Farm Bureau News
Celebrating 76 Years!
New excitement for local produce to sprout from digital marketing grant
Local Farmers Feeding Your Family
More stories from the First State Agriculture industry deemed essential during COVID-19 pandemic
Blue jackets gifted to local FFA students at statewide convention
Meet the farmer: Connie Fox
From the President’s desk
Take some time to find the silver linings in the middle of an international pandemic
COVID-19 – it’s talked about in every workplace, nearly every household and, yes, every farm across the country. The impacts of this disease will be seen for months to come, if not longer – even when our stay-at-home order from Governor John Carney is lifted.
Delaware seemingly came to a grinding halt when the order came in back in March. We were dealing with an unprecedented situation that left millions across the country jobless and feeling insecure.
The agriculture industry was one of 15 business sectors that would prove “essential” during the crisis. Maintaining our food supply throughout the crisis and into the next year was and will continue to be crucial.
As farmers and advocates, we know just how essential our industry is to each and every person.
As an example, despite the struggles businesses are facing in this pandemic, the United States Department of Agriculture remains committed to feeding some of the nation’s most vulnerable populations and even worked to lift some of the requirements for these prob-
Delaware Farm Bureau News
Editor
Jennifer Antonik jenn.antonik@defb.org
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
lems to ensure those in need have access to food in this time.
Working with funds made available through USDA and supplies from local farmers, the Food Bank of Delaware and partnering organizations have provided countless families with food for these populations throughout the COVID-19 crisis.
That’s one of the silver linings in all of this. But the crisis has had negative impacts on the agriculture industry, as well.
Interstate travel is frowned upon so much right now that the Delaware Farm Bureau has drafted a letter for agricultural employers to send with their employees, detailing their job as essential to our industry and the state.
Gatherings have been limited, requiring the postponement of our 4th annual Ag Safety conference which offers a full day of life-saving information for local farmers.
Labor challenges have been experienced at poultry and meat packing facilities all across the country. Here on Delmarva our poultry integrators have done a magnificent job of providing Personal Protective Equipment and using other tactics such as physical barriers between workers who cannot work six feet apart from one another. They have erected temporary shelters to provide more space for distancing while workers
are on their breaks. Even with these adjustments this highly infectious virus still has caused disruptions in the workforce.
Farm Bureau is working to avoid labor shortages in our important fruit and vegetable industry. Through advocacy with USDA and the Department of State the processing of H-2A visas has resumed. We have worked to have temporary changes in the eligibility for Visas made so guest workers who have been here in the previous 4-5 years are eligible to receive a Visa renewal for this year without a faceto-face interview. We are working with others to provide information on COVID-19 prevention as well as testing to help assure that a secure work force will be available this summer.
COVID-19 awareness has also impacted how every business continues to operate, with a heightened recognition of the health of each employee.
Looking ahead
As businesses begin to reopen and employees reenter the workforce, the Delaware Farm Bureau looks forward to a prosperous and healthy second half of the year ahead of us. May and June are packed with farmers gearing up for the harvest season. Strawberries, a local favorite, and blueberries will be ready to pick in the latest spring months.
The Delaware State Fair should open right before harvest seasons are in full swing, offering a chance to highlight the agriculture industry that is standing so tall amidst the COVID-19 situation.
As Farm Bureau members, we see the problems the world is facing first-hand. We will continue to work for your interests while educating the community on the essential work that goes on behind the scenes to ensure our store shelves remain stocked and food stays on your tables every day. We wish nothing but the best health and business opportunities for all of our members. Take care and be well. You, our members, help keep America fed. For that great gift, we thank you.
President
Richard Wilkins
1st Vice President
Laura Hill
2nd Vice President
William Powers, Jr.
County Presidents
Kent: Jacob Urian
Sussex: Steve Breeding
New Castle: Stewart Ramsey
Young Farmers and Ranchers
State Chair: Teddy Bobola
Kent Chair: Michael Lynch
New Castle Chair: Travis Voshell
Women’s Committee
State Chair: Mary B. Gooden
Kent Chair: Rebecca Bobola
Sussex Chair: Constance Fox
New Castle Chair: June Unruh
Kent County Directors
Ted Bobola Jr.
Paul Cartanza Sr.
David Marvel
Sussex County Directors
Alan Bailey
Mark Davis
Herb Wright
New Castle County Directors
Bruce Patrick Will Powers III
Ryan Greer
DEFB, iHeartRadio team up to market local produce
By Jennifer Antonik
A grant made available to Delaware Farm Bureau is making it possible for the non-profit organization to promote local farmers and produce side-by-side with iHeartMedia.
The campaign will run for twoyears starting May 1 through December 2021, digitally introducing 24 fresh market specialty crops available seasonally at markets all over Delaware to consumers who are on the go and ready to find local produce.
The goal is to improve awareness of local farmers and increase sales of their homegrown products. Bringing this content to a digital platform will be important as more and more consumers bring their purchasing power online.
In 2018, Neilsen found that consumers spend almost 11 hours per day engaged with media sources either on their phones or via computers. Salesforce and their research partner Publicis.Sapient also discovered that a majority of consumers start their product searches digitally.
WDSD, an iHeartRadio company, will help the Delaware Farm Bureau reach almost three million consumers over the next two years at a rate of 488,750 per month through the use of digital audio with a companion banner, social targeting and social media postings. They will digitally target specific audiences with geofencing technology and re-target those consumers who have left a store to redirect them to local farmers markets or stands. Consumers will also be directed to defb.org.
Geofencing is a proven marketing technique using locations made available through GPS and radio-frequencies. iHeartRadio will be able to send messages directly to a consumer's smartphone using the geofencing technology when the consumer enters a pre-defined geographical area. This will help attract consumers to local produce near them while they are traveling around for their errands.
The campaign will also utilize graphics created by Delaware
Farm Bureau staff and radio ads on WDSD in hopes of generating more coverage for the specialty crops marketed.
Crops to be marketed include strawberries, radishes, honey, lima beans, green beans, cucumbers, cantaloupe, potatoes, broccoli, eggplant, watermelon, peppers, sweet corn, peaches, tomatoes, cabbage, pears, squash, apples, carrots, sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts and Christmas trees.
Advertise with us!
Place your ad in the Delaware Farm Bureau News and reach nearly 5,800 members!
Contact the Delaware Farm Bureau at (302) 697-3183 or email the editor at jenn.antonik@defb.org for more information!
Local Farmers Feeding Your Family
$19 billion in Coronavirus aid for farmers applauded
The American Farm Bureau applauds a $19 billion economic aid package for America’s farmers and ranchers announced by Secretary Perdue in April.
The package includes $16 billion in much-needed direct support to producers or family farmers and ranchers. Of that, $9.5 billion has been allocated by the CARES Act, or the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, and $6.5 billion will be sourced from the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC).
The additional $3 billion from the relief package will be used by the USDA to purchase fresh produce, dairy and meat to redistribute to food pantries and other non-profit organizations throughout the country in support of Americans experiencing food insecurity.
“During this time of national crisis, President Trump and USDA are standing with our farmers, ranchers and all citizens to make sure they are taken care of,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said. “The American food supply chain had to adapt, and it remains safe, secure, and strong, and we all know that starts with America’s farmers and ranchers. This program will not only provide immediate relief for our farmers
and ranchers, but it will also allow for the purchase and distribution of our agricultural abundance to help our fellow Americans in need.”
CFAP will use the funding and authorities provided in the CARES Act, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), and other USDA existing authorities.
The program includes two major elements to achieve these goals.
Direct Support to Farmers and Ranchers: The program will provide $16 billion in direct support based on actual losses for agricultural producers where prices and market supply chains have been impacted and will assist producers with additional adjustment and marketing costs resulting from lost demand and short-term oversupply for the 2020 marketing year caused by COVID-19.
USDA Purchase and Distribution: USDA will partner with regional and local distributors, whose workforce has been significantly impacted by the closure of many restaurants, hotels, and other food service entities, to purchase $3 billion in fresh produce, dairy and meat. We will begin with the procurement of an estimated $100 million per month in fresh fruits and vegetables, $100 million per month in a variety of dairy prod-
ucts, and $100 million per month in meat products. The distributors and wholesalers will then provide a pre-approved box of fresh produce, dairy and meat products to food banks, community and faith based organizations and other non-profits serving Americans in need.
On top of these targeted programs USDA will utilize other available funding sources to purchase and distribute food to those in need.
USDA has up to an additional $873.3 million available in Section 32 funding to purchase a variety of agricultural products for distribution to food banks. The use of these funds will be determined by industry requests, USDA agricultural market analysis and food bank needs.
The FFCRA and CARES Act provided at least $850 million for food bank administrative costs and USDA food purchases, of which a minimum of $600 million will be designated for food purchases. The use of these funds will be determined by food bank need and product availability.
“We’re grateful to President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue for working together to come to the aid of America’s
farmers and ranchers. The coronavirus pandemic forced the closing of restaurants, schools and college cafeterias, causing commodity prices to fall off a cliff and serious disruptions to food supply chains. This $16 billion in aid will help keep food on Americans’ tables by providing a lifeline to farm families that were already hit by trade wars and severe weather," American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall said.
“The plan to purchase $3 billion in meat, dairy products, fruits and vegetables will help to stabilize markets and keep farms afloat so they can go about the business of feeding America. Farmers and ranchers proudly accept the responsibility of feeding this nation and it’s heartbreaking to be forced to dispose of milk and plow under crops of fresh food at a time when others are going hungry. We also appreciate the additional funding from other sources to help deliver food from farms to food banks," he continued.
“We look forward to additional details about how the aid will be distributed.”
For more information on the local impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak, visit defb.org.
National FB President Duvall named to economic revival group
As efforts began to reopen the American economy following its closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, President Donald J. Trump created 17 economic revival groups to ease the transitions ahead.
According to the White House, these bipartisan groups of Amerian leaders will work together with the White House to chart the path forward toward success and health for Americans. The groups will encompass the following business sectors:
• Agriculture
• Banking
• Construction/Labor/Workforce
• Defense
• Energy
• Financial Services
• Food & Beverage
• Healthcare
• Hospitality
• Manufacturing
• Real Estate
• Retail
• Tech
• Telecommunicatoins
• Transportation
• Sports
• Thought Leaders/Groups
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall will join a host of others in the agriculture group as announced by President Trump.
According to AFBF, almost all row crop commodity futures have fallen by double-digit percentages. Milk futures have fallen by around
30 percent, live cattle futures are down by 29 percent and hot futures have fallen 39 percent, according to the organization.
“I’m honored to have been chosen by President Trump to join the Great Economic Revival Industry group focusing on agriculture. America’s farmers and ranchers are deeply committed to feeding the nation during this crisis, but there are mounting challenges threatening their ability to keep putting food on Americans’ tables," Duvall said. "The lost food service and restaurant market due to the COVID-19 shutdown hit America’s farm families hard. The prices paid to farmers and ranchers have spiraled down, and in some cases, demand has disappeared, despite empty grocery shelves. No one is more eager than farmers to get the economy humming again. It’s imperative that we do this in
a manner that keeps our families, neighbors, coworkers and communities safe."
Others on the agricultural group include Kevin Hourican of the Sysco Corporation; Dean Banks of Tyson Foods, Inc.; Randy Day of Perdue Farms, Inc.; David MacLennan of Cargill, Inc.; Juan Luciano of Archer-Daniels-Midland Company; Jim Collins of Corteva Agriscience; Hal Lawton of Tractor Supply Company; Steven Bresky of Seabord Corporation; Barbara Grimm of Grimmway Farms; and Ronnie Cameron of Mountaire Farms. Duvall added, “We look forward to working with fellow agricultural leaders and the Trump administration to ensure healthy, affordable food continues to be available to families across the country and farmers are able to hold on as we return to some sense of normalcy in America.”
AFBF President Zippy Duvall
Agriculture industry recognized as a critical industry during the COVID-19 outbreak
One of Delaware’s top industries, the agriculture industry, was listed as one of 16 critical industries by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in response to businesses and organizations closing throughout the country due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
“If you work in a critical infrastructure industry, as defined by the Department of Homeland Security, such as healthcare services and pharmaceutical and food supply, you have a special responsibility to maintain your normal work schedule,” the guidance states.
Industries listed in this guidance include healthcare and public health; emergency services such as law enforcement, public safety and first responders; food and agriculture; energy; water and wastewater; transportation and logistics; public works; communications and information technology; other community-based government operations and essential functions such as elections personnel, educators and some hotel workers; critical manufacturing; hazardous materials; financial services; chemical; and defense industrial base.
Each of those industries listed as critical has guidelines for which specific workers can continue their duties during this crisis. More information can be found online.
According to AgWeb, DHS recognized these specific food and agriculture roles as critical:
• Animal agriculture workers to include those employed in veterinary health; manufacturing and distribution of animal medical materials, animal vaccines, animal drugs, feed ingredients, feed and bedding, etc.; transportation of live animals, animal medical materials; transportation of deceased animals for disposal; raising of animals for food; animal production operations; slaughter and packing plants and associated regulatory and government workforce
• Farm workers to include those employed in animal food, feed, and ingredient production, packaging and distribution; manufacturing, packaging and distribution
of veterinary drugs; truck delivery and transport; farm and fishery labor needed to produce our food supply domestically:
• Farm workers and support service workers to include those who field crops; commodity inspection; fuel ethanol facilities; storage facilities; and other agricultural inputs
• Workers supporting groceries, pharmacies and other retail that sells food and beverage products
• Restaurant carry-out and quick serve food operations – Carry-out and delivery food employees
• Food manufacturer employees and their supplier employees—to include those employed in food processing (packers, meat processing, cheese plants, milk plants, produce, etc.) facilities; livestock, poultry, seafood slaughter facilities; pet and animal feed processing facilities; human food facilities producing by-products for animal food; beverage production facilities; and the production of food packaging
APRIL
• Employees and firms supporting food, feed, and beverage distribution, including warehouse workers, vendor-managed inventory controllers and blockchain managers
• Workers supporting the sanitation of all food manufac-
turing processes and operations from wholesale to retail
• Company cafeterias – inplant cafeterias used to feed employees
• Workers in food testing labs in private industries and in institutions of higher education
• Workers essential for assis-
tance programs and government payments
• Employees of companies engaged in the production of chemicals, medicines, vaccines and other substances used by the food and agriculture industry, including pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, minerals, enrichments and other agricultural production aids
• Workers who support the manufacture and distribution of forest products, including, but not limited to timber, paper and other wood products
• Employees engaged in the manufacture and maintenance of equipment and other infrastructure necessary to agricultural production and distribution
For more information on the local impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak, visit defb.org.
Your Generations of Success
AFBF brings award-winning educational tools home
The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture’s My American Farm STEM app, named a gold medal winner in the 2019 Horizon Interactive Awards, is just one of the ways the Foundation is helping parents and educators adapt to at-home learning.
“We’re thrilled to receive this recognition from Horizon Interactive Awards,” said Daniel Meloy, executive director of the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. “Now, more than ever, it’s important to provide fun and engaging learning activities for kids outside the classroom.”
Each week the Foundation pro-
vides a round-up of free ag-focused educational resources, in addition to promoting trusted resources from other organizations. Parents and educators can choose from grade- and subject-specific activities to help round out the at-home learning experience while expanding students’ understanding of where their food comes from.
The award-winning My American Farm STEM App was created in April 2019 to help meet the growing demand for STEM education resources. Within the app, students can choose from games that meet national standards for STEM components including: Keys to
Stewardship (science); The Great Seed Search (technology); Thrive (engineering); and Operation Peanut Butter (math). You can download the app for free.
“The app is one of many resources the Foundation has created to make learning fun and help kids understand how closely connected STEM is to agriculture,” said Meloy.
About the Horizon Interactive Awards
The Horizon Interactive Awards, now in its 18th year, has become one of the most prestigious awards in the field of interactive and creative media. The competition rec-
ognizes, promotes and awards the best websites/website design, interactive, videos, online advertising, print media and mobile applications. Each year, the Horizon Interactive Awards receives thousands of entries from all over the world and a volunteer panel of industry professionals, from diverse multi-media, graphic design, advertising and marketing backgrounds, review them to determine the work to be recognized.
The My American Farm All About Beef app was a 2015 Horizon Interactive Awards Gold Winner in the Mobile Apps, Education and Mobile Apps, Game categories.
New analysis shows U.S. agriculture reducing per-unit GHG emissions
New analysis of updated data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, combined with U.S. Department of Agriculture data, shows U.S. farmers and ranchers continue to reduce perunit greenhouse gas emissions. All told, the U.S. agricultural sector accounts for less than 10% of total U.S. emissions. That’s less than the
emissions from the transportation, electricity generation and industrial sectors. Globally, agriculture accounts for about 24% of GHG emissions.
The EPA’s U.S. Inventory of Greenhouse Gas Emissions provides a first look at 2018 U.S. emissions data, which is incorporated into a new Market Intel re-
port from the American Farm Bureau Federation. The Market Intel report finds that per-unit methane emissions from livestock have declined since 1990 as livestock producers have increased productivity. During the past 30 years, U.S. milk production has increased 71% while per-unit emissions of milk have declined by almost 25%. Beef production has increased almost 50%, while per-unit emissions have fallen nearly 8%.
Meanwhile, American farmers are producing more crops on fewer acres, according to an analysis of USDA data. When compared to farm production in 1990, U.S. farmers would have needed almost 100 million additional acres to grow the same amount of corn, cotton, rice, soybeans and wheat they harvested in 2018.
“We’re doing more with less and proud to lead the world in agricultural advances,” said American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall. “Smarter farming, new strategies and technology are helping farmers reduce their environmental footprint and provide solutions.”
The analysis builds on data shared during the launch of Farmers for a Sustainable Future (FSF), a coalition of agriculture groups aimed at educating lawmakers and finding solutions to challenges posed by climate change. The gains farmers have made in reducing their environmental footprint have been significant, and FSF supports federal investment in innovation, science-based research, voluntary
conservation programs, resilient infrastructure, and incentives to assist farmers in their efforts.
“Corn farmers are proud of their successful efforts to improve soil, water and air quality,” said Kevin Ross, president of the National Corn Growers Association, an FSF member. “These efforts are paying off in increased carbon sequestration and carbon retention in the soil, which helps offset agriculture’s relatively low contribution to U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.”
Learn more about Farmers for a Sustainable Future at www.SustainableFarming.us. To access the American Farm Bureau Market Intel analysis, go to www.fb.org/ market-intel/ghg.
FSF members include the American Farm Bureau Federation, American Pulse Association, American Sheep Industry Association, American Sugar Alliance, American Soybean Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Barley Growers Association, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Cotton Council of America, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, National Farmers Union, National Sorghum Producers, National Milk Producers Federation, National Pork Producers Council, National Sunflower Association, Southern Peanut Farmers Association, United Egg Producers, U.S. Canola Association, U.S. Dry Bean Council, USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council, and USA Rice.
Delaware Farm Bureau presents Blue Jacket
Bonanza awardees at statewide FFA conference
By Jennifer Antonik
Blue corduroy jackets, a symbol of the traditions and fellowship found behind each FFA member, were gifted to local students Wednesday by the Delaware Farm Bureau during the 90th annual Delaware FFA conference.
“Today, I’m here representing the Delaware Farm Bureau as its president. But yesterday, I was just like you, an FFAer, student at Milford High School, past chapter leader, a past state leader and the ideals that I learned from my involvement with the FFA I’ve applied specifically to my leadership life as an agriculturist,” DFB President Richard Wilkins said on stage before presenting the Blue Jacket Bonanza awardees during the conference.
Describing the jacket as a “great symbol of American agriculture,” he continued, “It gives us great
CONTINUED ON PAGE 9
Delaware Farm Bureau President Richard Wilkins (left) joins Delaware FFA State Treasurer Trey Thompson (right) in presenting the 2020 Blue Jacket Bonanza awardees during the 90th annual Delaware FFA conference.
Photos below and on the following page are also from the conference.
Jackets...
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8
pleasure to be able to support you with the Blue Jacket Bonanza Program. Because we realize, the Farm Bureau leaders, that when you put on this blue and gold jacket, that you’re representing the traditions and the spirits of citizenship, of leadership, of vocational education.”
This year, 44 students received the gift of an FFA blue jacket through the program. Since 2015, Delaware Farm Bureau has awarded 291 jackets totaling $17,525 through the program.
Sussex Technical High School student Taylor Bullis received a blue jacket through the program last year. During the conference, she was given the opportunity to express her heartfelt gratitude for the gift.
“To me, it was just an incredible feeling to own my first personal Sussex Tech FFA jacket. Wearing it connects me to the members and officers who came before me and keeps me focused on the goals ahead,” she said. “To me, my blue jacket means much more than just my involvement in the FFA. It symbolizes my growth as a person, as a student and as a leader. Our blue corduroy jacket is much more than just fabric and stitching. It’s a symbol of hope, of hard work, of determination, of sacrifice and of friendship. My blue corduroy jacket represents how the FFA, just like the Farm Bureau, has stood the test of time and will continue to stand.”
Meet your farmer: Connie Fox
By Jennifer Antonik
Farming seemed to come naturally for a young Connie Fox who found herself at the Philly and Baltimore stockyards with her father at Christmastime and during the summer where livestock was sold and purchased at auction.
Little did she know she would grow up to become a farmer much like the ones she met on those memorable outings.
“I was the boy my father never had. So, I always went with him. I went to the stock market, to the stock yards with him in Baltimore, the stock yard in Philly. . . I was tickled to death that I got to go with him,” she said of the experiences. “I grew up around animals, not necessarily farming. I just grew up with that; that’s just what my dad did and I went with him.”
Now as an adult, Fox spends her days selling real estate with the Marvel Agency and volunteering with organizations like the Carlisle Fire Company and the Delaware Farm Bureau. She also tends to her own family farm in Milford which yields corn, soybeans and barley.
“After I got older and married, we decided we would start farming some. So, we rented a small piece out on Elks Lodge Road [in Milford]. We had a pull behind combine and that’s how we started,” she said simply.
Her husband, Duane, brought some farming experience to the family from his student years as a member of the FFA. Fox says she was involved in other activities like the Girl Scouts as girls were not allowed in the FFA at the time.
Together, they started the family farm in 1993 and didn’t look back. In fact, she jumped headfirst into the farming lifestyle and joined the Delaware Farm Bureau.
“And if I was going to be a member, I was going to start helping,” she said. “So, I started working the Delaware State Fair food booth. I was there every day from 9 to 3. Well, I would take Sundays off. I would come home for dinner and then we would probably go to the fair again. People would say, ‘What are you going to do on your vacation?’ And I would say, ‘Go to the
fair.’ I see more people there that I haven’t seen in a long time. And I see the same people every year that I only see once a year. That’s just another way of meeting people for me.”
Overtime, she grew into her volunteer roles with the Farm Bureau when the role of Sussex County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee Chair fell in her lap.
“I didn’t play a part as an officer or anything until shortly before my husband died. We were sitting at the booth and they were talking about our secretary for Sussex county who wanted to give up the secretarial board. And I said to them, ‘What other committees are there on your committee?’ Barb [Sapp] said, ‘Women’s committee chair. Do you want to be it?’ I said, ‘Let me think about it.’ So. I came home and talked to Dwayne,” she explained. “He said, ‘Yeah, go ahead.’ And that’s when it really started,” she explained.
Chairing that committee also meant Fox would participate on the Board of Directors for the statewide organization, earning her opportunities to go to the national conventions each year. Even with a “very small farm of maybe 200 to 300 acres” at the time, Fox was able to make a difference in her local farming community.
“If I’m going to be in something, I’m going to be active and do something good for them. And I feel that Delaware Farm Bureau represents the farmers not only as grassroots, but also how it keeps us out of trouble with the government and with the neighbors. So, I have enjoyed it,” Fox said.
The family farm grew along with her volunteer roles. With Fox behind the wheel of a truck much of the time, their sons now help run the operation.
“I can drive corn trucks, or the six-wheeler. We have a 10-wheeler that has air brakes and I won’t drive it. For me for the farm, I’m the gofer. I can cut corn stalks, I can cut grass and I can drive the truck,” she said.
Other needs around their farm include truck maintenance, getting the farm ready for planting and harvesting and ensuring the products
grown can be sold. Maintenance and cleanliness, she added, is of utmost importance to Fox, as it was to her husband before he passed away in 2013 after almost 52 years of marriage.
“We don’t put anything away without it being cleaned, even the combine,” she said. “It’s something that my husband incorporated in our children and we keep it that way now. I know what our combine looked like when we got it. It had about six inches of dirt on it. We took pictures of the before and after When the boys got done working on it, and my grandchildren, cleaning, power washing and waxing it, it looked like a new combine. You couldn’t even tell hardly what color it was when we got it. It’s money saved. And not only that, but when something goes wrong, you take care of it right then and there.”
Corn and soybeans from their farm are typically sold to Mountaire or Perdue Farms to be used in chicken feed. Barley is a new venture for the farm at the insistence of Fox’s son Christopher who wanted
to diversity the business. Fox said this might be used for chicken feed also, or it might be used for local breweries.
“It’s hard work. When we put a plow into the ground for the first time in the spring and start planting, we’ve taken a gamble that we do not know whether that product we’ve put into the ground will grow and be able to harvest or make money, or do we lose money. We don’t go around saying the farmer is a gambler; he’s not. The biggest job the farmer has is to provide his family food. It all goes for food to feed the people of the United States and the world,” she said passionately. She added, “Without farmers, you don’t have food. Without farmers, this pandemic would be worse than the depression. People are hoarding food and grabbing food out of the stores and stuff. But, if we didn’t have farmers, there wouldn’t be any.”
To discover volunteer opportunities with the Delaware Farm Bureau and make an impact in the community, call (302) 697-3183.
Connie and Duane Fox stand next to a guide during a trip to Alaska while celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.
Nationwide offers advice on 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 earned a minimum amount of either wages or net profit for a given year (or quarter). Individuals earn one credit per quarter in which an annually-set minimum required wage or net profit is achieved. For 2019, the minimum earnings per quarter are $1,360.2 Individuals can earn up to 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)
Long-term care
Long-term care: what does it mean to you? Do you think of the consequences like the stresses placed on family caretakers or the changes to your lifestyle that may result? How will your farm or ranch operation be impacted by your need for care? Many believe long-term care (LTC) planning is too expensive or too complicated, or that it’s something they’ll never use. Improving your understanding may help you better protect what matters most. What is long-term care and how much does it cost?
It’s an event that needs to be planned for to help you live as independently and safely as possible when you can no longer do so on your own.
Most of us would prefer to receive care in our homes; in familiar surroundings and with our fam-
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 that 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
options can
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%3 of their pay withheld for Social Security tax and 1.45%4 withheld for Medicare tax, while the employer pays the other half of the total tax. 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%. It’s important to note that any wages above $132,9005 will not be assessed the 12.4% tax and will only be subject to the additional Medicare taxes.
Get the most out of your Social Security benefits. Register for one of our online webinars at www. nationwide.com/dfb to learn more or call Nationwide for help at 855863-9636.
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)
This material is not a recom-
mendation 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-18272M1.1 (12/19)
protect you, your family and your farm
ilies. The good news is that “home health care” is what just over half of us needing care will receive.
Another 20% of us will likely receive care in an assisted living facility, and about three in 10 of us will need care in a nursing home. Each has varying costs and they can certainly be substantial. Today, the average annual expense of a home health aide is $49,192 and in the next 20 years, that is expected to grow to $88,846.
Long-term care options
Recently, the variety of LTC coverage options has increased even as the number of providers offering coverage has shrunk. Combination products that provide an LTC benefit along with life insurance coverage have become more available and more popular. They’re designed to protect your premiums paid by providing a benefit even if
the LTC benefit is not used. Minimizing the consequences
The consequences of not planning for a long-term care event can be costly. The time is now to decide which options are best for you, your family and your business.
What you can do
Join us as your Farm Bureau brings LTC specialists from Nationwide® to answer your questions and show you how you can obtain estimates for receiving care in your local community. Register for one of our online webinars at www.nationwide.com/dfb or call Nationwide for help at 855-863-9636.
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-18272M1.1 (12/19)
