Hawaii-Style Agriculture
Posted on | January 12, 2012 | No Comments
By Chandler Goule, NFU vice president of government relations
When Bill Greenleaf met me at the airport we both said hello and immediately we were both on the phone with income calls. As we proceeded away from the airport to the beautiful mountains, Bill explained to mehis past life as a PGA golf pro. I hoped I didn’t insult him by saying I could throw a golf ball farther than hitting one.
Bill said I was the type of person he liked to talk to and he launched into his analogy of how hitting a golf ball was a metaphor for life. I wasn’t sure where this conversation was going but has he explained his holistic approach to golf I could see the link to hitting a golf ball. There was enough in that conversation for an entirely separate blog post.
Bill took the same holistic approach to farming and family. Before I knew it we pulled into Greenleaf farms. Now I have been on hundreds of farms. This was by far the smallest place I had ever heard called a farm.
I was led on a firsthand tour across the two acres and was amazed at all the different production systems that I saw. Everything served multiple purposes, had a specific place, and was laid out in a maze. I quickly realized I needed a larger vocabulary to remember all of the fruits and vegetables that I saw. More than 300 species of flora, fauna and livestock lived on this two-acre farm.
The care and dedication given to each plant, raised bed, and aquaculture base was obvious. Bill’s approach to life spilled into his farming and family. I was standing in the family’s kitchen and it was hard to tell where the house began and the farm ended. The island was overrun with fruit and vegetables, all produced on that two-acre farm. It was hard to decide what to eat first.
Bill and his family were unique, but not really. As his family and I made our way down the road we met Janet Simpson, who had 4.5 acres and grew 70-80 things. She was recently crowned “Best Cup in Maui” for her coffee and was second state-wide, beating out the famous Kona coffee in several places.
Janet shared the passion, hard work, and lifestyle I had seen at the Greenleaf farm. I learned about coffee, dragon fruit and irrigation techniques.
Our final destination was to the medicine wheel. This unique combination of herbal healing, spiritual value and food production were all captured on Christina’s farm.
She had taken the ancient belief about the healing power of a circle and created a medicinal wheel in the earth for people to learn from each other. She ginned her own wild Hawaiian cotton and actively grew fish in aquaponic ponds as did Bill.
The warm and caring nature of each family and person I met was very evident in the organic life I saw growing meticulously placed in an exact spot for light, proximity to the compost or for the view. All in all I learned more about myself and greatly appreciated our Hawaii Farmers Union for sharing a piece of their light with me.
What’s not cool about COOL?
Posted on | January 11, 2012 | No Comments
By Mike Stranz, NFU government relations representative
We’re all used to seeing labels on everyday products that tell us where that item was produced. It’s almost a reflex to look for that information.
Given how basic that information seems to be, it is startling to realize that Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) wasn’t required on many foods, including meat, fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables, and many nuts, until very recently. And now your right to know where food comes from is in jeopardy.
The idea is simple enough: consumers ought to be able to know what country their food comes from. A label that shows the country of origin allows consumers to make informed purchasing decisions and allows farmers and ranchers to proudly distinguish their products at retail.
In 2008, National Farmers Union (NFU) played an instrumental role in making COOL part of the Farm Bill. The law was implemented in 2009 and now you can go to almost any grocery store and find COOL information.
Unfortunately, disputes filed by Canada and Mexico to the World Trade Organization (WTO) have brought the future of COOL into question. Canada and Mexico sued the U.S. in WTO court <http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/cases_e/ds384_e.htm> , saying that COOL treated American-raised-and-grown food differently. That allegation rings somewhat hollow, considering that both Canada and Mexico have their own versions of COOL.
The WTO Dispute Settlement Panel found that the COOL law <http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5070867> itself does not violate WTO rules, but the way in which the U.S. implemented COOL <http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5074847> is against the rules of the WTO. Confusing, right?
A bipartisan group of 19 U.S. senators have sent a letter <http://www.agri-pulse.com/Senators_Administration_appeal_WTO_COOL_ruling_12152011.asp> to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk to appeal the WTO’s decision. NFU and allied organizations in support of COOL are considering the best options as to how to stand up to the WTO’s ruling.
What do you think? As a consumer, do you expect to know – at very least, the country – from where your food comes? Or as a farmer, do you count on being able to distinguish the food you produce with a “Made in the U.S.A.” label?
And do you want to ask the WTO what’s not cool about COOL?
Halfway to Our Goal With Feeding America
Posted on | December 20, 2011 | No Comments
By Tony Jarboe, NFU communications coordinator
It is the holiday season, and for many, that means giving gifts, spending time with family, and eating lots of food. Unfortunately, for 37 million hungry Americans, the holiday season means little more than just searching for the next meal. That is why NFU has partnered with Feeding America to reach out to those most in need. The Howard G. Buffett Foundation has agreed to match every dollar given by Farmers Union members to Feeding America until NFU’s convention in March.
So far, NFU members have donated more than $26,000 to the cause, including a generous $15,000 donation by Texas Farmers Union. The match by the Buffett Foundation turns those donations into $52,000. With Feeding America’s network of food banks and resources, each dollar donated translates into $17 worth of food. That means that thanks to the generous contributions by Farmers Union members, $884,000 worth of food has been donated to America’s hungry. That is an incredible number, but Farmers Union continues to strive towards our goal of raising $50,000. Please consider making a contribution by logging on to www.nfu.org/feedingamerica. Or you can fill out the form (click here) and send a check. Farmers Union members can also engage their family, friends, church groups, and other organizations and ask for their help in donating to this worth cause.
Buy Fresh; Eat Local Recipes
Posted on | December 6, 2011 | No Comments
By Maria Miller, NFU education director
Here is the second in a series of recipes from the NFU Beginning Farmer Institute Class of 2011 using an ingredient they raise on the farm. This comes to you fresh from the Erin Schneider farm in Wisconsin.
Salsa Verde
1 1/2 cup tomatillo (slightly roasted)
1/2 cup onion
1/2 cup chopped sweet pepper
1/4 cup chopped hot pepper (about 1 – 2 jalepenos).
3 – 5 cloves minced garlic
1/4 cup finely chopped zucchini or cucumber (or both!)
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
Salt to taste
You can also add in freshly chopped herbs such as savory, thyme, and chives.
Roast tomatillos for ~ 5 minutes at 425 degrees F or until the skin turns slightly brown. Combine all ingredients in blender and puree. Serve with tortilla chips or use as an enchilada sauce.
Variations: You can use this same recipe and instead of tomatillos substitute fresh Roma tomatoes (no need to roast the tomatoes). You can also substitute zucchini and cucumber for your favorites fruits such as plums and peaches. Have fun experimenting!
From the kitchen of Farmers Erin & Rob at Hilltop Community Farm, LLC, La Valle, Wis. Check out their website at: wwwhilltopcommunityfarm.org
New Labor Rules Must Allow Children to Continue Learning About Agriculture
Posted on | December 6, 2011 | No Comments
By Tony Jarboe, NFU communications coordinator
Last week NFU submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Labor regarding proposed revisions for the child labor regulations. While child safety is a top priority for NFU, we must be careful not to tighten regulations to the point that it discourages young workers from helping out on the family farm or learning about agriculture. NFU has long held that family farming is more than a job, it’s a legacy. Farmers must be able to pass that legacy down to their children and close relatives.
The proposed revisions do keep in place the parental exemption, which allows children under the age of 16 more flexibility to work on a farm owned and operated by their parents, but NFU would like the Department of Labor to clarify this exemption and whether, for example, this exemption extends to close relatives.
Many Farmers Union states also weighed in, urging similar caution. There is a fine line between being safe and discouraging our youth from being able to learn on the job. The average age of farmers is climbing, and it is critical to get new blood into the industry. Farmers and ranchers must be able to let their children and close relatives work with them so they can learn how to do the job safely and effectively. No one is more concerned about safety than one’s parents and close relatives, so they would be the best teachers for young agriculture enthusiasts. By allowing younger people to work side by side with trained close relatives, they will learn safety procedures and be better prepared for a life in agriculture.
The Department of Labor had good intentions with the release of these rules, but there could very well be unintended consequences. The department added two new Nonagricultural Hazardous Occupations Orders (HO), one of which prohibited youth under the age of 18 from working in farm-product raw materials wholesale trade industries, e.g., grain elevators, livestock auction barns, etc. Certainly in some instances, such as working in an enclosed grain bin or working with adult male animals that are intact, these industries can be dangerous, particularly for younger individuals. However, restricting all youth under 18 from any work in these industries, even nonhazardous tasks, would unnecessarily eliminate a source of employment for young people interested in working for agribusinesses.
Agriculture can be a dangerous industry, and safety should be a top priority. However, we must ensure that safety regulations do not become so burdensome that they deter young workers from entering the field. As long as parents and close relatives are nearby and exercise some good old-fashioned common sense, younger agriculture workers will be safe and can continue to learn about the industry they love.
Click here to read NFU’s full comments on the issue.