Farm Bureau News
National Women's Committee visits Delaware
By Jennifer Antonik Delaware Farm Bureau
Members of the American Farm Bureau Women's Leadership Committee, AFBWLC, traveled to Delaware in June to experience farming on the East Coast.
Each year, the committee chooses a different state to visit for a cross-country agricultural experience.
This year, their weekend in the First State began Friday, June 9 and wrapped up Monday, June 12 when they traveled home to their respective farms.
"When we held our WLC Summer Meeting in Delaware, the AFBWLC, was greeted with overwhelming hospitality and accommodating spirits. There's no better way to nurture relationships and grow stronger than to share building leadership skills and learn about different regional agriculture together. We will take a piece of Delaware home and remember our time there with smiles and appreciation," Lorenda Overman, AFBWLC Vice Chair said.
Northeast AFBWLC Regional Representatives Jennifer Cross and Lisa Wherry said they learned a lot about agriculture in the
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In this issue
American Farm Bureau Women's Leadership Committee members visit with DEFB Executive Director Don Clifton and President Bill Powers at Shadybrook Farms in Dover, along with Taylor Cartanza and Jadyn Griffith of Shadybrook Farms (to the right) during their weekend-long trip to the East Coast.
From the President’s desk
DEFB endorses bill to address lost income for poultry growers, egg producers due to disease outbreaks
Outbreaks of Avian Influenza or other poultry-related diseases can devastate some farmers in the First State; I've seen it first hand. Hopefully, new federal legislation may prevent that possibility.
State Board of Directors
President
William “Bill” Powers, Jr.
1st Vice President
Steve Breeding
2nd Vice President
Paul Cartanza, Sr
process so farmers can get back on their feet quickly after losing their flock."
County Presidents
Kent: James Minner
Delaware Farm Bureau
President Bill Powers
U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), cochairs of the Senate Chicken Caucus, recently announced the Healthy Poultry Assistance and Indemnification (HPAI) Act. Significantly, their bill has attracted 11 bipartisan co-sponsors. This act will improve the safety net for poultry growers and egg producers in our state and across the country. I want to express my appreciation to Sen. Coons and his staff for reaching out to us at Delaware Farm Bureau for input while crafting this legislation. It will reassure those farmers who could stand to lose income opportunities due to circumstances beyond their control.
Delaware Farm Bureau News
Editor Jennifer Antonik jenn.antonik@defb.org 302-697-3183
Delaware Farm Bureau News (ISSN 10770798), published in Camden, DE, bimonthly, by Delaware Farm Bureau. Production by Delaware Printing Company. Periodicals postage paid at Camden, DE and additional offices.
Business and Editorial Offices: 3457 S. DuPont Highway, Camden, DE 19934, 302-697-3183.
Any editorial material may be reproduced with credit to this publication.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Delaware Farm Bureau News at the office above.
Producers who lose their flocks due to control measures to combat devastating diseases potentially lose all their income for a significant period of time. The income is gone, but the farm mortgage is still due, plus other expenses. Senator Coons has recognized the inequity of the lack of a federal safety net for these farmers in the year 2023. DEFB applauds his bipartisan initiative and leadership and we stand with the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Chicken Council, United Egg Producers, Delmarva Chicken Association, Delaware Department of Agriculture, among many other groups, in full support of this bill. When enacted into law, the HPAI will expand the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) compensation program to all poultry growers and layer operations within a highly pathogenic avian influenza control area, rather than only those whose flocks are infected, according to Sen. Coons' office.
“Delaware has the largest per capita chicken industry in the country, and Delaware’s independent family farmers and poultry growers are all too aware of the harm avian flu can cause after last year’s outbreak,” he said in a press release. “This bipartisan bill would ensure that every farmer who does their part to contain an outbreak is fairly compensated for their financial harm, and it simplifies the compensation
Currently, the impact of Avian Influenza outbreaks, and other diseases, isn't only felt by farmers whose poultry flocks contract the disease — poultry growers and egg producers with flocks within a 10-kilometer radius must also lose their flocks when an outbreak occurs so the outbreak can be removed completely from the local area completely. Both sets of farmers incur similar financial struggles. However, oftentimes, the farmer whose flock did not contract the disease is simply not compensated for their compliance in disease mitigation techniques. This new bill would remedy this situation and help preserve more farmers for generations to come.
The HPAI would also simplify the calculation of relief based on the farmer's income earned from the previous five flocks, creating a more transparent and secure method of calculation for all involved.
We are very pleased to see this effort in the works. No farmer should have to worry about how their income will be impacted by disease outbreaks they cannot control. I would like to offer my sincerest appreciation to Sen. Coons, Sen. Wicker and their co-sponsors for understanding the needs of our fellow farmers, poultry growers and egg producers. Bipartisanship works.
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: Abel Elwell
Women’s Committee
State Chair: Mary B Gooden
Kent Chair: Rebecca Bobola
Sussex Chair: Constance Fox
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
Will Powers, III
Ryan Greer
jenn.antonik@defb.org
Delaware Farm Bureau interns start new goals
By Jennifer Antonik Delaware Farm Bureau
Addyson
Stewart Marketing Intern
Addyson Stewart is hoping her marketing internship with the Delaware Farm Bureau can help jump start her career as a future large animal veterinarian.
She grew up on her grandparents’ farm, Deb and Bruce Stewart. Although they didn’t have livestock or other large animals, she said the farm life helped shape her future career goals. “We just had dogs, cats and the occasional chickens. Just living out on the farm and getting a feel for the openness helped me want to become a large animal vet,” she said.
The Felton resident graduated from Lake Forest High School in 2022 after studying in the animal science pathway. In high school, Stewart started showing sheep. By her senior year, she became the barn manager for the school and took the lead when it came to assisting incoming freshmen who also wanted to show sheep.
She now attends the pre-vet and vet nursing program at Wilson
College where she also plays on the softball team. With the Farm Bureau, Stewart hopes to continue building on her leadership and personal connection skills.
“I like how tight-knit the community is in farming. I like how open and welcoming the ag community is. So far in my internship, I’ve created a bunch of marketing content and we’ve talked about going to farm stands to visit with the farmers and connect with our members,” she said. “I like how Farm Bureau works with the farm and the farmers. I feel like that will help me because I plan on coming back after I get my doctorate degree. Getting a relationship with the farmers would help me with my job and the marketing internship will help me with the social media aspect of it all.”
For more information on a farm stand visit or DEFB membership, contact Marketing Coordinator Mikayla Paul at 302-697-3183 or mikayla.paul@defb.org.
Audrey Hastings Foundation Intern
Delaware Farm Bureau Foundation Intern Audrey Hastings has
been helping renovate the organization’s mobile ag lab.
A Dover resident, she graduated from Caesar Rodney High School in 2021 in the animal science pathway. She was active in the FFA as a member and officer. She now attends Delaware Valley University as a conservation and wildlife management major.
“I started out as a zoo science major, but it was too narrow and specific. I moved to conservation and wildlife management for a broader range so I could work in DNREC or fish and wildlife,” she said.
In her free time during the school year, she is on the equestrian team and works at a small horse farm. Hastings has shown miniature horses since she was in the 4th grade and recently started riding horses, as well.
As the DEFB Foundation intern over the summer, she hopes to build on her personal experiences and grow new ideas for her future career in agriculture.
“My great-grandpa is one of the founders of Papens Farms. Growing up, I was always on the farm because my Nana lives there. I wish people knew how much work it takes to make the things that they
get so easily from the store and they don’t realize how much goes into it,” she said. “I don’t really know what I want to do after school, but I feel like this [internship] would give me a lot of different feelers out in the ag industry.”
So far, Hastings has already worked to redecorate the Foundation’s mobile ag lab and take it out to see students across the state.
“The first week I came in, I redid all of the bulletin boards in the ag lab to make them more up to date, colorful and appealing. We’ve taken it out two or three times. I teach them about Della the cow, of course. The lunch box lesson teaches them about the food groups and we have bins where they can feel the different soil. I also made a board with the different ag commodities. so you can see what it turns into - like logs and wood can turn into pencils or houses. It’s important for the kids to understand how their things are made and I’m glad to be a part of that.”
For more information about the mobile ag lab, to schedule a visit, or learn more about Foundation sponsorship contact DEFB Foundation Coordinator Kali Voshell at 302-697-3183 or kali.voshell@
Addyson Stewart with a show lamb, left, and Audrey Hastings with the Foundation's Mobile Ag Lab at Major George S. Welch Elementary School in Dover, right, were chosen as this year's summer interns for the Delaware Farm Bureau.
Farm to Community project welcomes applicants
By Jennifer Antonik Delaware Farm Bureau
The Delaware Farm Bureau is working with Delaware's Department of Agriculture, in partnership with the Delaware Council on Farm and Food Policy, to help expand support available to the community.
The Farm to Community program, similar to the already successful Farm to School program, began this year with DEFB's help in collecting data from farmers for DDA's use.
The state purchases products from participating farmers. It is then sent to community-based partners located in food deserts, or areas that do not have as much access to fresh food or grocery stores as other areas.
This year, the program is working with the Lutheran Community Services' Delaware Food Farmacy Program and the Historic Lewes Farmers Market's Food Pantry Purchase Program. Over time, the goal is to reach more communities.
In order to participate in the program, data is collected by DEFB to be given to DDA including basic farm contact information, crops to be included in the project, transportion options and more to help get the
proper goods from the farm to respective community outlets.
"Programs like these are crucial to not only the community, but our farmers, too. In times of market uncertainty, these kinds of programs provide support to our farmers they might not otherwise find," DEFB Executive Director Don Clifton said. "The Delaware Farm Bureau is proud to assist the Department of Agriculture in this effort while reducing food scarcity in some of our more vulnerable communities."
Farmers and producers supplying product through the Farm to Community Pilot Program should:
• Have the capacity to supply at least $150 - $500 worth of product per week,
• Have the capacity to supply product for at least 12 weeks between the months of April to December, and
• Produce, all or in part, the product that is supplied (may aggregate from other producers, but aggregation must include your own product).
For more information, visit www. defb.org or send an e-mail to DDA_ FarmAndFood@delaware.gov.
Healthy Farmers Grow Healthy Crops campaign features mental health, preventative resources
By Jennifer Antonik Delaware Farm Bureau
The Delaware Farm Bureau's summer campaign, Healthy Farmers Grow Healthy Crops, is well underway.
Funded by the American Farm Bureau Federation's Strategic Action Fund Grant, the program offers mental and physical health resources to farmers in Delaware.
"Our mission at the Delaware Farm Bureau is to promote and protect Delaware agriculture through education and advocacy to ensure a quality of life for farmers and their consumers," DEFB Marketing Coordinator Mikayla Paul explained. "Encouraging our farmers to preserve their health mentally and physically is doing just that. There's often a lot of talk about preserving the farm through farmland preservation, but we need to preserve the farmer, too."
Recently, DEFB partnered with Bayhealth to provide a free webinar on farmer stress and mental health which was open to the public. The organization's website has
also been updated to include relevant links and health-related information under the resources tab.
Other resources are also available to farmers on the DEFB website, including regulations specific to Delaware, safety information, links to other organizations and more.
Through the campaign, DEFB also worked with Morning Ag Clips and other media outlets to promote the importance of mental and physical health.
"There's a lot that goes into farming. It goes beyond just seed to harvest. It's important for our farmers to have all of this information and it's just as important for us to be able to provide it for them," Paul said.
Along with resources, the DEFB also partnered with Life Line Screening to promote the importance of preventative health screenings.
Life Line offers five preventative health screenings. These include
1. Carotid artery screening (plaque): Ultrasound evaluation of the carotid arteries
that screens for buildup of fatty plaque - one of the leading causes of stroke.
2. Peripheral arterial disease screening: Uses ultrasound and blood pressure measurements to check for peripheral arterial disease (plaque buildup) in the lower extremities.
3. Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA): Ultrasound is used to screen for the existence of an aneurysm (enlargement) in the abdominal aorta that could lead to a ruptured aortic artery.
4. Atrial fibrillation: A quick and easy test using EKG electrodes placed on the arms and legs to identify the presence of an irregular heartbeat at the time of screening. Atrial fibrillation increases the risk of stroke by 5 times.
5. Osteoporosis risk screening: An ultrasound measurement of the shin bone to determine abnormal bone mass density. Although these screenings could
cost hundreds of dollars or more per screening, Life Line offers a significant discount for Delaware Farm Bureau members.
The first four screenings are packaged at $135 and includes the osteoporosis risk screening free of charge. According to Life Line Screening, they are recommended for everyone 40 years of age or older.
Some upcoming Life Line Screening sessions include:
• Tuesday, Aug. 1 at Gateway Fellowship in Bridgeville
• Thursday, Aug. 10 at Fairfield Inn Suites in Rehoboth Beach
• Monday, Aug. 14 at Wyoming United Methodist Church in Dover
• Tuesday, August 22 at Link's at St. Anne's Clubhouse in Middletown
For more information about Life Line Screenings or the Delaware Farm Bureau and its Healthy Farmers Grow Healthy Crops Campaign, visit https://defb.org/ resources/health/
National Women's Committee visits Delaware
Members of the American Farm Bureau Women's Leadership Committee traveled to Delaware in June to experience farming on the East Coast. They also had the opportunity to spend time with Delaware's former Secretary of Agriculture Ed Kee and a group of Nuffield Scholars.
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First State during their visit.
"For these Northeast farmers, we were delighted to learn that Delaware farmers are the backbone of the state’s economy, and its prime location has been a critical factor in the growth of its agriculture industry. Just under 40 percent of the state’s land is devoted to agricultural production, making it the predominant land use," they stated. "We greatly appreciate the time Delaware Farm Bureau shared with us, the exceptional hospitality that was extended and them opening their office doors for our day of learning and holding our quarterly meeting. It was very touching that so many volunteer members and staff greeted us, met up with us and just showed up to learn with us and they truly seemed to appreciate our committee and what we do."
Over the course of their weekend-long visit, the national committee members traveled the three counties, visiting a pea farm and processing plant, a potato farm and even had an opportunity to dip their toes in the Atlantic Ocean at Reho-
both Beach.
They had the opportunity to meet some Delaware Farm Bureau staff and board members during the weekend with whom they could share farming stories. They also met International Nuffield Farming Scholars during a dinner event held by Delaware's former Secretary of Agriculture and currently President of Nuffield USA Ed Kee.
The experience helped committee members see just how diverse farming is in Delaware and across the world, according to DEFB Member Services Coordinator Jan Cartanza who helped coordinate the weekend with the national committee.
"The day of touring was fantastic. From the pea processing plant, all about potato packaging and the technology they use today to time in the potato field and pea field (we can still taste the sweet peas), to the marshlands and shore – WOW," Cross and Wherry stated.
For more information on the American Farm Bureau Federation, visit www.fb.org. For more information on the Delaware Farm Bureau, visit www.defb.org.
Delaware Farm Bureau Women's Committee Chair for Sussex County, Connie Fox, to the right, talks with AFB Women's Leadership Committee members from inside the DEFB office.
Committee members, along with some DEFB staff and volunteers, visited Little Creek Grill over the weekend for a taste of the First State.
DEFB First Vice President Steve Breeding listens to AFB Women's Leadership Committee members inside DEFB's state office in
A visit to Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge helped round out the weekend with some fun and relaxation time for committee members.
DEFB 2nd Vice President Paul Cartanza joins in a discussion with AFB Women's Leadership Committee members.
Mary B. Gooden, DEFB Women's Committee Chair, speaks with AFB Women's Leadership Committee members.
Camden.
Hanover Foods Director of Agriculture Justin Prystajko welcomed committee members for a tour of the company's Clayton vegetable processing facility to see peas transformed from field fresh to frozen - ready for packaging.
Former Delaware Secretary of Agriculture
Ed Kee, to the right, hosted committee members for a dinner with Nuffield Scholars, offering a unique opportunity for both groups to learn about global agriculture issues.
Photo contest to highlight artisans, agriculture
By Jennifer Antonik Delaware Farm Bureau
Farmers’ markets, tours and harvest season make for picturesque scenes in Delaware - views that the Delaware Farm Bureau’s Promotion & Education Committee would like to capture through its annual photo contest.
Amateur photographers of all ages are encouraged to submit their best agriculture-related images online between May 1, 2023 through Oct. 31, 2023. Winning photographs will be announced during the Delaware Farm Bureau’s statewide Annual Banquet in December 2023.
The top four winning photos will be on display at the Delaware Farm Bureau’s state office, as well as the Delaware Agricultural Museum through 2024.
Awardees can also earn monetary prizes. Six honorable mention awardees will earn a certificate. The top four winners will also earn a certificate and $50 for fourth prize, $100 for third prize, $150 for second prize and $200 for first prize, along with the public display of their award winning photographs, “Getting the public to participate is a fun way of interacting with those in the community. It also
helps bring awareness to the topic of agriculture. It’s a way for people of all ages to be involved and get excited about agriculture even if they do not come from an ag background,” P&E Committee Member Katie Foster said. It doesn’t just stop there, she added. The P&E Committee also publishes submitted photos on Delaware Farm Bureau’s Facebook and Instagram pages to reach more
community members, celebrating agriculture and the accomplishments of participating photographers.
“The agriculture community is much larger than most people realize and the photo contest helps display the different parts of ag. We also take some of the photos to public voting so even if one does not want to submit their own photos, they still have a way to interact and
play a part in the photo contest,” Foster said. “Social media is very powerful. We display these photos to help promote and advocate for local agriculture. Having opportunities for people from the community to have involvement also helps bring awareness to local agriculture.”
Photos can be submitted online at https://defb.org/promotion-and-education/photo-contest/.
Make a difference with the Promotion & Education Committee
By Mikayla Paul DEFB Marketing Coordinator
The countdown to the Delaware State Fair has officially begun!
This year, the fair will take place from Thursday, July 20 through Saturday, July 29.
We are counting down the days until we can enjoy a refreshing milkshake from the Delaware Farm Bureau Food Booth, support young ag professionals while they show their livestock and watch the Delaware Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers’ Antique Tractor Pull event!
The Delaware State Fair is a summertime tradition and we are proud to be a part of it. During the 10-day Fair, we educate the public on the importance of Delaware Agriculture by connecting directly with consumers.
The Delaware Farm Bureau Promotion and Education Committee manages the booth located in the Delaware Department of Agricul-
ture’s Agricultural Commodities Building.
When you visit our booth, you can test your ag knowledge with our trivia game which was debuted last year, guess how many lima beans are in the jar to win an awesome prize donated by Del-One Federal Credit Union, and learn about the role the Delaware Farm Bureau plays in our community. This year, two of our members will also offer live cooking demonstrations in the Agricultural Commodities Building.
• Laura Brittingham, of Brittingham Farms in Millsboro, will demonstrate the various uses of culinary lavender on Friday, July 21 at 2 p.m.
• Delaware Farm Bureau Executive Director Don Clifton will make his second appearance in the kitchen this year on the last Saturday of the Fair July 29 at 2 p.m. Last year he cooked smashed po-
tatoes, Delmonico steaks, and a zucchini and tomato medley for the audience to taste.
Many of our Promotion and Education Committee members also serve on the Delaware Farm Bureau Women’s Committee which manages the Delaware Farm Bureau Food Booth. Proceeds from the Food Booth go towards the Women’s Committee programs, including their annual scholarship program.
Interested in getting more involved in the Delaware Farm Bureau? The Delaware State Fair is a great opportunity to work with our members and volunteer!
To volunteer to work the Agricultural Commodities Building booth, contact Mikayla Paul at mikayla.paul@defb.org.
To volunteer to work in the Delaware Farm Bureau Food Booth, contact Jan Cartanza at jan.cartanza@defb.org.
The P&E Committee is active year-round
The P&E Committee also runs other activities throughout the year including the:
• Annual photo contest which promotes artisans and agriculture scenes,
• Delaware Ag Safety Conference held annually in March to encourage farmers to think about safety topics, and
• Rural road safety initiative educating farmers and consumers about safer driving practices, and
The P&E Committee also promotes cooking with locally sourced ingredients by collecting recipes to include on the DEFB website. Recipes can be sent to Mikayla.Paul@defb.org.
For more information about the P&E Committee and other Delaware Farm Bureau programs, visit www.defb.org.
Great Hearing. Great Benefits. That Simple.
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.
• Up to 50% below-MSRP pricing on today’s top hearing aid technology
• Free 60-day trial.
• 3-year warranty and service plan.
• 4,500 nationwide locations for free hearing aid service or repair.
• If your hearing aids are lost, stolen or damaged within the first three years, we’ll replace your hearing aids!
• Share your benefits with up to three immediate family members.
Participants in the Delaware Farm Bureau Foundation's Milk Run 5K Walk/Run pause after the race to take a group photo celebrating their accomplishments at Ramsey's Farm in Wilmington.
Milk Run fundraising surpasses $200,000 in 10 years
By Jennifer Antonik Delaware Farm Bureau
The Delaware Farm Bureau Foundation's 10th annual Milk Run 5K Run/Walk raised more than $11,500 this year, according to Foundation Coordinator Kali Voshell.
The event, held at Buffalo Wild Wings in Dover in recent years, returned to Wilmington this year where it originally began. Hosted at Ramsey's Farm, Voshell said future Milk Run events will hopefully be planned at the farm, as well.
"It's nice to see the fundraiser also raising awareness of farming activities. Ramsey's Farm is a great location that frequently has agritourism activities like that," Voshell said.
New Castle County Farm Bureau President and Ramsey's Farm owner Stewart Ramsey said agritourism events are beneficial to all involved.
"Ramsey’s farm has been hosting agritourism events for over 30 years – we do this given our unique location with such a large population base in close proximity to the farm. Our farm is beautiful with its rolling hills and large tracks pf woods. Basically, we have to leverage the valuable assets that we have to create sustainable income from
the farm. When I took over running Ramsey’s Farm, agritourism was the only way for me to create enough income to survive," he said.
Hosting fundraising events like the annual Milk Run at a Delaware-based farm is an added bonus, Ramsey explained.
"I’m thrilled to finally have the event on an actual farm – I would hope to have 150 or more runners/ walkers for 2024 making the event a very positive contribution to generating money to support the three great charities. Given its name is 'Milk Run' and it is hosted by the Delaware Farm Bureau Founda-
tion, it is proper for it to be hosted on a farm," he said.
Overall, 31 participants found their way through a trail at Ramsey's Farm Saturday, May 21 with their eyes set on raising funds for the Ministry of Caring, ag literacy programs provided by the Foundation and the backpack program at the Food Bank of Delaware.
"We did that," Voshell said. "This year, our goal was to raise more than $10,000 to round out a decade of fundraising at over $200,000. We did that with flying colors."
Funds made available to the Foundation through fundraising ef-
forts like the Milk Run support the Mobile Ag Lab and other programming efforts throughout the year, reaching students across the state.
The ag lab has been a staple to the Foundation since it was launched in 2014. It offers students a unique opportunity to explore agriculture with hands-on activities like games and in person lessons they might not otherwise experience.
During the school year, the ag lab visits schools and classrooms; during the summer, the ag lab visits camps and other groups.
"Finding support for these kinds of activities is so important to the work we do. We couldn't do it without funding from events like the Milk Run and I know our other community partners feel the same, too," Voshell said.
The Foundation will host its 3rd annual Lace Up For Ag Literacy 5K Run/Walk Saturday, Oct. 21 at Hopkins Farm in Lewes. Registration is available online at www. defb.org.
For more information about the Foundation or to find out how to get involved, contact Kali Voshell at 302-697-3183 or kali.voshell@ defb.org.
Runners stick together underneath a bridge at Ramsey's Farm.
YF&R hosts successful Strawberry Festival
By Jennifer Antonik Delaware Farm Bureau
The annual Strawberry Festival held Saturday, May 27 at Bobola Farms in Dover was one of the largest YF&R events yet in Delaware, according to statewide YF&R Chair Mollie Lynch.
"It went really well. The festival helps to fund opprotunities for leadership and training through the YF&R. It also allows us to be a part of the community with outreach and
be a part of the farm and it allows us to collect food for the Food Bank of Delaware," she said.
Participants enjoyed a kids zone with games and activities, the mobile ag lab, fresh food (including fresh strawberry shortcake), live music and fun with friends and family.
Events hosted by the YF&R also help fund scholarships which are presented yearly at the group's annual Antique Tractor Pull event held on the last day of the Delaware
State Fair at the Quillen Arena. This year's Strawberry Festival raised $2,626.13, according to Delaware Farm Bureau's State YF&R Coordinator Kali Voshell.
Voshell said the event, much like the YF&R Committee, is a great opportunity to enjoy agriculture while supporting young farmers & ranchers and students at the same time.
"The YF&R is a group of young farmers & Ranchers between 18 and 40. They're not all farmers; they're
also people who work within agriculture and have a strong desire to see agriculture grow within Delaware," Lynch said.
"It's just a unique opportunity to be with like minded people and learn new things you can bring home to the farm or bring back to your workplace. We do fun things during the year, too, because community is important," she added.
For more information on the YF&R, visit www.defb.org.
Volunteers pose for a photo during the Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee's annual Strawberry Festival held at Bobola Farms in Dover.
Help Elwell kiss a pig at the Delaware State Fair
Abel Elwell, Delaware Farm Bureau's New Castle County Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee Chair, wants to land a big one - a kiss on a pig!
He is raising money for Delaware State Fair Junior Exhibitor Scholarships through the annual Kiss the Pig Contest coordinated by the Delaware 4-H Foundation.
The event celebrates fundraising efforts by participants, culminating in an exciting showcase event to be held Thursday, July 27 at 3 p.m.
"Our YF&R chapter asked me to step up this year and do it and I am happy to help promote agriculture by supporting the 4-H Foundation," Elwell said. "I grew up being involved in our county 4-H Dairy Club (in NJ). Through 4-H and other mentors in our 4-H club, this inspired me to get an education in agriculture and now a career. I am happy to pass that on and help others on their path."
To donate to Elwell for the contest, venmo @DelawareYFR or send an email to kali.voshell@defb.org.
Save lives by understanding rural road safety
By Jennifer Antonik Delaware Farm Bureau
Farming equipment is starting to frequent roads in Delaware once again as the summer harvest season begins, according to the Delaware Farm Bureau.
Slow Moving Vehicle Emblems (SMV) affixed to some vehicles can help improve rural safety outcomes - but first, motorists must know what to look for and how to share the road with slower vehicles.
SMVs are orange triangular signs with a red border and should be affixed to the back of the trucks, combines and other vehicles that typically travel at speeds of 25 mph or less, like animal-drawn vehicles, as a way to communicate caution with fellow motorists.
Just like construction or traffic signs on the side of the road or above a highway, SMVs found on the back of farming vehicles provide an important communication method between the farmer and the consumer. A well educated motorist will know to be careful and slow down within seconds of seeing the sign.
These signs look a little different at night, according to a brochure crafted by DEFB’s Promotion & Education Committee which is available at all Delaware Motor Vehicle locations.
“At night, your car’s headlights will reflect the emblem’s red border to show a glowing red triangle float-
New Castle County Farm Bureau
President Steward Ramsey submitted this photo as an example of what could happen when a small car hits the axel of a much larger piece of farm equipment.
ing in the darkness,” the brochure states, adding additional tips to keep both motorists and farmers safe.
Motorists should:
• Be aware.
• Be patient.
• Yield to wide vehicles.
• Don’t assume the farmer knows you’re behind them.
• Do assume that the farmer cannot see you at all.
• Pass with caution if the farmer has pulled off to the side of the
road to allow you to pass.
• Do not assume a slow moving vehicle that pulls to the right side of the road will turn right or is letting you pass as some need to do this before they turn left.
• Put your phone away while driving.
• Allow any trailing (shadowing) vehicles to continue following immediately behind the farm equipment. Do not try to separate the trailing vehicle from the SMV.
Farmers should:
• Put the reflective SMV triangle on any machine that travels on the road at 25 mph or slower.
• Keep the SMV clean.
• Avoid traveling during rush hour and bad weather.
• Use pilot cars when traveling longer distances - some police departments will offer escorts if necessary.
• Install mirrors to increase your awareness.
• Mark the edges of tractors and machines with reflective tape.
• Use vehicle lights when driving before sunrise or after sunset.
• Install or retrofit lighting on older machinery.
• Turn off rear spotlights when on the road so they are not mistaken for headlights.
• Don’t flag or wave anyone to pass you. Avoid pulling to the shoulder. If needed, pull completely off the road to allow others to pass safely.
“Rural road safety is one way consumers can support our farmers by keeping themselves and our farmers safer while traveling. In order for us to feed the masses, we need to be free to do our work and sometimes this means we have to take our equipment on the road,” DEFB Executive Director Don Clifton said. For more information about the Delaware Farm Bureau, visit www. defb.org.
Let’s talk about land because the future of your farmland matters most
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Though such a bullish marketplace is a boon for landowners, it also changes the game for tenants who depend on rented land for a large share of their crop revenue. High prices make it even more important to make sure everyone involved has the right insurance coverage in place.
Complicating the equation for lessees is the recent rise in absentee farmland ownership. According to a USDA report**, around 40% of the land farmed in the U.S. is rented. Of that share, around 31% is owned by an absentee or non-operator, a number that continues to rise, especially as active farmers retire and sell land.
The combination of these trends creates year-over-year operational and managerial challenges for leasing farmers and their landowners. One of those is ensuring both parties are adequately managing the risk of a land lease for which the two parties may be thousands of miles apart.
Sharing insurance responsibilities
In most cases when a farmer rents land from an absentee landowner, risk management responsibilities are split between the two parties. Each lease should spell out who is responsible for different operational and management responsibilities. And what is fair is not always equal.
For example, if adding improvements like tile drainage can boost the long-term productivity of a field, installation costs should be shared based on the equity it creates.
If a lessee anticipates only renting the land for one year, he or she should not bear as much cost as the landowner, who will likely see greater value in the form of higher rents over time as a result of the improvement.
But if such improvements are part of a multiyear leasing strategy in which the lessee will remain in the picture, he or she will likely pay a larger share of the cost. In general, the duration of a lease often is a major contributor to how land improvement costs are spread between the landowner and renter
Think about how land is used
There are several factors that influence how farmland is insured. First, it’s important to consider the basics of the property and its intended purpose. Some land is obviously for cropping. But grassland or pasture land may have multiple uses. All of a piece of land’s intended uses should be accounted for in both the written lease as well as the chosen insurance coverage. Coverage options also vary widely based on lease land’s use. A basic homeowners policy rarely covers all of the operational risk of leased farmland. Sometimes endorsements cover those specific risks, but in other cases, altogether different policies specifically designed for farmland are the best solutions.
Talk with your insurance agent
No matter how you’re involved with farming – whether you’re currently farming or new to owning or renting farmland – it’s important to talk with your local Nationwide Farm Certified agent. Nationwide is the only farm insurance company that trains and certifies its agents. When you see that an agent is Nationwide On Your Side Farm Certified, you can be confident you've found a trusted, knowledgeable advisor.
Visit aginsightcenter.com/farmlandownership to download our free Farmland Ownership Protection Guide and to learn what we know about farmland.
Especially with an absentee leases, it’s always a good idea to have regular meetings during which the lessee can update the landowner on all activities on the leased land and how they impact things like lease price and optimal insurance coverage options.
*A.M. Best Market Share Report 2021. ** https://www.ers.usda.gov/ webdocs/publications/74672/eib161.pdf?v=2462.1
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