MFBF Office Headquarters Address

Free Harvest to Hand iPhone® App supports local agriculture
New app offers new way to promote locally grown goods

Farm Family is bringing rural America’s bounty to consumers’ tables, one farm stand at a time, through a unique, new free iPhone app, now available on the App Store.        

Participants do not have to be clients of Farm Family to participate. The main criteria are that the venue, event or farm must be accessible to the general public and feature locally grown or produced products.* To get an event, agritourism venue or farmers market listed, participants simply go to the website www.harvesttohand.com, select “Enter Your Information,” and fill out the online form. There’s no limit to the number of different entries you can submit; for example if you have an orchard, pick-your-own business and a farm store, you can list them separately. And check back often: the app is constantly being updated.

OFFICIAL NOTICE

The Annual Meeting of the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation, Inc. will be held on December 1-2, 2011 at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in Fitchburg, MA.  Notice is hereby given that at the Voting Delegates Session on December 2, bylaw amendments creating an additional membership category for Supporters/Friends will be considered.  Voting delegates will receive the wording of these proposed amendments with their meeting materials.  Copies are available for any member  by calling 508-481-4766 or emailing susan@mfbf.net.

Keeping Ag Laws Current
 by Brad Mitchell, Director of Government Relations

It seems that every other week there is a buzz about the latest electronic gadget or software release due to come out.  All the hype about the latest smart phone or Windows version seems a bit misplaced to me. I deal with laws and regulations every day that are in desperate need of revisions, and they get nowhere near the same amount of attention, even from the legislature, whose job it is to keep these laws up-to-date. Sort of like the folks waiting in line for the new IPhone, lawmakers seem primarily interested in bills that offer something new and flashy. However for government to work properly, laws need to be kept current and timely. 

A good example of this is the law governing the formation of the Board of Agriculture. The Board of Agriculture is charged with the “supervision and control” of the Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR) – the primary state agency which both regulates and promotes Massachusetts farms.  The Board serves a number of important functions. It must approve the appointments of key positions in DAR. It must approve certain regulations. It offers guidance and approval on important decisions made at DAR. Most importantly however, it serves as a primary conduit for the agriculture community to influence state policy.

The Board of Agriculture is established under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 20, Section 1.  This law hasn’t been revised in decades and is in dire need of some revisions. Shortcomings include:

• The board consists of 7 members. This reportedly goes back to the days when there were only 7 counties in Massachusetts.
• Of the 7 members, only 4 must be farmers.
• There are no provisions for term-limits.

Farm Bureau has proposed legislation, sponsored by Representative Kate Hogan, which would update the laws around the Board of Agriculture. HB 3221 would:

•  Expand the Board to 13 members. This would allow for better representation from various areas of the state.
• Require that 9 of the members be farmers. Agriculture in Massachusetts has become incredibly diverse during the last couple decades and  includes organic growers, farmer’s market vendors, livestock producers, foresters, cranberry growers and literally dozens of others. four people are too few to represent the wide array of agricultural interests in the Commonwealth. 9 is a more realistic number.
• Provide for 3-year term limits and allows no member to serve more than two consecutive terms.  Term limits will ensure that the Board always has fresh perspectives and new ideas.

Compared to casino gambling or other big topics before the legislature, the prospect of changing the law on the Board of Agriculture frankly isn’t that sexy. Nonetheless it is important. As Representative Hogan’s bill moves through the works at Beacon Hill, we will be asking Farm Bureau members to call, write and email their legislators to let them know just how important this bill is. Look for alerts in your email on this topic. 

As for the broader issue of how to get legislators to pay attention to revising existing legislation, I don’t know. Maybe someone can come up with an IPhone app for that.

On Sunday September 11th, the Massachusetts Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) Committee had the opportunity to join the New Hampshire YF&R at Great Brook Farm in Carlisle, Massachusetts. A number of us had the unique opportunity to tour the all-new Robotic Milking System as well as the Cranberry Bogs.

Following the farm tour we were able to sit in on the Discussion Meet training that New Hampshire YF&R was offering to the Young Farmers that attended this event. Massachusetts YF&R is currently seeking folks that would be interested in participating in a Discussion Meet on November 4th with the New Hampshire group.

A Discussion Meet contest is designed to simulate a committee meeting where discussion and active participation are expected. Competitions are evaluated on an exchange of ideas and information on a pre-determined topic.

Across America, Discussion Meets are extremely competitive and a great opportunity for Young Farmers to excel in Leadership. We currently have a few Massachusetts YF&R members that are eager to participate in the event in New Hampshire on November 4th.  If there are any Young Farmers that are interested in learning more about Discussion Meets or are interested in helping represent Massachusetts Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers, please contact Jamie Cruz at Jamie@mfbf.net.

In December, I will be attending a meeting at AFBF which will begin the policy change process at the national level.  This process begins with resolutions at the County annual meeting, carries through the MFBF annual meeting and finally to a three-tiered process at AFBF.  The AFBF process starts in DC and finishes at the AFBF annual meeting in Hawaii.  Please think about changes that need to be made at the federal level and feel free to speak with me or any of the staff about changes to the AFBF policy.

We have been talking about a new membership category which will target individuals who are supportive of local agriculture.  At our last MFBF Board meeting at the Big E, the Board voted to send a potential MFBF by-law change creating a new membership category to the delegate body in December.  This new effort will increase our ability to communicate with the public and will allow non-farmers to support our efforts on behalf of agriculture in the Commonwealth.

We have been in communication with the University of Massachusetts, Amherst regarding their future capacity to meet the needs of the agricultural community.  These discussions have included undergraduate and graduate teaching, applied research that will help farmers in both the short and long term, and Extension.  Extension includes both our ability to communicate our needs and problems to the University as well as the capacity of UMass to educate farmers when new information is available and to help solve problems.  We are also talking about the future of the Waltham facility and upgrades to the UMass campus, especially with respect to training future farmers.  Stay tuned.

On the labor front, bills have been filed for both the E-verify system and a new H-2c program housed within USDA.  We are hopeful that progress can be made before the end of 2011.  Once we get into the new year, I fully expect Presidential election politics to take over the agenda.

On September 21, I attended a meeting of DAR, UMass, FSA, and NRCS to discuss how to better deal with disasters and to coordinate efforts with MEMA and FEMA.  MEME was invited but did not attend.  There were and still are many issues on the table including disaster relief, food safety, silt deposition, soil erosion, and excess water management.  I cannot tell you that we solved all the problems but it was good to have the conversation and to have the understanding that growers need repair their fields this year and that all agencies need to provide guidance and dollars if possible.  We are hopeful that Congress can appropriate disaster relief money for growers that did not have crop insurance but, as we all know, budgets are tight and chances for this relief are slim.

I hope to see many of you at the County annual meetings.  Please reflect on your problems during this past year and help us with resolutions to deal with these issues.  Your input and feedback are always important to me.  I am finishing my first term as your president this December.  I have thoroughly enjoyed my first two years in this capacity and welcome the opportunity to continue for another term.  I welcome your support.  Thank you!  rich@mfbf.net

MassGrown Agri-Google Map to Orchard near You

As we approach the start of the fall season we are pleased to let you know that summer’s crazy weather thankfully left Massachusetts’ apple orchards largely unscathed. Our orchard growers have plenty of hearty apples available for picking! Visit your local orchards, farm stands, and farmers’ markets to stock up on your favorite apple varieties.

There are about 78 apple orchards in the Commonwealth, where people can enjoy apple picking, fresh cider, aromatic baked pies and dumplings, and activities such as hayrides, face painting, and fall festivals.

In addition to being tasty, all apple varieties from McIntosh, Cortlands, Macouns, Gala and Honeycrisp, to Jonagold and Fuji are nutritious. According to the United States Apple Association, apples contain no fat, saturated fat, cholesterol or sodium. Apples are also an excellent source of fiber, natural plant-based anti-oxidants, and the mineral boron, which promotes healthy bones.

Purchasing Massachusetts-grown apples is an ideal way to celebrate the autumn harvest and support local farmers at the same time. For a list of Massachusetts apple orchards, pick-your-own apple farms, and farmers’ markets and roadside produce stands, DAR has an easy-to-use farm finder at
www.mass.gov/agr/massgrown/map.htm, which provides information about local farms, their locations, and
(in most cases) contact information. For a direct link to Pick-Your-Own Apple Orchards, click here. For additional information on apple varieties visit the New England Apple’s website:  www.newenglandapples.org/AppleVarieties-id-37.html

Instructional series on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)

Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) - UMass You Tube training - Parts 1-10

To view videos click here:   http://www.youtube.com/UMEXTAgLand

This ten part series is presented by Richard Bonanno, Ph.D., UMass Extension Educator, University of Massachusetts and Massachusetts Farm Bureau President

The ten part series is outlined
below:

Part 1:  GAP and its impact on us as growers:   Part 1 of introduction to GAP including a synopsis to what is contained in the UMass Gap manual and UMass GAP website

Part  2:   GAP and its impact on us as growers:  Part 2 of introduction to GAP including a discussion of what growers should consider when deciding to become GAP certified

Part 3:  What initiated the need for  a food safety plan:  Part 1 of background information on food safety problems over the past few years as well as a discussion of food safety legislation

Part 4:  What initiated the need for a food safety plan:  Part 2 of background information on food safety problems and how on-farm practices may have contributed to these outbreaks

Part 5:   GAP Problems observed during third party audits:  Part 1 of a discussion of common issues found on farms during a GAP audit focusing on worker hygiene, general farm sanitation, and field packing

Part 6:  GAP Problems observed during third party audits:  Part 2 of a discussion of common issues found on farms during a GAP audit focusing on water quality, packing shed issues, and available resources for solving problems

Part 7:  GAP Audit Verification Checklist:  Part 1 of the GAP Audit focusing on general questions about the farm and worker hygiene issues

Part 8:  GAP Audit Verification Checklist:  Part 2 of the GAP Audit focusing on the farm review, water quality, livestock, wildlife, manure, and compost issues

Part 9:  GAP Audit Verification Checklist:  Part 3 of the GAP Audit focusing on field harvesting and packing

Part 10:  GAP Audit Verification Checklist:  Part 4 of the GAP Audit focusing on a continuation of field harvesting and packing

 For more information go the UMass Extension Food Safety Education Program web site   http://extension.umass.edu/nutrition/index.php/programs/food-safety or the UMass Extension Agriculture and Landscape Program  www.umass.edu/agland

MFBF President Richard Bonanno can also be emailed at: rich@mfbf.net

Do Your Woods Need Help?
Kent Lage, Director of Forestry Programs

If so, you are not alone!!  The recent weather – tornadoes, floods, hurricanes and wind and rain have many forest landowners in need of assistance.  The flow of public benefits such as clean water and air, wildlife habitat, recreation and long-term wood supply is directly related to the health and sustainability of these forests.  To promote and protect the health and sustainability of the Commonwealth’s forests, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and the Massachusetts Farm Bureau have a program that may be of benefit to you as a forest land owner – the Forest Stewardship Program.  The U.S Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (USDA-FSA) also has the Emergency Forest Restoration Program.

FOREST STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM -
Partner with Berkshire-Pioneer RC&D

The primary objective of Forest Stewardship Program is to reduce the likelihood of development of forest properties by encouraging active forest management through a 7-year agreement to the Massachusetts Forest Stewardship Program. The Forest Stewardship Program provides a cost share up to 100% of the cost for the development of Forest Stewardship Plans by a consulting forester. 

Over 550 landowners have had Forest Stewardship plans approved on more than 50,000 acres in the time Farm Bureau has been working with Berkshire Pioneer and DCR.  Berkshire-Pioneer RC&D has been running this program for DCR and U.S. Forest Service for over 15 years and is an excellent and experienced partner.

Another component of forest management that you might consider is Forest Stewardship Council Green Certification. The Forest Stewardship Council TM (FSC) is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that promotes the responsible management of the world’s forests.  Forest certification is a third party auditing system of forest management practices.  The use of certification engages the marketplace, encouraging recognition of the value of forests, and moreover to advance standards in forest management practices.  Certification assures consumers of forest products that the raw materials in their purchases originated from a forest managed under recognized sustainable management practices.  The principles and criteria established by FSC promote ecologically beneficial, socially responsible and economically viable forest management practices.

Add Green Certification to the mix and over 620 landowners have been assisted on more than 57,680 acres all at a cost of less than $13.81 per acre to the Commonwealth. Farm Bureau’s goal for this 3 year contract with DCR is to add 52,000 acres of private and municipal forestland to the Forest Stewardship Program and we are well on the way to making it, but it’s not too late for you to apply.  Find out more at: http://www.mass.gov/dcr/stewardship/forestry/service/documents/stewarshipplanappl.pdf

EMERGENCY FOREST RESTORATION PROGRAM -
(From USDA Farm Service Agency): 

The Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRS) provides payments to eligible owners of nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) land in order to carry out emergency measures to restore land damaged by a natural disaster.

To restore NIPF, EFRP program participants may implement emergency forest restoration practices, including emergency measures:

• Necessary to repair damage caused by a natural disaster to natural resources on nonindustrial private forest land; and
• Restore forest health and forest related resources on the land.

EFRP program participants may receive financial assistance of up to 75 percent of the cost to implement approved emergency forest restoration practices as determined by county FSA committees. Individual or cumulative requests for financial assistance of $50,000 or less per person or legal entity, per disaster are approved by the county committee. Financial assistance from $50,001 to $100,000 is approved by the state FSA committee. Financial assistance over $100,000 must be approved at the FSA national office. A payment limitation of $500,000 per person or legal entity applies per disaster.

This kind of assistance will be vital to returning forest health to the ravaged areas.  Please contact your local FSA office for more information and how to apply if you are eligible.

http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?state=ma&agency=fsa

http://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/ma_efrp_2011.pdf

USDA Assisting Growers & Producers Damaged by Irene

The U.S. Department of Agriculture continues to offer services to farmers whose livestock and crops were damaged in the devastation brought on by Hurricane Irene. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says USDA is deploying personnel and resources to assist the efforts by federal, state and local authorities in response to the hurricane.

“We continue to closely coordinate with many partners to meet the immediate and plan for the long-term needs of those affected by Hurricane Irene,” said Vilsack. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to all who have suffered losses caused by this massive storm. USDA is ready to provide food, emergency assistance and other resources to the affected areas.”

Hurricane Irene affected the ability of some dairy cooperatives and handlers in the Northeast to pick up milk at local farms particularly in Southern Vermont and Eastern New York. In some instances milk was dumped on the farm when it was unable to be picked up on a timely basis or where loss of power impacted milk quality, rendering such milk as non-Grade A. Due to the impact of this natural disaster on dairy farmers in the Northeast, USDA is taking administrative action to include this milk as part of the Federal milk marketing order pool for the months of August and September as needed, although it was never delivered to a plant for processing. This decision will enable cooperatives and handlers to pay the Federal order blend price to affected producers on all the volume that they produced including any milk dumped due to Hurricane Irene.

USDA encourages all farmers, ranchers, producers, landowners and rural communities to contact their local USDA Farm Service Agency Service Center to report damages to crops or livestock loss; their local Rural Development office for housing, business or community assistance information and/or their local Natural Resources Conservation Service office for help with debris removal. Below are some programs that offer assistance:

Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) - NAP provides financial assistance to eligible producers affected by drought, flood, hurricane, or other natural disasters. NAP covers non-insurable crop losses and planting prevented by disasters. Landowners, tenants, or sharecroppers who share in the risk of producing an eligible crop are eligible. Eligible crops include commercial crops and other agricultural commodities produced for food, including livestock feed or fiber for which the catastrophic level of crop insurance is unavailable. Also eligible for NAP coverage are controlled-environment crops (mushroom and floriculture), specialty crops (honey and maple sap), and value loss crops (aquaculture, Christmas trees, ginseng, ornamental nursery, and turf grass sod).

Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program (SURE) - SURE was authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill and covers crop revenue losses from quantity or quality deficiencies only in those counties and contiguous counties declared disaster areas by the Agriculture Secretary or in cases where the overall production loss exceeds 50 percent. Approved crop insurance or noninsured crop disaster assistance must be in place to qualify.

Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm Raised Fish (ELAP) – ELAP was authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill to provide emergency relief to producers of livestock, honeybees, and farm-raised fish and covers losses from disaster such as adverse weather or other conditions, such as blizzards and wildfires not adequately covered by any other disaster program.

Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) - LIP was authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill to provide assistance to livestock producers for livestock deaths from disaster events, in excess of normal mortality.

To find learn more or to contact your local FSA office visit:
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/stateoffapp?mystate=ma&area=home&subject=landing&topic=landing
or call the FSA office in Amherst at 413-253-4500.

Crop insurance update
by John Mangus, Custom Ag Solutions

USDA, FDA Working to Provide Aid for Farmers with Flood-damaged Crops. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced that assistance will be available to farmers whose crops were damaged by severe flooding from Tropical Storms Irene and Lee. USDA and FDA are working closely together to ensure that farmers with flood-damaged crops that cannot be marketed are compensated for their losses.  The USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) is also carefully monitoring crop damage from flooding.  RMA encourages farmers to contact their crop insurance agents and local USDA Farm Service Agency Service Centers, as applicable, to report damages to crops or livestock loss. More information about Federal crop insurance may be found online at http://www.rma.usda.gov. Additional resources to help farmers and ranchers deal with flooding may be found online at http://www.usda.gov/disaster. 

RMA Administrator Presents Federal Crop Insurance Program Update

RMA Administrator William J. Murphy presented an update on the Federal Crop Insurance Program to the annual Minnesota Crop Insurance Conference, discussing the ACRSI data streamlining initiative, improvements to prevented planting, new breaking insurability, and this year’s extreme weather conditions.  Murphy’s presentation is available online (http://www.rma.usda.gov/news/2011/09/insuranceupdate.pdf). 

RightRisk Webinars Available Online

The RightRisk Education Team, working with Custom Ag Solutions and the USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA), has produced two educational webinars designed to help Massachusetts producers understand the structure, operation, benefits, and limitations of two important crop insurance programs: Dairy Gross Margin and AGR-Lite.  The webinars include explanatory information and examples/scenarios to help producers make decisions about participating in the programs.  The content is available online at http://massachusetts.erightrisk.com or producers can contact Custom Ag Solutions at 877-277-8094
to receive a DVD version of the content. 

LGM-Dairy Predicted to Sell Out - October Enrollment Window May Be the Only One This Year

Massachusetts dairy producers interested in purchasing Livestock Gross Margin (LGM)-Dairy crop insurance should get ready now.  LGM-Dairy sales will resume with the beginning of the 2012 Federal fiscal year in October. Experts predict that all of funding for underwriting costs may be exhausted in the first enrollment opportunity, which starts on Friday, October 28 at 5PM and ends on Saturday, October 29 at 9PM.  To prepare for enrollment, dairy producers should make an appointment with their crop insurance agent as soon as possible.

Upcoming Crop Insurance Deadlines

Most Federal crop insurance programs have strict calendar deadlines governing participation decisions and reporting requirements.  In Massachusetts, some key participation deadlines (sales closing dates) fall on the following dates:

• November 21 for apples, cranberries, and peaches;
• November 30 for clams;
• January 31 for AGR; and,
• March 15 for AGR-Lite, corn, fresh market sweet corn, potatoes, and tobacco. 

Producers should especially note the upcoming November sales closing dates and contact a crop insurance agent well in advance of any deadlines.

Custom Ag Solutions works with RMA to educate Massachusetts producers about Risk Management and Federal Crop Insurance Programs.  Please watch for our September/October crop insurance informational mailings.  To locate a crop insurance agent or obtain information about risk management and RMA’s Federal Crop Insurance Programs, please visit www.RMA.USDA.gov or www.MassAgRisk.com.  To receive additional information by mail, call Custom Ag Solutions at 877-277-8094. 

MFBF 92^nd Annual Meeting News

Join your neighbors and friends in celebrating Massachusetts’s agricultural industry and the successes of the state’s largest general farm organization.

This two-day event is where Farm Bureau members establish policy for the upcoming year, attend workshops and learning sessions, as well as enjoy good food, entertainment and a bit of rest and relaxation away from the farm . This year’s MFBF Annual Meeting is a value-packed program.

Thursday, December 2nd will be full of workshops with an Awards program at lunch.  The dinner banquet will honor the 2011 John Ogonowski award winner as well as the Horse and Dairy Farm of Distinction winners.  There will also be a special recognition of the 2011 Massachusetts Century Farms, compiled by the MFBF Women’s Committee. See below for schedule of events for Thursday the 2nd.

Staying overnight?  Farm Bureau Members can book accommodations for Wednesday, December 1st & Thursday, December 2nd at a rate of $89.95 for a single or double room at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center. Taxes are extra. Contact the Sheraton Hotel at (413) 781-1010 for reservations and mention that you are with Mass Farm Bureau to receive the group rate.

The Delegate Session will be on Friday, December 2nd.  It is our delegate session that helps guide and direct MFBF.  It is through our membership’s grassroots efforts that we develop resolutions which direct our organization for the upcoming year.  Contact your County Farm Bureau President if you would like to become a delegate.

MFBF Annual Meeting Registration Form

Don’t forget to make your meal reservations.  We’ve planned two wonderful meals to tempt your appetite. Please clip section and return with your check (made payable to MFBF) via mail to Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation, C/O Susan Cornelia, 249 Lakeside Ave, Marlborough, MA 01752. Fill in the name of each person attending. You can also register online at MFBF.net ALL RESERVATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY NOVEMBER 18th

**All reservations made after November 18th will have a
$5.00 late fee added to each lunch and dinner reservation.**

MFBF 92^nd Annual Meeting Sponsorship and trade show booth info     

TRADE BOOTHS

Trade Booth space is being offered again this year. Trade booth space will be $300 for an 8’x2’ booth. Booth space this year is at a premium and based on prior demand, you should act quickly.

ANNUAL MEETING SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

MFBF is again offering annual meeting sponsorship opportunities. The Board of Directors will recognize your company as an industry leader by sponsoring the 2011 MFBF Annual meeting and its activities. We are offering four levels of sponsorship:

Platinum Level- $500

Gold Level-$350

Silver Level-$150

Bronze Level-$50

Please contact John Conners at 508.481.4766 or email at: john@mfbf.net We have a special offer for those who sponsor at the Platinum level. If you contact us no later than November 16th, your sponsorship will include a free booth!

Last Chance to Book Your Trip to Hawaii to attend AFBF Convention!

We want to remind you that the deadline for making your reservations is here.  Your reservation and payment must be received NO LATER than October 31st.

So what can you expect upon arrival? The Honolulu airport is very open and the scent of flower leis perfumes the air.  There’s a slower pace to life in the islands, and people often joke that things move along on “island time.”  Speaking of time, Hawaii has its own time zone and does not observe daylight savings time. In January, Hawaii will be five hours behind Eastern Standard Time, so for the first couple of days you’ll be waking up in the early predawn hours.  This, I’ve come to discover, is a great time to go for a walk on the relatively deserted beaches and dip your toes into the warm Pacific waters…so relaxing and a terrific way to jump start your vacation.

Remember the story of Golidlocks and the three Bears?  Papa Bear’s porridge was too hot, Mama Bear’s porridge was too cold, but Baby Bear’s porridge was juuuuust right!  Well that pretty much describes the weather in Hawaii. The Aloha state has only two seasons – summer or “kau”, from May to September, and winter or “ho’olio”, from October to April.  The primary difference between the two is that the temperature is a few degrees cooler in the winter and it tends to rain a bit more. Generally, warm sun, gentle trade winds and mild temperatures are a year-round thing.  That said, if you’re planning to go to the top of Haleakala on Maui and watch the sun rise over this extinct volcanic crater, I’d highly recommend long pants, a warm sweat shirt and perhaps a blanket since the temperature is often in the 40’s.

The Hawaiian Islands are the most isolated, inhabited pieces of land in the world. They are situated almost 2400 miles from any major land mass. Because they are so isolated, there are a great many species of animal and aquatic life that are found nowhere else in the world. (Darwin should have done some exploring in the Sandwich Islands rather than the Galapagos.) The islands were formed as the result of volcanic activity, two of which (Mauna Loa and Kilauea) are still active on the Big Island of Hawaii. Kilauea has been erupting continuously since 1983.  I’ve had the opportunity to explore the lava flow in the Kalapana area. The lava consumed many homes in its path to the sea. Walking atop the flow, I passed street signs that were buried so deeply they were now at ankle height. Standing close to the ocean’s edge, as the waves lapped against the newly formed shoreline, steam rose up and you could hear the wet hissing and sputtering as the cooler ocean waters made contact with the molten rock yards below my feet. Much older (and somewhat wiser) I now realize that had the cooled layer of lava given way, I would have been consumed by the blazing reminders the goddess Pele. Pele, goddess of fire, is just one of the many legends that adds to the charm and uniqueness that is Hawaii.

As you travel around the islands, you may find the need to stop at some point and ask for directions. The locals have a rather unique way of guiding you.  Instead of heading east, you’ll be going “Diamond Head” which is located on the far easterly side of Oahu. And in the case of west, you’ll be travelling in the “Ewa” direction, a town on the western side of the island. Likewise, if you are headed inland towards the mountains, that’s called “mauka” and towards the ocean is “makai.”  Here’s a handy little guide to help you pronounce the Hawaiian vowels:

A is pronounced “ah,” as in open wide

E is pronounced “ay” as in the long “ā”

I is pronounced “ee” as in the long “ē”

O is pronounced “oh,”as in the long “ō”

U is pronounced “oo” as in “boo”

Following this guide, can you guess how to pronounce the word “Honolulu”? It’s “hō-nō-loo-loo.”  Just one other thing to remember, some syllables are slurred and the pronunciation changes yet again.  So the town of “Aiea” is pronounced “ah-ee-ay-ah,” when slurred becomes “eye-ay-ah.”

Remember, this is your last chance! Mass. Farm Bureau has reserved a block of rooms at the Hilton Hawaiian Village for the AFBF Meeting which runs from January 8th through the 11th. We have reserved the rooms from January 5th through the 12th in case you’d like to extend your stay. The room cost is $215 a night for a garden view, and $270 a night for an ocean view.  If you’d like to reserve a spot at the AFBF Annual Meeting, please contact John Conners at 508-481-4766, or by email at: john@mfbf.net.  All payment and reservations need to be made/received no later than October 31st. NO exceptions.

Liz Smith

liz@mfbf.net

Columnist Dave Barry to Keynote AFBF Annual Meeting

Pulitzer Prize-winning humor columnist Dave Barry will deliver the keynote address at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 93rd annual meeting, Jan. 9, 2012, in Honolulu.

Barry, a 25-year journalism veteran, is best known for his syndicated work that appeared in more than 500 newspapers in the U.S. and abroad. In 1988 he won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary.

“We are excited to have Dave Barry as our keynote speaker,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman. “We will be working through some very important policy issues during our time in Hawaii, so it will be nice to take a break from our business at hand and share a lighter moment with Dave Barry.”

Barry is the author of 30 books, two of which were used as the basis for the CBS TV sitcom Dave’s World, which aired 1993-1997. In his spare time, Barry plays lead guitar in a literary rock band called the Rock Bottom Remainders, whose other members include authors Stephen King, Amy Tan, Ridley Pearson and Mitch Albom.

YF&R MEETING NOTICE

YF&R Meeting
Friday, November 11th @5:00pm
New England Small Farm Institute
located at 275 Jackson Street
Belchertown, MA 01007 

Whether you are currently actively engaged in the Massachusetts Young Farmers & Ranchers Program or interested in learning more about the group...please attend!

MFBF MEMBERS WIN FOUR AWARDS AT BIG E CHEESE EVENT

Mass Farm Bureau members Pam and Ray Robinson, of Robinson Farm in Hardwick, Mass., won three gold medals and a silver at the Big E Cheese Competition last month. Their winning cheeses are Robinson Family Swiss (gold); Tekenink Tomme (gold); A Barndance (gold); and Hardwick Stone (silver).

Century Farms Books For Sale

Mass. Farm Bureau is pleased to announce that we have donated 250 copies of the Century Farms 2010 book to school and public libraries across the Commonwealth. More than 500 Massachusetts libraries were sent a notice offering a free copy of the book. Since not all of the libraries took advantage of this offer, we still have copies available for purchase.

The  book chronicles  the stories behind farms that have been family-owned and operated for at least 100 years.  Did you know that there are thirteen farms in Massachusetts that have been continuously farmed for over 300 years?!  Or, that the largest Air Force Reserve base in the United States was once part of a Massachusetts Century Farm? From stories of brushes with famous people, to everyday details of life on the farm, Massachusetts Century Farms 2010 offers an in-depth look at how these farms were operated through the years.

To order your personal copy, please send a check for ten dollars (includes tax and shipping) made payable to Massachusetts Farm Bureau (or MFBF). Send to: 249  Lakeside Ave., Marlborough, MA 01752.

Fall Online Courses for Farmers Open for Registration!

The growing season is still in full swing, but here at the Northeast Beginning Farmer Project, we’re already thinking about “education season”. Six of our 7 online courses - including 4 new topics - are still open for registration, ready to help you continue your farming education. As always, our courses are taught by experienced Cooperative Extension educators, farmers, and other specialists. Courses are usually 6 weeks long, cost $175, and include both real-time meetings (online webinars) and on-your-own time reading and activities. We do not offer any academic credit, but those who successfully complete a course will receive a certificate and are also eligible for Farm Service Agency (FSA) borrower training credit, which can improve your eligibility to receive a low-interest FSA loan.

We’ve got several courses that will help you build the “invisible infrastructure” of your farm business:

• If you’re ready to write a farm business plan, sign up for the BF 202: Planning to Stay in Business course, which will help you document the feasibility of your business and prepare to seek funding from banks and other lenders
• Financial records are the foundation of tracking your farm’s progress toward profitability. Need some guidance in setting up your recordkeeping systems? Then BF 104: Financial Records is for you.

On the production side, we offer:

• BF 120: Veggie Farming - back by popular demand, this jam-packed course has now been divided into two parts (with BF 121 being offered in January). BF 120 covers the planning, budgeting, site selection, and planting, while BF 121 will pick up where BF 120 leaves off and take you through considerations in season-long care, harvest, and marketing.
• Raising poultry is a popular enterprise for many small farmers, so this Fall we’re introducing a new course, BF 130: Poultry Production, to cover the basic requirements of producing and profiting from chickens, ducks, and turkeys.
• Before you sink a lot of money into equipment, consider taking BF 105: Machinery and Equipment, another new course designed to help you weigh your options and make smart decisions about what’s best for your farm scale and situation.
• BF 110: Soil Health returns again this Fall to introduce growers at all levels of experience to practical on-farm applications of soil health concepts. This course will again incorporate an optional in-person field day at an amazing farm in Northern NY that will demonstrate improvement of soil health on a working farm.
  

To learn more about each course, please visit http://nebeginningfarmers.org/online-courses. From this site you can visit our Annual Course Calendar, learn more about our Instructors, see answers to Frequently Asked Questions, read details for each course, and even visit a sample online course.

Courses often fill very quickly, so don’t miss your chance to sign up today! 

FOR SALE

FOR SALE:  Hay – 1st and 2nd cut – no dust guaranteed.  Wholesale and retail.  We deliver and unload.  Work cell 774-259-6960 or office 508-252-9029.  Skip & Trish at Homestead Farms.

FOR SALE: Tires. Great prices, all sizes, tire repairs, road service, calcium chloride service. Hoey Tire, Worcester. Call 508-755-6666, www.hoeytire.com.

FOR SALE:  Hareford Calves. 9-10 months old, hand raised and tame, both steers and Heifers, for your feed lot or pasture. 617-840-2074.

FOR SALE: Hay 1st and 2nd cutting. 4’ X 5’ round and small square bales.  Conway Farm’s Lakeville, MA. 508-821-0149.

SERVICE

FARM MAINTENANCE:  All types arena work, construction & renewal. Paddock areas built, fencing new & repairs, hydrant work, brush work, field fertilization & care. CRF Maintenance Services. www.cringfarm.com  508-234-9824.

SERVING THE FARMERS IN MASS: Helping farmers keep what they make.  Experienced in dairy, beef, fruit & vegetable farming; experienced with APR, retirement planning, estate planning & taxation, tax free exchanges. Donald E. Graves, CPA, LLC,Masters Degree in Taxation &   Financial Planning, Bentley College, 377 Main Street, Suite 1, Greenfield, MA  01301-3332,  1-800-286-6036, info@donaldegravescpa.com

PASTURES:  Let our expertise in pasture construction and design provide you with pastoral views, solutions for your equestrian needs and elimination of boarding fees.  Reclaim your woodlands into pastures.  Increase your property value.  Call Woodridge Farm, Lincoln, MA.  781-259-0251.

*APPRAISER/CONSULTANT for farm/forest property. Estate planning, buying/selling, APR/CR valuation my specialty. William King 508-867-2600.

SEEKING EMPLOYMENT

AGRICULTURE BUSINESS: My name is Kelly and I am a recent graduate of the University of New Hampshire’s Dairy Science program, where I obtained a Bachelors of Science degree as well as a minor in Agriculture Business.  I am in search of the right job opportunity for myself, and am interested in working in the agriculture industry.  Please contact me at klb7979@gmail.com or call 508.269.7979.  Thank You!

Member to Member Marketplace

Island Alpaca Company, www.islandalpaca.com, 10% discount to MA Farm Bureau Members off current retail prices for alpaca goods in the farm store (except spinning equipment).  Martha’s Vineyard, 508-693-5554.

Roberts Brothers Lumber, 1450 Spruce Corner Road, Ashfield MA 01330, 10% savings on current Lumber Price Sheet, excluding delivery, planning and any other services.

Dowse Orchards, 98 North Main Street, Sherborn, MA  01770, 10% savings on farm produce.  508-653-2639, www.dowseorchards.com.

Twin City Eye Care, 867 Merriam Ave., Leominster, MA  01453, 978-537-6045, www.twincityeyecare.com. 20% discount on lenses and frames.

Member Benefits:

Budget Truck Rentals – Moving household contents or moving product to that Farmers’ Market, MFBF members get a 15% discount on Budget Truck Rentals by using MFBF account number 56000133689.  Visit www.budgettruck.com/mafbf or call 1-800-566-8422.

Prescription Rx – This benefit helps reduce prescription drug costs.  MFBF members save an average of 30% (some as high as 75%) on prescriptions.  The card is like a coupon that you use over and over again at over 75,000 national and regional pharmacies.