 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 high-end alpaca products. 607279-3567 or info@cabinviewalpacas.
com.
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,
[email protected].
Ballston
Spa, NY.
FORESTRY
CUSTOM SAWING of logs, roughcut hard and soft wood lumber
available. Mill Blades Hammered.
Call Ken. 585-547-9269 or 585-5910180
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
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!
April 2016
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
SULLIVAN COUNTY FARM has
compost for sale. Buyer responsible
for trucking. Dry manure available.
845-295-0063.
FIBERGLASS Grain Bins for sale.
10 and 15 ton. Ron at 518-610-1120
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.
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]
AG CONSTRUCTION/
SUPPLIES
PREMIER PORTABLE FENCING.
12 rolls of Maxi-Shock, on suprareels, steel t-posts, fiber rods, power
posts, hand winders, walk-behind
winder. Many more accessories. All
for $2000. 518-536-6900
SPECIALTY PRODUCTS
WINE!
$1 shipping to NYFB
members in NY State. Go to our
website:
Atwatervineyards.com,
Grassroots April 2016
Page 29
Grassroots Farmers’ Market
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 agvocate. Wear your
pride!
OX YOKES. One 10”, one 11”. Both
like new $250 each, new $530. A
steel wheel work wagon with seats
fills & Tongue. $500. 607-588-6550
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. 607656-4107
MEDIUM Red Clover. Cleaned and
in 50# bags. $80 per bag. 315-5399439
BERRY PLANTS.
Red, black,
purple & golden raspberry plants.
Grape vines of many types. Table
grapes seeded & non seeded;
wine varieties.
Awald Farms.
[email protected] or 716-3373162
CORN SILAGE, in Ag bags priced
to sell. 518-569-1954
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.
[email protected] or 908-8592619
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 585-2897267
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
SAWDUST/WOOD
BEDDING
PELLETS/
SAWDUST. $16 per yard. Delivery
available, call for price. 570-537-2937
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
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]
607-8383311
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. 518-827-5396 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
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
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
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
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.
brendashimer@aol.
com.
225 ACRE FORMER DAIRY farm,
125 acres tillable/pasture, organic
certifiable, nice views. 100 cow free
stall barn, drilled well, large wellmaintained farm house. 30 miles
north of Albany, NY 518-763-5024
REAL ESTATE BROKERS
FARMS
AND
FARMLAND
WANTED. We have BUYERS! NY
Farm Quest. Division of NY Land
Quest. Carl Snyder, Lic. RE Broker.
607-280-5770 nyfarmquest.com.
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
LOOKING FOR Feed Mill Manager.
716-761-6141 or ronmeeder@gmail.
com.
SERVICES
HORSE BLANKETS: Cleaned,
waterproofed and repaired. Over
30 yrs experience. 845-677-6906
Serving Westchester, Putnam,
Dutchess, Columbia Counties and
Long Island.
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.
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.
BUY LAND. 40 years experience
in Farm and Land sales in Orange
County. D.L. Hawkins & Assoc.
845-629-6896
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
BUYING or SELLING Property?
Offering $1000.00 seller/buyer
BONUS! Call Nicolas Carbone for
details. 845-590-9831
CUSTOM HAY BALE WRAPPING.
Round or square, inline tube
wrapped or single bale wrapped.
Seneca Falls area. 315-745-9924
15
YEARS
EXPERIENCE
specializing in Farms & Country
Estates in Orange, Ulster, Sullivan
& Dutchess Counties. Exclusively
CERTIFIED
Animal
Aromatherapist. Available for
the common and uncommon:
environmental issues, trauma,
Page 30 Grassroots Grassroots Farmers’ Market
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 607-659-5153
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 518-8463620
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. 607423-6145
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 518-7123394
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
SEAWAY RENTAL CORP: A
Honda dealer for sales & service of
generators and pumps. We stock
Honda parts and rent equipment
for general maintenance. 315-7884700 or www.seawayrentalcorp.
com.
and Machining. Matt Sigler. 518875-9238 or siglersawmill@gmail.
com.
SOLAR/WIND ENERGY
WIND
TURBINES/SOLAR
SYSTEMS. Shocked by high power
bills? Contact Niagara Wind &
Solar today! Make the sun & wind
work for you! 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
& 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
April 2016
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
GET JOE PECK’S new book of
farm humor, A Farmer on Clean
Overalls & Other Tall Tales. $14.95
plus tax and postage. 518-584-4129,
[email protected] or www.
joepeckonline.com.
NEW BOOK: “Stand Tall: Against
the Odds,” Inspiring story of 96
year old farmers Everett Rau and
family, who replaced bad times
with good times. $21 at Amazon.
TIOGA GAS LEASE. The Tioga
County Landowners Group is now
accepting members. Membership
information
and
educational
resources on gas leasing can be
found at: www.TiogaGasLease.org.
WANTED TO BUY. Old American
made firearms for my own
collection. I have a FFL Collectors
License (C&R). Will pay fair prices.
716-664-0006 or jeffer@windstream.
net.
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.
DISCLAIMER: New York Farm
Bureau reserves the right to
refuse to accept any classified
ad, paid or unpaid, at its sole
discretion.
Legislative memos:
www.NYFB.org
HEAVY EQUIPMENT & AG
REPAIR. Lowest shop rates
guaranteed.
Service
calls,
Hydraulics, Welding, Fabrication
Find your local Nationwide agent at:
Nationwide.com/NYFB
Or Contact Scott Keyes at
518-431-5615 or [email protected]
Working Together To
Serve Our Members
April 2016
Grassroots Page 31
Page 32 Grassroots April 2016