Farm Bureau News
Delegates set new policies in action
By Jennifer Antonik Delaware Farm Bureau
Concerns over deer damage, solar farms, energy and electric vehicles were among topics discussed Tuesday, Nov. 28, during the Delaware Farm Bureau’s Annual Meeting at the Modern Maturity Center.
Breakfast kicked the day off with a presentation from Scott Schuster who coordinates the Farm to School program through the Delaware Council on Farm and Food Policy, offering attendees a look at why that program is important in the First State and how they could get involved with the pilot of its expansion program, Farm to Community.
The group of about 80 delegates also heard from:
• Delaware’s former Secretary of Agriculture Ed Kee who spoke of his current role as the chair of the Governor’s Energy Advisory Council;
• Executive Director of Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility Andrew Slater who
From the President’s desk
A new year for service, advocacy
When the new year rolls around, we often think about resolutions and new goals. I want to encourage you to add the Delaware Farm Bureau to your list of resolutions.
The work we do as an organization is important; I might even say it's critical to our industry here in Delaware. But the truth is — we do our best work when we do it together. We need our members to step up, now more than ever. Consider what level of commitment you could offer the agriculture industry through the work we do at the Delaware Farm Bureau. Would you be able to lend a few hours over the summer to volunteer at the Food Booth hosted by the Women's Committee at the Delaware State Fair? Or maybe you could spend a few hours helping the public learn about our work at our informational booth at the fair? Both of these opportunities require a lot of volunteers to make them successful. It works best when our membership comes together to make it happen.
Or do you have more time and talents to offer? Maybe you would like to serve on one of our com-
Delaware Farm Bureau News
Editor Jennifer Antonik jenn.antonik@defb.org 302-697-3183
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mittees like the Women's Committee, Promotion & Education Committee or Legislative Committee. Each of them do fantastic work to share our industry with the public in a variety of ways.
If you've ever been to one of our Safety Conferences typically held in the spring, for example, you might know of the work our Promotion & Education Committee does first hand as that committee hosts that conference every year. They also hosted a legislative lunch for lawmakers this year as a way to connect with them on a more personal level.
Our Women's and Legislative Committees also do incredible work throughout the year. The Women's Committee can often be found raising funds for scholarships to help youth continue their careers in agriculture. The Legislative Committee works to actively advocate for our farmers and consumers at the legislative level, connected directly with lawmakers to ensure our collective voice is well-known.
We also have a Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee for the younger generation, offering a unique outlet for them to network and grow while having fun. I think one of my favorite things to do as the DEFB president is to connect with our young farmers. I'm glad to see our YF&R Committee continues to grow because celebrating and cultivating that youth is how our future will thrive.
The work some of our committees do and that of our hard working farmer members was high-
lighted at our county and state banquets and our state meeting held in November and December. It's incredible to hear what we can accomplish when we put our minds together for the greater good.
Looking into the new year, we have a lot of work to do in terms of advocacy. The Farm Bill, for example, was successfully extended while legislators at the national level continue to debate the next issuance of that bill. But we have to put in some legwork to get to that next bill and ensure our needs are met in the process. When it comes to the Farm Bill, 19 cents of every dollar spent via that bill goes back to farmers. That's incredible and we need to make sure that remains the case, if not improved upon. We also need to ensure the continuation of crop insurance and other protections for our farmers.
Here in Delaware, we have a lot of energy-related topics coming up in legislature that we need to pay close attention to in the future.
Our Executive Director Don Clifton has been actively involved in these conversations and will continue to bring agriculture into the mix.
We have also done a lot of networking in the past year that could result in exciting opportunities for our members this year, so stay tuned!
State Board of Directors
President
William “Bill” Powers, Jr.
1st Vice President
Steve Breeding
2nd Vice President
Paul Cartanza, Sr
County Presidents
Kent: James Minner
Sussex: Steve Breeding
New Castle: Stewart Ramsey
Young Farmers & Ranchers
State Chair: Mollie Lynch
Kent Chair: Michael Lynch
Sussex Chair: Connor Vincent
New Castle Chair: Alex Keenan
Women’s Committee
State Chair: Mary B Gooden
Kent Chair: Rebecca Bobola
Sussex Chair: Constance Fox
Thank you for your membership and dedication to agriculture. I am excited for the year to come and I'm looking forward to working side by side with our members to continue improving the industry we all know and love. 2023-2024
New Castle Chair: June Unruh
Kent County Directors
Bruce Dempsey
Ted Bobola Jr.
John Comegys
Sussex County Directors
Alan Bailey
Laura Brittingham
Cory Atkins
New Castle County Directors
Bruce Patrick
Dave Daniels
Ryan Greer
Place your ad in the Delaware Farm Bureau News and reach nearly 3,000 members!
Contact Jennifer Antonik at (302) 697-3183 or jenn.antonik@defb.org for more information!
Delaware Farm Bureau President Bill Powers
DEFB 1st vice president appointed to national committee
Farm Bureau farmer and rancher members play an important role in our communities and our organization by serving on governing boards and committees at local, state and national levels. Several newly appointed volunteers will provide leadership beginning in 2024 as members of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmers & Ranchers and Promotion & Education committees.
“Farm Bureau members bring commitment and care to their communities through engagement and advocacy at every level of our organization,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “These newly appointed national program committee members will focus on advancing the mission of the American Farm Bureau and working to build trust with consumers and others while shar-
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spoke of programs available and how the organization can benefit Delaware farmers;
• USDA Rural Development State Director for Delaware and Maryland David Baker who spoke of programming available through the USDA;
• Nationwide Board Member Sparky Weilnau who expressed appreciation for the work of the Delaware Farm Bureau and Nationwide’s partnership with Farm Bureaus;
• Nationwide Sponsor Relations Account Executive Todd Givler who discussed risk and liabilities management; and
• American Farm Bureau Federation Economist Daniel Munch who gave an economic overview of farming in Delaware and nationwide.
Although the annual meeting is open to all Delaware Farm Bureau members who wish to attend, only active regular members can be chosen as voting delegates for this meeting. Regular members consist of farmer members and professionally engaged members.
With the help of parliamentarian Donald Bullock, DEFB President Bill Powers and 1st Vice President Steve Breeding facilitated discussions about resolutions delegates wished to bring to the group after lunch. Passed resolutions are added to the organization’s policy book which helps guide staff and volun-
ing agriculture’s story. As engaged grassroots leaders, they have a big impact.”
Duvall announced the appointment of the following members to the YF&R Committee for the 20242026 term beginning in March: John Michael and Rachel Bearden, Arkansas (hay, beef cattle, sheep, timber and horses); Daniel Jones, California (olives, beef cattle, hay, forage crops, walnuts and almonds); Vanessa Trampel, Iowa (corn, soybeans, sheep, feeder cattle, alfalfa and grass hay); Ryan MacKay, Massachusetts (beef cattle, hogs and poultry); Gregory Dell, Maryland (grain); Paige Spory, Pennsylvania (replacement dairy heifers, corn, soybeans, oats and hay); Andy and Allison Whiten, South Carolina (corn, wheat and soybeans); and James and Bev Flatt, Tennessee
teers as they work to advocate for the needs of Delaware farmers.
Jay Baxter of Sussex County was first to the microphone with a proposed resolution requesting the Farm Bureau advocate for farmers to utilize their own carbon credits for emission management. The resolution was passed unanimously with no discussion.
Breeding read the next proposed resolution to the group, revisiting a topic that was previously brought to the group last year while seeking to recognize deer as pests and help farmers with protection and crop damage compensation.
“We heard last year that these animals belong to the state of Delaware. But we also heard that the Department of Wildlife is in charge of managing those deer, so we are seeking compensation from the owners of those deer as they destroyed our livelihood,” Baxter said.
Paul Cartanza, Sr. and Ernest Vogl, both of Kent County, and Andrew Cleaver, of New Castle County, spoke up with concerns regarding how the deer would be managed by his fellow farmers, citing hunting and regulatory concerns.
“They’ve been given the opportunity to manage it and they squandered it. Now it’s our turn to manage our own property,” Baxter added.
The resolution to advocate for deer to be considered pests and provide protection and crop damage compensation for farmers be put in place was passed by the body of delegates.
(beef cattle, poultry, goats and vegetables).
The YF&R Committee is made up of 16 positions representing all regions of the U.S. An individual or couple may hold each committee appointment. Committee members are responsible for program planning which includes the coordination of YF&R competitive events during AFBF’s convention each January, and the award-winning Harvest for All program.
Duvall announced the appointment of the following members to
Delegates also discussed the need to continue power plant operations in Delaware and the promotion of coal and/or natural gas energy as an emergency option for the state.
The resolution was passed by the group after clarifications were made.
The group also unanimously voted for the Farm Bureau to advocate
the P&E Committee for the 20242026 term starting in March: Steve Breeding, Delaware (beef cattle and sheep); Rebecca Harrop, Pennsylvania (dairy cattle); William Zalakar, New York (greenhouse production, agri-tourism and farm brewery); and Bonita Cremer, Montana (beef cattle). Amy Jo Estes, Missouri (hay and beef cattle) was reappointed for a two-year term.
Ten individuals representing qualifying Farm Bureau Promotion & Education states make up the P&E Committee. Its mission is to develop and centralize resources that inspire and equip Farm Bureau to convey the significance of agriculture.
National committee members are nominated by their respective state Farm Bureaus. Learn more online at fb.org.
against the electric vehicle mandate, to require bonding for solar installation decommissioning so farmland can be restored after solar farm use, and to pursue opportunities for Delaware agriculture in future state biofuel policies.
For more information on the Delaware Farm Bureau, visit www. defb.org.
DEFB 1st Vice President Steve Breeding
Annual banquet inspires attendees to connect
By Jennifer Antonik Delaware Farm Bureau
Nearly 200 guests filled the Modern Maturity Center Saturday, Dec. 9 as Delaware Farm Bureau members, sponsors and changemakers gathered to share a meal together.
The annual Celebration of Harvest Banquet serves as a celebration, as well as a reminder, of the work that is done by members year round on their own farms and through advocacy work to improve the industry.
“This is a great time for us to gather and celebrate our shared accomplishments and even meet new friends as we head into the new year,” DEFB President Bill Powers said in a letter to attendees.
Led by Powers and Master of Ceremonies Mark Isaacs, the evening event featured a hearty meal catered by the Modern Maturity Center, music by Captain Mike, live and silent auctions supporting the Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee and DEFB Foundation, and many awards honoring the dedication of DEFB members and supporters.
American Farm Bureau Federation’s Vice President of Public Policy Sam Kieffer gave the keynote address to attendees and highlighted the importance of advocacy work by Farm Bureau members all over the country.
He spoke of the national Farm Bill which expired in September, but was eventually renewed for another year to allow Congress more time to discuss a new bill in light of changes that have happened to the economy since the pandemic.
“I’m going to talk a lot about bipartisanship tonight because that’s what we need to get across the party line,” he said. “In order to get anything done in the debate, the house can’t govern alone. To get anything done in the debate, it’s got to be bipartisan. Your American Farm Bureau is working hard to get a resolution for the Farm Bill because the longer we go, the harder it will be once [presidential] candidates are chosen.”
He added that the Farm Bureau is a great example of bipartisanship at work as members get together to discuss and vote on important issues each year, just as members of Congress do in Washington, D.C.
“I think how Farm Bureau operates is a great model to follow. It's our job to convince the majority of our peers and at the end of the day,
majority rules. In the spirit of our organization, even if we disagree, we continue to row in the same direction until the next year when we try to change it again,” he said.
Emphasizing the importance of not just advocacy at the state and national levels, but between neighbors, as well, Kieffer said that sharing stories is what helps the Farm Bureau continue to thrive.
“I cannot tell your story. Don Clifton [DEFB executive director] cannot tell your story the way you can. I ask you to keep showing up when you can. It is important. It matters. And what also matters is visiting with your friends and neighbors and telling them what is all about,” he said. “Our team in Washington is relevant because of you and because of your counterparts. . . Tell your story and bring others with you.”
For more information on the Delaware Farm Bureau or to find out how you can get involved, visit www. defb.org.
Friends gather together during dinner at the DEFB's annual banquet at the Modern Maturity Center. From left to right on the bottom row: Cooper Money, June Unruh, Judy and Medford Puckett, Darrell Puckett and Laura Haney On the top row: Monica and Peter Ettinger.
William Powers, III and Delaware's Secretary of Agriculture Michael T. Scuse help J.T. Robbins auction off items during the banquet to benefit the Young Farmers & Ranchers committee.
DEFB Annual Celebration of Harvest Banquet
Nick Nash, Caden Reed, Paul Satterfield, Kylie Nash, Becky Satterfield, Paul Cartanza, Jr., Kerin Hume and Colton Cartanza fill a table at the Modern Maturity Center.
Nancy King, Joe Parker, Kevin Rogers and Donna King wait for Jackie King's Distinguished Service to Ag honor later in the program.
Teddy and Rebecca Bobola share a meal with Ellie, Mollie and Michael Lynch during the Delaware Farm Bureau's annual banquet held in December.
Joan Powers and Rachel Chillas Pickens share a night together while celebrating agriculture.
Amanda and Sean Clougherty, Jacob and Melissa Urian, Ted and Maria Bobola, Jr. and Andrew Bobola talk during dinner before the program began.
FFA State President Noah Dixon and Sentinel Joey Nowotny.
Master of Ceremonies Mark Isaacs speaks to attendees during the event.
DEFB President Bill Powers celebrates members during the banquet.
Statewide agriculture honors awarded in Dover
By Jennifer Antonik Delaware Farm Bureau
Excellence in agriculture takes time, patience, experience and a lot of elbow grease. In honor of this great work, several farming leaders were honored at the Delaware Farm Bureau's annual banquet Saturday, Dec. 9 held at the Modern Maturity Center in Dover.
Mollie Lynch, chair of the Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee started off the award portion of the banquet by honoring the committee's supporter and member of the year.
Don Jackson accepted the 2023 Supporter of the Year Award on behalf of Ag Industrial. Casey Collier received the 2023 Member of the Year Award.
"Without you all, we wouldn't have been as successful," Jackson said.
Lynch said YF&R members and supporters alike are "hard working agriculture professionals and advocates." She said their dedication to the Farm Bureau is often done simultaneously while working full-time jobs, raising families, offering a supportive presence to the community and creating a thriving agriculture business of their own.
DEFB President Bill Powers and Donna King of King Crop Insurance in Georgetown were next to the podium to announce the state winner for the Distinguished Service to Ag award for 2023 - Jackie King.
Donna King proudly detailed how her little sister, Jackie King, took up the farming cause with the guidance of their mother after their father passed away, leading her to a busy insurance career focused on agriculture.
Over the years, she has worked closely with 4-H and FFA groups, helping shape the next generation of agriculture. She has also advocated for farmers both in Delaware and nationally.
"She knows like we do that it's very important to have a voice in every room," Donna King said of her sister's involvement in the industry.
Recently, Jackie and Donna teamed up with their sisters Nancy and Bonny to create the King Foundation which preserves farming stories through audio and visual recordings.
"This award is an honor to me and I really appreciate it. I really want to say that the distinguished people are the people in this room," Jackie King said with a nod to banquet attendees.
Former Kent County Farm Bureau President Jacob Urian was invited to the podium next to honor the statewide Farm Family of the Year awardee for 2023 - Paul Cartanza, Sr.
Urian called the experience humbling as he described how Cartanza watched Urian grow up on the farm.
"My dad worked for Shadybrook
Distinguished Service to Ag Award recipient Jackie King celebrates her honor during the Delaware Farm Bureau's annual Celebration of Harvest Banquet. From left to right: Rep. Charlie Postles, Rep. Ron Gray, Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton, Rep. Lyndon Yearick, Rep. Richard Collins, State Treasurer Colleen Davis, Jackie King, Kevin Rogers, Donna King, DEFB President Bill Powers and Donna King.
Farm Family of the Year Award recipient Paul Cartanza, Sr. stands with family members in honor of the award.. From left to right: Paul Wooleyhand, Paul Cartanza, Jr., Kerin Hume, Taylor Cartanza, Jan and Paul Cartanza, Sr., and DEFB President Bill Powers. Colton Cartanza is holding the sign for the family.
YF&R Chair Mollie Lynch presents Don Jackson with the YF&R Supporter of the Year Award on behalf of Ag Industrial and Casey Collier with YF&R Member of the Year Award.
Young Farm Family Achievement: Excellence in Agriculture Award winners Theodore "Teddy" and Rebecca Bobola, stand with their sons Brant (holding the sign) and Theodore Bobola, along with Rep.Charlie Postles, State Treasurer Colleen Davis, Rep. Ronald Gray, Rep. Lyndon Yearick and DEFB President Bill Powers.
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Farms when I was just a young tike. I enjoyed going down there riding," he said.
Now it was Urian's turn to watch Cartanza step up for a new ride.
"I just want to thank you very much for this award. It's been a long time. My father started farming back in the 50s and now I'm able to move on to another adventure. I'm blessed to be able to do the things I can do," Cartanza said. "I love my family and I'm just proud that I have a good family and kids that want to work on the farm."
Along with his wife Jan, Cartanza now owns and operates Lazy Day Farms in Dover and is DEFB's 2nd vice president.
He has also served as the chairman of the Delaware Potato Board and currently serves on the Governor’s Council for Agriculture, Council of Farm Organizations and Kent County Farm Bureau Board.
Lazy Day Farms currently farms 1200 acres, growing corn, soybeans, and wheat, and processing vegetables. In 2017, they added a grain elevator to the operation. Currently, they are working with third and fourth generation farmers of Shadybrook Farms, Paul, Jr and granddaughter Taylor, to dry and store grains.
Along with everyday farming activities, the Cartanza's collaborate with researchers from the University of Delaware so they can analyze their soil to identify salinity concerns as a result of rising sea levels.
Master of Ceremonies Mark
Isaacs returned to the microphone to announce the statewide winner of the new Young Farm Family Achievement: Excellence in Agriculture Award - the Theodore "Teddy" Bobola family.
"This couple has had a long tenure in the agricultural field, even prior to their marriage," Isaacs told attendees.
He went on to tell how both Teddy and Rebecca Bobola participated in the FFA growing up, along with other activities. Now, they are active Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee members within the Delaware Farm Bureau and both served in leadership roles during their tenure. They are also active members of their church and community.
Teddy Bobola holds a degree in agricultural business and works full-time on the family farm west of Dover where they have five chicken houses and more than 1,500 acres of farmland.
Rebecca Bobola has a degree in fisheries and wildlife management and works full-time as an environmental scientist for the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control in the Division of Water, Wetlands and Subaqueous Section while also working around the farm with the family.
"It's just an honor. Thank you for this award. It's a family effort just to get my kids here," Teddy Bobola said with a chuckle. "It just makes me think of each generation. I thank my parents for the opportunities we've had."
For more information on each awardee or the Delaware Farm Bureau, visit www.defb.org.
DEFB Photo Contest winners announced at banquet
By Jennifer Antonik Delaware Farm Bureau
A young girl with pink rain boots and a blue, floral dress stands on a gate watching cows in the pasture at sunset with chicken houses, hay bales and forestry in the background.
This photo was the picturesque agricultural landscape captured by Alyssa Cowan, earning first place in the Delaware Farm Bureau Promotion & Education Committee’s annual photo contest. Cowan joins a host of other talented amateur photographers who earned awards through the program and were honored for their accomplishments at the DEFB annual banquet Saturday, Dec. 9 at the Modern Maturity Center in Dover. Other winning images included livestock, farming equipment, patriotic scenes and other agricultural topics.
The photo contest opened in May this year and ran through Oct. 31, 2023. All photo contest
winners received a certificate and winning entries will be displayed at the Delaware Farm Bureau state office in Camden and the Delaware Agriculture Museum in Dover.
Top Awardees include:
• Alyssa Cowan, first place and $200
• April Doyle, second place and $150
• Leanne Garrett, third place and $100
• Liz Davis, fourth place and $50
Honorable Mentions include:
• Kristen Kemp
• Amanda Strouse
• Dennis Wimer, III
• Jennifer Carlson
• Laura Larimore
• Robert Willoughby, Jr.
The 2024 contest will begin in May. For more information or to get involved with the Promotion & Education Committee, visit defb.org or call the state office at 302-697-3183.
Alyssa Cowan's photo depicting farm life won first place in the Delaware Farm Bureau's annual Photo Contest run by the Promotion & Education Committee.
April Doyle, second place
Leanne Garrett, third place
Liz Davis, fourth place
Kristen Kemp, honorable mention
More photo Contest Winners
Amanda Strouse, honorable mention
Jennifer Carlson, honorable mention
Robert Willoughby, Jr., honorable mention
Dennis Wimer, III, honorable mention
Laura Larimore, honorable mention
Del. Ag Week: Safety a priority for DEFB, state
By Jennifer Antonik Delaware Farm Bureau
Ag safety will be among topics highlighted at the upcoming Delaware Ag Week event held at the Delaware State Fairgrounds Monday, Jan. 8 through Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024
In partnership with the Delaware Office of Highway Safety and Delaware Association of Chiefs of Police, the Delaware Farm Bureau will offer a presentation on rural road safety for farmers during Ag Week to help keep safety in the forefront for attendees.
This presentation is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 9 from 6-8 p.m. in the Exhibit Hall at the Delaware State Fairgrounds.
“It’s safe to say when we get into our daily farming routines, we start to let things slide because we might think, ‘It will never happen to me,’ or ‘I do this all the time, I’m fine.’ We might start skipping a necessary step or two in hopes of saving some time,” DEFB Executive Director Don Clifton said. “But the reality is that every step we take to ensure the safety of ourselves, our workers, and our community is an important one. We have to make the conscious decision to take the time to be safe.”
Rural road safety is just one safe-
ty issue the Delaware Farm Bureau brings to farmers throughout the year, but Clifton said it’s crucial to keep in mind for farmers and consumers alike.
In recent years, the Delaware Farm Bureau’s Promotion and Education Committee successfully advocated for the inclusion of rural road safety topics in the state driver’s education manual and test so new drivers have a better understanding of what might meet them on rural roads in the First State. This includes the use of the slow moving vehicle emblem and what to do if a driver encounters a farm vehicle while on the road. The committee
also created a brochure on the topic which is displayed at all Department of Motor Vehicle locations in Delaware.
“We need to continually bring these topics up to farmers and the public because they are just that important. When we stop talking or hearing about it, it slips from our minds easier and we don’t want to see that happen. I’m proud to say that we’re partnering with the Department of Transportation for this presentation on rural road safety during Delaware Ag Week. It’s important to us that we partner with the right agencies when the time is right so we can provide a powerful
voice for our farmers and consumers,” Clifton said.
Other sessions during Ag Week include woodland management, beekeeping, block grants, risk management, agronomy, nutrient management modeling, pesticide credits and more.
Ag Week is crafted by the Delaware Department of Agriculture, University of Delaware Cooperative Extension and Delaware State University Cooperative Extension. For more information on Ag Week offerings, visit https://sites.udel. edu/delawareagweek/. For more information on the Delaware Farm Bureau, visit www.defb.org.
Advocacy skills taught during Legislative Day
By Jennifer Antonik Delaware Farm Bureau
Some Delaware Farm Bureau members attended an eye-opening experience Wednesday, Nov. 15 when they traveled to Legislative Hall in Dover to hear how grassroots advocacy can benefit the agriculture industry.
A panel of legislative leaders from around the state joined more than 25 DEFB members in house chambers to detail how legislation works from idea to enactment. Members also received a tour of the historic building from First State Heritage Park and an introduction to the General Assembly website from Chief Clerk of the House Richard Puffer and Senate Secretary Ryan Dunphy.
“I really thought that was extremely valuable. I hope you got a sense of how the leaders from the two parties do work together. I think that’s eye-opening a little bit, illuminating. Too often in the press, the impression is that they’re at their throats all the time and that’s just not the case,” DEFB Executive Director Don Clifton told members in attendance.
Several members expressed appreciation for the event and thanked the leaders for taking time to visit with them.
“Thanks for pulling this together.
It was really nice and a great opportunity for them to come and come interact with us. I appreciate the effort of putting this together. I think it’s certainly valuable,” Mark Isaacs said. “I think the more our voice can be heard in here, and I think it’s never been more prevalent than it is today, the more we can sustain a voice for agriculture.”
The event also featured a legislative report from Clifton who explained how the Delaware Farm Bureau has engaged legislators since he began his role in 2022, adding that he will give a more extensive report during the annual meeting to be held Tuesday, Nov. 28 at the Modern Maturity Center in Dover.
Senator Bryan Townsend encouraged feedback from the grassroots advocacy efforts of both individuals and groups like the Delaware Farm Bureau.
“Legislature ultimately has the final authority as far as passing laws,” Senator Bryan Townsend said. “It doesn’t always work. Believe me, there’s plenty of balance. . . but you’re not alone out there when it comes to some of this stuff. Please don’t be shy about sharing.”
Other panelists in attendance included Representative Lyndon Yearick and Senators Gerald Hocker and David Sokola.
representatives and senators from around the state as well as legislative staff so they could better understand the lawmaking process.
also received a tour of Legislative Hall from First State Heritage Park and heard from DEFB Executive Director Don Clifton.
Above: Delaware Farm Bureau members pose for a photo after attending the organization's first Legislative Day in Dover. They heard from a panel of
Members
Wreaths Across America
Mary Bea Gooden, and Mollie Lynch, holding Ellie, helped the Delaware Farm Bureau's Women Committee place wreaths on graves through Wreaths Across America at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery
Welcome Delaware Farm Bureau Members
As a member of the Delaware Farm Bureau, you have access to the Great Hearing Benefits (GHB) program. GHB provides family members access to hearing care and hearing aids at discounted rates.
P&E Committee: Support agritourism in Delaware
Agritourism is a great way to promote and educate the public on agriculture. The state of Delaware (as well as neighboring states) has many operations where you can take your family and friends to enjoy agritourism. By combining agriculture and tourism, it educates the public on how food is grown, processed, etc. The public is able to get a close up look on methods used and hopefully are able to gain a new appreciation for the farmers and ranchers across the country that feed the world.
Not only does agritourism benefit the general public with a learning opportunity, it also benefits the agriculture operation by creating an additional revenue.
Examples of Delaware agritourism include:
• Pumpkin patches
• Corn mazes
• Hay rides
• U-pick operations (apples, blueberries, sunflowers etc.)
• Petting zoos/ farm animals
• Christmas tree farms (cutyour-own)
• Agriculture museums
• Farmers’ markets (on - farm)
• Wine tasting/ wine tours
• Garden tours
U-Pick orchards and fields are a very popular agritourism activity in the state of Delaware. Depending on weather, the season starts around May with strawberries and it continues into June with blueberries. By late June and into July, the summer flower fields are blooming. July and August bring blooming fields of sunflowers and ripe peaches. That fades into
apple season and then the start of pumpkin picking begins. Fall is a very busy season for Delaware agritourism. Many pumpkin patch operations can be found all over the state.
Delaware agrotourism is not only a fun way for family time and learning, it’s also a wonderful way to support a local farm (most likely farm family) to have a successful operation.
Invite friends and family to go on a Delaware agrotourism adventure today!
Cahall: Conversations make claim process easier
To Nationwide client and agent Buddy Cahall, conversations are worth their weight in gold when it comes to an insurance claim.
He sells insurance with Crow Insurance Agency based out of Middletown, Del., but his background is in agriculture which he says helps when it comes to good coverage and claims. His work in the insurance industry began after one of those fortuitous conversations with a neighbor, Roy Crow, while Cahall was struggling with his family’s dairy farm.
“There were very low profits in dairy at that time in the early 2000s. If you have enough of those years when you see yourself sliding backwards and your buildings are going downhill... it’s a tough business. There’s too much work and responsibility in it to not receive a profit,” Cahall said.
of miscommunication. The farmer might have thought they had coverage for something that they didn’t. I’ve lived that with people on claims before.”
He emphasized the importance of the initial conversations between an agent and client when they should dive into every detail about the farming operation, so miscommunication never occurs in the first place.
irrigation riser which he didn’t know was on the farm at all. The owner called Cahall, upset because he thought the piece of farm equipment used in the field was not covered under his insurance policy.
“I didn’t remember hearing about that [equipment] at all. The owner called me the next morning upset that it wasn’t on there. I thought I had missed something,” he said. Luckily for the client, a category had been built in for miscellaneous equipment resulting in coverage for the farmer in that case.
Buddy Cahall, AFIS Agribusiness & Crop Insurance Specialist
“But I met with him, he was an example. He was a former dairy farmer. He was doing alright with the insurance business, but needed some help and that’s where I came into it. I could speak the language and understood it from a farmer’s point of view,” he added.
Since 2006, Cahall has helped farmers find just the right coverage for them so if a claim situation occurs, they can continue their operation safely.
“It’s not about the money when it comes down to a claim. It’s about the language in the policy that enables them to cover it. If it’s there, they’re going to pay it, but their hands are tied if it’s not there,” Cahall said. “Usually, if a claim is lost, a lot of times it’s because
“When I’m asked to quote somebody, I’d really like to come out and meet you. I’m going to come out to your address, sit down with you and ask questions. Where are you? Are you spread out? Is this your working location? What dwellings do you have here? Tell me about your equipment. Tell me about the odd things you do? It’s a lot of information,” he explained. “Nationwide’s a good company. They’re top of the line. When it comes to claims, we barely come out without a positive result for the farmer. In fact, one of the beauties of Nationwide is that we have a multistate policy available which some farmers could benefit from. We just need to have those conversations so we’re all on the same page.”
In his experience, adding equipment and names of people or entities associated with the farm, he said, were some of the crucial pieces of information sometimes missed in the intake process by new insurance clients.
Cahall recalled a claim in New Jersey that almost resulted in no coverage because of that very problem. A farmer had been operating farm equipment while working in a field of standing rye; they drove at full speed into an
“This claim had a $5,000 limit per item. In the end, he was thrilled to have that. Now we know to put in a small blanket for the things they forgot to tell us about,” Cahall said. “It worked out good in the end and then we all learned from it. And now that client, when they’re purchasing something new, they’re calling me on the way home and that’s the way it should be. We’ve seen it where items weren’t listed because they were forgotten and that’s really on the farmer, not the dealer.”
In-depth conversations with the farmer is incredibly important to Cahall when starting a new policy and maintaining existing policies. Speaking with the younger generations is just as important, he encouraged.
“I try to encourage them to involve their younger generation if they’re working with them now. My dad did and I benefited from it. I knew who our insurance agent was. If they have any interest in that business and you’re helping them to take it over, I’m all for them coming in to the review. They can have my cell phone number; they can call me,” he said. "And then God forbid something happens to their parents, they’re not out in the blue about who I am. They can pick up the phone and call me and we can go on forward. Communication is key. Develop that relationship. You will be better off for it.”
For more information about Nationwide Insurance or to reach Buddy Cahall, visit https:// www.crowinsuranceteam.com/
Farmland lease relationships: Landowner and lessee
The following information is provided by Nationwide®, the #1 farm and ranch insurer in the U.S.*
Farmland value and productivity go hand in hand. But when farmland is leased on a year-to-year basis, it can be difficult to make the improvements necessary to maintain both.
“True improvements to the farm including things like installing drainage tile or irrigation, establishing waterways and building soil health can take years to implement and pay off,” said Nationwide Risk Management Consultant and agronomy specialist Derek Hommer. “If a landowner is leasing the farm year-to-year, there is limited incentive for the lessee to invest in those types of improvements.”
Multi-year farmland lease agreements can be a win-win for both parties. Not only do they help build trust and cement relationships, long-term commitments between landowner and lessee are good for the land – both in terms of farmland value and productivity.
Start with good alignment
Developing a good relationship starts with alignment. A farmland owner’s goal often depends on how involved he or she is in the operation of a farm. Some see farmland as a basic financial investment, while others want to be more involved in what happens on the land. As a
lessee, it’s important to align with your landowner’s preferences in forging a strong relationship.
“Some absentee landowners will leave all of the operational decisions to the lessee; others want to stay informed about things like what’s planted and how crops are managed. Today I see many landlords who require operational practices such as no-till, cover cropping and grid soil sampling,” Hommer said.
“Aligning how the lessee manages leased acres with the landowner’s preferences and wishes helps build trust and a good long-term relationship.”
Understand each other’s needs
Once aligned, it’s important to level set on needs. If land is leased on a crop-share basis, for example, the landowner may have specific requests on how crops are managed and marketed. Decisions on things like production systems and how grain is marketed are typically made after consulting the landowner if he or she is actively engaged in the operation.
“If you’re leasing farmland, have the conversation with your landowner, make sure you understand the farm's history and the landowner's goals. Doing so enables you to make informed decisions and engage him or her in exactly the right way,” Hommer said. “That will demonstrate that you not only care about the health and productivity of the
land but want to do what the landowner wants and needs. That’s a great way to cement a strong relationship.”
Tips to demonstrate good land stewardship
Land improvements aren’t always major year-over-year efforts. Lessees can do simple things to show they are fully invested in caring for the land. A comprehensive approach to being a good steward of rented farmland includes:
• Matching cropping plans to the landowner’s wishes
• Creating a conservation plan that ensures the long-term productivity of the land
• Keeping farmland clean and in good order
• Keeping up the land’s appearance by things like mowing ditches and fencerows
• Implementing sustainable practices that reduce the landowner’s risk by things like minimizing erosion and improving water quality
• Communicating positive farmland outcomes to the landowner, like strong crop yields
“Don’t overlook some of the ‘little things’ you can do as a lessee to demonstrate your care of the leased land. Sometimes, that means things like mowing road ditches,” Hommer said. “Things like that can go a
long way in instilling confidence in a landowner that you have genuine care for the land.
Keep up the hard work year after year
Sustaining a strong relationship over time requires assessing how you’re meeting the other’s needs, both personally and financially. That attention normally creates the trust that’s essential to long-term lease agreements.
“Landowners and lessees should consider one another business partners,” Hommer said. “Just like your accountant, agronomist and legal advisor, your landowner or lessee should be considered part of your farm team.”
Visit AgInsightCenter.com for more resources and expert tips on trending topics to help you run a successful business and maintain the safety of your operation.
[1] *A.M. Best Market Share Report 2021.
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