NY Assemblyman Chris Tague’s held the third annual “What is Agriculture?” farm and agribusiness tour on Sept 22-23rd. It was attended by approximately 30 legislators and some of their staffers (largely from downstate).
Danielle Penney Stroop, NEAFA President
Did you know that the month of October is largely about celebrating agriculture? On October 12, we celebrated National Farmers’ Day, as this is a day that provides many of us our own livelihood in the agricultural industry. This day has been observed since the early 1800’s to give thanks to farmers, both past and present, for all their hard work in bringing food production to our homes.
Additionally, October is National Farm to School Month. What better way to celebrate and promote our industry than educating and investing in our youth’s knowledge and experiences? Children of all ages should know the concepts of how their food is produced economically and efficiently, the benefits of healthy nutrition to their growing bodies (including consumption of dairy and beef), and the overall sustainability of our food production systems.
The word sustainability is being utilized in all industry sectors, but has become especially important in the public perception of the agricultural industry. Sustainable agriculture is defined as a wide array of environmentally friendly farming methods that create an ecological balance by avoiding depletion of natural resources. The need for sustainable agriculture applies to all facets of our industry: fiber, food, fuel, and feed production sectors, as well as to the final processing, distribution, and consumption of agricultural products.
Farmers and ranchers have been implementing new technologies and promoting environmental efficiency and sustainability programs for many years now, largely due to the investments, innovations, and research of land grant universities. According to Farm Bureau, US milk production has increased 48%, while our per unit emissions has decreased by 26%. US beef production has increased 18%, while reducing per unit emissions by 8%. A similar story can be seen in the US pork industry, which has increased by 80% with a 20% reduction of emissions per unit. Agricultural businesses have always been focused on animal welfare, protection of wildlife, water conservation, maximizing nutrient efficiency through promotion of soil health and conservation practices, as well as the judicious use of chemical weed and pest control when needed. The general populous does not necessarily understand all of the science and terminology. We need to collectively work together on educating the public about how the agricultural industry is working towards a more sustainable future.
As we move forward, we need to invest our time and resources educating our legislators on the practices and tools that we have implemented in all of production agriculture in recent years. If we miss these educational opportunities, and we lose the momentum that the non-ag sector gains daily in determining our futures and ultimately our fate. While that seems like a dire proclamation, we cannot have the court of public opinion and legislators mandating policies that have no scientific basis binding our hands of what we hold dear and preserve through hard work, dedication, and innovation.
I was fortunate to participate in NY Assemblyman Chris Tague’s third annual “What is Agriculture?” farm and agribusiness tour, held Sept 22-23rd. It was attended by approximately 30 legislators and some of their staffers (largely from downstate). The tour visited eleven agribusinesses from various production ag sectors, including forestry, breweries, nurseries, and some livestock operations. It was an opportunity to engage with owners and operators, to hear their stories and highlight their daily challenges. The event was filled with many questions and engaging dialogues on subjects that many of us in the agricultural industry tend to take for granted from our experiences and knowledge in the field. And I dare say to some extent that we are privileged, those of us vested in agriculture; we have a unique perspective and commonality regardless of the industry sector we focus on. Our approaches and products may be different, but our goals, values, and ethics are largely similar and understood by one another.
The consistent messaging to this group of legislators was re-enforced at each stop: don’t tie our hands with environmental policies and constraints that are impossible to achieve because it sounds like a great idea and makes you feel good, but have not been vetted by scientists or experts in the field. There is a huge labor issue and shortage currently along with supply chain issues. No one is getting rich from farming. For most of us it is a labor of love or family legacy that we cannot lose.
If at any time you are given the opportunity to engage with legislators on your operation, I encourage you to share your story; most of them are open and want to learn. NEAFA collaborates with many organizations (NEDPA, Farm Bureau, NYAAC, Corn and Soy Bean Growers) throughout the Northeast, and we can assist you in planning an event or engaging with your local politicians and community.
As an industry, it is imperative that we continue to focus on environmental sustainability initiatives by educating ourselves and exploring carbon markets, renewable energy, or other potential technologies. We need to demonstrate that our Northeast agricultural industries are making sustainable decisions to reduce our environmental footprints without losing our identity, economic security, or viability.
As the world continues to address climate change and focus on environmental sustainability, we need to support land grant universities and the research they are doing. Together we can collaborate, educate, and advocate for environmental policies that are research driven and proven effective in the field. Our annual meeting had phenomenal presentations and panel discussions regarding climate change and the effect on animal agriculture, some of which can be found on the NEAFA website. The annual Cornell Nutrition Conference was held this month, and devoted a large portion of their program to sharing their latest innovations and research for sustainable agriculture and mitigating climate change. Many of the papers and articles are available to read, and offer greater insight and opportunity for education or clarification on the subjects that are near and dear to our hearts. I encourage all of you to reach out for their papers and worthwhile presentations.