New agriculture commissioner visits Black Dirt region
The stars at night are big and bright ”¦ deep in the heart of Orange.
Members of Texas”™ Agricultural Lifetime Leadership (TALL) class of 2011 came to the Black Dirt region of Orange County to talk agriculture via New York state”™s Tall alternative, called LEAD (Leadership, Education and Agricultural Development).
The TALL tour encompasses the Northeast. LEAD takes similar fact-finding tours every two years.
Newly appointed Department of Agriculture Commissioner Darrel Aubertine met with the group at Cheryl Rogowski”™s Pine Island farm Saturday, May 7, where they toured her operation, talked about the impact the weather is having on farmers in both states ”“ Texas is suffering from a historic drought ”“ and sat down to a traditional Polish dinner, complete with kielbasa, sauerkraut and stuffed cabbage while they talked turkey.
Aubertine, a sixth-generation dairy farmer whose sons currently run the family business in northern New York, is well acquainted with the ups and downs of farm life. Appointed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in January, Aubertine has been traveling across New York state to learn the special needs of its farmers in preparation for the re-authorization of the national Farm Bill in 2012.
“Although it seems like it”™s a long time away, don”™t kid yourselves,” Aubertine told TALL”™s farmers and agricultural leaders. “If you aren”™t involved with the Farm Bill now, don”™t wait any longer.”
Rogowski had the opportunity to tell Aubertine and TALL members how the Hudson Valley”™s close proximity to New York City markets is helping get urban neighbors involved in community supported agriculture programs. (Texas has a similar program.)
“Agri-tourism is becoming an important part of our business,” Rogowski told the group. “There are 90 million consumers in the Northeast, all within a 500-mile radius of this farm. As more food is coming into the United States from other countries, people want to know where the food they are eating is coming from, how it”™s grown and how and where to gain access to freshly grown food whenever possible.
“They are joining CSAs,” she said, “where they share in the bounty of the crop but also take the risks with the farmer, and are regularly visiting our farmers”™ markets.”
Aubertine told the Texans that New York”™s agriculture is “diverse and robust ”“ and a big component of the state”™s economy. Dairy farming comprises 50 percent of the state”™s agricultural income. Both our states grappling with the Farm Bill, which is two years away, but discussions need to be happening now. Many of the issues we both face ”“ including water conservation and research, as well as equity in the marketplace ”“ need to be addressed.”
Paradoxically, noted Aubertine, the federal government is encouraging land trusts to protect farms and encouraging PDR (property development rights) to be created, while “At the same time, funds are being funneled into water and sewer infrastructure in the same areas. We need to sit down and form a comprehensive plan on how land will be developed ”“ something that needs to be addressed in the next Farm Bill.”
Aubertine welcomed the opportunity to meet with TALL and to tell them of farming”™s challenges and economic impact in New York. “We have our work cut out for us, just as you do,” said the commissioner, who is holding a series of workshops in Syracuse to talk about the various aspects of the comprehensive farm legislation.
The Federal Farm bill is negotiated every six years and sets the parameters for the country”™s agriculture, nutrition, forestry and conservation policies. Aubertine said New York and other Northeastern states are working to form a strong delegation to represent the region and plan to meet in Vermont this June to hold discussions on their individual efforts.