CAMDEN, Del. — American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall was special guest speaker at the recent Delaware Farm Bureau annual meeting in Dover. In his visits to every state in the nation plus Puerto Rico, Duvall said he has seen three common issues facing farmers: ag labor, regulatory reform and regulations and trade.
“Labor is the hardest issue to bring attention to,” he said, “because the subject always veers off to immigration or border control.”
Duvall understands the enormity of all the regulations hanging over the heads of farmers.
“Every time you move in the field, you feel you have to look — are you breaking a regulation? There are a lot of people watching, especially regulations around water control.”
Trade is important because one-third of ag income depends on foreign trade, Duvall said.
“If we don’t do bilateral trade, we’ll get behind more and more and other countries will jump in (and supply the needs).”
He encouraged farmers to stay engaged, particularly as Congress takes on consideration of the new farm bill.
“(Be) united, engaged, persevering, with a belief that things will be better,” Duvall sail. “Ag is strong, tough. We always find a way through. If we can do these three things, we will lay the groundwork for a bright future for agriculture and for America.”
Delegates to the annual meeting, representing the three county Farm Bureaus, expressed concern about EPCRA (the Emergency Planning & Community Right-to-Know Act) and CERCLA (the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act). Don Parrish, AFBF senior director of Congressional relations, understood. AFBF is “being very sensitive to reporting private information,” he said. “Security in general and bio-security specifically are critical to our families, farms and our food supply.”
In her report, DFB President Kitty Holtz told delegates, “We have heard your desperation,” about damage from an increasing large deer population. “We are currently working on a resolution.”
At DFB’s annual banquet held two days later at the Modern Maturity Center, the Cannon/Knutsen family of Kent County was named DFB 2017 Farm Family of the Year. The honor was shared by James H. Cannon Jr. of Andrewville and his wife, Patricia, with their daughter, Stephanie and her husband, Gregory W. Knutsen. Part of the farm which they till jointly belonged to Jim’s great-grandfather and has been designated a Century Farm. The Knutsens also own G&S Dairy and Knutsen Crop Insurance. Stephanie is also Maryland Nutrient Management certified and works for Maryland Department of Agriculture in soil conservation.
Jim and Gregg are past recipients of Kent Conservation District’s “Cooperator of the Year.” For two years, they hosted the Farm to Fork Dinner. They love giving farm tours and enjoy educating the public about misconceptions being delivered via social media and other means.
Marty Ross, farmer and chairman of Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission, was honored as recipient of the DFB 2017 Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award. A lifelong resident of Sussex County, Ross and his wife of 30 years, Chris, have one son, Michael is a commercial diver in Thailand.
Ross has served on the Governor’s Advisory Council for State Planning Coordination since its inception and was a member of former Gov. Ruth Ann Minner’s Delaware Energy Task Force. He has represented Mid-Atlantic soybean producers on the National Biodiesel Board and as a director of the U.S. Soybean Board.
Ross is well known for his support of agriculture, his respect for rural property and his thorough understanding of land use issues. He has represented Delaware Farm Bureau on several land use and wetlands committees for legislators and the governor.
The Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee recognized the King sisters — Jackie, Nancy, Donna and Bonny, whose parents started King Crop Insurance Agency in Georgetown 50 years ago — as YF&R Supporter of the Year. Teddy Bobola was honored as YF&R Member of the Year.
DFB’s Promotion and Education Committee expanded its Ag in the Classroom essay contest this year to include not just middle school but 9th and 10th graders. Winners were Aaron Jeffery, 9th grade student of Mrs. Karen Ferrucci at William Penn High School and Alexia Inhof, 7th grade student of Mrs. Stephanie Freimuth at Smyrna Middle School. Both students and their teachers received prizes for their efforts.
“I urge you to get involved. Let your voice be heard,” President Holtz told farmers. “Our nation and our world cannot survive without agriculture.”
— Delaware Farm Bureau