Farm Bureau News
DFB Foundation's 5K Milk Run/Walk draws 100 participants
Sixty-nine runners and 31 walkers participated in Delaware Farm Bureau Foundation’s sixth annual 5K Milk Run/Walk on May 11. The goal was to raise a combined $10,000 for the Ministry of Caring’s “Milk for Children Fund” and the Delaware Food Bank for its “Delaware Backpack Program” which provides food for at-risk children on days when federal school meal programs are not available.
The Milk Run was held in a new location this year, with participants setting out from the parking lot of Buffalo Wild Wings across from the Blue Hen Corporate Center in Dover. They traversed the flat, scenic rural landscape of the St. Jones Isaac Branch Trail. The trail is paved, which made it perfect for parents with strollers.
Silas Klair, age 4, won the Kiddie K race for youth 10 and under by a shoe in a neck-in-neck finish with Brandt Bobola coming in second.
Andrew Jakubowitch of Dover was the first male to cross the finish line, clocking in at 17 minutes
were in the parking lot of Buffalo Wild Wings in Dover. One hundred runners and walkers participated. and 33 seconds. Second was Logan Dunn of Camden at 18:24. The first female was Erin Jakubowitch
with a time of 20:34.
This was a TriSports “sanctioned race.” All participants received a
Celebrating 75 years!
Delaware Farm Bureau has been the unified voice of Delaware agriculture since its formation 75 years ago, and we are celebrating that accomplishment.
The 75th Anniversary task force and state Farm Bureau staff have been planning a night of celebration like no other annual banquet. Be sure to “save the date” for Saturday, Dec. 7.
The festivities begin at 5 p.m. with a welcoming reception at the Del-One Center on the Del Tech Terry Campus in Dover.
After the opening ceremonies, dinner follows at 6 p.m., catered by the award-winning firm, An Affair to Remember.
Around 7 p.m., we are going to have a brief program to honor our three counties’ Farm Families of the Year and Distinguished Ag Service award winners, with the
announcement of state winners.
We hope to have American Farm Bureau Federation President, Zippy Duvall, share some remarks.
CONTINUED
The remainder of the evening can be spent listening and dancing to the sounds of the Clifford Keith band from about 8 to 11 p.m.
To make this 75th Anniversary Celebration year a success, we are asking you to make a financial commitment to make this celebration truly remarkable.
Some Farm Bureau members have expressed an interest in honoring their parents or grandparents who were longtime active members. You can honor them with a $75 memorial donation which will include their names in our program.
If you are a friend of Farm Bureau and support our efforts to advocate and promote Delaware agriculture, a $75 donation will include your name in the program.
If you can contribute more based on your involvement in supporting Delaware’s farmers and ranchers, we ask you to give $275, $575 or $1075. Recognition benefits for the various levels of giving can be found in a donation brochure to be distributed soon.
There will be a limited number of tickets available, so reserve your tickets today by calling the Farm Bureau office at (302) 697-3183.
The starting and finishing lines in the Delaware Farm Bureau Foundation’s sixth annual 5K Milk Run/Walk
quality 2019 Milk Run 5K Run/ Walk Performance Tech Shirt and
From the President’s desk ...
June 6, 2019, marked the 75th anniversary of D-Day, the largest military invasion of its type in history. It led to the defeat of Hitler's Germany 11 months lat-
er. Most people are unaware that U.S. farmers played a key role in the D-Day invasion.
Perhaps you heard a recent USDA weekly radio broadcast, “Agriculture USA,” in which Gary Crawford explained how U.S. farmers helped to make the invasion a success and helped to win World War II.
In that broadcast, USDA histori-
cal expert Anne Effland explained that 30 months before D-Day, President Franklin Roosevelt told farmers, “You have a most grave responsibility to the nation now and for the duration of this war.”
While many young men volunteered or were drafted to go abroad to fight the enemy, farmers who remained at home were needed to produce even more than they had in the past. The military, as well as those at home, had to be supplied with food.
Enemy nations such as Germany, Italy and Japan were having problems feeding their troops.
“Farmers made valiant efforts to boost farm production during the war, often working against tough conditions,” Effland said.
Restrictions on materials such as rubber and steel required farmers to learn to make repairs to their existing equipment and to share that equipment with neighbors.
AFBF Convention set for Austin in 2020
Plan now to attend the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 101st Annual Convention & IDEAg Trade Show in Austin, Tex., Jan. 17 through 22, 2020.
Add your voice to the united chorus of the premiere general agriculture organization. Participate in educational workshops to expand your leadership skills, business acumen, impactful policy discussions and more. Celebrate the accomplishments of leaders in agriculture and witness powerful keynote speakers in the general sessions. Explore the IDEAg Trade Show floor to gain a stronger industry network, shop featured products, learn about innovative technologies, and enjoy TEDstyle (personal, professional and concise) talks on the Cultivation Center stage. Don’t miss the opportunity to gather with the agriculture community, and make your impact on the future of the industry. Details on registration and hotel accommodations will be available later this year.
With so many young men gone, there was also a labor shortage in an era when agriculture was much more labor intensive than it is now. Women were mobilized. Housewives and college students were encouraged to spend their vacations doing something for the war effort. Some 2 million non-farming women rose to the challenge. Farmers’ wives and other women on the farm saw their work load doubled.
Farmers were urged to grow oilseed crops so there would be more oil for industrial production. Food was rationed. Civilians were encouraged to grow victory gardens to help reduce demand on the food supply.
Because of all these efforts, Roosevelt noted, “there is enough food for all of us and enough left over to send to those who are fighting with us.”
The Armed Forces of the USA
were able to fight because they were well fed — and that contributed to the success of D-Day, Crawford said.
In the 75 years since D-Day, American farmers have continued to utilize new ideas and technology in order to increase production and efficiency, which contributes to our national security.
Just a few months before D-Day, in April 1944, Delaware farmers joined together to create the Delaware Farm Bureau. By working together, we can do more to ensure a better future for American farmers, their families and the nation as a whole.
As we remember the sacrifices of thousands of men who fought and died on the shores of Normandy on D-Day, let us be thankful, too, for hard-working American farmers who rose to meet the challenge to keep our military well-supplied with food.
Welcome, Hunter Willoughby, summer intern
The Delaware Farm Bureau staff is excited to welcome Hunter Willoughby as our 2019 Summer intern. Hunter just graduated from MOT Charter High School on June 1. His emphasis was in Biotechnology and Computer Science. Hunter will be studying in the Agriculture and Natural Resources College at the University of Delaware this fall. Hunter has also been working at the university, providing IT Social Media Support. He also has been maintaining the State of Delaware’s Pesticide Safety Education web page as part of his responsibilities. Hunter was founder and president of the FFA chapter at his school. He is also involved in his local and National 4-H programs in leadership positions. He received two Farm Bureau scholarships this year.
Delaware Farm Bureau News Editor Carol Kinsley carol.kinsley@defb.org Graphics/Production Designer Heather Kline heather.kline@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.
Delaware Farm Bureau
President Richard Wilkins
Austin's skyline will look different in January 2020, but it will still be beautiful when the American Farm Bureau Federation meets there.
Deer harvest in 2018-2019 drops from record level last year
DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife announced in May that hunters in Delaware harvested 14,883 deer during the 2018-’19 hunting season. This season’s harvest ranked as the second highest in Delaware’s history, exceeded only by last year’s (2017/18)
harvest of 15,304 deer. This is the sixth year in a row that the state’s white-tailed deer harvest has exceeded 14,000 deer.
Inclement weather limited the deer harvest during the season’s opening weekend of the popular November deer shotgun season,
Food Booth will celebrate DFB's 75th with 75¢ ice cream scoop
The Delaware Farm Bureau first operated a food booth at the Delaware State Fair in 1954. The Rural Youth Committee, spurred on by G. Wallace (Pat) Caulk Sr., decided to sell healthy food — milk, ice cream, milk shakes and turkey sandwiches.
In 1955, under the leadership of chairman Dennard Hill, a small booth was built. Ham and cheese sandwiches replaced the turkey sandwiches.
In 1957, the food booth itself and the menu were expanded.
The Young Farmer and Rancher Committee operated a separate food booth adjacent to the first booth from 1966 to 1968, selling hamburgers, milk shakes and apple cider. The two booths were combined and the menu changed again, eliminating submarines and adding hamburgers, french fries and coffee as well as breakfast items.
The Delaware Farm Bureau food booth is the oldest non-commercial exhibitor at the Delaware State Fair.
This summer, in celebration of Delaware Farm Bureau’s 75th anniversary, the food booth will offer a special treat: a scoop of ice cream with sprinkles for 75 cents.
DELAWARE FARM BUREAU FOOD BOOTH SCHEDULE 2019
Monday, July 15
Thursday, July 18
Friday, July 19
Saturday, July 20
Sunday, July 21
Cleaning booth and set up at 8:30 a.m.
Sussex County Farm Bureau
Kent County Farm Bureau
New Castle County Farm Bureau
Young Farmers & Ranchers
Monday, July 22-Friday, July 26 4-H and FFA Youth Groups
Saturday, July 27
Monday, July 29
All three County Farm Bureaus
Cleaning & close up at 8:30 a.m.
Anyone wishing to help, please call your County Women's Chair:
Kent County Sandy Virdin (302) 242-9071
New Castle County June Unruh (302) 559-9459 Sussex County Connie Fox (302) 242-7596
which likely reduced the overall annual harvest.
In Sussex County, 7,735 deer were harvested, followed by Kent County with 4,299 deer taken, and New Castle County with 2,849 deer.
All Sundays during the various deer hunting seasons were open to deer hunting to provide additional hunting opportunities and to help manage the deer population.
On these 23 Sundays, 2,214 deer were taken on private lands and Division of Fish & Wildlife public wildlife areas.
Hunters harvested more does
(7,982) than bucks (6,901). For more information on deer hunting and management, contact the DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife’s Wildlife Section at 302739-9912.
In case readers are still concerned about the deer overpopulation in Delaware, consider a recent survey of 1,800 acres in Warren County, N.J., conducted by drones. New Jersey Farm Bureau reports, ”At a minimum, there were 594 deer counted in the sampling areas, which equates to a range of 208 to 237 deer per square mile."
DDA kicks off 'Delaware Grown' Week
Delaware Grown Week – a campaign highlighting the fruits, vegetables and value-added agricultural products produced in The First State – was launched May 23 at the Rehoboth Beach Farmers’ Market. On hand were Secretary of Agriculture Michael T. Scuse, state legislators and other officials.
State Rep. Lyndon Yearick, R-Camden-Wyoming, authored the legislation creating Delaware Grown Week in 2015. He said one of the goals of the partnership between the Delaware Department of Agriculture and the Delaware General Assembly is to facilitate closer relationships between farmers and local consumers.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
DFB Foundation's 5K Milk Run/Walk draws 100 participants ...
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 hungry children?
top finishers in several age categories won awards.
Since its conception by the New Castle County Farm Bureau, the Milk Run has been able to contribute nearly $73,000 to the Ministry of Caring and the Middletown Neighborhood House. The effort was begun seven years ago when Scott Unruh, then president of the New Castle County Farm Bureau, attended a Ministry of Caring event where he learned that the Ministry had lost its funding to purchase milk for the morning program for children due to a bank merger. The deficit was $10,000. Unruh’s reaction was that Farm Bureau should figure out how to make up the deficit. What better cause for a Farm Bureau than to help provide milk for
Under his leadership, New Castle County Farm Bureau took on the challenge with the help of the Delaware Farm Bureau Foundation. The next NCCFB president, Stewart Ramsey, continued the endeavor.
“It was a team effort,” Ramsey said. “We exceeded our goal of $10,000 the first year and in later years added the Middletown Neighborhood House. The board wanted to impact more people. It’s now a statewide program.”
Ramsey and Janet and Jim Mitchell of Woodside Farm Creamery were later honored at the Ministry of Caring’s Recognition Banquet where they received “The Caring Bowl of 2019” which honors those who have given generously of their time, talent and treasure in
Participants in the Milk Run gathered outside for a group photo.
dedicated service to the poor over many years.
In addition to his work with the Milk Run, Ramsey grows sweet corn and pumpkins which he shares with the Ministry of Caring.
The Mitchells have donated countless gallons of homemade ice cream and thousands of dozens of fresh eggs to the Ministry, in addition to hosting a fund-raising "Color for Caring" benefit each spring.
Sponsors donating $500 or more for this year’s race were Dairy Farmers of America, Delaware Department of Ag, Delaware Electric Cooperative, Dempsey Farms, Farm Credit, Fulton Bank, George Clay & Sons Inc., Hoober Inc., HyPoint Dairy, Land O’Lakes, New Castle County Conservation District, New Castle County Farm Bureau, Saul Ewing LLP, Syngenta, and Woodside Farm Creamery.
At right, Kaylee Dulin, Delaware Dairy Princess, and Primus Poppiti of Wilmington, dressed as a cow, relax before the race.
Dover
Andrew Jakubowitch of
was the first to cross the finish line.
‘Book Barn’ distribution continues across the state
Connie Fox read to two classes of students as a
sented to the
At right, Laura Hill reads to a class of fourth graders at East Millsboro Elementary. Ag Lab lessons were presented to 165 students there over a three-day period in May.
also
Students at Wilbur Elementary in Bear, Del., celebrate the gift of a Book Barn and several 'ag correct' books for their school library. June Unruh read one of the books and handed out pencils.
Stewart Ramsey read to students at Pleasantville Elementary in New Castle when presenting a Book Barn to the school library.
Stewart Ramsey gives students at Albert Einstein Academy in Wilmington a chance to see the books being donated to their school library
Book Barn was pre-
library at Phillis Wheatley Elementary School in Bridgeville. Students
had a chance to go through the Ag Lab.
$13,000 presented in scholarships
Scholarships have been awarded to eight students by various groups within Delaware Farm Bureau. A one-time Kenny Moore Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $2,000 was presented to Jonathan Taylor Davis of Smyrna. Son of Jay and Cindy Davis, this Smyrna High School graduate plans to attend Del Tech to major in energy management.
Hunter Willoughby received two scholarships, $1,000 each from New Castle County Women’s Committee and New Castle County Farm Bureau. Son of Michelle and Robert Willoughby Jr. of Middletown, he graduated from MOT charter school this month.
Willoughby was active in 4-H for 10 years, started an FFA chapter at his school and served as president for four years. He will pursue a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture and Natural Resources from University of Delaware, then perhaps go to medical school at Penn State. Helena Kirk, the 2018-2019 DFB State Youth Ambassador, also received two $1,000 scholarships, one from the Young Farmers & Ranchers and one from New Castle County Farm Bureau. Kirk plans to attend East Carolina University to study construction management — a goal that started as a joke, that she might one day be her brother’s boss, but became something she really wanted to do.
A graduate of Middletown High School, Kirk holds a Delaware FFA State Degree, was a U.S. Presidential Scholars Candidate and was a delegate to the Global Youth Institute.
Leslie Webb, daughter of Elaine
Webb of Greenwood, won a $1,000 scholarship from Young Farmers and Ranchers and the $1,000 Roland Garrison Scholarship from Kent County Farm Bureau. A graduate of Lake Forest High, she plans to attend University of Delaware to study Environmental Engineering. She is the recipient of the Delaware FFA State Degree, Michael Everline 4-H Leadership Award and a number of other honors, including serving as Delaware Dairy Princess.
The Women’s Committee $2,500 scholarship was presented to Taylor Cartanza, daughter of Paul Cartanza Jr. and Kristin Dixon of Dover. Cartanza plans to attend University of Delaware to study Agriculture and Natural Resources, then return to the farm to work with her father and her extended family. The family’s membership in Delaware Farm Bureau dates back to her great-grandfather.
The Sussex Women’s $1,000 scholarship was presented to Spring Madison Vasey of Lincoln.Vasey graduated from home
CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
Davis
Willoughby
Kirk
Cartanza
Vasey
Webb
Ag Lab visits hunger conference
The University of Delaware’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Cooperative Extension attended Delaware’s third annual children’s hunger conference in Wilmington April 4. Hosted by the Delaware Food Bank in partnership with Brae’s Brown Bags and First Chance Delaware, this event brought children from across the state together for a morning of learning and advocacy. According to Feeding America, one in every six children in Delaware struggles with hunger.
Activities included environmental lessons on pollinators and composting, experiences with hands-on gardening and grocery shopping, physical fitness and
yoga exercises, and a letter writing campaign that ended with 100 letters for Delaware legislators.
Students were allowed to pull a carrot out of the soil. Most had no idea what was beneath the surface.
Delaware Farm Bureau Foundation’s Ag Lab was on hand also. Foundation Manager Laura Simpson conducted 12-minute sessions for 10 groups of students ranging from first to eighth graders.
She read “How Did that Get in My Lunchbox?”, asked the students “what a farmer looks like” and spoke about different careers in agriculture.
The mobile Ag Lab has been all over the state this year, reaching thousands of elementary school children.
'Delaware Grown' Week ...
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
“Fresher food translates into better nutrition, better taste and the potential for creating healthier eating habits,” Yearick said. “When consumers spend their food dollars locally, they support Delaware’s family farms and spur our economic activity.” While fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs are a highlight of farmers’ markets, about half of Delaware farmers’ market sales are typically tied to agricultural products such as meats, cheeses, jellies, breads, salsa, eggs or honey, facilitating small business start-ups.
Scuse said, “I am pleased to announce the release of the new Delaware Grown website. Through the use of an interactive map, DelawareGrown. com helps consumers find local products from fruits, vegetables, herbs and honey to Christmas trees and other value-added products. This is also a resource where citizens can go to learn how to cook locally grown produce, meet many of our farm families, and learn neat tidbits about the specialty crops we grow here in Delaware.”
Citizens can connect with local farms in several ways, such as:
• Shopping at one of the more than 90 onsite farm stands throughout the state.
• Visiting and purchasing locally grown products at one of the 20 community-run farmers’ markets operating in Delaware this year.
school studies in May 2017 and has been attending Del Tech, majoring in dairy science and animal science. She plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in those fields with an emphasis on animal reproduction and biology in order, perhaps, to work as an embryologist. Daughter of Jody and Dean Vasey, she has been active in 4-H for 14 years, served as president of the Delaware State Fair Junior Board and Delaware Dairy Princess.
The Sussex County Farm Bureau presented a $500 scholarship to Gabriella B. Morelli, daughter of Joseph and Farrah Morelli of Delmar. A graduate
of Delmar High School, Morelli plans to attend Louisiana State University to study landscape architecture.
The Kent County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee gave a $1,000 scholarship to Kathryn Simpson of Houston. She is the daughter of William Timothy and Michele Winkler Simpson. Having graduated from Lake Forest High School June 2017, Simpson graduated from Del Tech this May with a 4.0 average. She will be enrolling this fall in Wilmington University to study agriculture business and organizational management. Simpson was a class officer all four years of high school, was active in FFA, the Delaware State Fair Junior Board and assistant show secretary for State Fair Beef Department.
• Enjoying time with family and friends at a Delaware “u-pick” operations that offer a satisfying experience for patrons to get the freshest fruit and vegetables possible by harvesting it themselves.
• Participating in a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, providing shareholders with fresh produce weekly during peak harvest seasons.
• Stop at a local farmers’ market or on-farm market where there is a variety of fruits and vegetables in season. This is an opportunity to connect with Delaware family farmers who take pride in growing the freshest produce.
Morelli
Simpson
Meet Your Farmers: Jacob and Melissa Urian
Jacob Urian, age 34, is a good example of today’s young farmer in Delaware. Well-educated, he has been a conservation planner at Kent Conservation District in Dover for more than six years. He is a Certified Crop Advisor, nutrient management consultant and certified pesticide applicator.
Urian and his wife, Melissa, live
YF&R on parade
Young Farmers and Ranchers joined the fun of the Dover Days Parade on May 4. On the front row, from left, are J.T. Robbins, Faith Parker, Rebecca Bobola and Melissa Urian. In back are Brandt and Ted Bobola, Jonathan Moore, Jacob Urian and Michael Lynch.
in a house on the home farm in Clayton where he currently farms part-time with his parents. They grow corn, soybeans and hay and raise beef cattle. For the past couple of years, Urian also has been farming on his own, producing the same crops as he father and growing black Angus cattle.
Melissa is employed as a pharmacist at Atlantic Apothecary in Smyrna.
Urian has been a Farm Bureau member for about nine years. He was elected Kent County Farm Bureau president after the former president, Richard Wilkins, became state president. Urian has served as chairman of the Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee
the last three years. Under his leadership, the YF&R has continued to participate in the strawberry festival, tractor pull and Dover Days parade. This year the group also volunteered to help with as King Crop Insurance and Allen Chorman jointly celebrated their 50th anniversaries.
The YF&R has also moved toward ag advocacy, in addition to training leaders and encouraging farmers to get more involved. “We have gone to elementary schools on Super Science Day and read the American Farm Bureau’s Book of the Year to the students. We are spreading awareness of the importance of agriculture in our community,” he said.
Jacob Urian waits for a meeting to start at the Delaware Farm Bureau office in Camden. He is now Kent County Farm Bureau president.
YF&R holds strawberry festival
Some 600 men, women and children attended the Delaware Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers & Ranchers’10th annual YF&R Strawberry Festival at Bobola Farm and Florist in Dover on May 25. The weather could not have been better and fun was had by all.
The Delaware Farm Bureau Foundation’s mobile Ag Lab was on hand, as was an antique tractor. Wagon rides were provided to the pick-your-own strawberry patch. Kids enjoyed a Fun Zone with bounce house, petting zoo, barrel cart rides, face painting and live music by the Captain
Mike band. Adults and kids alike enjoyed strawberry ice cream and strawberry shortcake, pulled pork sandwiches, hot dogs and chips.
Proceeds from the day goes into YF&R’s general fund that promotes leadership training, benefits community assistance, provides
scholarships, and supports the FFA and 4-H through the Livestock Auction at the Delaware State Fair.
The YF&R program is a committee of the Delaware Farm Bureau which dates back to 1954. It includes both men and women between the ages of 18 to 40 whose
objective is to attract hard-working agricultural professionals and advocates through professional development and social networking activities; to empower future Delaware Farm Bureau leaders and to increase interest in agriculture as a way of life.
June 28 deadline to apply for DFB Youth Ambassador
Rising high school juniors and seniors, would you like to represent the Delaware Farm Bureau and earn a $1,000 scholarship?
The Women’s Committee is accepting applications for the Youth Ambassador Program through June 28 at 4 p.m.
One person will be chosen to represent each county and will have a chance to be chosen as the State Ambassador.
Applicants must be the son or daughter of a DFB member with an active, paid-up membership for more than one year.
The State Ambassador will be asked to earn points by attending county and state annual meetings, the Ag Industry Dinner and committee events and by volunteering in the DFB Food Booth or DFB exhibit at the Delaware State Fair. Rules and application form are online at: https://defb.org/programs or at the DFB office, 3457 South DuPont Highway in Camden, or by calling (302) 697-3183.
AFBF, beef checkoff send teachers to school
Jenny Rovner was among 25 teachers across the nation to be selected by the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture for the "On the Farm" STEM professional development events in Kansas City this spring. The training is designed to bring science to life for participants with the help of American beef cattle ranchers, researchers, nutritionists and veterinarians. A second group was chosen for a similar experience in New York.
The Beef Checkoff Program funded development of the On the Farm training and supporting resources.
Rovner teaches Advanced Academics at Wilson Elementary School in Newark. She is completing her 18th year as a teacher.
Rovner described her experience. “We started the evening of May 1 with guest speakers from the Kansas Beef Council. The next day, we went to Manhattan Kansas where we visited the Downey
Ranch, a cow-calf operation, and learned about the beef life cycle. Then we went to the Kansas State Beef Stocker unit where cattle go once they are weaned, and from there to a feed lot, the Tiffany Cattle Company.
“The next day, we heard a presentation on the cattle trace program in which cattle are tagged at birth and can be followed through processing. This way, beef can be traced back to the farm from which it originated.
“Then we went back to Kansas City to see the slaughter and butchering process at Bichelmeyer Meats. We spent a lot of time there learning about the life cycle.
“After the processing presentation, we went to Johnson County Community College for two more sessions. In one, a chef did a cooking demonstration using different cuts of meat and telling us how to prepare them.
“The last session challenged us to apply all the discoveries, all that
2019 Photo Contest
January 1 - September 30
Non-members: $5 per photo
DFB Members: 1 entry FREE, $5 per photo after
we had learned, to create our own lesson plans and units.”
Rovner did two projects. One was on ag careers. “My students are in a suburban school, but they are urban kids. They don’t know much about animal science, nutrition and diets or veterinary science.”
The second project was on farm to table, which some of her students know about. “We start with the farm and learn about different types of farms and how things from a farm make it to the table. It includes a research project for kids to do.”
Rovner said she really enjoyed the experience. “I thought I knew a lot about agriculture. I had some background knowledge of ag, but I realized I really didn’t know
anything. The training was so informative. It was a huge learning experience for me.
“The kids will benefit, they definitely are.
Rovner has already started some lessons as a background. The trainers shared prepared lessons from other state beef councils such as grocery store problem solving and lessons on beef, dairy and plants which will enable Rovner to give some basics before get into her own program.
Wilson Elementary is only two or three miles from the University of Delaware where they have an animal science program. Rovner plans to use information gained in Kansas as an introduction, then have the class go see university’s farm and what’s offered there.
Delaware Beef Advisory Board administers checkoff funds
Jenny Rovner’s “On the Farm” training was made possible by the Beef Checkoff Program which was established as part of the 1985 farm bill. The checkoff assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle, in addition to a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products. States may retain up to 50 cents on the dollar and forward the other 50 cents per head to the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board, which administers the national checkoff program, subject to USDA approval. At first voluntary,
the checkoff became mandatory after producers approved the program in a referendum in 1988.
Dairy producers, responsible for about 20 percent of the beef raised in the United States, also pay the Beef Checkoff
Every dollar invested in the beef checkoff is used to build demand for beef globally through promotion, research, industry information, consumer information, foreign marketing and producer communication.
While the Delaware Beef Ad-
CONTINUED ON PAGE 11
Qualifying for Social Security as a farmer or rancher
For many Americans, Social Security makes up a sizable amount of their income in retirement. In 2018, 63 million Americans received approximately one trillion dollars in Social Security benefits, with a majority of those funds going to retired workers.1 However, due to the way in which many farm operators utilize the tax code to adjust their income, many farmers run the risk of not qualifying for Social Security retirement benefits.
What does it take to be eligible for Social Security retirement benefits?
For any individual to qualify for Social Security retirement benefits, they must have either had a minimum amount of wages or net profit for a given year (or quarter). Individuals earn one credit per quarter in which a minimum required wage or net profit is achieved. For 2019, the minimum earnings per quarter are $1,360.2
Individuals are able to earn four credits per year, making the total minimum earnings equivalent to $5,440 for 2019. To qualify for future benefits under Social Security, an individual must have earned 40 quarters (or, 10 years) of wages or net profits. If an individual does not have at least the 40 required earned credits, they will not be able to collect Social Security retirement benefits.
Your farm business structure matters
For those individuals that own and operate a farm as either a C-corporation or as an S-Corporation, it is highly likely they will already be paying themselves wages. Any wages of $1,360 per quarter (or, $5,440 per year) will receive their max of four credits for benefit calculations.
For those farmers who run their operation through an LLC or are filing their taxes as a sole proprietor under a Schedule F return, credits will be earned on net farm income. Net farm income in excess of $5,440 per year will result in four credits being earned. However, farmers who utilize tax deductions and expenses that result in an income loss for the tax year (reported on a Schedule F IRS tax form) should be aware that this action will result in zero credits being earned for that tax year.
Who pays the Social Security tax is another key issue. Individuals employed by an employer will have 6.2 percent3 of their pay withheld for Social Security tax and 1.45 percent4 withheld for Medicare tax. The other half is paid by the employer. For many farmers, these two taxes will both be paid by the individual, generally referred to as self-employment tax, for a total of
15.3 percent. However, any wages above $132,9005 will not be assessed the 12.4 percent tax and will only be subject to the additional Medicare taxes.
Who pays the Social Security tax?
Payment of Social Security and Medicare taxes depends on how
you report your taxable income. For farm owners, the net amount is the same, but may be reported differently depending whether they are paid as a combined self-employment tax or if the combined amount is split between the farm and each employee.
1
I.R.C. § 212
2 I.R.C. § 67
3 I.R.C. § 55
4 Treas. Reg. § 1.404(a)-3(d)
5 I.R.C. Sec. 72(e)(2)
Get the most out of your Social Security benefits. Contact a Nationwide Advantage Direct Advisor today at (855) 863-9636 to get started.
Del. Beef Advisory Board administers checkoff funds ...
visory Board was not directly involved in the “On the Farm” training, Delaware cattlemen did contribute to the program through the checkoff.
John Comegys, president, said Delaware’s checkoff amounts to $3,000 to $4,000 a year.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 plans to contribute $5,000 to the beef checkoff’s Northeast Beef Promotion Initiative which was formed to channel national Beef Checkoff resources to the Northeast region. While more than 22 percent of U.S. residents call the Northeast their home, only 3 percent of beef checkoff dollars are collected in this region. By working together, beef producers in the Northeast can make checkoff dollars go farther.
“Delaware has the third fewest cattle of any state,” he added. “We’re behind Rhode Island and Alaska in the number of cattle produced.”
Nationwide, the beef community accounts for more than 1.4 million full-time jobs and contributes more than $188 billion to the national economy.
With little money for staff, the Delaware Beef Advisory Board
The Delaware board meets only as needed. One project the board has in the works is to sponsor a teacher to help cafeteria staff in her school use more local beef in their menus. This project, however, won’t start until the next school year.
This material is not a recommendation to buy, sell, hold or rollover any asset, adopt an investment strategy, retain a specific investment manager or use a particular account type. It does not take into account the specific investment objectives, tax and financial condition, or particular needs of any specific person. Investors should work with their financial professional to discuss their specific situation.
Federal income tax laws are complex and subject to change. The information in this paper is based on current interpretations of the law and is not guaranteed. Neither Nationwide, nor its employees, its agents, brokers or registered representatives gives legal or tax advice. You should consult an attorney or competent tax professional for answers to specific tax questions as they apply to your situation.
Nationwide, the Nationwide N and Eagle and Nationwide is on your side are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. © 2019 Nationwide
NFM-18272AO.1 (04/19)
Do you know what it takes to be eligible for Social Security retirement benefits?
Since learning that some national buyers at sales in Pennsylvania require sellers have Beef Quality Assurance certification before they will make a purchase, the Delaware board is working to get that training for the state's beef producers.
Meanwhile, the training is available online, at www.bqa.org/ bqa-certification/online-bqa-certification. The online course takes about 2 hours, and you can start and stop as you please.
The Delaware Beef Advisory Board will have a display at the Delaware State Fair. Comegys said Treasurer Scott Wright handles the day-to-day preparations for the fair. “Scott is very important to our board,” he added.
Join Nationwide for a live webinar on June 25, from 4 to 5 p.m. to learn how to get the most out of your Social Security benefits. The webinar will cover Social Security basics and making decisions about your Social Security benefits. To register, visit register.gotowebinar.com/ register/57867147017066 54723.
