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Alpha Gamma Rho AGR National Convention Burlington, Vermont July 30, 2012 The Politics of Plenty Progress of any kind, requires people with a positive attitude, such as yourselves. key to our continued success as a nation is our collective response to three topics of concern, 1'st) the need for nutrition, 2nd) demand for energy, and 3rd) environmental stewardship. It is commonly believed that one often comes at the expense of another, but we should remind ourselves before beginning to manage assets, protect resources, or becoming overly restrictive, the system first has to work. Producing an abundant food supply should rank high on our list, and be viewed as perhaps our greatest asset. My name is Bill Rowell, I am a dairy farmer, and proud of it. My brother Brian and I operate Green Mountain Dairy Farm in northwestern Vermont, near the Canadian border not far from Lake Champlain. Our annual milk production amounts to more than 23 million lbs. (the equivalent of about 2 ½ million gallons). We are a producer member of Saint Albans dairy co-op, which supplies Ben and Jerry's ice cream, Stonyfield yogurt, the Boston fluid market, and a variety of cheese makers. Cropland for the dairy consists of 900 acres of corn, and 600 acres of hay land. In addition to other consumers of grain, essential to our herd, we now find ourselves competing with Ethanol. Traditionally, corn was available for $ 2.50 - $ 3.00 per bushel, on Friday, July 20'th the market closed at $ 8.21 per bushel, input costs have become highly volatile, and sourcing the nutritional requirements for livestock, as you can imagine, has become quite difficult. Our total herd numbers 1,850 animals, the resulting waste stream is substantial, but proves to be an asset which has increased farm revenue. We utilize it as a resource, by processing it through an anaerobic digester to produce methane rich biogas, and then fuel an engine / generator. Our yearly electrical output from that operation amounts to nearly 2 million kWh of power exported to the grid, we are currently in the process of increasing production by adding a second engine / generator. There are a number of positive environmental attributes associated with the digester, you will hear more about them later, when our friend Dave Dunn, (Green Mountain Power Co.) speaks about the Cow Power program, and its success story here in Vermont. Today, we recognize that most consumers are detached from food production, children tell us that milk comes from the store, and there is little evidence from their perspective to prove otherwise. In an attempt to educate and reorient the consumer, dispel some of the myths about agriculture, and instill confidence along the way, we have hosted farm tours for well over 16,000 people from 23 countries, during the past 5 years; it has been our privilege to do so. Today, given the choice, U.S. Consumers will vote with their wallet in favor of domestic foods, and they tend to prefer either local or regional products. They demonstrate an expectation of fair pricing for fresh, top quality products, which offer both accountability and traceability, their preference is to support their neighbors, but you first have to earn their confidence. Since 1970, the number of dairy farms across this country has plummeted from 648,000, to the 52,146 which remain, and of the 201.6 billion lbs. of milk produced in the United States this year, 50.3 % of it will be produced by 2.9 % of those farms. So, as you consider the importance, and implications, of local food production in this country, consider “Dairy” a prime example of importance with far reaching implications, which if not corrected will soon come to serve as a detriment. National dairy policy has long ignored the nature of market function, markets either expand or contract, current policy addresses increased demand, but offers no method to prevent the damage caused by a receding market. Policy change has been strongly opposed by those moneyed interests who profit from depressed milk pricing, but as farms continue to disappear nationwide, we find America's rural community in a state of disrepair, rather than being the asset we historically recall. If in fact today's consumer prefers a local, regional or domestic food supply, as opposed to food produced elsewhere, with no means to ensure quality, availability, or pricing, then it is time to recognize the signals and correct course. Please direct your attention to the new Farm Bill, a bipartisan effort which has been approved by the Senate Ag Committee, the full Senate, the House Ag Committee, and now sits before the Speaker of The House for scheduling. It contains policy change under Title 1, referenced as the Dairy Security Act, and offers the farmer a much needed management tool and safety net. The safety net moves away from price support, to a measure similar to that of crop insurance. This anticipated legislation results from a grassroots initiative led by U.S. dairy farmers, it was presented to Congress by National Milk Producers Federation, its 31 member Co ops,and a greater coalition of producer organizations, together representing 85 % of the milk produced in the United States. The Farm Bill, regardless of politics, is sure to impact everyone's bottom line, voice your support, your representative is listening. My thanks to each of you, enjoy your time here in Vermont. |
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CONTACT : billrowell@billrowell.org |
