Travel to DC to lobby on beginning farmer and rancher issues
Washington, DC - On Monday, March 5th, several farmers, ranchers and military veterans from Nebraska, Montana, South Dakota and California will travel to Washington D.C to participate in a nationwide fly-in called, "Investing in the next generation of American Farmers and Ranchers" spearheaded by the Center for Rural Affairs and several other organizations. The fly-in will bring several new farmers and ranchers from the Great Plains to Washington for meetings at the USDA and on Capitol Hill regarding the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act, including beginning farmer and rancher provisions in farm bill credit and conservation programs.
"The future of family farming and ranching depends, in large part on beginning farmers and ranchers being able to get started in agriculture. Public policy can and should help beginning producers overcome barriers to entry," said Traci Bruckner, Assistant Policy Director at the Center for Rural Affairs.
According to Bruckner, the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act (H.R.3236) encompasses a national strategy for addressing the barriers facing beginning farmers and ranchers, addressing the issues that beginners identify as the greatest challenges.
"This bill makes an important investment in the next generation of farmers, one that far outweighs the minimal cost," added Bruckner.
Farmers and ranchers from across the country will participate in a briefing, convened by the Center for Rural Affairs, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, California FarmLink and Land Stewardship Project, to share information and personal stories about the challenges they face as well as potential policy solutions with Senators, Representatives, Congressional staff and other interested parties - including members of the media. Participating farmers and ranchers will focus on proposed legislation that addresses barriers to getting into agriculture and invests in fostering a new generation of American family farmers and ranchers through the following:
- enabling access to land, credit and crop insurance for new producers,
- assisting new producers in launching new value-added farm and ranch ventures,
- helping new producers become good stewards of their land,
- providing training, mentoring and research that beginners need to be successful,
- conducting outreach opportunities for military veterans to get involved in farming and ranching.
Media Availability - to arrange for interviews while these young farmers and ranchers are in Washington, or upon their return, please contact Elisha Smith (elishas@cfra.org) or John Crabtree (johnc@cfra.org) via email or by calling 402.687.2100.
WHAT: "Investing in the Next Generation of American Farmers:" a briefing on the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act.
WHEN: March 5, 2012 from 10:00 - 11:00 AM, EST (House briefing)
March 5, 2012 from 2:00 - 3:00 PM, EST (Senate briefing)
WHERE: House briefing: 1302 Longworth House Office Building
Senate briefing: 328-A Russell Senate Office Building
WHO: Jason Frerichs, a fourth generation farmer and rancher from Wilmot, South Dakota, will be presenting at the briefing. Frerichs raises corn, soybeans, and wheat. He also manages a beef cow/calf operation, and has used conservation practices to implement rotational grazing practices on his operation.
Justin Doer, a farmer, rancher and military veteran from Plainview, Nebraska will also be presenting. Justin believes the veteran provisions in this bill would help beginners like him. He is also interested in conservation programs to help expand his operation.
Dave Fikel, from Ontario, California is a farmer and military veteran who grows chickens raised on organic feed and pasture to sell to local markets. He secured a federally guaranteed loan from a community based non-profit organization to start his farm in 2010.
Doug Crabtree and Anna Jones-Crabtree farm 1,280 acres north of Havre, Montana. They manage production and marketing risk by using diverse crop rotations but are concerned that they cannot purchase crop insurance for some well-adapted crops such as rye, flax and buckwheat. They have accessed NRCS conservation programs such as EQIP and CSP to support their conservation practices and provide additional revenue to their operation. They credit FSA beginning farmer loan programs with giving them an opportunity to farm.
For pictures of some of the participants visit:
Jason Frerichs - http://www.flickr.com/photos/
Doug Crabtree - http://www.flickr.com/photos/
Anna Jones-Crabtree - http://www.flickr.com/photos/
