The Communicator July/August 2022 by The Communicator

Vol. 44, No. 4

THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE N.H. FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

JULY/AUGUST 2022

The

COMMUNICATOR National News

Inflation and Money

ZIPPY DUVALL: IMPACT THE DECISIONS MADE IN OUR COMMUNITIES

By Roger Cryan, AFBF Chief Economist

Growing Together On the Farm ABOVE PHOTO

The Farm by the River in Eﬃngham, NH is really two farms in one. Bill and Eve Klotz continue the legacy of Eve’s family by raising sheep and raspberries alongside the Ossipee River. They have recently added a new farmer to the team, Joanne Ducas (left) who runs Mountain Heartbeet Farm, becoming part of the ‘Farmily’ while establishing her own roots.

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USDA ANNOUNCES ONFARM FOOD SAFETY HELP Page 19

State News

GROWING– Page 14

KUBOTA DELIVERS FOR YOUNG FARMER AWARD WINNER Page 13

PEARL FARM CONSERVED A SWEET DEAL FOR MAPLE Page 16

NEW MEMBER BENEFIT & ONLINE RENEWAL SYSTEM Pages 18

SCHOOL TO FARM DAYS RETURN IN A BIG WAY Page 22

A nickel ain’t worth a dime anymore. – Yogi Berra

Farm Bureau Summer Oﬃce Staﬃng

Inflation is as violent as a mugger, as frightening as an armed robber and as deadly as a hit man. – Ronald Reagan Inflation is always and everywhere a monetary phenomenon in the sense that it is and can be produced only by a more rapid increase in the quantity of money than in output. – Milton Friedman

The normal office hours will be 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Please phone ahead if you are planning to stop at the office midday as the office will be temporarily closed when staff leaves the building for lunch.

The four most expensive words in the English language are, “This time it’s diﬀerent.” – John Templeton

The oﬃce will be closed* on the following Wednesdays in July and August: July 20 July 27 August 3 August 10 August 17 August 31 (Open: August 24)

Overall consumer prices in April were 8.3% higher than a year ago, the federal government announced yesterday. This is a slight tick down from March’s peak, so far, of 8.5%, but still part of a dramatic rise in consumer prices that began a year ago. The March inflation figure is the highest rate since the painful conquest of inflation in 1981-82. So-called “core inflation”, (which doesn’t count the more volatile energy and food prices), was 6.2%, also a slight tick down from March; until recently this figure had not gone above 3% in 25 years. This doesn’t mean that a quick end to inflation is at hand. It does mean that the battle to beat it has finally begun; but inflation is almost certain to stay above 5% or 6% for the next couple of years.

*Though the office will be closed, staff will be working from home on these days and can be reached via phone (224-1934) and email. After Labor Day the office will be reopen on Wednesdays.

I N FL AT ION - CON T I N U ED ON PAGE 12 New Hampshire Farm Bureau Federation 295 Sheep Davis Road, Concord, NH 03301

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

Non-Profit Org. US Postage PAID Permit #1 Manchester, NH

BRINGING NEWS TO N.H. FARM BUREAU FAMILIES

. The oﬃcial newspaper of the New Hampshire Farm Bureau Federation.

The Communicator

Page 2

July/August 2022

NOTES FROM THE NORTH

INSIDE July/August 2022 Local Meat Producer Listing. . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Hay & Services Listings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Fruit & Vegetable Grower Listings . . . . . . . . 8 Eye on Extension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Farmers’ Market Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . 20

By Joyce Brady, President

New Hampshire Farm Bureau Federation

ugust is NH Eats Local Month. This designated month was created to help promote farms throughout New Hampshire that grow, raise, and produce food sold directly to consumers. The diversification of agriculture and its direct-to-consumer business model has been fairly unique to our state and the Northeast until recently, when it has started to catch on in other parts of the country. This became more apparent when COVID hit the country in early 2020 and grocery stores were limited in their inventory and supply chains were stressed. Having a strong direct-to-consumer model in place helped people in the Granite State have access to food and the ability to “fill their freezer.” Many farmers across the country had problems not being able to sell their products and some discovered the concept of selling directly to consumers. We live in a great state that has a wide variety of fresh products available and most people don’t even need to look very far from their homes to find local food. On top of the fact that we have many farm stands scattered around the state, the farmers’ markets have really helped bring the local food together for consumers to be able to shop in one place. Some of these markets have been able to carry on throughout the winter months as well. The farmers’ market in Colebrook sets up on our green at the grain store. It’s great to see so many people coming to buy local and support our farmers. So yes, let’s all celebrate NH Eats

New Hampshire Farm Bureau President Joyce Brady at her farm, CJEJ Farm, in Columbia, NH.

Local Month - but remember in NH you can easily eat local all year round! I had the opportunity to share thoughts and perspectives from our local agricultural scene as it relates to national agriculture policy when U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack visited Brookdale Fruit Farm in June. The Secretary toured the farm, along with Senator Maggie Hassan and Representative Chris Pappas, before sitting with seven farmers, a representative from Cooperative Exentsion, and other state agencies for a round table discussion. Brookdale Fruit Farm provided everyone with strawberry shortcake and ice cream, which was enjoyed by all. Best,

Joyce

New Hampshire Farm Bureau President Joyce Brady and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack meet at Brookdale Fruit Farm in Hollis, NH. (Photo credit: Seth Wilner)

Farm Bureau - The Voice of N.H. Agriculture

July/August 2022

Farm Credit East Knowledge Exchange Partner: U.S. Economic Forecast One of the major factors aﬀecting the U.S. economy today is inflation. As the economy has rebounded from the COVID-19-induced contraction of 2020, businesses have struggled to restore capacity fast enough to handle the surge in demand. This, coupled with aggressive stimulus actions by the U.S. federal government, led to a situation of demand outpacing capacity, and subsequently rising inflation. The U.S. consumer price index (CPI) increased by 8.5% in March for the preceding 12 months, the greatest increase since December 1981. A major driver of inflation has been energy costs, which have increased by 32.0% from one year ago. Increases in other product and service categories vary widely, although nearly all have increased to some extent.1 A major driver of price increases and capacity constraints across the U.S. economy has been the supply and cost of labor. With the supply of workers limited, labor costs have increased. The Employment Cost Index for private industry workers increased by 4.0% in 2021, the largest increase since 2004. Lower-wage occupations saw greater increases than the average of all workers, as companies have particularly struggled to staﬀ entry-level and service positions.2 It is likely that

upward pressure on wages and limited supply of job seekers will continue for the foreseeable future A key factor aﬀecting the economy will be the Federal Reserve’s response to these circumstances. The Federal Reserve’s stated goals are to promote maximum employment and price stability, which translates into a long-term inflation target of 2% per year. With unemployment nearing all-time lows at 3.6% as of March, and inflation well above the Fed’s target, they have begun to take steps to cool inflationary pressure by tapering bond-buying and increasing the Federal Funds Rate. At their March meeting, the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee announced a 25 basis-point increase in interest rates, the first of several anticipated over the next 12 months. The speed at which these increases may be implemented will depend on both inflation and unemployment indicators, but it appears likely we will see a prime interest rate above 4.00% by the end of the year. What will the rest of the year bring? There is significant uncertainty in the economic forecast. Beyond the unclear path of the war in Ukraine, there are major unknowns regarding the actions of the Fed, as well as energy and agricultural markets. However, indications suggest that

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the U.S. economy is slowing down, as evidenced by the Q1 2022 GDP growth of -1.4%. While this showed a modest contraction in the U.S. economy, the underlying components of it show that it may not be quite as bad as it looks at first glance. The major components of the Q1 GDP figure that caused it to show a contraction were; the sell-off of excess inventories by businesses, a decline in government spending, and a reduction in net exports, as imports from overseas surged. However, these were partially offset by a significant increase in consumer spending and private investment which remain strong. Taken together, the net takeaway is that the speed of U.S. economic growth is tapering. And that will take some of the inflationary pressure off consumer prices. The impact of certain factors remains unclear. Energy markets, for example, are a major wildcard as prior to the Ukraine war, forecasts suggested that oil prices had peaked, and would slowly decline over the next year. But the embargo on Russian energy will likely keep energy prices high until the conflict is resolved. Another significant factor affecting inflation is the red-hot U.S. labor market. High levels of employment

support household income and consumer spending, while simultaneously putting pressure on labor costs for businesses and pushing prices upward. With unemployment remarkably low, and job openings far exceeding job seekers, it may take significant increases in interest rates by the Fed to slow inflation. The bottom line is that the next nine months will likely bring slower economic growth at home and abroad. We should also see the rate of inflation slow as well, however, which will fall first, and how far, remains a question mark. An optimistic scenario would be for U.S. GDP growth to come in around 2.0% for 2022 – solid but not excessive, and for inflation to follow suit down to perhaps 3-4%. A more pessimistic outlook would be flat or slightly negative U.S. economic growth, while inflation, pressured by energy prices, stays above Fed targets. We will continue to monitor economic results to see which scenario comes to pass..

IT PAYS TO BE A CUSTOMEROWNER. This year we paid $91 million in patronage dividends. Farm Credit East is customer-owned, which means customers share in the association’s financial success. This year, qualifying borrowers received $91 million from our 2021 earnings. That’s equivalent to 1.25% of average eligible loan volume and adds up to $1 billion since our patronage program began. Discover the difference. No other lender works like Farm Credit East.

Loans & Leases Financial Record-Keeping Payroll Services Profitability Consulting Tax Preparation & Planning Appraisals Estate Planning Beginning Farmer Programs

farmcrediteast.com

8 00.82 5.32 52

Crop Insurance

Page 4

The Communicator

July/August 2022

Familiar Faces In New Places By Josh Marshall, NHFB Communications Director

Board of Directors Executive Committee President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joyce Brady 1st Vice President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bob Cunniﬀ 2nd Vice President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tom McElroy 2nd Vice President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jay Phinizy Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Howard Pearl President, Associated Women . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jozi Best Young Farmer Committee Chair. . . . . . . Ben Davis

County Presidents Belknap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brian Matarozzo Carroll . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . Vacant Cheshire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Beth Hodge Coos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joyce Brady Grafton. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deb Robie Hillsboro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Trevor Hardy Merrimack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steve MacCleery Rockingham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Phil Ferdinando Strafford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ruth Scruton Sullivan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Phil Warren Staff Policy Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robert Johnson, II Financial Manager. . . . . . . . . . Leandra Pritchard Communications Director. . . . . . . . .Josh Marshall Office Assistant & YF Coordinator. . . .Sydney Wilson

New Hampshire Farm Bureau Federation 295 Sheep Davis Rd. Concord, NH 03301 Phone: 603-224-1934 Fax: 603-228-8432 www.nhfarmbureau.org NHFBF Standing Committee Chairs Dairy: Beth Hodge, Hinsdale Energy: Henry Ahern, Plymouth Tom McElroy, Newton (Co-Chairs) Equine: Jozi Best, Unity Government Aﬀairs: Erick Sawtelle, Lee Horticulture: Tom McElroy, Newton Livestock & Poultry: Henry Ahern, Plymouth Membership: Vacant Policy Development: Joyce Brady, Columbia Profile Award: Ernie Vose Promotion & Education: Kate Osgood, Sanbornton

The Communicator Where NH Farmers Turn For News editor@nhfarmbureau.org The opinions expressed within this publication are not necessarily those of the New Hampshire Farm Bureau. The Communicator is published six times a year, by New Hampshire Farm Bureau Federation. Subscription comes with membership. It is received in the homes of over 3,000 NHFB members and stakeholders. Presorted standard postage paid at N. Haverhill, N.H. Deadlines for submissions, advertisements and calendar listings are the first Friday of the month for the following month’s issue. For advertising information contact the NHFB oﬃce at 224-1934.

If you haven’t heard, from one source or another, this is the last edition of The Communicator of which I will be serving as editor. By the time you read this article I will have started my new position as Director of Agricultural Development within the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food. For the past 29 years, Gail McWilliam Jellie has held the position, doing yeoman’s work to promote the diverse and bountiful agricultural industry we have in the state. I hope to continue the work that she has dutifully carried out and build upon the strong foundation she has laid for the Division of Agricultural Development. As I head over to the Department of Agriculture, Gail is heading back to UNH Extension in Sullivan County; both staying connected to the agricultural community in new places. I look forward to working with a great team of staff under the leadership of Commissioner of Agriculture, Shawn Jasper, who I thank for his support and the opportunity ahead. It is an exciting opportunity and one that keeps me working towards the same goals this organization strives towards with a broader stakeholder base and a different set of challenges. That makes it a bit easier to leave Farm Bureau, knowing that our paths will cross regularly and, when possible, our efforts will be aligned. Still, I will miss the organization and people who make it what it is. I want to thank all of the volunteer leaders, as well as current and former staff, of Farm Bureau who I have come to know over the past seven years and who have given me the opportunity to learn and grow in my role as Communications Director. The folks who serve on boards and committees, whether county or state level, are truly the lifeblood of this organization. I encourage anyone reading this who has not taken part in the grassroots process of Farm Bureau to dip their toes in the water and make your voice heard. It is what makes Farm Bureau ‘The Voice of Agriculture.’ Looking forward, Farm Bureau has a bright future, with talented and dedicated staff and volunteer leadership focused on sustaining the organization and always looking for more ways to benefit its members. In advocacy, there is none better than NHFB Policy Director, Rob Johnson. Take a look at the list of Board of Directors to the left of this column. These are the people who

Above: Josh Marshall with NH State Veterinarian Dr. Steve Crawford outside the Governor & Executive Council Oﬃces after the Council voted to confirm Josh as Director of Agricultural Development within the NH Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food on June 15. The position was previously held by Gail McWilliam Jellie for 29 years. (Photo credit: Rob Johnson) Below: Gail is joined by the three Commissioners of Agriculture for whom she worked, Lorraine Merrill, Steve Taylor, and Shawn Jasper, at the retirement party held in honor. (Photo credit: Henry Ahern)

go above and beyond, making time in addition to their already overbooked schedules as business owners and farmers, to drive the organization in benefit to farmers all across the state. Starting with NHFB President Joyce Brady, each of these members, and those of have held their roles before them, are familiar faces in the agricultural community. You may have worked with them or you may purchase from their businesses. Be sure to engage with them on issues important to you and stay up to date on what Farm Bureau is doing for you - because it is a lot.

Farm Bureau - The Voice of N.H. Agriculture

July/August 2022

The Zipline

WELCOME - NEW Members! (April April 26 26,, 2022 - June 27, 2022) 2022

Impact the Decisions Made in our Communities Turn on your TV, listen to the radio, open a social media app, or bring up politics, and chances are you’ll hear about things happening – or not happening – in Washington. And while there are many important issues debated in Congress that the federal government oversees, decisions made at the local, county, and state levels have a significant impact on our lives. Local officials decide what roads get built and fixed, how to allocate funds in our schools, what types of buildings can be built in certain areas and how to support local businesses and incentivize growth. There is a reason many of the things we rely on most are governed at the local level – those closest know their communities better than anyone else. And in most cases, the people who make these decisions are elected officials – or they report directly to elected officials. That’s why we need to make sure we pay attention to who is running and give our support to candidates who understand the challenges we face. As I started to get involved in Farm Bureau, someone encouraged me to run for one of these local offices, which led me to serve on my County Commission and my Rural Electric Board in Georgia. I thought it was important to have someone who knew what it was like to live in a rural area and understood the challenges farmers and other rural residents face. Over the years, more people moved into my county from the Atlanta area. After I left the County Commission, new residents with little knowledge of farming raised concerns about the growth of some farms. This led to the Commission passing a new ordinance restricting growth on certain farms and ultimately – unintentionally, I believe – making

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Vincent “Zippy” Duvall, a poultry, cattle and hay producer from Greene County, Georgia, is the 12th president of the American Farm Bureau Federation.

it more difficult for some farmers to remain economically sustainable. And as I’ve traveled the country, I hear stories like this everywhere I go. During a recent visit to Washington, I heard farmers describing how county officials built major roads through their farming community, making it much more dangerous to get in and out of their fields and move machinery. I’ve heard about challenges building hog barns in Iowa and using crop protection products in California because of local or county ordinances. In most states I visit, I hear something similar. The common thread is often local officials who don’t understand agriculture and pass laws or ordinances that negatively impact these farm businesses. Too often, it is born of a lack of knowledge, not ill intent. That’s why it’s so critical to learn about and support candidates for local offices who know rural America and farming. And while they need your vote, they likely also need your help in getting the word out and learning about agriculture’s benefits to the local economy and area. Unlike federal or state candidates, most candidates for local office don’t have hundreds of thousands of dollars to spend or have the backing of a political party.

City

Name

ANTRIM

MELENY NAGY

DEE TREYBIG

BOSCAWEN

JONATHAN SCRIVENS

DEE TREYBIG

BROOKLINE

ROBERT WAITE

ANDREW JELLIE

BROOKLINE

CHRISTINE EGAN

NH FARM LIFE

CANDIA

KENNETH & MELISSA MADDEN

FRIEND

CANTERBURY

BARBARA CORWIN

PETER BARACH

COLEBROOK

CHRISTA HOWE-LAMBERT

JOYCE BRADY

DEERFIELD

SUSAN CARLBERG

CHRISTIE BROWN

DOVER

HALEY PARADIS

SYDNEY WILSON

EPSOM

BRADLEY WHITNEY

DEE TREYBIG

FRANKLIN

CYNTHIA LAUGHY

MIKE BERTOLONE

GOFFSTOWN

MATTHEW & KAREN GARRETT

KYLE BAYLIS

HANOVER

LEE RESSEGUIE

PETER BARACH

HILLSBOROUGH

MICHAEL SCARAMELLINO

NEIGHBOR

JAFFREY

BENJAMIN & KERI COLL

FAMILY MEMBER

JEFFERSON

RONALD & SANDRA MEDEIROS

SALLY GAYNOR-KNECHT

LOUDEN

HAYDEN GARDNER

SYDNEY WILSON

LYME

JONATHAN VOEGELE

VALERIE ARMSTRONG

MEREDITH

JACKIE GARCIA

CHRISTIE BROWN

NEW HAMPTON

SANDRA FERRIS

DEE TREYBIG

PEMBROKE

PETER SEAVEY

DEE TREYBIG

RINDGE

ELIZABETH AMERAL

VALERIE ARMSTRONG

SALEM

LISA BREEN WOIDYLA

NHFB WEBSITE

SANBORNTON

KEVIN BARBOUR

SYDNEY WILSON

SANBORNVILLE

TRACY MCNEIL

CHRISTIE BROWN

SOUTH TAMWORTH KATE THOMPSON

STEVE FOUNTAIN

TUFTONBORO

THOMAS ANDERSON

JEAN WHITTEN

WEARE

DAVID KANE

MIKE BERTOLONE

WEBSTER

DEREK MILLS

MIKE BERTOLONE

WOLFEBORO

KATY PETERNEL

DAVE STRAUCH

Type

They often don’t have a campaign staﬀ, are working or farming fulltime, and perhaps raising a family too. These candidates need your help and your involvement. That could be a small donation to help them send mail to voters, it could be sharing their messages on social media or connecting the candidate to your neighbors or friends.

Solicitor

Even the smallest contribution of time, talent, or treasure could be the difference between an elected official who understands the challenges you face and one who doesn’t. Regardless of which candidate wins, they’ll surely be making decisions that affect you.

RECENT STUMPAGE & BIOMASS PRICES Stumpage prices are republished with permission from the most recent New Hampshire Timberland Owners Association Market Pulse Data. For over 25 years, NHTOA has conducted a quarterly survey of the state’s timber markets. For more information visit www.nhtoa.org

Species Product

Stat

White Pine

North

Central

South

Stp

Del

Stp

Del

Stp

Del

MED R

$195 185-285

$423 420-450

$165 120-200

$400 425-425

$160 100-187

$410 325-435

Sugar Maple

MED R

$400 300-400

$725 550-950

($300) 250-400

($625) 550-800

$300 225-425

($795) 700-800

Fuel Grade Chips (Per ton)

MED R

($1.50) 1.00 - 2.50

($31) 31 - 32

($0.75) -2.0 - 2.0

($28) 26 - 30

$0.00 -2 - 0.25

30 30 - 30

MED = Median

R = Range

[ ] = Fewer than 4 observations

ND = No Data

STP = Stumpage

Del = Delivered

Biomass data provided by The New Hampshire Oﬃce of Energy and Planning. Biomass data is updated quarterly. For more fuel price data and full details visit www.nh.gov/oep/energy.

Fuel Type

Price/Unit

Wood (Bulk Delivered Ton) Wood (Cord)

$335.34 $391.25

Heat Content Per Unit (BTU) 16,500,000 20,000,000

Price Per Million BTU $26.21 $31.05

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The Communicator

Belknap County Beans

Greens Farm - Gilford

Andrew Howe - 293-2853 beansandgreensfarm@msn.com www.beansandgreensfarm.com Grass-fed beef, GMO-free pork, chicken, turkey.

Birch Rise Farm - Sanbornton Kate Osgood - 259-6660 birchrisefarm@gmail.com www.birchrisefarm.com Pasture-raised Berkshire pork by the cuts, halves, or wholes and poultry by the cuts or wholes. Pasture-raised eggs. Like us on Facebook!

Half a Penny Farm - Ctr. Barnstead Shane & Jenn Forest 603-345-5277 or 603-591-2910 www.halfapennyfarm.com We carry pasture-raised black angus beef. USDA Certified. Cryovac packaging. Individual assorted cuts of beef. Whole, Half and Quarter shares available. Check us out on Facebook and Instagram.

HT Farm LLC - Belmont Tim Duval - 630-5505 tcbw275@gmail.com Find us on Facebook at HT Farm LLC. Grass-fed, farm-raised, USDA beef. Produce and maple syrup.

LorrenJoyce Farm - Barnstead Amy & Brian Matarozzo - 235-5780 lorrenjoycefarm.com Naturally raised beef. USDA approved. All cryovac packaging.

Shepherd’s Hut Market - Gilford Jeﬀ & Joyce Keyser - 527-1873 or 393-4696 or jekeyser@metrocast.net Certified USDA freezer lamb. Various cuts fresh frozen and vacuum sealed.

Run Away Farm - Ossipee

French Hill Farm – Milan

Kinney’s Farm - Brookline

Dave Babson - 539-4928 davbab@worldpath.net Naturally raised beef. Fed grain, hay and grass only.

Jason Huter - 326-9778 jasonhuter@gmail.com Whole frozen chicken, duck, and rabbit. Beef and pork on the hoof.

Travis & Marcalyn Kinney - 673-5956 kinneysfarm@yahoo.com Selling our own naturally raised grass-fed beef, pork, poultry and fresh eggs at our farm stand. Check us out on Facebook for all our products and hours. Open year round.

Top of the Hill Farm - Wolfeboro Northwinds Farm – N. Stratford Alan Fredrickson - 569-3137 topofthehillfarm@metrocast.net Beef - pasture exposed and all natural by the piece, 1/4, 1/2 or whole.

Cheshire County Archway Farm - Keene Mark Florenz - 352-3198 mark.florenz@gmail.com http://www.archway.farm/ Pasture-raised heritage pork; whole, half, or individual cuts. See our website for details.

Earth Haven Farm - Marlborough Mary & George Iselin - 876-4036 www.earthhavenfarm.com Grass-fed low-fat Beefalo. USDA labeled pkg. hamburger, roasts, steaks at our farm store or 1/4, /2, or whole for cuts to customer specifications.

East Hill Farm - Troy Dave Adams - 242-6495 info@east-hill-farm.com Whole, half, or individual cuts available of pork, beef, lamb and goat.

JHF Stable Livestock - Alstead John & Hazell Fuller - 835-6509 USDA vacuum-packed Beefalo and grass fed on the farm in Alstead.

Manning Hill Farm - Winchester Sarah Costa - 239-4397 Grass-fed heritage beef, pasture-raised heritage pork, by the individual cut or in bulk-half and whole sides. Pasturerasied whole roasting chickens.

Velvet Flats - Gilmanton IW

Up Top Farm - Winchester

Sabrina Hufschmid - 491-1687 vrflats.reddeer@gmail.com Farm-raised venison.

Earl Beaman - 355-0818 kathy@kbsunspaces.com Born and raised in New Hampshire, these beef cattle are pasture-raised and corn finished, making the meat much more tender than just plain grass fed beef. They are hormone and antibiotic free and are processed in a federally inspected USDA facility. They are sold as “freezer sides”, meaning that you would purchased a side of beef (or split one with a friend or relative), have it cut to your specifications (steaks, roasts, size of packaging, etc) and pick it up in Athol, Massachusetts.

Wooded ValleyAcres - Gilmanton IW Elizabeth and Cory Bower 393-1083 Woodedvalleyacres@gmail.com Pasture-raised pork, free range chicken and duck eggs, free range turkey, free range rabbit.

Carroll County Mountain Laurel Farm - Sanbornville Robert Bevard - 986 - 8480 rbbevard@yahoo.com USDA labels, homegrown, pasture-raised pork, lamb, and chevon.

Coos County CJEJ Farm Meat House - Columbia

Scott & Heidi Mason - 922-8377 northwindsfarm1@yahoo.com USDA inspected, vacuum-packed beef, lamb and veal. Sold by the side or cut. Also available through the Barn Store of New England in Salisbury, NH.

Grafton County

lamb, and chevon. Chicken (whole and parts) and Thanksgiving turkeys also available. All grown on our farm with our own homemade grain. Store open year round.

Leel Farm – New Ipswich Butch Leel - 562-0860 bleel@comcast.net Pasture-raised beef. Old Homestead Farm - New Ipswich

Henry Ahern - 536-3880 bonniebraefarms.com Farm-raised Red Deer venison, velvet antler, hard antler and hides. Also breeding stock. The deer are primarily grass and hay fed. USDA inspected.

Ben & Chelsea Hatcher -978-407-6280 oldhomesteadfarmnh@gmail.com Pasture-raised USDA beef & farm fresh eggs. Greenhouse vegetables & meat birds coming soon! We also oﬀer horse boarding. Find us on Facebook & Instagram.

Pines Hill Farm – Lisbon

Paradise Farm - Lyndeborough

Bonnie Brae Farms - Plymouth

Jessica Morin - 603-986-0359 jessmorin912@gmail.com pineshillfarm.com We are a small family farm selling pasture-raised USDA processed beef and pork. We also have whole chickens and turkeys available seasonally.

Rocky Road Tunis Farm - Bath Deb Robie - 747-3869 wehunt4@myfairpoint.net Local Lamb.

StoneFen Farm, llc - Haverhill Lora Goss - 481-0017 STONEFEN FARM, LLC - the better beef. Our beef is 100% GRASS FED & FINISHED! Ask what diﬀerences grass vs grains make in the nutritional value of our beef. Raised on our farm using soil enriching and regenerative practices. No additives just sunshine and fresh or dried grasses.

Hillsboro County Barrett Hill Farm - Mason The LeClairs - 878-4022 barretthill@myfairpoint.net or visit our website barrethillfarm.com Beef, pork, and lamb.

Best Life Farm - New Ipswich Chris Bille - 546-8786 cbille@bestlifefarmnh.com or visit our website bestlifefarmnh.com Forest pastured Berkshire pigs, grass-fed Suﬀolk and Dorset lambs, and fresh eggs. Our pigs and lambs are sold by the half or whole share. USDA inspected frozen retail cuts are available year-round.

Gus’s Farm - Mason Remick Country Doctor Museum Chris & Joyce Brady - 922-3305 USDA inspected cuts of beef, pork, Gus Franchi - 978-400-8521 Farm - Tamworth Sheena Harte - 323-7591 sharte@remickmuseum.org Farm-raised ground beef, breakfast and sweet Italian sausage.

July/August 2022

gusfarmnh@gmail.com www.gusfarm.com Pork, beef, chicken, and turkeys

Wayne & Adrienne Colsia - 345-0860 wayne@paradisefarmnh.com www.paradisefarmnh.com 100% grass-fed beef, grass-fed lamb, pasture-raised pork, free-range eggs, all natural goat milk.

Temple Mountain Beef - Temple Mark Salisbury - 878-4290 Beef by the side – cut and packaged to order.

Trombly Gardens - Milford Sean Trombly - 673-4725 Beef, pork, lamb and chicken.

Merrimack County AOR Farm - N. Sutton John and Erin Maynard (719) 424-0589 aorfarmstead@gmail.com www.aorfarmstead.com We sell pasture raised: whole heritage chickens, heritage turkeys, Kune Kune pigs, sheep shares, and eggs. We use regenerative practices as we restore our farmland. Visit our website to get more information or contact us to come out and see what we do.

Bokaja - Webster 731-5381 or 648-2520 Local turkeys - various sizes.

Dumont Farms - Loudon 318-9337 Patrick.dumontfarms@gmail.com Chicken, turkey, duck, goose, prok, lamb, goat, and beef.

Little Red Hen - Pittsfield 568-5540 lrhfarms2018@gmail.com Littleredhenfarm.net Forest-fed pork, pasture-raised chicken.

July/August 2022

Farm Bureau - The Voice of N.H. Agriculture

Miles Smith Farm - Loudon

Diamond B Farm - New Durham

Bruce Dawson or Carole Soule 783-5159 Locally raised beef in retail packages with USDA labels.

Meghan Bickford - 762-0190 or diamondbfarm14@gmail.com All natural, pasture-raised beef, pork, chicken, turkey and eggs. Visit our website at http://www. bickfordsdiamondbfarm.com for more information.

Off A Bit Farm LLC - Danbury Laura Kilkenny - 530-2496 offabitfarm@yahoo.com We are a small family farm offering naturally raised, USDA processed and packaged goat meat. We also sell rabbit meat, eggs, raw goat milk and raw goat milk yogurt. See our website: www.offabitfarm.com for all our offerings. Like us on Facebook!

Schroeder Farm - South Newbury Bill Schroeder - 938-5911 bangus@tds.net Black Angus beef by the side or individual cuts. USDA inspected, all grass-fed. Roaster Chickens 10-12 pounds, all natural grain fed.

Tilton Hill Goat Farm - Danbury Noreen Rollins - 738-5133 nikkinomar@yahoo.com USDA goat meat, farm fresh eggs, alpaca fiber and cashmere fiber.

Yankee Farmers’ Market - Warner Brian & Keira Farmer - 456-2833 yankeefarmersmarket.com Offering farm-raised, all natural certified USDA buffalo, venison, elk, grass-fed beef, lamb, chicken, turkey and pork. Our farm has an on farm store open year round, distributes to retail and wholesale acounts, offering a wide variety of individual cuts.

Rockingham County Gravel Pit Farm - Nottingham Samantha & Allan Trant- 715-6283 gravelpitfarmnh@gmail.com We raise and sell pasture-raised pork, beef, and poultry.

Great Bay Farm - Greenland Allen Smith - 969-9948 greatbayfarm@gmail.com Various cuts USDA inspected frozen beef.

His Harvest Farm - Madbury Bruce Smith - 603-834-5012 farmer.hisharvestfarm@gmail.com hisharvestfarm.com Pasture-raised chickens and eggs.

Pinewoods Yankee Farm - Lee Tina Fottler & Erick Sawtelle 659-8106 or esawtelles@aol.com Grass-fed beef. Belted Galloway and Angus crosses. Individual retail cuts and custom cut sides. Find us on Local Harvest and Facebook.

Sullivan County Beaver Pond Farm - Newport Bennie Nelson - 542-7339 beaverpondfarm1780@gmail.com tinyurl.com/bpondfarm Raising beef and lamb. For sale at our retail store on the John Stark Highway between Newport & Claremont. Open year-round.

Eccardt Farm Inc. - Washington

Mandico CattleCo.-Nottingham Conrad & Kathy Mandsager - 7701948 cmandsager@gmail.com Farm-raised, grass-fed Highland natural beef.

Seacoast Farmhouse - Stratham Raychel Baczewski - 828-6045 seacoastfarmhouse@gmail.com SeacoastFarmhouse.com Forest-raised USDA certified pork by the whole/ half / individual cut. Fed organic, soy-free feed.

Strafford County Coppal House Farm - Lee John & Carol Hutton - 659-3572 coppalhouse@comcast.net USDA certified pasture-raised lamb and pork products. All cuts are flash frozen and vacuum-sealed. Various cuts available at the farm stand, but special requests are filled when available.

Ben & Chelsea Hatcher 978-407-6280 oldhomesteadfarmnh@gmail.com 1st Crop, Square. 2nd Crop, Square. 1st Crop, Dry Round. 2nd Crop, Dry Round. Balage, Round. Local Delivery Available

Coos/Grafton County

Stone Farm - Cornish Charlie Stone - 469-3559 5cstone@comcast.net USDA inspected, vacuum-wrapped, seasonal turkeys. Fresh eggs. Saturday farm stand May-October 9-12.

Aznive Farm - Loudon

Scott and Heidi Mason 631-5953 1st Crop, Dry Round. 2nd Crop, Dry Round. Pick-up or Local Delivery Available

Charlie & Pearl Aznive 435-7509 1st Crop, Square. 2nd Crop, Square. 1st Crop, Dry Round. 2nd Crop, Dry Round. Pick-up Only

Thibeault Farm - Pittsburg Richard Thibeault 246-8227 1st Crop, Dry Round. 2nd Crop, Dry Round. Pick-up or Local Delivery Available

Thunder Ridge Ranch - Piermont Peter Trapp 677-3568 etrapp@charter.net 1st Crop, Dry Round. Balage, Round. 1st Crop balage and dry, wrapped. 2nd Crop, dry round wrapped. Pick-up Only

Hillsborough County Connolly Brothers Dairy Farm LLC - Temple Chris Connolly 924-5002 connollybrothersdairyfarm@yahoo.com 1st Crop, Square Pick-up or Local Delivery Available

Hollis Ranch - Hollis 465-2672 1st Cut, Timothy mix horse quality.

Dumont Farms - Loudon Patrick Dumont 318-9337 patrick.dumont@baesystems.com 1st Crop, Square. 2nd Crop, Square. 1st Crop, Dry Round. 2nd Crop, Dry Round. Sometimes 3rd Cut. Pick-up or Local Delivery Abailable

Rockingham County Gov Dale Farm - N. Hampton Hank 964-0674 hank@govdalefarm.com 1st Crop, Square. Local Delivery Available

Weeks Point Farm - Greenland John Weeks 431-1823 robinweeks@comcast.net 1st Crop, Square. 2nd Crop, Square. Pick-up or Local Delivery Available

Sullivan County Peachblow Farm - Charlestown Robert Frizzell 398-8090 peachblowfarm@comcast.net 1st Crop, Square. Mulch Hay. Seedless Straw. Pick-up Only

B.R. Davis Land services provides forestry mowing and vegetation control services as well as general excavation and produces high quality hay to central NH.

Fife Brush Hogging, LLC Salisbury

Carroll County Mountain Laurel Farm Sanbornville We will raise your piglets for you. Robert Bevard 986-8480 rbbevard@yahoo.com Our piglets are born on our farm. They are the result of many years of breeding to have excellent meat hogs. Many people do not have space, time or experience to raise piglets up to slaughter but still want “home grown” pork. We have space, time and experience! Buy piglets from Mountain Laurel Farm and we will raise them.

Grafton County The Meat Producer Listing is a New Hampshire Farm Bureau member benefit. If you are a Farm Bureau member and would like to have your farm included on this list and in The Communicator, visit www.nhfarmbureau. org/agriculture/meat_ listing

Merrimack County

Northwinds Farm - N. Stratford

Far View Farm - Langdon

J F Farms Inc. - Derry Melissa Dolloﬀ - 437-0535 farmstand@JFfarms.com All cuts of frozen beef.

Old Homestead Farm- New Ipswich

George, Sandy & Ryan Eccard 495-3830 or Eccardtfarm@gsinet.net Our home-grown grass-fed, USDA certified beef. We have an array of steak cuts and roasts all vacuum-packed for longer freshness. Lamb & pork when available. Marilyn Stuller - 313-7115 m.stuller@yahoo.com Lamb - naturally raised on pasture. Icelandic lamb is naturally lean with a mild flavor.

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Resource Management, Inc ₍RMI₎ Holderness Wood ash, biosolids, and paper fiber soil amendments for building better soils Charley Hanson 536-8900 rmi@rmirecycles.com - rmirecycles.com Improve crop yields with wood ash - a natural potassium source that also increases soil pH. OMRI listed. Order biosolids as a balanced and slow-release nitrogen source. Use paper fiber for animal bedding, and organic matter on fields. Call RMI for a quote on delivery of these products to improve your soil health and crop performance.

Merrimack County Ancora Imparo Equine Center Boscawen Horse boarding, hoof balancing, and horsemanship Stacia Langille 731-3144 stacialangille@gmail.com Multidisciplinary private horse boarding facility with indoor, outdoor, round pen, trails. Full service farrier, serving equines in central New Hampshire.

B.R. Davis Land Services Canterbury Forestry mowing and vegetation control services. Ben Davis 998-3642 brdavisland@gmail.com

All your field mowing needs. John and Rose Fife 648-2449 or 344-0677 fife4@tds.net Field mowing, brush hogging, roadside mowing, and more.

Hastings Welding and Fabrication, LLC - Pembroke Mobile Welding and Fabrication Avery Hastings 603-239-2485 aehastings1@gmail.com Mobile welding service, shoot me a call or text with your welding needs. You can bring it to me or I can come to you. You can check out my business page on Facebook for many of my past projects (Hastings Welding and Fabrication) .

Pritchard Farms - Pembroke Farm Equipment Repair Jay Pritchard 828-1307 pritchardfarms13@gmail.com Pritchard Farms Equipment Repair. We repair: Farm equipment, implements, tractors, construction equipment as well as perform welding & fabrication jobs. Reasonable hourly rates at our shop in Pembroke.

Rockingham County Precision Cut Pruning Traveling Custom Pruning Service for Orchards and Landscaping Tyler Brodie 919-478-3788 precisioncutpruning@gmail.com Precision Cut Pruning is a traveling custom pruning service for the management of orchard crops and landscape specimens. We’re equipped to prune standard, dwarf, TSS, peaches, berries, and canes, to maximize productivity and increase disease resistance. Significant experience pruning on medium-large scale parcels. References available. Network of associates to facilitate completion of job.

The Communicator

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Belknap County Green Acres Berries New Hamton 203-533-9090 greenacresberries@gmail.com We are a family owned U-Pick Blueberry farm with sweeping views of the mountains. We have six diﬀerent varieties of no spray highbush blueberries and raspberries available for pick your own or already picked for purchase. In addition we also have our own maple syrup, honey and jam.

Still Seeking Farm 317 Loon Pond Rd, Gilmanton 267-5326 ssfarmllc@yahoo.com stillseekingfarmllc.com Nutrient dense vegetables, blueberries and much more! Stop by the Laconia Farmers’ Market on Saturdays, or at our Farm Stand.

Carroll County Bly Farm 620 Center St. Route 28, Wolfeboro 569-1411 blyfarm@comcast.net Stop by the farm stand for fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, zucchini, summer squash, lettuce, beets, peppers, carrots, eggplant, swisschard, onions, winter squash, pumpkins, potatoes, stawberries, and blueberries.

Cheshire County Whittaker’s Homestead Greenhouses 236 Forest Road, Alstead whittakershomestead@gmail.com Produce can be purchased at the farm stand during our normal season AprilOct as well as at our booth at the Keene Farmers’ Market.

Hillsboro County Brookdale Fruit Farm Inc. 38 Broad Street, Hollis 465-2240 brookdalefruitfarm@yahoo.com brookdalefruitfarm.com Strawberries, cherries, blueberries, raspberries, peaches, nectarines, plums, apples, peas, cucumbers, pickles, green beans, wax beans, shell beans, summer squash, zucchini, sweet corn, peppers, tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, pumpkins, sugar pumpkins, various winter squashes, apple cider, and other specialty vegetables. Produce can be purchased at our farm stand and various Hanniford and Shaws supermarkets throughout the state, and other farm stands within the state.

Butternut Farm-Milford 483 Federal Hill Rd, Milford 673-2963 tocnoc@comcast.net butternutfarmmilford.com For a fresh variety of produce and flowers visit us at the farm stand or at the Bedford, Milford and Nashua Farmers’ Markets. Currier Orchards 9 Peaslee Rd, Merrimack 881-8864 currierorchards@yahoo.com Visit our farm stand. U-pick apples and pumpkins PLUS apple cider, jams, jellies, vegetables, pickles, apple pies, pumpkin bread and peaches. McLeod Bros. Orchards 749 North River Rd, Milford 673-3544 mcleodorchards@gmail.com www.mcleodorchards.com A large variety of spring and summer vegetables, apples, pumpkins, squash and fall ornaments are available. Visit our farm stand from September 1 to late October or at the Bedford Farmers’ Market. Oasis Springs Farm 79 Groton Road, Nashua 603-930-1294 sarah@oasisspringsfarm.com Oasisspringsfarm.com Year round Hydroponic Grown Lettuces, Kale, Chard, Herbs and Microgreens. CSA pick ups in Southern, NH

Merrimack County Autumnview Farm 1010 Upper City Rd, Pittsfield 435-5503 autumnviewfarm@hotmail.com An assortment of vegetables, such as corn, green beans, zucchini, many squash varieties, peppers, tomatoes, eggplant and much more! Fruit includes, strawberries, peaches, rhubarb and cantaloupe. Autumnview Farm items are also available at Hannafords and Shaws. LaValley Farms 1801 Hooksett Rd, Hooksett 485-3541 info@lavalleyfarms.com www.lavalleyfarms.com We grow and sell sweet corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, lettuce, beans, greens, pumpkins, bedding plants and more! Open from April to December.

Local Meat Producer, Fruit & Vegetable Grower, Hay, and Service Listings Another Farm Bureau benefit! List your farm online at nhfarmbureau.org

Spring Ledge Farm 37 Main Street New London, NH 03257 603-526-6253 greg@springledgefarm.com Springledgefarm.com Two Sisters’ Garlic of Clough Tavern Farm 23 Clough Tavern Rd, Canterbury, 603-783-4287 / 731-5574 twosistersgarlic@yahoo.com Culinary selection of dried garlic and garlic, herbs, and spices blends. PYO Raspberry patch. Windswept Maples 845 Loudon Ridge Rd Loudon, NH 03307 603-267-8492 wmfmoore1@comcast.net windsweptmaples.com Year-round maple syrup & maple products. Sweet corn, tomatoes, squash, pumpkins, green beans, potatoes, cucumbers available when in season. Ornamentals, corn stocks, haybales, mini pumpkins available during the harvest season. Visit the farm stand from late June to Labor Day. Weekdays - 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Weekends - 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The farm stand is open year-round on Saturdays - 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Rockingham County Dowie MicroFarm 2 Collettes Grove Rd, Derry 603-809-2215 jon@dowiefarm.com www.dowiefarm.com Farm stand with home delivery available. Heron Pond Farm 29 Main Ave, South Hampton 603-394-0129 andre@heronpondfarm.com Heron Pond Farm is a four season farm that grows over 250 varieties of vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers. Farming year-round has allowed us to grow and maintain an incredibly skilled and experienced staff whose passion brings higher yields, quality and flavor to our food all year long. J F Farms 124 Chester Road, Derry 437-0535 jandffarms@gmail.com jandffarms.net Visit our farm stand for a wide variety of fruits and veggies! Oliver Merrill Sons 569 Mammoth Rd, Londonderry 622-6636 Merrillfarmsnh@gmail.com Facebook.com/olivermerrillandsons Visit us at our farm stand and find our eggs, apples, peaches, pears and vegetables at various gocery stores in Manchester, Derry and Londonderry.

July/August 2022

Scamman Farm 69 Portsmouth Ave, Stratham 686-1258 scamman_farm@comcast.net scammanfarm.com Farm stand open September and October for pumpkins and corn maze. Also at Statham Farmers market on Saturdays. Sunnycrest 59 High Range Rd, Londonderry 432-9652 sunnycrestfarmnh.com Family owned and operated apple farm with pick-your-own apples, strawberries, blueberries and cherries, as well as a market with fresh local vegetable & fruits and honey, syrup and milk. We also have a bakery that oﬀers apple donuts and home-made breads.

Strafford County Butternut Farm 195 Meaderboro Rd, Farmington 603-335-4705 butternutfarm.net/home

Sullivan County Bascom Road Blueberry Farm 371 Bascom Rd, Newport 603-359-7703 kristy@bascomroadblueberryfarm.com www.bascomroadblueberryfarm.com Pick-your-own blueberries and farm store with our own produce, honey and local meats and syrups. Beaver Pond Farm 50 McDonough Road, Newport 603-543-1107 beaverpondfarm1780@gmail.com tinyurl.com/bpondfarm Beaver Pond Farm retail store, John Stark Highway between Newport & Claremont. Open year ‘round. Our own beef, lamb, vegetables, berries, apples, cider, Christmas trees, pumpkins, handmade wreaths, THE BEST homemade pie and jam, maple syrup and PYO raspberries at the farm in July. Localmade and produced products as well. We also wholesale to Shaws and Grazi’s in Newport and Jiﬀy Mart in Claremont. Cutting Farm 266 Sanborn Hill Rd, W. Springfield cuttingfarm.com A wide variety of fruits & veggies and much more!

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Farm Bureau - The Voice of N.H. Agriculture

Page 9

if you farm it, we can fence it. ®

Wood Ash - OMRI Listed®, fast-ac ng soil liming, organic source of potassium, magnesium, calcium and zinc that naturally improves soil pH Biosolids - most eﬀec ve form of slow-release nitrogen Paper Fiber - builds organic ma er, improves water holding capacity and is a good source of lime Paper Fiber Bedding - alterna ve for animal bedding, and can be used in manure bulking and compos ng Engineered Topsoil - alterna ve to na ve loam, erosion resistant on 3:1 and steeper slopes, and eliminates need to strip topsoil for reclama on

Dependable fencing for all your farm & garden needs. Wellscroft.com

All Heart & Soil® products are produced locally and designed to enhance soil produc vity and crop yields in a cost-eﬀec ve and environmentally sound manner. RMI partners with farms throughout the Northeast to BUILD HEALTHY SOILS! RMI@rmirecycles.com • www.RMIrecycles.com • (603) 536-8900 1171 NH Route 175 Holderness, New Hampshire 03245

— THE GREAT STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE—

LET’S TALK ABOUT THE STATE OF YOUR FARM INSURANCE

Big or small, when you dedicate your life and well-being into a farm, you need more than just a policy–you need an ally. Your operation is unique and a one-size-fits-all insurance policy isn’t for you. You deserve a customized coverage plan and American National gets it. An American National Special Farm Package 10® or Country Estate policy can provide you with a flexible package that allows you to tailor a policy to match your individual needs, with coverage options that include windstorm, fire, mechanical equipment and utility line failures, machinery, livestock and more. Find a local agent at an.insure/nhfb

American National is a group of companies writing a broad array of insurance products and services. Products and services may not be available in all states. Terms, conditions and eligibility requirements will apply. Life insurance and annuity products may be underwritten by American National Insurance Company, Galveston, Texas. Property and casualty products and services may be underwritten by Farm Family Casualty Insurance Company, Glenmont, New York. 20-050-334556.V1.6.2020

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The Communicator

July/August 2022

County, Committee & Member News GRAFTON COUNTY HOSTS TRI-COUNTY FARM BUREAU MEETING In these modern times how can county boards do what their members need, and entice more interest from our members to serve on our county boards? We know our members value Farm Bureau, but why don’t they participate more? The Grafton County Farm Bureau Board decided to ask our neighboring counties, Coos and Carroll, if they would like to join us in a discussion to bat around ideas. We enlisted Sue Cagle, from UNH Cooperative Extension, to facilitate the discussion and set a date of April 30 to meet at Hatchland Farm’s new Dairy Delites facility in North Haverhill. Twenty of us plus Sue met. Here is a summary of the discussion. A survey was sent out prior to the meeting with four questions. What do you see as the most important role of Farm Bureau, what barriers do you see that may limit or prevent your own or others’ involvement in Farm Bureau activities, what are the benefits of Farm Bureau, and what suggestions do you have for adapting the way NHFB currently operates to encourage greater participation from existing members as well and new members? The answers to “what is the most important role of Farm Bureau?” pretty much fell in line with what we are doing - protecting and preserving farming and farmers, legislative advocacy for farmers, and educating everyone about farming. The answers to “what barriers would limit involvement” were probably as expected - time was mentioned most often followed by my business comes first, meetings, the eﬃciency of meetings, age, and too much to do. “What are the benefits of FB membership?” was answered with comments like Grainger discount, education, equipment savings, and savings on taxes through the current use law. “What suggestions do you have for adapting the way FB currently operates?” - more advertising and outreach, reach out to new farmers and small farmers, more fun events, represent all commodities, get horse people on board, lower the rate charged for membership to supporters and young farmers (no charge for those under 21), and more real benefits and deals for current members. After an hour or so of discussing these questions, and more, some action steps were identified which we all agreed might be pursued. The one that got the most favored status was that we should develop a set of messages for signs, billboards, and other communications to highlight the accomplishments of FB ex: “If you enjoy _____, thank Farm Bureau.” Focus on various audiences and products like OHRV clubs, hunters, farmers’ markets, local food, etc. A concern that garnered action item two was that there is a belief by some that NHFB follows AFBF in lockstep and some people don’t like some of the national policies, so they won’t join NHFB. Messaging needs to inform these people that NHFB works for NH farmers first. A third action item was to expand the levels of membership, with separate options for membership and fundraising, and to lower

Grafton County Farm Bureau hosted a tri-county meeting at Hatchland Farms Dairy Delites facility in North Haverhill, NH on April 30th. Members of Coos, Carroll, and Grafton County Farm Bureaus joined together to brainstorm, ask questions, and voice their opinions on how Farm Bureau can generate more volunteer contributions and better promote the work that is already being done. Above and below, members participate in the discussion.

membership costs to some. Several other actions were discussed including approaching clubs that benefit from farmers such as snowmobilers, hiking clubs, and equestrian trails. Also, some sort of bulk buying program, support for 4-H to help develop future farmers, local discount programs among FB member farms (FB member card gets you a discount at some farm stands, etc.), and direct outreach to farmers who are not members. We didn’t find any magic bullet, but the three counties agreed we should try to work together more, and that maybe signs tailored to the north country might be an eﬀective way to get the Farm Bureau name and its accomplishments in front of more people. While we were focusing on our counties, much of our discussion and actions are relevant to the entire state. -GCFB Secretary, Denis Ward

students and teachers alike. “The energy of the 4th graders was in the stratosphere,” Warren shared. “On our wagon ride we saw barn swallows and bobolinks working the fields. Many teachers said horses was a highlight for these youngsters.” Jake and Rudy were not the only highlights of School to Farm Day. Over 160 students rotated through a variety of agricultural related stations learning from local producers, educators, artists, and community members. Phil’s farrier, John Hammond, brought his mobile blacksmith shop and demonstrated how he shapes horseshoes to fit the horses’ feet. John and Robin Luther of Parnassus Farm in Acworth brought one of their calves, taught the students how to make butter and passed out Cabot cheese samples. Sam Nelson, a teacher at Newport’s Tech Center and of Beaver Pond Farm, taught students how to put a tap in a sugar maple trunk. Jozi Best, a sheep farmer from Unity and NH Ag in the Classroom volunteer, brought her sheep and lambs and taught students about wool. Having a School to Farm Day in Sullivan County was Jozi’s dream for a long time that was finally realized in 2019. She hopes students will leave with an “appreciation of how food, fiber and fuel originate before being bought in the super stores.” Helping students to see the importance of farms, fields, mills, and forests and people to work them. She hopes “there will be at least more appreciation for the workers whose lives are very diﬀerent from most of them.” And possibly inspire them to think about becoming part of the agricultural community one day. Some of the other stations students

SULLIVAN COUNTY SCHOOL TO FARM DAY RETURNS By Dawn Dextraze Education & Outreach Specialist Sullivan Co. Conservations District Clip, clop, clip, clop. The sound of horse hooves and laughter could be heard as Phil Warren, Sullivan County Farm Bureau president, drove a wagonful of fourth graders around the Sullivan County Complex on Monday, May 23rd. His draft horses, Jake and Rudy, eight and seven year old Belgian Geldings respectfully, were appreciated by

Jozi Best, Associated Women of NHFB President and Sullivan County Farm Bureau member, with her sheep and lambs at the Sullivan County School to Farm Day in May. She was joined by SCFB President Phil Warren and his horses (next page) as presenters at the event.

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Farm Bureau - The Voice of N.H. Agriculture

Page 11

County, Committee & Member News visited focused on beekeeping, how to grow microgreens, soil as a habitat, water and watersheds, the amazing potato, wild dyes, fiber arts and spinning, fruits, and the history of farming. We are thankful to all the presenters for taking the time to come out and share their skills and knowledge with the students. And a special thank you to the sponsors that make this day free for schools to attend. Sponsors include Sullivan County Farm Bureau, Andy Jellie American National Insurance, Cunniﬀ Landscape, Cabot, and Sullivan County Natural Resource Department and Conservation District.

AROUND THE OFFICE At the June 16th Board of Directors meeting, NHFB invited American National Insurance to join for a ‘meet and greet’ lunch. Agents and staﬀ of American National oﬃces from across the state enjoyed a barbeque meal of hamburgers and bison burgers from Yankee Farmers’ Market in Warner, hot dogs, salads, and some dairy delights - milk and ice cream from Hatchland Farm in North Haverhill and pudding from Echo Farm in Hinsdale. This was a great opportunity for the NHFB Board to connect with the insurance agents who serve our membership and for the agents to get to know the volunteer leaders of the organization. A special thanks goes out to the chef for the day, NHFB’s own Policy Director Rob Johnson.

Above: NHFB Board of Directors hosted a ‘meet and greet’ lunch with American National Insurance agents during the June 16th Board of Directors meeting. Below: The Associated Women of New Hampshire Farm Bureau visited Moulton Farm in Meredith, NH, for their June business meeting. (Photo credit: Sydney Wilson)

ASSOCIATED WOMEN On June 6, the AW ladies had their monthly meeting for June at Moulton Farm in Meredith. Moulton Farm is located in the Lakes Region, not far from popular Lake Winnipesaukee, which brings in locals and seasonal visitors alike. The farm oﬀers a wide variety of locally grown, made, and sourced products in their farm store and garden center. Providing fresh local food is nothing new for the Moulton family, who has been doing so since the 1890s. The farm store is stocked with fresh vegetables, fruit, meats, seafood, cheeses, baked goods, and much more. When you combine that with their garden center full of flowers, bushes, and vegetable plants, plus their seasonal activities such as pick-your-own strawberries and pumpkins, and a fall corn maze, it is a true one-stop-shop. In the words of owner John Moulton, “our diversification is immense.” John was kind enough to personally give a tour of the farm and its facilities to the AW ladies. Sights included greenhouses full of flowers and vegetable plants, fields of crops, the farm store, and beautiful views. The ladies were able to ask questions along the way as they traveled from one location to the next. One minute they were in a greenhouse and the next they were watching how bread is made in the commercial kitchen. John even gave a tractor-pulled wagon tour of some of the fields which boasted a wide variety of diﬀerent vegetables. He dutifully helped the ladies into the wagon and stopped here and there to explain more about the many rows of flourishing plants. One of the best parts of the trip was listening to the stories John had to tell about how the farm has changed over time and subsequently memories some of the ladies had related to it. Listening to Henrietta Kenney share stories with John was like being a fly on the wall to two old friends chatting about years gone by. It was very interesting to hear how the farm itself has grown and evolved to become the thriving business it is today.

Moulton Farm owner John Moulton gave members of the Associated Women of NHFB a tour of the farm operation during their visit for their June business meeting. (Photo credit: Sydney Wilson)

After the tour concluded, the ladies convened for a business meeting. Typically, AW business meetings occur on the first Monday of each month, so adding an educational industry tour was a welcome treat. Coincidentally, John also supplied quite the spread of fresh baked goods, which were enjoyed by all. The business meeting portion covered everything from fundraising ideas to financials and leadership development. Everyone left with new knowledge, high spirits, and full bellies.

A special thank you goes out to John for taking time out of his busy schedule to host this spectacular tour. If you or someone you know is interested in joining the Associated Women, the next meeting will held on Tuesday, July 5th at 9:00 am at the NH Farm Bureau Oﬃce. -Sydney Wilson, NHFB Oﬃce Assistant

The Communicator

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INFLATION (From front) So what’s going on? Why is this happening? It’s not being caused by giant corporations; and massive government spending had some impact, but that can be easily overstated. International turmoil has driven up the price of certain things, including fertilizer and fuel; and this is having a terrible impact on farmers, particularly. However, that isn’t driving overall price inflation in the U.S., either. Quite simply, too much money was created by the Federal Reserve Bank (often called “the Fed”), mostly in 2020, and it is turning, inevitably, into inflation. Thankfully, the Fed has begun taking steps to address this. The market may once again be reassured that it will be controlled, but it will likely take a few years to approach their long-term target of 2% per year. It’s the Supply Chain (a Little) In October, we explained that the COVID-19 pandemic had tilted consumer demand from in-person

experiences (like meals, shows, and ballgames) – to physical “stuﬀ” to be enjoyed at home, and we said that our current price inflation was driven substantially by supply chain issues, particularly a shortage of shipping, rail, and trucking capacity to meet this growing demand for ‘stuﬀ’. These transportation bottlenecks continue, but by now it is clear that they are part of the general limits on how fast the economy can grow, held back by limited labor availability and the slow and cautious recovery of food service and live entertainment. And yet, the economy has recovered to the point that it is nearly back on the pre-pandemic trend. This economic recovery has been strong enough that we can only conclude that short supply of overall production can’t explain high prices anymore, and that we were overestimating its contribution to inflation in October. Market disruptions to fuel and food have goosed inflation in recent months. However, the much larger reasons for current overall inflation, and those that will persist in the coming years, are the unprecedented actions of the Fed since

July/August 2022

March 2020 and the resulting growth in the money supply, something to which very few people were really paying attention last October. It’s the Money Supply (Mostly) In the words of Federal Reserve Bank Chairman Jerome Powell, the Fed controls the rate of inflation through three “blunt tools”: 1) raising and lowering the interest rates it charges other banks for money, 2) buying and selling assets on the open market, and 3) signaling its future intentions to the market. Let’s look at how and what they’ve been doing. First, the Fed lowered interest rates by 1½% in March 2020, from about 1½% to just above 0%, eﬀectively lowering other banks’ cost of borrowing to nothing. This increased banks’ borrowing of money the Fed created. (See Figure 2.) Second, since the beginning of March 2020 the Fed bought nearly $6 trillion in assets (mostly bonds and other long-term securities) with money they created (and which added to the money supply). This includes $3 trillion

in just the four months beginning March 2020. These purchases by the Fed were intended to put more money into the economy. The “M2” version of the money supply, shown below, is the most common measure of the amount of money in the U.S. economy and includes cash in circulation, checking and savings accounts, and other readily available personal accounts. The Fed’s actions drove a $6.4 trillion increase in the M2 money supply between March 2020 and the end of 2021. This was a massive and unprecedented 42% increase in only 22 months, far more than could be absorbed by economic growth, even with the strong recovery we have had. Finally, the last of those three blunt tools is the Fed’s forward guidance, including their explanation of how they see the current situation. After initially insisting that inflation was ‘transitory’ and due to supply chain issues, the Fed’s leadership has finally acknowledged that it is persistent. They have also acknowledged their responsibility to control this inflation and that they will use the tools that drive the money

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July/August 2022 supply to return inflation to the target rate of 2% (though they do so without mentioning the money supply directly). The job of the Fed is to manage the money supply to promote 1) price stability and 2) maximum employment. For four decades, the Fed has focused on price stability, which has provided a stable environment to support the growth and employment. During the pandemic, they focused on short-term support for the second goal with little focus on the first, through that massive money supply expansion. This was supposed to stimulate demand. But was that stimulus needed? Or even helpful? The Fed’s monetary stimulus was done on top of enormous new federal spending commitments – Congress increased its spending commitment for pandemic relief and economic stimulus by about the same $6 trillion amount between March 2020 and late 2021. This spending (most of it bipartisan) included much needed relief for those aﬀected and overdue infrastructure investments, as well as pure stimulus spending, such as the roughly $11,400 sent to an average family of four, regardless of job status. Note that the infrastructure investments are critical to continued growth in the general and farm economies, regardless of the pandemic. This combination of stimulusrelated spending and the Fed’s money creation was almost certainly an overstimulation of the economy. Consider that the stimulus spending in response to the 2008-2009 recession was less than $900 billion, including both relief and infrastructure investments. In addition, the 2008-2009 recession was a demand-based recession, while the COVID recession was about the p y cutting g oﬀ of the supply pp y for temporary

Farm Bureau - The Voice of N.H. Agriculture many in-person services. There was a lot of disposable income, including enhanced unemployment benefits to most of those put out of work, substantial government support for businesses who kept people on payroll, and the regular paychecks of the vast majority of the workforce. (See Figure 1.) This ensured that personal incomes and overall demand didn’t flag; so there was little reason for the Fed to pursue demand stimulus through such a loose money policy. Another indication of the overstimulation of the economy is the record job openings data, a rough indication of the excess demand in the economy that can’t be met by the available workforce. (See Figure 5.) So, arguably, the Fed’s monetary stimulus was an overdose of the wrong prescription. Since the Federal Reserve Bank is an independent central bank, operating independently of the executive and legislative branches, it has no obligation to finance government spending. That is, it was in no way obliged to match government spending with money creation. What happens when the money supply is pumped up too much? Such a massive injection of money into the economy has to work itself out, mainly through 1) an increase in the economy (which needs more money roughly in proportion to its growth), 2) an increase in the demand for money as a held asset and 3) an increase in prices, i.e., price inflation, over two to three years. This leaves excess money equal to about 30% of the money supply. This will have to work its way through the economy in the next few years in some combination of inflation, which will happen, and contraction of the money pp y which the Fed is unlikely y to supply,

my Matarozzo of LorrenJoyce Farm in Center Barnstead was awarded her grand prize on Wednesday, May 4th as winner of the 2021 NHFB Young Farmer Achievement Award competition. Her and her family were happy to take deliver of the LA1154 model tractor. Thanks to a partnership between Kubota Tractor Corporation, Pinnacleview Equipment in Walpole, and NHFB, winners of the Achievement Award get the use

Page 13

do. That means, unfortunately, that it would not be unreasonable to expect two to three more years of inflation in the 6% to 8% range, far above the Fed’s long-run inflation target of 2% per year. Those Who Ignore History… It may not be too early to call this ‘runaway inflation’, because there is a lot of inflation still to come, and because it is so critical that we recognize what a dangerous phenomenon inflation is, and how important it is to long-term economic growth that we stop it. The last time inflation was this high, the U.S. economy was suﬀering its second economic recession in three years as the Federal Reserve Bank finally reined in the inflation that had galloped through the 1970s. (See Figure 6.) Those of us who remember those days recall inflation was massively disruptive to the economy, making prices uncertain, eroding incomes, devaluing savings, and building destructive expectations of continued inflation into interest rates, leading to 30-year mortgage rates near 20%. It helped to define a generation and was particularly painful for farmers, who were put on a treadmill of rising crop and land prices in the 1970s, only to be stuck with high-interest debt when the treadmill ground to a halt. Perhaps the best thing that came out of that era (other than roller disco and Star Wars) were the lessons about managing monetary policy. The 1960s belief that inflation would always support economic growth was wiped away as “stagflation” – a combination of high inflation, high unemployment, and stagnant demand – made 1970s headlines. By the 1980s, it had become an accepted economic principle that putting money into the economy faster than the economy y can absorb it will

of a new Kubota tractror for six months or 250 hours. “It’s an honor to be recognized as an outstanding young farmer with such a meaningful prize,” Amy said. “I’ve been a part of the Young Farmer Committee for many years and I thank Farm Bureau for this opportunity!” She has already put the tractor to good use around the farm, preventing some wear & tear on their own machines and giving her husband Brian, a professional

cause inflation, and that continuing to do so was dangerous to the economy. The cure – slowing the growth in the money supply – was applied by then-Federal Reserve Chair Paul Volcker, based on the monetarist principles laid out by Milton Friedman. This was painful to the whole economy and particularly to farmers; but it was necessary to establish the stable monetary environment that has supported continued economic growth over the last four decades. In fact, it took years for financial markets to be assured that inflation was not around the corner and to reduce longterm interest rates to the levels we have enjoyed until recently. By ignoring these lessons of our monetary history, the Fed has led us to repeat it. A reasonable stated intent of making Fed policy more amenable to high employment and wage growth seemed, during the response to the COVID recession, to turn into a belief that a free lunch could be had from monetary expansion. So perhaps once again, we can find this inflationary episode’s silver lining in the rediscovery of how monetary tools work and, more importantly, how they don’t work. And we look for the Fed to renew its focus on price stability and to exercise due restraint in the future. The Fed’s actions and statements last week – including a half percentage increase in their lending rate, their pledge to sell oﬀ up to a trillion dollars in bonds and securities over the next year, and their statements supporting further action in the coming months – are all encouraging, in this respect. In the meantime, farmers, ranchers and consumers will face the pitfalls of inflation until time and more sober policy can return us to price stability.

mobile equipment mechanic, a chance to catch up on some repairs. Mike Snide of Pinnacleview Equipment delivered the prize as part of a program that started in 1992. This year marks the 28th tractor awarded to Farm Bureau members in recognition of their excellence in full-time agricultural operation. NHFB oﬀers a heartfelt thanks to Mike Snide, Pinnacleview Equipment, and Kubota Tractor Corporation!

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July/August 2022

Growing Together On the Farm

he Farm by the River in Eﬃngham, NH has a long history that spans multiple generations of multiple families caring for an idyllic tract of land along the Ossipee River. The current iteration of the farm is shepherded by Bill and Eve Klotz, who raise Katahdin sheep and run a pick-yourown raspberry business. Although they have raised chickens, pigs, and diversified vegetable crops themselves in the past, their latest endeavor has turned them into an incubator farm for a new and ambitious farmer. Joanne Ducas joined the Farm by the River ‘Farmily’ several years ago to start Mountain Heartbeet Farm, an organic vegetable CSA and market farm that leases the land and infrastructure previously worked by Bill and Eve. After spending the early 2010s working at farms in Maine and New Hampshire, Joanne knew she wanted to set out on her own. “I was putting it out there to the world, I think I’m ready,” she said. At the same time, Bill and Eve were considering whether or not to end their own CSA operation, which sold shares to a small number of neighbors and friends. Through a serendipitous mutual contact, UNH Cooperative Extension’s Olivia Saunders, who had worked at Crystal Spring Farm in Maine with Joanne, the stars aligned. “We really wanted to pay it forward,” Eve said. Bill and Eve recognize the hurdle land and infrastructure can be to young and beginning farmers. “Being able to just do the art of farming and establishing your business is what we hoped for Joanne.”

Eve’s parents purchased the farm property in 1964 with no farming experience at all. Eve’s father was an aeronautical engineer by trade and a farmer by choice. While they restarted greenhouses for commercial perennial production and added strawberries to the operation, the family’s main source of income came through the invention of the Thermalarm temperature alarm system by Eve’s father, Al Varrieur. “He rigged it up on the kitchen table,” Bill explained. The idea was simple enough: if the temperature in the greenhouse gets too low or too high, based oﬀ limits the farmer can set, it will trigger an alarm. The prototype’s alarm was a loud horn that could be heard from the farmhouse. Bill came to the farm in the mid 1970’s as an employee, where he developed his skills as a property manager/caretaker. Eventually, he and Eve married in 1982. With a desire to grow strawberries and start the pickyour-own raspberry operation, the couple was given a similar opportunity by Eve’s parents as they have now given to Joanne. While the generations of farmers have cared for the land to produce a plethora of crops over the years, the land has also helped grow new farmers. The nurturing spirit that drives The Farm by the River isn’t surprising considering Bill and Eve’s other careers. Bill has been a lifelong caretaker of area properties helping them keep their historic charm and local feel. Eve worked professionally in the field of community mental health for many

Bill and Eve Klotz raise approximately 20 - 25 head of Katahdin sheep at The Farm by the River in Eﬃngham, NH. Katahdin sheep are a lower maintenance sheep that shed their winter coats rather than needing to be sheared. They are highly regarded for their meat quality and have high fertility. The ewes are known for lambing easily and being good mothers.

years, most recently as the Clinical Director at Northern Human Services before she retired. That background led to another farmer connection when UNH and the NH Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food took on a grant project called the Farmer & Rancher Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN). Even before the project started, Eve was hearing other farmers talk about stress that was unique to their profession. “We had many conversations about the particular kinds of stressors that farmers have,” she said. So the question was, how could she help? She jumped at the opportunity to join the FRSAN team.

“I’m basically a consultant to UNH Extension for that project and I will take up to 35 farmers a year, as clients.” The FRSAN project will pay for up to six therapy sessions with Eve, or other service providers, for farmers through September of 2023 or until funding runs out. Other services available include financial planning, tax planning, credit mediation, and more. For details on how you can utilize these services, visit extension.unh.edu/farmer-stress. You can visit Farm by the River for the pick-your-own raspberry season and find Mountain Heartbeet Farm at the Wolfeboro or Tamworth Farmers’ Markets.

(Above left) The team at Mountain Heartbeet Farm shows oﬀ the morning’s harvest, colorful beets that will be heading to a CSA share or to the Wolfeboro or Tamworth Farmers’ Markets. Joanne Ducas (second from left) runs Mountain Heartbeet Farm on the property of Farm by the River. (Above right) Bill and Eve Klotz, owners of Farm by the River, look out towards their pastured Katahdin sheep. Bill and Eve raise Katahdin sheep and have a pick-your-own raspberry operation on the farm as well as lease the land to Mountain Heartbeet.

July/August 2022

Farm Bureau - The Voice of N.H. Agriculture

Page 15

Young Farmer Committee By Sydney Wilson, YF Committee Coordinator May YF Industry Tour Bonnie Brae Farm On Friday, May 20th, our Young Farmers had the opportunity to take a tour of Bonnie Brae Farms in Plymouth, NH. This red deer farm is owned and operated by Farm Bureau members; Henry Ahern and Cindy Downing. At our April meeting, the members suggested different farms and businesses that we could visit for our next YF meeting. Board member Caroline Crouch suggested Bonnie Brae and there was resounding enthusiasm to attend. Henry and Cindy graciously agreed to host us, and the group had an amazing time. We started our tour with a brief history of the farm and how it came to be. Following that, biosecurity procedures were followed and we started on our way. One of the unique features of Henry’s property, other than the hundreds of deer roaming about, is the fact that it has an active railroad that runs through it. Henry explained to the group how he must check the train schedule before moving equipment or animals across the tracks, set up different gate systems, and fence in both sides of the railway. All of which are interesting circumstances that most farmers do not need to consider in their day-to-day operations. From there the group got to see the rotational grazing pastures that are utilized in the summertime to feed the deer. While the deer spend their time in the lush fields, Henry spends a good portion of the summer baling hay to be used in the winter months. We then got to see the daily feeding area, which is where the deer eat grain and can be contained for wellness checks and lookovers. Here we learned about a group of younger deer that were just as happy to watch us from afar. Next, we got to visit the stags which ranged in age and rack size from small to very impressive. Henry explained the safe process of harvesting antler and their many uses. Several of the stags were very impressive and majestic to watch as they ran through the field. The next portion of the tour was arguably the most anticipated by the members. We were able to enter one of the pens and hand feed one of the groups of deer. These females were a little more friendly and could be persuaded to come in for a visit with a bit of grain. You can see in the picture that they are currently in the process of shedding off their winter coats in preparation for warmer weather. Our members loved this opportunity and there were smiles all around. Including from Henry, who seemed to love giving the tour as much as the members enjoyed taking it. We ended the evening by checking out the working portion of the facility. This is the area where Henry can contain the deer for any number of reasons including veterinary work, checkups, and procedures. He demonstrated how he utilizes a squeeze shoot to handle the deer when necessary. The members were even allowed to step inside to see how gentle the machine is on the animals. From there we got to ask any final questions, see some of the different products that Bonnie Brae sells, and give our thanks to our fantastic tour guide. Our members walked away saying this was our best meeting yet and were looking forward to more to come! A very special thank you goes to Henry and Cindy for allowing our Young Farmers to visit their amazing facility! Our members raved about

The NHFB Young Farmer Committee toured Bonnie Brae Farms in Plymouth on May 20th. The group got a tour from Henry Ahern and interacted with the red deer on the farm. Below, Ammy Rice delivers ten gallons of milk to The Community Kitchen in Keene as part of the 10-gallon challenge. YF members across the state purchased ten gallons of milk to donate to local food pantries, including Jordan Bell (bottom photo) who delivered to St. Vincent de Paul Community Center.

Henry’s excellent educational skills and Cindy’s kindness.

Young Farmer 10 Gallon Challenge As many of you know, June is National Dairy Month. According to an article published by the American Farm Bureau Federation and written by Marlene Kouba, “June Dairy Month started out as a way to distribute extra milk during the warm months of summer. The commemoration was established in 1937 by grocer organizations sponsoring ‘National Milk Month.’ By 1939, June became the official ‘Dairy Month’ and is still celebrated today.” Each year our Young Farmers celebrate Dairy Month by participating in the 10 Gallon Challenge. This initiative is simple but has a big impact: head to your local grocery store or dairy farm, pick up 10 gallons of milk and donate them to a local food pantry. By doing so, you support not only your local dairy industry, but also help families in need. We enlisted the help of our YF members across the state to make donations in all ten counties! A project that would be difficult alone but becomes easy with many hands across the state. The first drop-offs were made by Patrick Marcoux and Jordan Bell to the Society of St Vincent de Paul Community Center in Rockingham County and Gerry’s Food Pantry in Strafford County. The next round of donations were coordinated by past YF Chair Ammy Rice, who delivered milk to two more food banks. Ammy delivered to the Boys & Girls Club of Souhegan Valley in Hillsborough County, where it was be used to feed 150 kids breakfast for the week. She also delivered to The Community Kitchen in Cheshire County, where the milk helped support their kids summer program. The donation in Sullivan County was a joint effort. YF member Hailey King took this challenge and upgraded it in a big way. With the help of a local 4-H club and two local farms, she organized a donation of 30 gallons of milk to the Charlestown Food Pantry. We are beyond thrilled by the efforts made by our members to positively impact their local communities. YF Chair Ben Davis delivered 10 gallons of milk to the Friendly Kitchen in Concord as Merrimack County’s offering towards the challenge. Thanks to all who participated!

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July/August 2022

Saving Farmland is a Sweet Deal for New Hampshire Maple Producers By Trust for Public Land Picture, if you will, a maple sugar harvest. It’s a storybook scene: a snowy New England forest, a bucket hanging on every tree catching a steady drip of sap, and a big vat simmering sweetly over a wood fire in a tumbledown barn, slowly reducing the sap into rich, amber syrup. “Nope—mine doesn’t look like that at all,” says Howard Pearl, whose family has been farming the same land in Loudon, New Hampshire, since the late 1800s. “What we’ve got going is a much more technological type of operation.” Like a lot of family farmers, Pearl learned his trade from working alongside his father as a teen and young adult. But that doesn’t mean his operation is stuck in the past. Today, the 275-acre Pearl & Sons Farm is a proving ground for maple-industry innovation. It is also a cherished strand in the fabric of Loudon. A family farm passed down through four generations, the land sits atop Loudon Ridge and oﬀers a swath of open space just 20 minutes from the state capital of Concord, in an area that is quickly filling with subdivisions. Thanks to a deal to protect the land in perpetuity, the town will maintain its agricultural heritage and identity. Working with the Loudon Conservation Commission, Trust for Public Land secured a conservation easement on the property in 2022, which will preserve the town’s rural character by prohibiting development and guaranteeing public access. While the Pearl family farm stretches back more than a century, the

enterprise currently seeks to maximize efficiency. Howard’s 11,000 taps are connected by a network of vacuum tubing—450,000 feet in all—that induces the tree to produce more sap and pipes it to a centralized location. The collected sap then passes through a reverse osmosis system that filters out 80 percent of the water that would otherwise need to be boiled off. “That cuts down significantly on our fuel,” Pearl says, “And I can make as much in an hour using osmosis as it would take me in a whole day of boiling.” From the traditional to the futuristic, Pearl and his fellow maple producers in Loudon are part of the agricultural backbone of this town of 5,600. Once maple season ends—usually around mid-April—Pearl turns his attention to his fields, where he grows vegetables such as zucchini, winter squash, and sweet corn to supply local wholesalers and farm stands. But maple technology isn’t the only change that’s come to Loudon since Pearl was a kid. “There used to be six farms along our road, and throughout my lifetime, they’re all gone,” he says. In Loudon and across New England, more small producers like Pearl are struggling to make ends meet, and many have sold their farms. “Loudon is still rural, still affordable, but as close as we are to Concord and

Pearl & Sons Farm in Loudon, NH secured a conservation easement through Trust for Public Land in 2022. The 275-acre farm is host to an 11,000 tap maple operation as well as vegetable fields growing zucchini, winter squash, and sweet corn for wholesale markets. (Photo credit: Jerry and Marcy Monkman

Boston, we’re growing very fast,” says Julie Robinson, who chairs the Loudon Conservation Commission. “Agriculture plays a significant role in stewarding Loudon’s rural landscape, and it’s central to our economy, our culture, and our history.” That’s why the community has come together to protect farmland. So far, Loudon residents have voted to preserve three local farms, directing their tax dollars to cover part of the cost of conservation easements that ensure the land will never be built on, while providing local farmers with muchneeded revenue from the sale of their development rights. The conservation commission has also received funding from the New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Investment Program—a source of state funding for conservation that Trust for Public Land has long advocated for in Concord. The deal to conserve the Pearl farm creates an opportunity for the public to

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use this land for recreation, although no new trails are planned. “At the top of the farm, you’re just looking over the farmland and forestland of Loudon Ridge, which is one of our highest areas in town,” says Robinson. “It’s just a beautiful pastoral view of farmland and some water and trees.” Meanwhile, the income from the sale of the easement will help Pearl stay in business, and make for a smoother financial transition to the next generation of farmers who will care for this land. This long-term stability is especially important for maple growers, says Pearl, noting that trees don’t start producing sap until they’re at least 40 years old. “You can’t just go make a maple orchard,” he says, “It’s taken generations to get where we are, and I’ve spent a lot of my life planting, weeding, and cultivating, to where there’s just now a lot of growth potential here. The next generation after me is going to have one hell of an orchard.”

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Farm Bureau - The Voice of N.H. Agriculture

July/August 2022

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Eye on Extension Select Food and Agricultural Events Emerald Ash Borer, Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, and Elongate Hemlock Scale Insecticide Treatment Options July 7 From 9:00 AM -12:00 PM Burns Farm (Beaver Brook Association Property) Parking at the Hitchiner Town Forest, Mullen Road Milford, NH 03055 This workshop is designed for licensed pesticide applicators and licensed professional foresters interested in learning more about insecticide treatment options for treating ash trees for Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), and hemlock trees for both Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) and Elongate Hemlock Scale (EHS). During this workshop Kyle Lombard, NH Division of Forests and Lands, Forest Health Program Coordinator, Bill Davidson, NH Division of Forests and Lands, Forest Health Specialist EAB, and Mike Gagnon, Extension Forester in Hillsborough County, will review EAB, HWA and EHS biology, best management practices, and treatment options, including demonstrations of a variety of equipment used for systemic treatments for these pests. This workshop will include a discussion of specific insecticides recommended for emerald ash borer, hemlock woolly adelgid, and elongate hemlock scale treatments. NH Licensed Pesticide Applicators will receive 3.0 recertification credits for attendance. NH Licensed Foresters will receive 3.0 CFE credits for attendance. This workshop will be held rain or shine.

Mid-Season Corn Checkup & Pest Scouting July 7 From 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Grafton County Farm 3855 Dartmouth College HWY North Haverhill, NH 03774 Join us for a hands-on session in the field and learn about the importance of scouting corn fields for pests midseason. We will cover common weed and insect pests, proper scouting techniques and timing, assessing crop injury, post emergence herbicide programs for midseason weed management, and options for managing insect pests. We will also discuss mid-season nitrogen checks for corn. Event will be held rain or shine. 2 Pesticide Applicator Credits.

North Country Twilight Meetings This summer, UNH Extension is teaming up with four farms to host a series of twilight meetings. Whether you farm, aspire to farm, or just want to learn a few tips for managing your garden, this series could be for you. At each event, we will take on-site tours and dive deep into each topic. Come to one, or as many as you like. No pre-registration is required and all events are free. Pesticide applicator recertification credits are pending.

North Country Twilight Meeting: Reduced Tillage as a Climate Adaptation Strategy July 12 From 4:00 - 6:00 PM Cedar Circle Farm 225 Pavillion Rd, East Thetford, VT 05043 At the Reduced Tillage as a Climate Adaptation Strategy meeting, we will talk about the successes, challenges, equipment and tips Cedar Circle Farm has discovered during their experimentation with a 4-year rotation of strawberries, vegetables, and cover crops in an organic production system using no, or minimal, tillage.

North Country Twilight Meeting: Monitoring Corn Pests with Trapping August 24 From 5:00 - 7:00 PM North Woods Gardens 54 Cloutier Rd., Northumberland, NH 03584 At the Monitoring Corn Pests with Trapping meeting, we will talk about the use of insect traps to monitor the presence/absence of common corn pests like corn earworm, European corn borer, and fall army worm. Monitoring allows for data-driven decisions about whether or not a pesticide is needed. We will discuss other vegetable pests and management tactics as well. Bring your questions.

New Farmer School 2022 Get a jump-start on growing your agricultural business with this intensive multi-session course! Offering a wide variety of topics that will be applicable to any new farmer and sessions that build upon knowledge gained in previous sessions, this course is a great way to get up to speed quickly on the business and science of agriculture. Network with other new farmers, and work closely with Extension staff as you develop your business and productions ideas. Course topics include soils and site assessment, agricultural regulations, enterprise selection, infrastructure considerations, marketing, insurance basics, and financial and production record-keeping. Participants will also learn about state agencies and other agriculture service providers in New Hampshire. The 2022 course will be offered remotely and in-person. Dates and times for sessions are as follows: August 3, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Online Session August 17, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., In-person, location Plymouth, NH August 31, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Online Session September 14, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Online Session September 28, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Inperson, location Otokahe Farm, Jefferson, NH and Slopeside Farm, Lancaster, NH October 12, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Online Session October 26, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Online Session

November 9, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Inperson, location Meadowstone Farm, Bethlehem, NH and Littleton Food Coop, Littleton, NH Our in-person sessions are optional. We will follow safety protocols to ensure the safety of all participants. The majority of the session will be held outdoors, however when weather is not favorable, indoor accommodations will be made with adequate social distancing. Mask use is at the discretion of the individual. Technology needed for this course includes Internet access, the ability to participate in video conferencing sessions, word processing and spreadsheet software, and the ability to read pdf files. Please contact Kelly McAdam at kelly.mcadam@unh.edu or (603) 527-5475 at least 10 business days prior to the first session if any technology accommodations are needed. Registration cost is $250 per person or $450 for two people from the same farm. A limited number of scholarships are available for those with financial need. Please contact Jonathan Ebba for more information. If special accommodations, including technology access, are needed to participate in the course, please contact Kelly McAdam at least 10 business days prior to the course start date. Cost: $250 per person; $450 for two people from same farm.

NH Farm & Ranch Stress Assistance Network The NH Farm & Ranch Stress Assistance Network is now up and running. Let us help you manage the stress inherent to farming. Call our hotline or email directly (FRSAN.NH@ unh.edu) to get connected with legal aid, financial management support, mediation or therapeutic support with a licensed therapist. Our resource library continues to grow. Learn more at Extension.unh.edu/farmer-stress or call our mental health hotline at 1-800429-7153 or the FRSAN-Resource Line at 1-800-785-7914

Jumpstart to Farm Food Safety Produce Farmers: Apply to the NEW Jumpstart to Farm Food Safety program for free, individualized assistance with your farm food safety planning. Three farm openings remain for 2022, and there are openings for 2023 and 2024. Participants get one-to-one best practice food safety consultations over the year they sign up. Jumpstart is a collaboration of UNH Extension and UMaine Extension. Learn more and apply at https://extension.umaine.edu/ food-health/jumpstart-to-farm-foodsafety or contact Mary Saucier Choate, UNH Extension Food Safety Field Specialist at 603-787-6944 Email: mary. choate@unh.edu.

UNH Extension’s Food & Agriculture Program is Hiring The State Specialist in IPM and Entomology will provide statewide leadership in agricultural integrated

pest management, undertaking engaged outreach as the state’s IPM Coordinator. The Specialist will collaborate with faculty, Extension specialists, and agricultural stakeholders to lead and support outreach efforts as part of a team focused on sustainable management of pest populations. This position will primarily address the needs of vegetable and fruit crop producers, with the aim to help the diverse agricultural businesses of the state and region become more economically and environmentally sustainable. The State Specialist in Soil Health will provide statewide leadership in soil health and fertility in agricultural systems. The specialist will oversee the UNH Soil Testing Service, maintaining and updating associated fertility recommendations. The specialist will engage with the Northeast Soil Testing Committee. and collaborate with faculty, Extension specialists, and agricultural stakeholders to lead and support outreach efforts as part of a team that is working in the fields of soil health, nutrient management, and environmental quality. The State Specialist in Plant Pathology will direct and operate all aspects of the UNH-Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab, including diagnosis of plant health problems and communication of results, maintaining sample information and data, and supervising staff. The UNH-PDDL provides diagnostic services for plant health issues for commercial producers, home horticulturists, landscapers and turf managers, arborists, extension staff, state and regulatory agencies and others and is a member of the National Plant Diagnostic Network. The Specialist will collaborate with faculty, Extension specialists, and agricultural stakeholders working in diverse areas of agricultural systems including integrated pest management, sustainable horticulture, crop development, and protected agriculture, including both food and non-food crops.

Select 4-H Events 2022 NH State 4-H Horse Show July 15 - 17 Deerfield Fairgrounds The NH State 4-H Horse Show is open to NH 4-H members 10-18 years old on January 1st. 4-H members are invited to enter as delegates who show a horse or teen leaders who assist the county delegation. Members qualify at their County 4-H Horse Show or members age 10-11, Walk-Trot exhibitors and Exhibitors in Hunter Over Fences must complete a readiness form found in the packet. Entry deadline is July 1st (or immediately after your county show). All exhibitors participate in a horse judging contest, general knowledge test, and Fitting and Showmanship class. Exhibitors may show Western, English, in-hand or driving. In addition to an equitation class, delegates have a choice of other classes to best showcase their equine partnership.

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Legislative Corner By Rob Johnson, NHFB Policy Director Game Camera Bill Update HB 490, a bill dealing with live-action game cameras, is dead. Farm Bureau requested language be added to the bill requiring landowner permission to place any game camera on the property of another. A written landowner permission requirement was added to the bill in the House but later removed. Once the language was removed, Farm Bureau strongly opposed the bill moving forward. We have stressed that current and continuously evolving technology makes images from these devices available in real-time and in great detail and that a game camera placed on private property without the knowledge of the landowner is, in eﬀect, a surveillance device. Their unknown placement on private property raises concerns about privacy on our farms, which are our homes. To stress we do not oppose hunting, below is a paragraph from one of the letters we have sent:

Farm Bureau is an organization that includes many devoted hunters. We strongly support and will tirelessly defend the state’s long-time tradition of public access to private land. Our members pride themselves in making their land available to the public for public recreational pursuits – of which hunting is of key importance. Aside from the enjoyment hunting provides many people, it is also a valuable land management tool for farmers. This being said, the right to control what is placed on one’s property is paramount, particularly when it is as intrusive as a camera. We believe requiring the written permission of the landowner to place a camera on their property is a very reasonable requirement. Most landowners will simply want to know a game camera is being put up on their property and by who. Some may want to know specifically where they are being placed. Some may also want to limit the season or period of time a camera is up. This being said and regardless of the reason, landowners should have the right and ability to simply say no.

Farm Bureau will be seeking Legislators to introduce a bill in the next legislative session requiring written landowner permission for the placement of a game camera on the property of another. We ask members to raise this issue with candidates for the Legislator and with hunters! H-2A Agricultural Guest Worker Driver’s Licenses Testing at DMV Satellite Oﬃces Available NH law requires foreigners, after 60 days in the state, hold a NH license to continue driving in the state. In recent years two H-2A employers in NH, following paperwork audits, have been fined by the U.S. Department of Labor for not following state law by not having workers who are driving onroad licensed in NH. At the request of Farm Bureau, SB 308, relative to driver’s licenses for certain visa holders was introduced by Senator David Watters

from Dover earlier this year in the state Senate. The bill provides reciprocity for H-2A workers holding a foreign driver’s license. It passed the Senate but has been held for further study by the House Transportation Committee. One of the obstacles to H-2A workers obtaining a NH license is that non-citizen licenses must be obtained at the Concord DMV oﬃce. While SB 308 is being studied, Farm Bureau has arranged with the Director of Motor Vehicle to provide license testing for their H-2A workers (vision test, computer-based knowledge test, and a road test) at DMV satellite oﬃces. H-2A employers interested in scheduling test for their workers may contact Rob Johnson at 312-6877 or robj@ nhfarmbureau.org.

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Eating local is a 365, 24/7 celebration in the Granite State. But in August, we pull out the stops for NH Eats Local Month! Join in for 31 days of rallying around the bounty of New Hampshire with events, contests, film screenings, local stories, and the eat local information we all crave! August is the month for eaters, farmers, fishermen, food producers, and other small businesses and organizations from across New Hampshire to come together and celebrate how the power of local food connects us all.

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Joby Young Named AFBF Executive Vice President AFBF

he American Farm Bureau Federation has named Joby Young the organization’s next Executive Vice President, stepping into the role in midJuly following the retirement of Dale Moore. As Executive Vice President, Joby will serve in a chief of staﬀ role at AFBF, managing across departments and working closely with our state

Farm Bureaus to achieve organizational goals. It’s a familiar role for Young who previously served in the same capacity at USDA and in Congress. “Joby is going to be a fantastic addition to our team at Farm Bureau,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “He has more than a decade of experience in food and agriculture policy, from the halls of Congress to the highest levels of

the Executive Branch. The Farm Bureau family will be well-served by his strong leadership skills.” Young said he looks forward to starting in the new role, adding, “I’m honored to join the talented team at the American Farm Bureau Federation. Having worked alongside the Farm Bureau community nationwide throughout my career, there is no better team to work with and no better mission than to serve America’s farm families and rural communities.” Young is currently a partner at Horizons Global Solutions LLC, a consulting firm where he advises clients

in the food and agriculture sectors. Young previously served as Chief of Staff in a variety of USDA offices and mission areas, including the Office of Congressional Relations and Rural Development, before becoming the Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary and ultimately serving in that role for the entire department under the Secretary of Agriculture. He also served as a Chief of Staff in the U.S. House of Representatives. Young holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia School of Law and Bachelor of Arts degrees in history and communications from the University of Georgia.

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How One Farmer Reduced Debt and Paid It Off Faster with Credit Counseling New Hampshire Agricultural Mediation Program

he cost of everything, including farm supplies, seems to be going up. When a producer reached out to the Agricultural Mediation Program about some debts recently, she was feeling overwhelmed about how to pay them oﬀ, especially with interest rates rising. One of our credit counselors shared some tips for negotiating the debts with a creditor. Using the tips below, the producer successfully negotiated a significant reduction in the amount owed during calls with creditors. “The producer was quite nervous, but after the first call, she changed from nervous to excited and continued to handle two more calls,” the credit counselor said. “She was able to turn down oﬀers from the creditors until she could obtain a more reasonable settlement. It was a delight to watch her mature in her experience and move from fear to excitement.” In our experience, it is not unusual for some debts that have gone to collection to settle at a substantial discount. Debts can often be reduced because collection centers get a commission for closing the debt, even at a fairly low amount. This is not a rule, and some debtors or collection centers seem unwilling to budge on the amount due or rates, but it can’t hurt to try.

Six Tips to Become Debt-Free Faster 1) Negotiate at the end of the month or quarter. Creditors want to clear their books of existing debt, especially at key financial times throughout the year. The best times to work on negotiation are the end of a month or the end of a fiscal quarter (end of March, June, September, and December). Often collection agencies are hoping to meet a quota that ends at those times. The best option is the end of the year when creditors are most pressured to clear the debt from the books. 2) Pay a lump sum if possible. You will typically get a better settlement if you can pay a lump sum rather than payments over time. 3) Ask about a 1099 IRS form for large debts. If you are able to reach a settlement on a substantial debt, ask the creditor if you will receive a 1099 IRS form for what was “forgiven.” This is important because the IRS treats the amount forgiven as income for taxes purposes. You’ll want to plan for that if the amount is significant.

USDA Announces Assistance for On-Farm Food Safety Expenses for Specialty Crop Growers USDA

OLLIS, NEW HAMPSHIRE, JUNE 17, 2022 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) plans to provide up to $200 million in assistance for specialty crop producers who incur eligible on-farm food safety program expenses to obtain or renew a food safety certification in calendar years 2022 or 2023. USDA’s new Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) program will help to offset costs for specialty crop producers to comply with regulatory requirements and market-driven food safety certification requirements, which is part of USDA’s broader effort to transform the food system to create a more level playing field for small and medium producers and a more balanced, equitable economy for everyone working in food and agriculture. Specialty crop operations can apply for assistance for eligible expenses related to a 2022 food safety certificate issued on or after June 21, 2022, beginning June 27, 2022. USDA is delivering FSCSC to provide critical assistance for specialty crop operations, with an emphasis on equity in program delivery while building on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain disruptions. Vilsack made the announcement from Hollis, N.H., where he toured a local, familyowned farm and highlighted USDA’s efforts to help reduce costs for farmers and support local economies by providing significant funding to cut regulatory costs and increase market opportunities for farmers in New Hampshire and across the nation. “The ongoing economic challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic have created substantial financial challenges

4) Do not wait until the debt goes to a judgment against you. Judgments are harder to negotiate and typically have a fixed interest rate. Even if the interest rate is negotiable, there will be other costs including legal fees. 5) Keep purchases to less than 30% of your available credit. Any use of your existing credit above 29% (of all your available credit) hurts your credit score. 6) Check your credit report at least annually. You are allowed one free report each year from each of the three reporting agencies (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion). Be sure to check your accounts and credit scores regularly and follow up right away on potential errors. Credit Counseling or Mediation Can Help You to Reduce Debt If you’re struggling with debt, you’re not alone. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, farm sector debt is nearing levels not seen since the late 1970s and early 1980s. Yet, with a little bit of planning and specific actions, you can shave years oﬀ your debt repayment schedule. The New Hampshire Agricultural Mediation Program can help either by mediating with the creditor or by providing credit counseling. There are important diﬀerences between the two services.

for small and very small producers to meet regulatory requirements and access additional markets,” Vilsack said. “These challenges were particularly acute for specialty crop producers, many of whom needed to quickly and completely pivot their operations as demand shifted away from traditional markets, like restaurants and food service. As we build back better, our food systems must be both more inclusive and more competitive. By helping mitigate the costs of on-farm food safety certification, the FSCSC program will support fair, transparent food systems rooted in local and regional production and provide smallscale producers a real opportunity to bring home a greater share of the food dollar and help create jobs.”

Mediation When we serve as a mediator, we are impartial and work with the creditor and the farmer to facilitate the conversation to reach a mutually acceptable solution. Then we can draft a binding written agreement that documents the terms of the settlement. Credit Counseling When we work as a credit counselor, we only work with the producer to address debt. The credit counselor may suggest tips for negotiating the debt but will not contact the creditor. Because a mediator must remain impartial, one person ‘can’t simultaneously be the credit counselor and mediator. It’s human nature to fear and avoid pain, and debt can become painful. But not dealing with cascading debt problems will only make the situation worse. A mediator or credit counselor can help you organize your debts and systematically develop a plan to address them. Once you have a structured picture, what was undefined and scary becomes more manageable. If you are uncertain whether you need a credit counselor or mediator to help resolve your debts, please contact us to discuss your specific circumstances or fill out the ‘request for ‘mediation’ form on our website http:// emcenter.org/nhamp/ Contact: Cara Cargill or Matt Strassberg (603) 685-4780 Carac@emcenter.org; matts@emcenter.org www.NHAMP.org

Help us stay in touch with you! Has your phone number, email, or mailing address changed recently? Call NH Farm Bureau at 224-1934 and update your contact info today!

Program Details

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FSCSC will assist specialty crop operations that incurred eligible onfarm food safety certification and related expenses related to obtaining or renewing a food safety certification in calendar years 2022 and 2023. For each year, FSCSC covers a percentage of the specialty crop operation’s cost of obtaining or renewing their certification, as well as a portion of their related expenses. To be eligible for FSCSC, the applicant must be a specialty crop operation; meet the definition of a small business or very small business; and have paid eligible expenses related to the 2022 (issued on or after June 21, 2022) or 2023 certification. Specialty crop operations may receive assistance for the following costs: • Developing a food safety plan for first-time food safety certification.

• • •

•

Maintaining or updating an existing food safety plan. Food safety certification. Certification upload fees. Microbiological testing for products, soil amendments and water. Training.

FSCSC payments are calculated separately for each category of eligible costs. A higher payment rate has been set for socially disadvantaged, limited resource, beginning and veteran farmers and ranchers. Details about the payment rates and limitations can be found at farmers.gov/food-safety. Applying for Assistance The FSCSC application period for 2022 is June 27, 2022, through January 31, 2023, and the application period for 2023 will be announced at a later date. FSA will issue payments at the time of

application approval for 2022 and after the application period ends for 2023. If calculated payments exceed the amount of available funding, payments will be prorated. Interested specialty crop producers can apply by completing the FSA-888, Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program (FSCSC) application. The application, along with other required documents, can be submitted to the FSA oﬃce at any USDA Service Center nationwide by mail, fax, hand delivery or via electronic means. Producers can visit farmers.gov/servicelocator to find their local FSA oﬃce. Specialty crop producers can also call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to assist. Producers can visit farmers.gov/ food-safety for additional program details, eligibility information and forms needed to apply.

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July/August 2022

Farmers’ Market Classified

Connecting NHFB members with what they have to sell and what they want to buy. NHFB’s Farmers’ Market is a free classified ad service to all NHFB members. If you have something to sell, buy or trade, this is your place to get noticed. Ads can be emailed to editor@nhfarmbureau.org Want more information? Call us at 224-1934.

FOR SALE FOR SALE: Nubian Dairy Goats $500 and up. We’re currently oﬀering several pure bred Nubian kids and adult goats for sale. Kids born mid May of 2022 were all sired by Field Mouse Farm Charles ADGA N001970816 (PB Buck). Dams: Fox’s Pride Gr Spring Daisy - N001953618 (PB Doe), Twillingate Farm Genovese - N002030104 (PB Doe), Twillingate Farm Spring Floozy - N002092107 (PB Doe). Twillingate Dairy Goat Farm - 603-267-1115.

FOR SALE: 2007 Visionaire, Inc. 24 volt heavy duty rooftop air conditioner. Brand new, never used. Model 29-7000, 16K BTU. Rugged all steel compact construction. Installation kit included. Weighs 60 lbs.Buy responsibile for pick up or shipping. $650 firm. 2015 heavy duty Mahindra rake, 60 inch. Serial #215690. Brand new, never used. CAT 1 quick hitch compatible with parking stand. 3-point life, 4 positions. Weighs 523 lbs. Buyer responsible for pick up. $500 firm. Call Michael or Jean at 603-835-2592. Alstead.

FOR SALE: ATTENTION SPINNERS - Prime alpaca fleece, blanket portion. White, superfine. Approximately 4#. $30. Contoocook Alpaca, LLC - 603-746-3385.

FOR SALE: Case IH 1394 Tractor $26,500 4WD Tractor Loader, 1,500 Hrs, 70 Hp Case 4-Cyl 3.6L Turbocharged Diesel, Block Heater, Synchronized, 12 Forward & 4 Reverse Speeds, Independent PTO 540/1000 Rear Location, 2 Auxiliary rear Hydraulics, 3 Point Hitch, Heater, AC (needs service), Stereo/cassette, 2 Door, Midwestern flattop cab, Hydraulic Power Steering, Quick Attach Loader, 84” Bucket Width, good rubber all way around, right brake sticky, 1 owner 1986 Text/call Bob 508-523-3278.

FOR SALE: Kvernland No. 110 3 Bottom Rollover Plow. Always stored inside. $9,850 call 603-620-2893. FOR SALE: Howard 72 in TILLER mid 70s, well built, been sitting needs lubricating/service to work $2,000 or best reasonable oﬀer CALL or TEXT > Bob 508523-3278 dudsbuds1077@gmail.com.

FOR SALE: ROCK HOUND 72A-3 Great condition, three point or easily convert to skid steer mount, Ready to Work! $4,500 or best reasonable oﬀer CALL or TEXT > Bob 508-523-3278 dudsbuds1077@gmail.com.

FOR SALE: Harley 8 ft ROCK RAKE Great condition, PTO driven, Ready to Work! $6,500 or best reasonable oﬀer CALL or TEXT > Bob 508-523-3278 dudsbuds1077@ gmail.com.

FOR SALE: 1960’s International Harvester B275 4 cylinder diesel. Runs well. New rear rims, tubes, one tire, axle seals, gear oil, and hydraulic fluid. Has two hydraulic hoses, can only engage PTO when not running. $4,000 603-731-5503.

FOR SALE: Prime feeders available now or for spring pickup. 100% grass genetics and hormone free. They are FARM HELP WANTED F1 crosses tremendous hybrid vigor. Also, bred cows due in May. Herefords mated to a fine-boned Red Angus. The HELP WANTED: Hurricane Hill Farm, Chichester, NH has full or part time opening for Gosses - 603-481-0017 or stonefenfarm@gmail.com. farm help. 32 acre farm with barn, grass pastures, FOR SALE: 2 Modine Hot Dawg Propane Gas indoor and outdoor rings, dressage arena and Heaters. 45,000 BTU. Purchased in Oct 2020 from Home stadium and cross country fences. Three daily Depot. Never used. $650. each. Current price at Home shifts with some shift schedule flexibility. One weekend day and some evening shifts required. Depot $850.00 chesleymtnfarm@yahoo.com. Full time duties include dressing horses, turn FOR SALE: Maple syrup supplies: 5-gal $4 buckets. out/in, feeding, haying, watering, stall cleaning, 5-gal $2 container. 1-gal Nalgene Bottles w/handles $5. mowing, ring dragging, limited snow removal 5-gal Nalgene bottle $10. 13-gal Nalgene bottle $20. 14- and general cleaning and maintenance. Will gal blue drum with 1 bung and Handle. Food Grade train, starting at $12 hour. Wages negotiable $10. Heavy Duty 60-gal white translucent with covers for experienced candidates. Reliability a must, $50 5/$200. 55-gal Nalgene clip barrels $75 5/$300. 275- including reliable transportation. Good second gal sap grade IBC TOTES $150 waiting list. 300-gal IBC job for part-time or small farmer. Call 603-496TOTES For water collection, Like new On Sale $100. 0971. 8-gal STAINLESS Steel Drums with bung and handles WANTED $75 5/$300. Call or text John at 603-848-9595 Delivery available all of New England. WANTED: New to the area mechanic looking to help farmers in need in the Cheshire County

FOR SALE: 1968 Hudson trailer. 16’ deck. 59” Region. Looking to give back to the farming

between fender wells. Drop down gate. Gross weight community. Contact Brock at 336-612-5393. 4400cvw. Brakes on all 3 axles. All new brakes recently. Good tires. $2,500 OBO. Call during the evening 603-770- WANTED: I am a young farmer looking for 2965. Located in Exeter. land to plant a vineyard in NH to help launch my small winery business. I am looking for land FOR SALE: Powered by you! 20” Sun Joe MJ502M that has already been cleared, that is on a South Manual Reel Mower with Grass Catcher. 14” Scott or East facing slope, and is between 5-20 acres. Manual Reel Mower. Will sell separately for $80, or both Ideally, the elevation is 800ft or higher. Existing for $140. New June last year. Each very lightly used and structures for living and making wine are a are like new. Claremont. 603-504-6671. bonus! I am especially interested in working with farmers looking to retire and creating a land FOR SALE: Farmall Super C. Fully restored - $7,500. transfer plan, to ensure land stays in agricultural production. Contact Nicholas at 603-315-5272. Boscawen - 603-796-2779.

FOR SALE: Two Alpine does, sisters, bred, polled WANTED: Looking for a tree fruit/berry from closed UNH inspected herd. Downsizing, $200 PYO farm to purchase. Ideally there would be an each, must go together. Milford NH, 603-732-2654. existing residence, 30+ acres and an established, diversified retail business on the farm. This FOR SALE: Rabbits. Giant Flemish, Californian, might include things like a farm stand, corn New Zealand. Babies $25, Adults $40. Westmoreland. maze, hayrides and other seasonal attractions. Pictures on request. email mklmfarm49@gmail.com. Looking to connect with farm owners who may be considering to retire or transition in the FOR SALE: Massy Ferguson 3635 65HP. 300 hrs. next 1-3 years and would be open to having 4wd cab w/air & heater - $26,000. Hardee long reach a conversation. Please contact Link at link@ cutter - $11,000. Erskine snow blower, 70” front mount linkmoser.com or 603-581-7345. - $6,000. 6 ton 22’ low bed trailer - $2,000. Concord. Call Robert - 603-224-3036.

FOR SALE: ALPACA PRODUCTS - WARM, HYPOALLERGENIC alpaca socks, throws, gloves, mittens, scarves, hats, and other items, starting at $15. Contoocook Alpaca, LLC, 746-3385.

Tips for Avoiding Scams Unfortunately, from time to time folks listing items for sale in classified sections of newspapers and/or websites are the targets of scams. The easiest way to avoid falling victim to one of these scams is to be aware of suspicious replies to your listings, never give out private information via email, and try to meet in person when making transactions. Most classified listing scams are conducted via email. Be aware of suspicious email replies containing: • Poor grammar and spelling, vague or strange wording. • Responses from distant places (especially foreign countries or a far-off state). • Offers to pay using cashier checks, certified checks, or money orders. • Contact information that does not match (ex. phone number from different state than address). Although most scams are initiated through email, look out for these signs in telephone conversations as well. If you believe you have been targeted by a scam online, you can file a complaint with the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at https://www.ic3.gov. If you believe you have been targeted by a phone scam, you can file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov. For more resources on fraud and scams visit https://www.usa.gov/stop-scams-frauds.

July/August 2022

Farm Bureau - The Voice of N.H. Agriculture

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The Communicator

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Addressing Misconceptions About Agriculture By Deb Robie Grafton County AITC Coordinator According to a recent publication of the American Farm Bureau, throughout history, people existed in close contact with the environment. They lived close to the soil, with the necessary sunlight and water to produce their own food. This is no longer the case. The highly scientific and technological advances of the 21st century have meant sweeping changes in life expectancy and lifestyle. As the United States population disconnected from the land after World War II, people began to understand less and less about agriculture and what is necessary to produce a bountiful supply of food. Those who do not understand how their food is produced and the challenges associated with that production can be easily mislead. A misinformed public frequently makes bad decisions and wrong choices. We have many misconceptions about the food system, even about the most basic questions and issues. From their earliest experience, children begin to doubt agriculture and food. From television and advertising to pre-

throughout the United States? I hope you see the errors in that statement. According to the American Farm Bureau 97% of all U.S. farms are owned by individuals, family partnerships, or family corporations. Just 3% of America’s farms and ranches are owned by non-family corporations Every year except 2019 & 2020 I have put together what I call Agricultural Awareness Days at our local schools. With the very generous time and eﬀorts of a multitude of presenters I help bring agricultural folks to local schools. All of these presenters are volunteers. All are deeply invested in helping to teach students about their role in agriculture and how it aﬀects all aspects of everyday life. It doesn’t matter if it’s a student saying that a sheep feels like a rug or another saying they

school books and animation, children generate ideas and stereotypes about farms, ranches, and food production. They get the wrong impression of what farms and ranches are, what goes on there, and how vital farmers and ranchers are to our nation. For example, kindergarteners will identify the man in the bibbed overalls as the farmer and the tool most commonly used on a farm as a hoe. Research has demonstrated that if misconceptions are not addressed, new learning is built upon falsehoods and learners end up with very confused beliefs and ideas. What is perceived as clever, creative, cute or comedic by an advertiser is often absorbed as factual by children and even by adult viewers. Access to information on the Internet will exacerbate misconceptions unless students learn accurate information at an early age. The need is there and it is our job to help educate the next generation of agriculturally literate consumers. It is not always young students that might be given false or misleading information. Were you aware that some schools are still using the movie “Food Inc.” in their Family and Consumer Science classes to teach students about where their food comes from and the “factory farms’’ that amount to nearly 97% of all farms

July/August 2022 didn’t know that the soil and water are something to be treasured and taken care of. The look on their faces when they realize they can make ice cream in a bag at home or that huge green and yellow tractor has more technology on it than ever before. Where we live here in Grafton County it is still considered rural. Then how sad is it that the vast majority of these students have never been up close and personal with a draft horse, cow, fresh picked strawberries or sweet corn in the field. It takes months of planning between the schools and the presenters. However, when you see the proverbial light bulb go oﬀ in the student’s faces it is all worth it. Maybe next fall or in the spring you can help dispel misconceptions by helping to bring agriculture into the classroom.

Connor Smas, 13, of Haverhill, NH with oxen Digger and Dozer and Mike Thompson from United Ag and Turf take part in Agricultural Awareness Days. Volunteers vistit schools in the Haverhill area to bring agricultural education to students during these events.

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168 students

Gra on/Coos Coun es @ The Rocks Estate 70 students

Carroll County @ Remick Country Farm 89 students

Rockingham/Straﬀord Coun es @ UNH 605 students

Belknap County @ Ramblin’ Vewe Farm in September

ALMOST 1,100 4th GRADE STUDENTS HAVE PARTICIPATED

New Hampshire Agriculture in the Classroom organizes ‘School to Farm Days’ each year under the leadership of NHAITC State Coordinator Debbi Cox. This year, so far, over 1,000 fourth grade students from across the state have had the opportunity to see, experience, and learn about agriculture because of this wonderful program.

Join Today

•Not a member? •Know someone who should be?

Farmers, gardners, local food consumers, nature fans, teachers, property owners, and anyone who enjoys rural New hampshire are the kinds of people involved with Farm Bureau.

Use the applicaƟon on this page or sign up online at www.nhfarmbureau/join-today/

$200,000 - and over ............................ $175 Retired Farmer, over 65 ......................... $35 Supporting Members (Based on Age) Adult .................................................... $60 Student (under age 24) ......................... $26 Seniors, over 65 .................................... $35

Mail applicaƟon and payment to: NH Farm Bureau FederaƟon 295 Sheep Davis Road, Concord, NH 03301

Signature _____________________________

___Yes, I would like to receive The Friday Review by E-mail

If you would like to receive our Friday Review publica on of legisla ve updates, please choose an op on:

No. Acres Owned/Leased ___0-49 ___50-99 ___100-249 ___250-499 ___500 and over Do you have land under Current Use TaxaƟon? ___Yes ___No

___Fruit/Berry ___Turf ___Goats ___Vegetables ___Greenhouse Produc on ___Ag Service Provider ___Hogs ___Agri-Tourism ___Honey ___Farmers’ Market Vendor ___Landscaper ___Other Livestock: ___Maple _______________________ ___Nursery ___Other Product: ___Poultry/Eggs _______________________ ___Sheep ___Cer fied Organic Producer ___Specialty Foods ___U.S. Veteran

___Aquaculture ___Beef Ca le ___Christmas Trees ___Commercial Fishery ___Corn/Grain ___Dairy ___Equine ___Farm Stand ___Flowers/Herbs ___Forage Crops/Hay ___Forest Products

Are you interested in any of the following programs or commiƩees? ___Ag in the Classroom ___Government Aﬀairs ___Special Events ___Associated Women ___Policy Development ___Veterans in Agriculture ___Board Member ___Promo on & Educa on ___Young Farmers (ages 16 - 35)

Check all that apply -- Circle primary commodity

CommodiƟes/Services

Farm Bureau - The Voice of N.H. Agriculture

Thank you for your support!

Make checks payable to: NH FARM BUREAU

Enclosed Check # ________

Total $ _________________

Address ___________________________________________ City, ST, Zip ________________________________________________

Degree of Farming ___Full- me Farmer Phone _______________________________ E-mail _______________________________________________ DOB ___/____/____ ___Part- me Farmer Solicitor _____________________________ NHFB# ________________________________________________________________ ___Re red Farmer ( For Oﬃce Only) ___Agribusiness Membership Dues (Please circle one) Dues Credit Card Payments $ _________________ ___Ag Professional Farmer Members (Based on Gross Ag Income) American Express Visa MasterCard Discover Membership Dues NHAITC Dona on $ _________________ ___Farm Employee $1 - $25,000. ........................................ $75 CC#________ ________ ________ ________ $25,001 - $75,000 ............................... $100 Please consider a donaƟon. ___Ag Student CVV ____________ Exp. Date ______/______ $75,001 - $200,000 ............................. $125

To assist us in serving you be er, please answer the following ques ons. Note: we do not share your informa on with others.

Sullivan County @ the County Complex

Name ______________________________________ Farm Name ____________________________________ Date ___/____/____

148 students

New Members - Please Tell Us About Yourself

Merrimack County @ at Carter Hill Orchard

Support NH Farmers - Join The New Hampshire Farm Bureau!

July/August 2022 Page 23

July/August 2022

Farm Bureau - The Voice of N.H. Agriculture

Page 24

The Many BENEFITS of Farm Bureau American National Special Rate Plans for NHFB Members American National Insurance Company oﬀers two special rate plans for NHFB members personal auto, SFP-10® and Country Estate insurance! The personal auto special rate plan will represent about a 5% savings on your American National personal auto policy if it’s associated with an active NHFB membership. The SFP-10® and Country Estate special rate plan will aﬀord about a 3% savings on your American National farm policy if it’s associated with an active NHFB membership

New Hampshire Farm Bureau members receive $500 Bonus Cash on purchase or lease of an eligible new Ranger, F-150 or Super Duty Farm Bureau Exclusive Cash Reward is exclusively for active Farm Bureau members who are residents of the United States. $500 Exclusive Cash Reward on the purchase or lease of an eligible new 2021/2022/2023 Ford Maverick, Ranger, F-150 or Super Duty®. This incentive is not available on F-150 Lightning, F-150 Raptor, F-650 and F-750 Super Duty®. This oﬀer may not be used in conjunction with most other Ford Motor Company private incentives or AXZD-Plans. Some customer and purchase eligibility restrictions apply. Must be a Farm Bureau member for 30 consecutive days prior to purchase or lease and take new retail delivery from an authorized Ford Dealer’s stock by January 3, 2023. Visit FordFarmBureauAdvantage.com or see your authorized Ford Dealer for qualifications and complete details.

Please contact your local American National agent for special rate plan information. To find an agent in your area call:

Brandon Coﬀman, General Agent

American National is endorsed by the New Hampshire Farm Bureau

603-223-6686 - www.americannational.com

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New Hampshire Farm Bureau members get special member prices on selected categories and brands from Grainger, PLUS get free standard parcel shipping on all standard Grainger products*

New Hampshire Farm Bureau members receive an upgraded John Deere Rewards membership (Platinum 1) – which unlocks extra discounts on equipment, parts, and merchandise. Register today, and explore all that Rewards has to offer. Check out the savings on the following equipment categories: Commercial Mowing $200 - $1,00 off, Residential Mowing - $50 - $150 off, Tractors - $150 - $250 off, Compact Construction - $550 - $1400 off. Don’t wait! Visit JohnDeere.com/FarmBureau today!

New Hampshire Farm Bureau members can save up to $5,000 on the purchase or lease of eligible Cat® vehicles.

Go to https://www.grainger.com/farmbureau and establish a new Grainger.com® account using your NHFB Account #: 855922498

or visit

Call 1-877-202-2594 grainger.com/farmbureau

Visit nhfarmbureau.org/member-benefits

*FREE standard shipping* on all orders shipped ground transportation. Other freight charges will be incurred for services such as expedited delivery, special handling by the carrier, sourcing orders and shipments outside the continental United States.

Call us toll free at (800) 718-1169 For more information

for more info

New Hampshire Farm Bureau

800-258-2847

Members can save up to 20% oﬀ the Best Available Rate

Life Line Screening can evaluate your risk for most critical – and often undiagnosed – healthcare conditions. Stroke, Vascular Disease and Heart Rhythm Package … $135 for NHFB members. Because you are a valued member of the New Hampshire Farm Bureau, call to make an appointment today and receive a FREE Osteoporosis Risk Assessment.

New Farmer Toolkit

at over 8,000 participating hotels worldwide. Visit https://www.wyndhamhotels. com/hotel-deals/farm-bureau

Excl u NHFsive Mem B Bene ber fit

NHFB oﬀers this his is guide, filled with individual fact sheets addressing topics pertinent to planning and operating a farm business, as a NH Farm Bureau Member benefit. Call the oﬃce at 603-224-1934 or visit www.nhfarmbureau.org to view the toolkit!

SAVE 20% WITH YOUR N.H. Farm Bureau Rate Code: 00209700

Health & dental insurance available for qualifying Farm Bureau members. Call NEEBCo, our exclusive broker at (603) 228-1133 for more information.

Farm Bureau members enjoy exclusive savings when renting from AVIS.

Do you need wireless payment capabilities at farm stands or farmers’ markets?

- Credit & Debit Card - E-Commerce Solutions - Gift & Loyalty Card Programs - Terminal Sales & Servicing - Wireless Payments

Use Avis Worldwide Discount code: A298829. Visit: http://www.Avis.com/nhfb

For information call Joel Breton at (603) 623-0561 or email sales@mjmassociates.net.

Farm Bureau members also enjoy exclusive savings when renting from BUDGET. Use Budget Customer Discount Number (BCD): Y775729. Visit: http://www.Budget.com/nhfb

Farm Bureau members receive a 10% discount on Carhartt apparel at The Barn Store in Salisbury and Osborne’s Agway locations in Concord, Hooksett, and Belmont. Present your membership card at checkout.

10% DISCOUNT

FREE Prescription Drug Card

Call the NH Farm Bureau at 224-1934 to receive your prescription card. NOTE: This card is being provided to you at NO COST. There are no forms to fill out. Simply take this card into a participating pharmacy with your Rx to qualify for discounts on medication.

New Hampshire Farm Bureau members save $200 - $500 per unit on the purchase or lease of Case IH Maxxum® and Vestrum® tractors; self-propelled windrowers and large square balers. A $200 per unit incentive is available for Case IH Farmall® C series utility, U series utility, A series utility and 100A series tractors; Farmall® C series compact and Farmall® A series compact tractors; Farmall N series and Farmall V series tractors; Other hay tools, including round balers, small square balers, disc mower conditioners and sicklebar mower conditioners.

along with valid ID, must be presented to the Case IH dealer in advance of delivery to receive the discount.

If you have questions or need help Visit your dealer and make your best deal. Then obtaining the certificate, please call present your discount certificate to subtract another 603-224-1934 or visit your local FB $200 - $500 from the bottom line. Your certificate, oﬃce.

The Communicator July/August 2022

Articles inside