GREENE – Scores of farmers and those who support farming industry turned out to the Silo Restaurant in Greene on Tuesday as the 58th annual Chenango County Farm Bureau touted the successes and reflected on the challenges presently faced in the field of agriculture.
Each year, the annual Chenango County Farm Bureau (CCFB) meeting is a chance to tout the organization as a valuable resource for area farmers, legislators, representatives and educators who hope to promote the well-being of agriculture.
Despite its challenges in recent years - from floods to drought, growing regulations to the ongoing battle over the defunct federal Farm Bill - Chenango County’s agriculture industry is still something to celebrate, said CCFB President Bradd Vickers. Focus of this year’s meeting was put on the trials and triumphs of the farming industry, as well as contested issues such as natural gas development and environmental regulations that will have an impact on the way farmers manage their operations in the future.
“If this year is as busy as the past year has been, your (CCFB) president and the board of directors as well as the pro-ed committee will continue to be extremely active,” Vickers said to those in attendance. “We will continue to work forward as long as we can on all of these issues.”
The meeting also served as a chance to highlight major accomplishments of the Farm Bureau over the last year. The organization was recognized by the New York State Farm Bureau during its annual meeting in December, when CCFB was given all seven Silver Key Awards for meeting specific criteria in various program areas.
“We also reached our regular member goal which is extremely important since the amount of delegates that represent the Farm Bureau is based on that number” Vickers added.
Several advocates of agriculture were put in the spotlight during the meeting for their commitment to improving agriculture, including Nationwide Insurance representatives Jim Petrie and Jessica Andrews, and CCFB member Jim Miles for his support in maintaining the Farm Bureau headquarters facility in Norwich.
Moreover, CCFB member Harvey Fletcher was presented the CCFB Advocate of Agriculture Award for his work to promote and advance knowledge of the agricultural industry.
“He takes his knowledge gained and uses it to provide guidance,” said CCFB Rainy Collins-Vickers who presented him the award.
Likewise, Tuesday’s reception was a chance to recognize the role played by local youth in the ag industry. Chenango County Alternate Diary Princess Sarah Baker, a senior high school student from Mount Upton, spoke to the crowd about the efforts of young people to keep the local dairy business going strong.
“We are continuing to promote dairy every chance we get,” she said, adding her hopes to “move it in a positive direction.”
New York State Assemblyman Clifford Crouch of the 122 District was also invited to speak about events in Albany that have had an impact on farmers throughout the year. Topics included the hotly debated Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement (SAFE) Act, the proposal to increase minimum wage, natural gas drilling, and funding to upstate public school districts.
Special guest speaker Eric Carlson, CEO of the Empire State Forest Products Association, also had a chance to share the challenges shared by farmers and foresters alike.
“Very often, after spending long days working the farm, the economic and environmental benefits of the forest portion of the family farm is overlooked,” Carlson explained, adding the need for communications between members of the forestry and farming industries.
Carlson went on to discuss problems faced by both industries, including the growing presence of invasive species, expansion of the bio-fuel (wood pellet) industry, issues involving the global trade of forestry products, and imposed regulations that slow the foreign trade process.
“We really need to be working hand in hand with the Farm Bureau because 99 percent of what we deal with, we’re on the same side,” said Carlson.