Agriculture

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A Right to Farm & Ag Certainty

Most of Wednesday’s House Ag Committee meeting was devoted to housekeeping of harness racing regulations. But at the end, two preliminary-but very optimistic-ideas surfaced. Here are the highlights:

  • Rep. John Atkins, Chair, called the meeting to order at 12:05pm and immediately turned the floor over to Secretary Ed Kee. Representative’s in attendance were Peterman, Outten, Kenton, Wilson, Spiegelman, Q. Johnson. Other guests were lobbyists-Scott & Rebecca Kidner and Debbie Hamilton, Hettie Brown-HSUS State Director, Mark Davis-DDA, Austin Short-DDA.
  • The Secretary went straight into draft legislation related to harness racing such as jockey welfare, harness racing fines, and investigations related to illegal substances.
  • Related to Ag Lands Preservation, the Secretary said he is requesting $2 million for the program in the Governor’s budget, which will be presented this week on Jan. 24. See updated info on Ag Lands here.
  • The Secretary announced that DDA, the Nutrient Management Commission, DNREC, USDA, and the Conservation Districts are exploring the use of an “Ag Certainty” program related to those with a nutrient management plan.  Here is the draft review circulated in committee:
DE's Ag Certainty Program Review Draft circulated in House Committee meeting on Jan. 16, 2013

DE’s Ag Certainty Program Review Draft circulated in House Committee meeting on Jan. 16, 2013

It looks to be an incentive program for farmers to implement best management practices (BMP’s), which other states have adopted (Florida, Louisiana, and Michigan). I also found a blog post by Lara Moody, a promoter of nutrient stewardship in D.C., which cites the discussion of Ag Certainty related to the Chesapeake Bay back in Nov. 2011.

“The right of farmers and ranchers to engage in modern farming and ranching practices shall be forever guaranteed in this state. No law shall be enacted which abridges the right of farmers and ranchers to employ agricultural technology, modern livestock production and ranching practices”.

Legislative counsel in DE may also suggest this be a Constitutional amendment, which could be a lengthy process because it must pass both chambers (House & Senate), not once, but two years in a row. As soon as I heard this, my mind went straight to Rich Barczewski’s “Pig Tales” column in the Jan.15th Delmarva Farmer. He mentions right-to-farm laws in his column titled “Agriculture Under Fire”. The article is impossible to find on the web so I’m posting it below. Awesome article.

Pig Tales, "Agriculture Under Fire", by Rich Barczewski, columnist for Jan. 15, 2013 Delmarva Farmer

Pig Tales, “Agriculture Under Fire”, by Rich Barczewski, columnist for Jan. 15, 2013 Delmarva Farmer

It’s your turn! Which do you think should be implemented to help Delaware farmers in 2013? Answer the poll below!

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Meat Monday’s

Back in July of 2012, the USDA caused quite a stir when it circulated a newsletter promoting the concept of “Meatless Monday“, which encouraged people to skip eating meat one day a week. Don’t believe me? It’s true and thanks to Ag Wired, the newsletter was uploaded to their server and can still be found here. Of course, the USDA pulled it soon after the backlash started; the Secretary supposedly did not give the article clearance. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association wasted no time questioning the USDA’s commitment to agriculture, particularly the livestock industry. In addition, two US Senators came up with the idea of “Meat Monday” while eating barbecue beef brisket, ribs and sausage in response to the USDA gaffe. The name went viral on social media sites; there’s even a Facebook page in honor of “Meaty Monday“.

Besides the fact that the USDA lost major trust and credibility amongst its own audience, there are plenty of reasons to actually eat meat and promote it, for that matter. Of course, there’s the scientific and the biblical view, which support the eating of meat. But I’ll stick to these 6 reasons, which include making you feel sexy! 🙂

With cooler weather, football playoffs, and the upcoming Superbowl, winter seems like the perfect time to tear into some new “MEATY” recipes. I’ll be testing out and posting a few meat recipes over the following winter Monday’s.  Here’s to “Meat Monday’s” and the hard-working, dedicated livestock producers out there-including my hubby and Farmer Dan!

OODLES of NOODLES CHILI BAKE

  • 1 (12 ounce) package wide egg noodles, uncooked
  • 1 lb lean GROUND BEEF
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can petite diced tomatoes
  • 1 (15 ounce) can corn, drained
  • 1 (15 ounce) can chili without beans
  • 1 cup (or more) shredded Cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 13×9 inch casserole or two 8 inch baking pans (you could eat one today and freeze the other!). Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain and set aside. Brown ground beef in a skillet over medium heat; draining off any fat if necessary. Combine cooked and drained noodles, browned beef, tomatoes and their juices, drained corn, chili and 3/4 cup of cheddar cheese and stir to mix. Top with remaining cheese and bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes until heated through. Serves 8.

Goes great with a small side salad or even some fresh fruit. I picked this one because my hubby loves chili but I don’t really like kidney beans so I’m always looking for a compromise. You could even add some chili powder, onions, or fresh green/red peppers for added taste.

Here it is-precooked!

Here it is-precooked!

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Plug for Annie’s Project 2013

Annie's Project 2012-Georgetown, DE graduates

Annie’s Project 2012-Georgetown, DE graduates

This is a picture of the 2012, Georgetown, DE “Annie’s Project” graduates.  This time last winter, I signed up for the short course and it was a great decision and time well spent. The course is held one night a week, for 8 weeks, with locations in Delaware and Maryland. The closest location for me was at the UD Carvel Research Center in Georgetown, DE, which it will be held again this year. Topics ranged from estate planning, tax considerations for farm businesses, farm transfers, farm insurance, and credit reports. It’s a great starting point for anyone who is potentially interested in starting or operating an ag-related business. I also walked away with a large binder of information, new friends, and a wealth of information. This year’s class starts on Jan. 30 and the cost is only $75. This includes dinner! Winter is the perfect time to do something like this. Just do it!

Even better news is there is a “Annie’s Project II” being offered as well; focus will be on retirement, succession, and estate planning. I plan to wait a few years to take this one.

Any questions? Call Tracy Wootten at 302-856-7303 or see UMD link for Annie’s Project here.

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2012 Ag in Review

How was 2012 for you? Are you looking forward to 2013 or still trying to catch up from 2012? I’m doing both. I’m reviewing what happened in 2012 but quickly looking ahead at what is to come in 2013; all with a positive, ag-related focus.

Positive local highlights for Ag in 2012:

  1. The end to the Hudson Farm Case; in favor of the Hudson’s
  2. The naming of the State of DE, Dept. of Ag headquarters to honor Richard S. Cordrey
  3. Another 5,750 acres of farmland preserved in DE
  4. Increase in DE farmer’s market sales; totaling almost $2 mil
  5. More state $ allocated to the Young Farmer program
  6. UD Cooperative Extension Agent Ernie Lopez was elected as DE State Senator
  7. A new Dean of UD College of Ag & Natural Resources was named
  8. A new Director for UD Cooperative Extension was named
  9. The naming of the UD Thurman G. Adams Research Farm in Georgetown, DE – love this video!!!!
  10. Bruce Hotchkiss & Mike Scuse were Honored with the Secretary’s Award for Distinguished Service to Agriculture

Other national highlights for Ag in 2012 include:

What does 2013 hold for local Ag? Here are some upcoming highlights:

Now it’s your turn. What do you think is coming in 2013 related to Ag? Share your thoughts here or email me at christyvwright@gmail.com ! I’d love to hear them!

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Happy 2013, especially to the Hudson Family!

The highlight of 2012 for many in the Ag industry came on Thursday, December 20. You’ve probably already heard the good news. U.S. District Judge Nickerson ruled in favor of the Hudson family, as well as Eastern shore farmers and Perdue. Actually, the verdict sets a precedent for farmers across the nation, especially poultry farmers, because the same situation is occurring to all who live and operate near major waterways. I recently read about farmers in the southwest, who live near tributaries leading into the Mississippi River, and are just beginning to learn what the word “nutrient management” really means.

As a follow-up to “The Impact of One Decision on Ag“, here’s a list of links reporting the good news:

There are many more articles out there, reporting the outcome of this three-year long case. As I said before, MANY were watching this case closely. I trust 2013 brings a sigh of a relief and healing to this family and all involved. I also hope it gives the poultry industry a boost, as it enters 2013 with unpredictable feed costs and potential antibiotic regulations. Regardless, I’m so thankful that the judge released his 50 page ruling before the Christmas holiday. Thanks also to all the groups and farmers who supported the family through this lawsuit. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to the Hudson’s, Delmarva Poultry Growers, and Perdue!

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New Year, New Session, & New Ag Committee Assignments

Another election year has come and gone. It was a big one for our state legislature, as every seat was up for grabs due to the 10 year census and the redrawing of district lines. In addition, many long-time incumbents retired, including former Senator George Bunting (D) who was the long-time chair of the Senate Ag Committee. These changes have definitely altered the face of our legislature and I’m not referring to party affiliation but more so age. New leadership has been chosen in each chamber and committees assigned. Here’s a rundown, relative to Agriculture, of course.

The Senate: 13 Democrats, 8 Republicans

New Leadership:

  • President Pro Temp: Patricia Blevins (D)
  • Majority Leader: David McBride (D)
  • Majority Whip: Margaret Rode Henry (D)
  • Minority Leader: Gary Simpson (R)
  • Minority Whip: Gregory Lavelle (R)

Senate Ag Committee Members:

  • Bruce Ennis, Chair (D)
  • Bethany Hall-Long (D) (new to committee)
  • Robert Venables (R)
  • Gary Simpson (R)
  • Gerald Hocker (R) (newly elected; previously served in House) (new to committee)

The House: 27 Democrats, 14 Republicans

New Leadership:

  • Speaker of the House: Pete Schwartzkopf (D)
  • Majority Leader: Val Longhurst (D)
  • Majority Whip: John Viola
  • Minority Leader: Dan Short
  • Minority Whip: Deborah Hudson

House Ag Committee members:

  • John Atkins, Chair (D)
  • Quinn Johnson, Vice-Chair (D)
  • William Carson (D)
  • W. Charles “Trey” Paradee (D) (newly elected) (new to committee)
  • Rebecca Walker (D)
  • Micheal Mulrooney (D)
  • Dave Wilson (D)
  • Harvey Kenton (R)
  • William “Bobby” Outten (R)
  • Harold Peterman (R)
  • Jeffrey Spiegelman (R) (newly elected) (new to committee)

Important to note: The 147th General Session begins on January 8, 2013. The House Ag Committee plans to meet every Wednesday from 4-5:30 pm when in session. Other committees to watch, relative to ag, would be the Natural Resources committee. See a list of all House committees here. See a list of all Senate committees here.

Granted, I know Ag isn’t the most popular committee and in past years it hasn’t seen much legislation introduced but you never know what 2013 and this new session will bring. Plus there are many things going on federally that may impact state budgets and regs. I will say that I was hoping newly elected Sen. Ernie Lopez would be on the Senate Ag Committee; however, I’m happy he landed on the Education and Natural Resources committees. Better luck next time, I guess.

Here’s to 2013 and what this new session will bring………Happy New Session & New Year!

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Honoring Heroes of the Past, Present, & Future

As my first guest blogger, Ms. Stefanie Ralph, originally wrote the following blog at the end of October, during the infamous Hurricane Sandy.  I asked Stef to simply share her thoughts on the honor of being teacher of the year as an agriscience teacher. Because of several other themes and events going in November, I was planning to post this around the week of Dec. 10 which is when another terrible event with the name “Sandy” took place in Newtown, CT at Sandy Hook Elementary. I couldn’t even watch tv all weekend, as my stomach and heart ached for those little kids and educators who were victims that day. I’m sure you felt the same way.

There are many lessons learned from that day, even in our own state, as I’ve noticed legislators have begun to pay attention and may propose related legislation to improve safety in DE schools.  But hopefully everyone just realized that educators play such a significant part in the upbringing of our future generation. Many teachers sacrifice so much to give students an opportunity to learn. Stefanie is one of those teachers. But too often, many teachers are the unsung heroes. So, I dedicate this post to all teachers and the memory of those lost on Dec. 14, 2012.

Ms. Stefanie Ralph, Agriscience Teacher and 2012 Smyrna School District Teacher of the Year

Ms. Stefanie Ralph, Agriscience Teacher and 2012 Smyrna School District Teacher of the Year

Biography: Stefanie is the 2012 Teacher of the Year for Smyrna School District, as an Agriscience teacher for Smyrna Middle School. I was so happy to see her in the running for the overall DE Teacher of the Year not only because I know her personally but because I’m so proud to see Agriscience represented among 19 top-notch candidates. Stefanie went to Lake Forest High School and was a respected student, field hockey player and FFA officer. She later went to University of Delaware and majored in ag education. Stefanie is also a familiar face at the DE State Fair and loved to show goats. You can now find her in the sheep barn, ag commodities building, or the FFA building. Did I mention she was one of my first students when I taught ag Lake Forest? I’ll skip to the next part…..Although Stef did not win the overall DE Teacher of the Year Award, she represented her district and ag well. I’m sure she’s looking forward to 2013 as she will no longer be a bachelorette! Good luck and thank you for teaching ag to our future generation! Please also see this great article on Stef by UD College of Ag & Natural Resources and a nice Q&A format from the Smyrna-Clayton Sun Times 

By Stefanie Ralph:

It’s an incredible honor to be selected as Smyrna School District Teacher of the Year.  Being chosen as the District Teacher of the Year is unquestionably the most extraordinary honor of my career, and I wish to express my gratitude.  I think, at some point, every teacher begins to question if they’re doing a good job, especially since the work often goes unrecognized. Being selected restores my confidence as a teacher, and it’s encouraging to know that my colleagues believe that I’m doing a good job. The entire faculty at Smyrna is highly qualified and all go above and beyond the call of duty; so I’m truly ecstatic I was even nominated. I’m deeply humbled and pleased to receive this honor. Teaching is a profession that serves all aspects of a community and I’m appreciative of all that public education has given me over the years, and I’m honored to have this opportunity to serve others in the same way.  When the district called my name, I was in true disbelief and did not ever imagine that my name would be called.  Again, I am very thankful for the district believing in me and recognizing my passion for teaching and serving the community.

Teaching is my passion and I have been fortunate to have been given this opportunity to engage in what I love doing for 5 years.   Becoming a teacher fulfilled my lifelong goal to educate, promote awareness, and share my compassion of the importance of agriculture to those students who are unaware of the impact it plays on their everyday lives. My greatest contributions and success as an educator is the ability to effectively communicate with my students and my commitment to ensuring student interest in agriculture.  I have been challenged to develop ways to relate and inspire my students who come from various backgrounds and life circumstances.  I reinforce to my students that dependence on agriculture knows no boundaries. Urban and rural, wealthy and poor, white-collar or blue-collar, young and old, developed nation or developing nation, any culture, any race . . . no matter how society is classified, agriculture is the lifeline that supports them all.  Agriculture provides all of our food, clothing, and shelter.  Throughout my course, students ultimately learn that a healthy agricultural system is vital to everyone’s daily life and at the conclusion of my course, students are able to answer the age-old question, “where would you be without agriculture?” Can you guess what the answer is….Naked and hungry of course!  Students also learn that chocolate milk does not come from brown cows, their food does not come from a grocery store, and FFA does not stand for Future Farmers of America. As a middle school Agriscience educator, teaching ceases to amaze me.  I tell my students often they are the ones who drive me to continue in the educational field and their spunky-ness keeps me going.  I empower my students to become contributing, successful citizens in today’s society all while they are actually empowering me to enhance my teaching strategies and to adapt to changes to become a role model in the classroom.

I’m so privileged to teach and while I’m delighted to accept this recognition, it is my students who deserve recognition.  I have been fortunate to educate some of the best students and witnessed former 7th graders blossom and bloom into leaders in the school and community who are beginning a new chapter in their book, graduating high school and attending college. As an educator who has kept in contact with former students, this is an amazing feeling and sense of accomplishment.  So, I share this honor with them, for without them, none of what I do would be possible.

Overall, teaching has good years and costly years.  There are times that teaching is so hard and success seldom, teachers find themselves hanging on by a thread.  Attached to that thread are students who just maybe you will reach out to and make a difference.  Those are the students who keep you motivated and that inspire you to continue in the educational field. Some of us continue in this profession because we have a heart for young people and a belief that we can impact the world, one child at a time; others come into this profession and find that children impact us in much of the same way.   No matter how long you have been teaching, everyone in this profession became a teacher for the same reason as did I, to make a difference in a child’s life.

You can reach Stefanie at stefanie.ralph@smyrna.k12.de.us or on Facebook.

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3 Generations of Farmers

Just wanted to share a picture my sister took on my grandparents farm just west of Harrington. She recently submitted it to the Delmarva Farmer for their annual 2012 photo contest. She took the picture out of the back of the truck as my Pop-Pop (far right), Cody (middle), and Uncle Jimmy (far left) rode on the back of the tailgate. They were moving around equipment while harvesting soybeans.  You can even see the dust rolling behind them.  Pop-Pop told me over the holidays that he liked the picture and said he didn’t even know my sister had taken it. He also mentioned that many people from the community mentioned they saw it and liked it as well.

Uncle Jimmy (far left), Cody (middle), Pop-Pop Bill (far right) sit on the tailgate as my sister gave them a ride to their equipment during the 2012 fall harvest.

Uncle Jimmy (far left), Cody (middle), Pop-Pop Bill (far right) sit on the tailgate as my sister gave them a ride to their equipment during the 2012 fall harvest.

From Jan. 4, 2012, see also “3 Generations of Farming“.

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From the Mid-Atlantic Farm Credit Blog- Support Your Local “Team Ag”!

I’ve been blogging, it’s just been for someone else! I was asked to write for the Mid-Atlantic Blog in September but I was so busy with the wedding. So here it is the end of October already. Where does time go? Fall is a busy time for everyone, but especially our youth! See how you can support your local “Team Ag” this winter!

http://www.mafc.com/blog/support-your-local-team-ag-2/

Up next, find out how school lunches have changed and if they’re better or worse???! 🙂

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The Impact of One Decision on Delmarva Ag

I haven’t slept the best lately. It happens to me whenever something weighs heavily on my mind. Ever since I read the article of how the pollution lawsuit has stressed the Hudson family of Maryland a couple days ago and knowing the verdict could come soon, the case has been on my mind. I can’t imagine living a paranoid life and I certainly can’t imagine how I would even begin to protect my kids from the negative impact this lawsuit brought their family. As soon as their kids were mentioned, my heart ached for them. This could be my sister’s family, my cousin or uncle’s family, or any of our neighbor’s who are poultry growers facing this lawsuit. Yesterday I was on standby, checking social media sites for updates, waiting to hear if a verdict had been made. This was the last post made by the MD Farm Bureau on Facebook:

Today’s update from the Hudson Case:
 The defense will finish their case this afternoon. The Waterkeepers get to call any rebuttal witnesses in the morning and the case will end. Apparently there will not be closing arguments now. They will be scheduled in several weeks after post-trial summaries are submitted by each side. It may take months for Judge Nickerson to reach a decision in the case. But based on the testimony of all the witnesses, including the defense expert, Dr. Charles Hagedorn from Virginia Tech, it doesn’t appear that the Waterkeepers have proven their case. The Hudsons, Perdue and their attorneys put up a very good defense. We will keep you updated.

And this was the lastest reporting from WBOC:     Hudson Farm Trial Update

In case you don’t have knowledge or background here, “this could be a landmark case which could change common, accepted farming practices” as Bill Satterfield, Director of the Delmarva Poultry Industry, made clear when the trial began on October 9. I’m guessing environmentalists, poultry industry experts, farmers, and elected officials are watching the case closely. I’ve even seen a recent campaign ad to re-elect Andy Harris, a MD Republican Senator running for U.S. Congress, which depicts the negative impact of groups like the EPA on small businesses and farmers.

Just think about the potential impact here. There are over 1,600 farmers growing for 5 poultry companies in the Mid-Atlantic. Can you imagine the impact on our state economy? I wonder if our leaders have thought through a “Plan B”. I try not to worry about it. Instead, I’ll do my best to focus on the positive and thank God for the tremendous support from groups such as DPI and Save Farm Families, who have stood behind the Hudson Family tremendously since the onslaught of the lawsuit. It’s been drug out over 3 years. It’s time to let this farm family and their kids move on.