Market Farming

[sunnfarm AT netscape.net]

I would advise everyone to join your state farm bureau, you have no voice in 
policy unless your a member. Talk is cheap, if your not a part of the 
organization you have no business complaining.
In New Jersey the FB is the only farm organization that speaks with one voice 
for its members that include almost every farm in the state, and I can safely 
say without NJFB there would be no agriculture in the state.

Awhile back a friend of mine who's family farmed the same land for 300 years 
wanted to remodel his rinky dink roadstand into a one million dollar mega 
market, the town stopped him, the farm bureau membership got him his market 
and in the process established a "right to farm law" that had lead to dozens 
more similar markets, and the addition of nearly 3000 new small farms, and 
the expansion of old farms in urban areas that were slated for 
development...Who else would do this?

Another friend built his mega-market only to find the town stopping him from 
selling honey because he did not produce it himself. FB members all over the 
state rallyed to his cause and now we ALL can sell honey at any of our 
markets...Who else would do this?

State tried to charge real estate tax on greenhouse and hoop houses, then 
tried to limit how many we could build, the FB got us all the right to build 
as many as we need tax free...Who else would do this?

State tried to meter our irrigation wells, regulate and tax our water useage, 
it was the FB who got an exemption for farmers...Who else would do this.

The state and federal government tried to enact a law requiring all truck 
drivers to get a commercial drivers license and restrict the use of farm 
taged vehicles across state lines, the NJFB won us an exemption from the 
law...Who else would do this...

An organic farmer this summer applied raw liquid chicken poop on the surface 
without incorperating. The smell caused an uproar and threats to limit or 
prevent manure application on all land. The FB was the only organization who 
could step in and deal with the problem. First we kicked the farmers butt and 
then got him proper injection equipment, then we applied damage control by 
sending newspapers info about the value of manure in food production. Where 
were his fellow organic farmers?, probably working at their full time 
corperate jobs...

I could go on and on but you get the picture, if you take the time to look 
into your own states FB activities you will find people volunteering their 
time to fight for the rights of farmers.
 You can't possibly agree with every issue but in the end its farmers looking 
after the interests of farmers, and that in essence, is what the Farm Bureau 
is all about. My dues are $120 a year and thats a bargain..Bob.
Sunny Meadow Farm
Bridgeton, NJ.



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