Vickers named Farm Bureau’s ag advocate of the year
GREENE – Chenango County Farm Bureau President Bradd Vickers was surprised by his board of directors Monday night when they named him this year’s Advocate of Agriculture.
With more than 150 meetings attended and correspondences written on behalf of the organization in 2010, both locally as well as in Washington D.C. and other states, and regular contacts made with some 35 different legislators, little slips by the longtime organization’s president.
New York State Assemblyman Peter Lopez, R-Sidney, was on hand to present the award to Vickers. He said Vickers is “a shining example of the phrase, ‘If you want to get something done, ask a busy person’” and well known for following his personal motto, “‘Lead, follow, or get the heck out of the way!’”
“He has worked tirelessly with numerous legislators to push bills forward that Farm Bureau supports or stopping bills that would be detrimental to agriculture. He considers a lot of the legislators as personal friends,” Lopez said.
Vickers, who has led the organization since 2001, expressed both shock and appreciation, “You got one by me! I hope everyone knows that I don’t do this for appreciation. I do it, obviously, because my feet are well planted in the soil.”
The CCFB annual meeting held at the Silo in Greene brought together more than 50 members, Lopez and Assemblyman Cliff Crouch, R-Binghamton, City of Norwich Mayor Joe Maiurano and New York Farm Bureau District Five Representative Daryl Griff. Dinner, speeches and award presentations took place under a banner proclaiming: “When you make your living with animals, you take care of them.”
Assemblyman Crouch referred to the slogan within his address about the current legislative challenges facing farmers and agribusinesses. As a member of the New York State Agricultural Committee, he said he and his colleagues, including Lopez, had been successful in holding back a ban on cow tail docking.
Uniting with the American Human Society and veterinarians who practice safe, proper handling of the procedure, the ag committee was able to persuade the mostly downstate lawmakers who initiated it.
“We need to take politics out of ag. New York City doesn’t understand our way of life and our needs. You don’t know what you’re talking about if you haven’t been to the farm,” he said, explaining that the procedure can be done responsibly and is necessary in order to milk cows efficiently.
“Cows in pain don’t produce milk. Why would a farmer cause pain to a cow when he needs her to produce milk?” he asked.
According to Lopez, much of what confronts ag in the state is “an issue of culture” and “a different mindset.”
“We’ve got milk protein concentrates and food coming in from China and other places outside our borders. How can we get city people, and people from Rochester and Syracuse, engaged in wanting safe food and local agriculture?” he asked. “Our job here is to help educate people that if they eat, they have a (pro agriculture) voice.”
In the past year, Vickers reported that he had lobbied on behalf of the 500 member-CCFB organization on issues ranging from animal disaster rescue, outdoor wood broilers, oil/gas leasing, biodiesel/agricultural energy, agricultural economic development and more. And even though he is seen as the front of the organization, he said it’s the members who are the backbone.
“It’s not me, it’s this CCFB board, members, partners and service connections that really help make Farm Bureau work. You’ve made some tough decisions. I’ve only carried and lobbied the American Farm Bureau president to get the job done,” he said.
The board voted to reaffirm or adopt position statements regarding numerous legislative proposals at the federal, state and county level. It reaffirmed its support of estate tax reform legislation relating to preservation of farmland and other property that meets the conservation criteria and to the open burning of non-toxic, non-hazardous materials.
Eight new resolutions were unanimously adopted on state level topics including: processed foods labeling, spot lighting deer (opposed); gas/oil well setbacks; siting power plants, trapping seasons, milk marketing; and honey standards.
At the county level, the CCFB reaffirmed its opposition on local regulations that attempt to supersede state and federal regulations that become unduly restrictive to normal agricultural practices. It recommended rejecting the New York State property maintenance code; sales tax collection on total fuel prices rather than the base price, and reaffirmed its support of alternative energy development, particularly biofuels, and keeping the Department of Agriculture and Markets in charge of code enforcement as it relates to ag. It opposed any government entity authorizing or negotiating the right to trespass on private property for any purpose including the gathering of data for marketing to private gas companies.
Federally, the CCFB adopted three measures: opposing the practice of acquiring new rights of ways through farmland; a goal to have agriculture producing 25 percent of the total energy consumed in the U.S. by 2025; and supporting the expansion and improvement of the railroads.
Dairy farmer Ken Dibbell of New Berlin, speaking from the floor, asked the organization to support the National Dairy Producers Organization, a new group that aims to impact the price of milk paid to producers.
“The tail has been wagging the dog for too long,” he said, referring to the United Stated Department of Agriculture, cooperatives and the National Milk Producers Federation. “It’s time we took over our business for the salvation of dairy farmers across this country. This will give notice to the entire dairy industry that no longer will anyone speak for dairy producers except dairy producers.”
Dibbell pointed to the current marketplace inequities of scale with $15.10 per hundredweight of milk on the open market against the approximately $25.15 it costs to produce it.
Dibbell’s proposal was unanimously accepted.
For the past 11 years, the CCFB has been educating producers and many communities on the role of local government and gas leasing issues. Vickers regularly meets with Madison County and Chenango County supervisors and serves on the Chenango County Natural Gas Advisory Committee. He has provided CCFB information and communications related to seismic testing, gathering line acquisitions, and other gas leasing issues.
But it was the Farm Bureau’s primary aim this year to show the cycle of how oil seed crops are turned into biodiesel fuel. With the help of a mini biodiesel processor, invented by CCFB Energy Committee Chair Giff Foster, the public received first hand demonstrations at Earthfest 2010, the Chenango County Fair and other community events.
“People were totally amazed to learn that 1 acre of rapeseed could produce about 127 gallons of biodiesel and 1 acre of Jerusalem Artichokes could produce about 1200 gallons of ethanol,” Vickers said.
After a demonstration of his processor, Foster said he actually poured some finished biodiesel into his truck and drove home on it.
“Green Energy through agriculture (specifically the production of oil seed crops for oil and high grade animal feed) is of course, a very important issue when reduced energy and feed costs for local farmers become more critical every day,” Foster reported.
The Bay Ridge Group (comprised of Jim Willard and Sue Tomsic) received an award for estate planning and health care services for farmers. CCFB Secretary Rainy Collins-Vickers said the service connection had been “astronomically supportive” and provided “a fantastic program” for helping farmers know what to do with money from natural gas leases.
Jessica Kelsey of Farm Family Insurance was also recognized at the event with a Certificate of Appreciation in honor of the level of service she provided to local farm families and her held with building membership.
In elections held during the meeting, Fred Baker, Giff Foster, Drew Piaschyk, Eileen Hoffman and Jan Hinmann were voted in for two-year terms as directors. Continuing in office are: Vickers, president; Harvey Fletcher, vice president; and Directors Marge Secrest, Pete Lathrop and Phil Weiss.
The CCFB’s overall accomplishments throughout the year earned it all six Silver Key and the Gold Key awards given at the annual New York Farm Bureau meeting. Vickers also received the Distinguished President award and the CCFB office received recognition as a well marked, centrally located facility.
CCFB is a not for profit organization dedicated to providing its farmer and associate members with legislative support, educational programs and services to: help members improve the quality of their lives; strengthen agriculture in rural America.
For more information, stop by the CCFB office at 6083 State Highway 12 North in Norwich, or visit them online at www.ccfbny.org or call 334-6061.
With more than 150 meetings attended and correspondences written on behalf of the organization in 2010, both locally as well as in Washington D.C. and other states, and regular contacts made with some 35 different legislators, little slips by the longtime organization’s president.
New York State Assemblyman Peter Lopez, R-Sidney, was on hand to present the award to Vickers. He said Vickers is “a shining example of the phrase, ‘If you want to get something done, ask a busy person’” and well known for following his personal motto, “‘Lead, follow, or get the heck out of the way!’”
“He has worked tirelessly with numerous legislators to push bills forward that Farm Bureau supports or stopping bills that would be detrimental to agriculture. He considers a lot of the legislators as personal friends,” Lopez said.
Vickers, who has led the organization since 2001, expressed both shock and appreciation, “You got one by me! I hope everyone knows that I don’t do this for appreciation. I do it, obviously, because my feet are well planted in the soil.”
The CCFB annual meeting held at the Silo in Greene brought together more than 50 members, Lopez and Assemblyman Cliff Crouch, R-Binghamton, City of Norwich Mayor Joe Maiurano and New York Farm Bureau District Five Representative Daryl Griff. Dinner, speeches and award presentations took place under a banner proclaiming: “When you make your living with animals, you take care of them.”
Assemblyman Crouch referred to the slogan within his address about the current legislative challenges facing farmers and agribusinesses. As a member of the New York State Agricultural Committee, he said he and his colleagues, including Lopez, had been successful in holding back a ban on cow tail docking.
Uniting with the American Human Society and veterinarians who practice safe, proper handling of the procedure, the ag committee was able to persuade the mostly downstate lawmakers who initiated it.
“We need to take politics out of ag. New York City doesn’t understand our way of life and our needs. You don’t know what you’re talking about if you haven’t been to the farm,” he said, explaining that the procedure can be done responsibly and is necessary in order to milk cows efficiently.
“Cows in pain don’t produce milk. Why would a farmer cause pain to a cow when he needs her to produce milk?” he asked.
According to Lopez, much of what confronts ag in the state is “an issue of culture” and “a different mindset.”
“We’ve got milk protein concentrates and food coming in from China and other places outside our borders. How can we get city people, and people from Rochester and Syracuse, engaged in wanting safe food and local agriculture?” he asked. “Our job here is to help educate people that if they eat, they have a (pro agriculture) voice.”
In the past year, Vickers reported that he had lobbied on behalf of the 500 member-CCFB organization on issues ranging from animal disaster rescue, outdoor wood broilers, oil/gas leasing, biodiesel/agricultural energy, agricultural economic development and more. And even though he is seen as the front of the organization, he said it’s the members who are the backbone.
“It’s not me, it’s this CCFB board, members, partners and service connections that really help make Farm Bureau work. You’ve made some tough decisions. I’ve only carried and lobbied the American Farm Bureau president to get the job done,” he said.
The board voted to reaffirm or adopt position statements regarding numerous legislative proposals at the federal, state and county level. It reaffirmed its support of estate tax reform legislation relating to preservation of farmland and other property that meets the conservation criteria and to the open burning of non-toxic, non-hazardous materials.
Eight new resolutions were unanimously adopted on state level topics including: processed foods labeling, spot lighting deer (opposed); gas/oil well setbacks; siting power plants, trapping seasons, milk marketing; and honey standards.
At the county level, the CCFB reaffirmed its opposition on local regulations that attempt to supersede state and federal regulations that become unduly restrictive to normal agricultural practices. It recommended rejecting the New York State property maintenance code; sales tax collection on total fuel prices rather than the base price, and reaffirmed its support of alternative energy development, particularly biofuels, and keeping the Department of Agriculture and Markets in charge of code enforcement as it relates to ag. It opposed any government entity authorizing or negotiating the right to trespass on private property for any purpose including the gathering of data for marketing to private gas companies.
Federally, the CCFB adopted three measures: opposing the practice of acquiring new rights of ways through farmland; a goal to have agriculture producing 25 percent of the total energy consumed in the U.S. by 2025; and supporting the expansion and improvement of the railroads.
Dairy farmer Ken Dibbell of New Berlin, speaking from the floor, asked the organization to support the National Dairy Producers Organization, a new group that aims to impact the price of milk paid to producers.
“The tail has been wagging the dog for too long,” he said, referring to the United Stated Department of Agriculture, cooperatives and the National Milk Producers Federation. “It’s time we took over our business for the salvation of dairy farmers across this country. This will give notice to the entire dairy industry that no longer will anyone speak for dairy producers except dairy producers.”
Dibbell pointed to the current marketplace inequities of scale with $15.10 per hundredweight of milk on the open market against the approximately $25.15 it costs to produce it.
Dibbell’s proposal was unanimously accepted.
For the past 11 years, the CCFB has been educating producers and many communities on the role of local government and gas leasing issues. Vickers regularly meets with Madison County and Chenango County supervisors and serves on the Chenango County Natural Gas Advisory Committee. He has provided CCFB information and communications related to seismic testing, gathering line acquisitions, and other gas leasing issues.
But it was the Farm Bureau’s primary aim this year to show the cycle of how oil seed crops are turned into biodiesel fuel. With the help of a mini biodiesel processor, invented by CCFB Energy Committee Chair Giff Foster, the public received first hand demonstrations at Earthfest 2010, the Chenango County Fair and other community events.
“People were totally amazed to learn that 1 acre of rapeseed could produce about 127 gallons of biodiesel and 1 acre of Jerusalem Artichokes could produce about 1200 gallons of ethanol,” Vickers said.
After a demonstration of his processor, Foster said he actually poured some finished biodiesel into his truck and drove home on it.
“Green Energy through agriculture (specifically the production of oil seed crops for oil and high grade animal feed) is of course, a very important issue when reduced energy and feed costs for local farmers become more critical every day,” Foster reported.
The Bay Ridge Group (comprised of Jim Willard and Sue Tomsic) received an award for estate planning and health care services for farmers. CCFB Secretary Rainy Collins-Vickers said the service connection had been “astronomically supportive” and provided “a fantastic program” for helping farmers know what to do with money from natural gas leases.
Jessica Kelsey of Farm Family Insurance was also recognized at the event with a Certificate of Appreciation in honor of the level of service she provided to local farm families and her held with building membership.
In elections held during the meeting, Fred Baker, Giff Foster, Drew Piaschyk, Eileen Hoffman and Jan Hinmann were voted in for two-year terms as directors. Continuing in office are: Vickers, president; Harvey Fletcher, vice president; and Directors Marge Secrest, Pete Lathrop and Phil Weiss.
The CCFB’s overall accomplishments throughout the year earned it all six Silver Key and the Gold Key awards given at the annual New York Farm Bureau meeting. Vickers also received the Distinguished President award and the CCFB office received recognition as a well marked, centrally located facility.
CCFB is a not for profit organization dedicated to providing its farmer and associate members with legislative support, educational programs and services to: help members improve the quality of their lives; strengthen agriculture in rural America.
For more information, stop by the CCFB office at 6083 State Highway 12 North in Norwich, or visit them online at www.ccfbny.org or call 334-6061.
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