Organic deliberations

A weekend of farmers and gardeners

By FRITZ MAYER

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — The New York commissioner of agriculture markets addressed the annual convention of the Northeast Organic Farmers Association–New York (NOFA-NY) on January 22, and that represented a first for the organization.

The commissioner, Patrick Hooker, who spoke at the Saratoga Hilton in Saratoga Springs, said that because of budgetary issues, he was concerned that there wouldn’t be as much help for farmers as he would have liked, but he added, “If there’s one group that can survive without help from the government, it’s you folks out there,” which drew hearty applause.

The three-day convention attracted well over 1,000 farmers, gardeners and some people who were simply concerned about sustainability issues. Several people from the Upper Delaware Valley area went to the event, including Sonja Hedlund from Apple Pond Farm in Callicoon Center, Maria Grimaldi of Panther Rock Farn in Youngsville, Trina Pilonero of Silver Heights Farm in Cochecton Center, Mark Dunau of Mountain Dell Farm in Hancock, Greg Swartz of Willow Wisp Organic Farm in Abrahamsville, PA, Wes Gillingham of Catskill Mountainkeeper and Challey Comer of the Watershed Agricultural Council.

Attendees had a wide array of workshops to choose from, such as growing and selling raspberries, or making soap, or “Overcoming Your Fear of Bookkeeping.” The meals included everything organic, whether it was chicken, potatoes or peach cobbler, and all of it was donated by NOFA-NY members.

At the annual policy-setting meeting, the membership voted on issues that are of concern to farmers throughout the region. In the area of dairy products, the group voted to urge the department of agriculture and markets to develop programs whereby raw milk could be more easily and widely distributed. Traditional dairy farmers have opposed the selling of raw milk, which is essentially milk that has not been pasteurized, in the past. But with the recent collapse of dairy prices, more traditional farmers are joining organic farmers in support of the notion that raw milk might be helpful to the industry.

Meat processing for small producers was also a concern because it’s difficult to arrange in most of the state, just as it is in Sullivan County, where local officials are trying to open a red-meat facility. NOFA-NY members voted to urge state and federal agencies to make changes that would make it easier for small producers to process livestock for food.

The organization also addressed the issue of gas drilling, passing a resolution in support of the proposed federal Fracking Awareness and Responsibility Act, which would require drilling to be regulated under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. The membership also approved 10 items, calling for measures that would strengthen the proposed Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (SGEIS), such as banning the use of carcinogens or suspected carcinogens in fracking fluid. The final resolution said that if NOFA-NY is not convinced that the SGEIS is fully protective of the state’s land and environment, it may join a lawsuit with other like-minded organizations that would force the Department of Environmental Conservation to take stronger action.

The most spirited debate came in connection with a resolution to oppose the Farm Workers Fair Labor Practices, which is currently tied up in the state senate. The resolution said that NOFA-NY would strongly support legislation that would grant collective bargaining rights to farm workers, but that the organization is opposed to the current legislation, according to Elizabeth Henderson, a NOFA-NY board member, because specific provisions would impose burdens on small-scale farms.

One such provision would compel a small farmer to purchase unemployment insurance once the farm’s quarterly payroll rose above $6,280; the current threshold is $20,000.

Another provision would call for overtime pay to begin after 10 hours in a single day, rather than having it kick in after 60 hours in a given week, which NOFA-NY would prefer to allow more flexibility.