Winter 2025 Communicator

Vol. 47, No. 1

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

WINTER 2025

The

Communicator

National News AFBF PRESIDENT DUVALL SHARES AG CHALLENGES WITH U.S. SENATE

NH Farm Bureau 2024 Annual Business Meeting Report

2024 President’s Award Recipients

AFBF President Zippy Duvall joined the 2024 NHFB Annual Meeting as the guest speaker.

At the NHFB Annual Meeting on November 9, 2024, a member from each of New Hampshire’s ten counties was honored with the President’s Award.

Traditionally presented to a single recipient or couple, this prestigious award was uniquely given in 2024 to a collective group of members, chosen by President Joyce Brady to recognize their dedication and service to the NHFB organization.

by Rob Johnson, NHFB Policy Director/Administrator ABOVE PHOTO Photo by Leandra Pritchard

Page 5

AFBF CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS Page 30

State News COUNTY & COMMITTEE NEWS Pages 4 & 12

CURRENT USE BOARD UPDATE Page 11

NHFB BOARD OF DIRECTORS DIRECTORY Page 23

MEMBERS SHARE WHY THEY BELONG TO NHFB Page 25 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

County Farm Bureau delegates along with NH Farm Bureau Federation (NHFB) officers and directors convened for the annual business meeting of the organization Saturday morning, November 9th on the University of New Hampshire Campus at Holloway Commons in Durham.

Following breakfast, the business meeting convened just after 7:30 a.m. with President Joyce Brady’s call to order. After the Pledge of Allegiance led by Young Farmer Nyklaus Lytle and an invocation provided by Associated Women President Jozi Best a roll-call of the “House of Delegates” was conducted

by Strafford County Farm Bureau host county President Ruth Scruton with 29 County Farm Bureau delegates in attendance (see accompanying list). Each county Farm Bureau is entitled to two delegates with one additional delegate for each 200 members or major portion thereof (100+) members in the county. Delegates have the

FARM BUREAU SCHOLARSHIPS

2025

APPLICATIONS OPEN MORE DETAILS ON BACK PAGE!

Facebook.com/NHFarmBureau NH Farm Bureau

A N N U A L M EE T I NG - CON T I N U ED ON PAGE 28

Facebook.com/NewHampshire YoungFarmers

BRINGING NEWS TO NH FARM BUREAU FAMILIES

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

NH Farm Bureau

Page 2

Winter 2025

The Communicator

BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

COUNTY PRESIDENTS

Joyce Brady President

Brian Matarozzo Belknap County

Beth Hodge 1st Vice President

Beth Hodge Cheshire County

Tom McElroy 2nd Vice President

Mary Tichy Coos County

Lucienne Brown 2nd Vice President

Deb Robie Grafton County

Seth Wilner Treasurer

Trevor Hardy Hillsborough County

Jozi Best President, Associated Women

Mike Bertolone Merrimack Coutny

Caroline Crouch Young Farmer Committee Chair

STANDING COMMITTEE CHAIRS Vacant Dairy Erick Sawtelle Government Affairs

Phil Ferdinando Rockingham County Bruce Cilley Strafford County Lisa Holmes Sullivan County

STAFF Rob Johnson, II Policy Director/ Administrator

Bridget Cummings Membership

Leandra Pritchard Financial Manager & Managing Editor of The Communicator

Beth Hodge Policy Development

Mindy Beltramo Office Assistant

Henry Ahern Livestock & Poultry

Glenn & Sandy Pierce Profile Award

The Communicator Bringing News to NH Farm Bureau Families The opinions expressed within this publication are not necessarily those of the New Hampshire Farm Bureau.

The Communicator is published four times per year, by the New Hampshire Farm Bureau Federation. Subscription comes with membership. It is received in the homes of over 2,500 NHFB members and stakeholders.

Presorted standard postage paid at Manchester, NH. Deadlines for submissions, advertisements, press releases, and calendar listings are the first Friday of the month for the following month’s issue.

For advertising information contact the NHFB office at 603-224-1934.

New Hampshire Farm Bureau Federation 295 Sheep Davis Road | Concord, NH 03301 603.224.1934 | nhfarmbureau.org

PAGE

30 AFBF Convention

NOTES FROM THE NORTH

By Joyce Brady, President

New Hampshire Farm Bureau Federation American Farm Bureau Federation (AFFBF) President Zippy Duvall has focused this past year on celebrating county Farm Bureau presidents. He hosted multiple “Townhall” Zoom meetings where county Presidents from all over the country were invited to join him as he spoke about the importance of their leadership role within Farm Bureau. He also wanted the opportunity to hear directly from those on the frontlines of our grassroots organization so that AFBF can serve county leaders better. I invited President Duvall to our state annual meeting, held on the campus of UNH in Durham on November 9th. We continued the celebration at that time with President Duvall, who joined our county presidents the evening before for dinner at Newick’s Lobster House and then during the meeting the following day when we recognized an exemplary county leader in each county.

(See cover photo.)

The celebration wrapped up at the AFBF Annual Convention in San Antonio, Texas in January with a reception and meet-and-greet with President Duvall for all county Presidents.

You will read more about our annual meeting and the convention inside so I am going to focus on the AFBF delegate session where two NHFB policy proposals not only made it to the delegate floor, but also passed and are now part of AFBF policy. One was: We support local oversight by state veterinarians in instances of animal health outbreaks and oppose overreaching federal mandates in responding to livestock health outbreaks.

The other: We support exempting from federal USDA slaughter inspection requirements animals and meat sold to the end user that has been slaughtered and processed at a state-inspected custom-licensed slaughter facility.

I was concerned this policy would not make it through the delegate session due to there being no inspection requirement at the time of slaughter and the meat then being sold as individual cuts. I strongly believe federal regulations must be changed so that we can move forward to allow more consumers to purchase locally produced, harvested, and processed animal protein. The new administration may provide an opportunity but we needed policy in the AFBF policy book for AFBF to help. I got together with our Livestock Committee leaders and put together language for me to propose as an amendment to this policy at the convention. The

New Hampshire Farm Bureau President Joyce Brady

amendment we put together was: We support USDA allowing a third party pre and post slaughter inspection at a state licensed facility, that has no state meat inspection program, and allow the owner of the animal to sell the meat as individual cuts directly to the end user.

During the delegate session I was able to speak to the amendment and gave reasons for its passage. I had previously spoken with a few other presidents around the country about it and knew there would be support.

The amendment passed and I was feeling pretty good.

Then, to my surprise, another delegate across the room proposed we add back the original language we sent to go along with the amendment that had just passed. This delegate said small processors need all the help they can get. With no further discussion, our original policy also passed. On top of our resolutions, Alaska Farm Bureau submitted a recommendation to the AFBF Board of Directors supporting small-scale processing facilities stating: We encourage Farm Bureau to take a larger role in urging examination and reform of requirements for small-scale meat, dairy, and value-added processing facilities. It was adopted without debate.

After the delegate session, I spoke with Brent Nelson, an AFBF staff economist. He was very positive about the direction provided to staff moving forward from here.

With AFBF now having three policies focused on small processing facilities it will be interesting to see what comes next. This could be a game changer for livestock farmers in NH and around the country.

Free time was spent with my mother (who traveled to San Antonio and attended the convention with me), visiting the Alamo, riding the trolley around the city, taking a Riverwalk boat cruise, and many walks on the Riverwalk. State Presidents have the opportunity to get their picture with the guest speakers. After having my photo taken with CEO of Game Changers (a provider of non-traditional approaches to performance management) and former NFL football player 6 foot 3-inch-tall Eric Boles, on-looker Todd Fornstrom, the Wyoming Farm Bureau President asked me, “Joyce, do you know how short you are?”

NHFB members traveled to San Antonio, TX in January 2025 for the AFBF Convention.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Young Farmer Committee Updates . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Young Farmer Board Members Directory, Thanksgiving Baskets, and Achievement Award Announcement.

Guide to Becoming Certified Organic . . . . . . . . . 18 NOFA-NH TOPP gives tips on becoming a certified organic farm.

Associated Women Adventures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Associated Women have traveled around for winter celebrations.

2025 NH Ag Policy Forum Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 NHFB Policy Director Rob Johnson joined the Forum to report on NHFB’s policy “Watch List” for 2025.

Joyce Brady and Eric Boles at the 2025 AFBF Convention. Mr. Boles is a global expert in talent development, change management and cultural transformation, who addressed the group as the closing general keynote speaker on January 27th. Photo courtesy of Joyce Brady.

Joyce Brady and Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, a decorated F-16 fighter pilot, at the 2025 AFBF Convention.

Lt. Col. Rooney is founder and CEO of Folds of Honor and was the keynote speaker on January 26th.

Photo courtesy of Joyce Brady.

The NHFB officers and directors were joined by President Duvall at Newick’s Losbter House the evening prior to Annual Meeting. Photo by Leandra Pritchard.

Farm Bureau - The Voice of N.H. Agriculture

Winter 2025

Page 3

Why Every Farmer Should Have Commerical Auto Insurance for Their Tractors

by Brandon Coffman, General Agent, American National Insurance As a farmer, your tractors and other heavy machinery are essential to the daily operations of your business.

They help you till the land, plant crops, harvest, and transport goods to market. But what happens if an accident occurs while you’re using your tractor on public roads, or if your equipment is damaged by someone else’s negligence?

Here’s why commercial auto insurance, including uninsured motorist coverage, is a crucial investment for your farm: 1. Protects Against Accidents and Liability Tractors are often driven on public roads to move equipment or deliver crops, putting them at risk of accidents. In the event of a collision, commercial auto insurance covers not only the damage to your tractor but also the liability for any injuries or property damage caused. This ensures that your business is protected from the financial impact of an accident, including medical costs, legal fees, and property damage.

2. Uninsured Motorist Coverage: Extra Protection for the Unexpected Uninsured or underinsured motorists are a risk on any road, and this is where uninsured motorist coverage becomes especially valuable. If you’re involved in an accident with a driver who doesn’t have enough insurance to cover the damages, your uninsured motorist coverage can help pay for repairs, medical expenses, and other costs—ensuring you’re not left to shoulder the financial burden yourself. This protection is vital, particularly when accidents occur on rural or less-trafficked roads, where uninsured drivers may be more common.

E– N A V D E A just stay on the farm—they’re often out Tractors don’t –TAK UNT– and about hauling U goods ISCOor moving between fields.

D A RE M BU This increases the risk of theft, vandalism, or damage.

–FAR H OF T 3. Coverage for Damaged or Stolen Equipment TAGE

RS E B EM

M

Commercial auto insurance can help cover the cost of

repairs or replacement, minimizing the financial strain if something happens to your equipment. Additionally, some policies include theft protection for attachments and trailers, further securing your investment.

4. Comprehensive Protection for Your Farm Business If your tractor is out of commission due to an accident or other covered event, it can halt your entire farming operation. Without it, you may not be able to complete critical tasks like planting, harvesting, or transporting crops. Commercial auto insurance offers repair or replacement coverage and, in some cases, may even cover losses due to business interruption, ensuring that your operation can recover more quickly.

5. Legal Requirements In many states, if your tractor is driven on public roads, you are legally required to carry certain levels of insurance coverage. While personal auto insurance may offer some protection for limited use, commercial auto insurance is designed to cover the unique risks of farm vehicles, especially when traveling off the farm.

Make sure you’re compliant with local regulations by ensuring your tractor is fully insured, including uninsured motorist protection.

6. Enhanced Coverage Options With commercial auto insurance, you can customize coverage for your farm’s specific needs. This includes protection for not just the tractor, but any attachments, trailers, or specialized farm equipment that may be in use on the road. Additionally, many policies offer roadside assistance, ensuring you can get the help you need if something goes wrong while you’re out in the field, miles from the nearest service station.

7. Peace of Mind Farming is a high-risk business—weather events, fluctuating crop prices, and labor shortages are just a few of the challenges you face every day. With the

– F THE GE O A T N A E ADV –TAK T– C OU N U DIS A E R M BU –FAR

RS E B EM

M

added risk of accidents and potential property damage, having commercial auto insurance with uninsured motorist coverage gives you peace of mind. You’ll know that if an accident occurs—whether it’s with a driver who is uninsured or an unforeseen mechanical failure—you’ll be covered.

Conclusion Your tractor is the lifeblood of your farm, and protecting it is essential for the continued success of your business. By adding commercial auto insurance with uninsured motorist coverage, you’re taking a critical step to protect not just your equipment, but also your livelihood. This affordable coverage helps ensure that you’re financially shielded from accidents, theft, and even situations where other drivers are underinsured.

If you’d like more information on how to customize your coverage or need help getting started, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help you protect what matters most.

Contact Brandon Coffman, General Agent, to connect with an American National Insurance agent near you to get coverage at 603.724.1367 or brandon.coffman@ american-national.com.

LET’S TALK ABOUT THE STATE OF YOUR INSURANCE When you dedicate your life and well-being into a farm, you deserve more than just a one-size-fits-all insurance plan to protect it.

At American National, our Special Farm Package 10® or Country Estate policy can provide you with a flexible package that can be tailored to meet your specific needs, with coverage options that include windstorm, fire, mechanical equipment and utility line failures, machinery, livestock and much more. Plus, our coverage options extend beyond farm and ranch needs to life insurance as well.

Having a strong relationship with the New Hampshire Farm Bureau over the years has given American National the understanding of what truly matters most to farmers across the state.

Find a local agent at an.insure/nhfb

T H E # 1 AG I N S U R E R I N T H E S TAT E O F N E W H A M P S H I R E *

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. *2022 SNL Market Share Data 21.188.24.410522.0424

Page 4

The Communicator

NH Agricultural Events *Young Farmer Tour Day Saturday, February 15 More details: https://www.facebook.com/ NewHampshireYoungFarmers/ Food Safety for Poultry & Rabbit Producers March 3 & 4, Online More details: https://bit.ly/419xnGs Scale Clinics Various dates & locations March-October The clinics are free to growers who have three or fewer scales under 100 lb capacity and no other commercial devices on their license.

More details: agriculture.nh.gov Pruning Demonstrations Various dates & locations March-April 2025 More details: https://extension.unh.edu/eventtags/pruning-demonstrations Social Media for Farmers Various dates March-May, Online More details: https://bit.ly/419YSzR *Coffee & Conversation Wednesday, March 4, 2025, 9:00-11:00am NHFB Office, Concord, NH Join us for coffee and conversation and a featured presentation from Land For Good on succession planning! Anyone is welcome!

More details & future dates: https://www. nhfarmbureau.org/nhfb-coffee-conversation/ 2025 Landscape Safety Day Wednesday, March 26 More details: https://bit.ly/416BYZU NH Farm, Forest & Garden Friday, May 2 & Saturday, May 3 More details: nhfarmandforestexpo.org/ NH Sheep & Wool Festival Saturday, May 10 & Sunday, May 11 More details: nhswga.org/nh-sheep-woolfestival/ *Events marked with an asterisk are hosted

by Farm Bureau.

Winter 2025

Carroll County Farm Bureau Winter Social

by Lawrel Spera, CCFB Member

On January 24th, Carroll County Farm Bureau hosted a winter social “Crockpot Potluck” at the Ossipee Town Hall. All CCFB County members were invited, as well as new people interested in local farming and homesteading, with the hope of rekindling our group and gaining new members!

Our guest speaker was Chuck Souther and his wife Diane of Apple Hill Farm in Concord, NH. He spoke about Current Use in NH and had an attentive audience of 60+ people with lots of questions!

We were also joined by members of Belknap County Farm Bureau and planned to meet at a later date to coordinate on spring/summer twilight meetings and farm tours.

It was a wonderful opportunity to meet new people and share ideas. We look forward to planning for 2025 with new members and exciting events.

Stay tuned to join us this year!

Do you know someone who wants to join NHFB? Have them visit https:// www.nhfarmbureau. org/join-today/ Carroll County drew a large crowd for their potluck winter social, featuring CUB

NEWS

Chairman Chuck Souther (left). Photos by Lucie Brown.

Coos County Farm Bureau Celebrations

by Stan Knecht, CCFB Board Member

The end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025 have been times of celebration for Coos County Farm Bureau. President Mary Tichy held our annual Christmas Party for the Board of Directors at her home and although attendance was light, the great food and fun annual Yankee Swap kept everyone in a festive spirit.

Because of the light attendance at the Christmas party it was decided to have a “New Year’s Celebration” at NHFBF President Joyce Brady’s (and husband Chris) Colebrook Feeds store for our first meeting of the new year. However, this was a diversion so that we could honor our county secretary Maggie Thompson with an impromptu Baby Shower in recognition of the upcoming birth of a daughter to her and husband Kenny. We were able to pull off the surprise and enjoyed eating pizza and watching Maggie open her shower gifts.

The next board meeting in Coos is scheduled for Wednesday, February 19th. Members are welcome to attend. For time and place call Stan at 603-788-3544.

Grafton County Farm Bureau News

by Denis Ward, GCFB Secretary

The Grafton County Board met on December 9th via Zoom. President Robie opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance. Attending were Deb Robie, Kristen May, Heather Bryant, Denis Ward, and Treasurer Liz Bayne. Also attending were potential board member Joanna Bligh and forever attendee Henry Ahern.

The minutes of the October meeting were approved, along with funding to upgrade the treasurer’s accounting software.

One of the more significant things that GCFB does is support Agriculture in the Classroom in Grafton County. Along with Deb Robie’s work in schools, we encourage teachers to attend the AITC national conference each year and provide financial support. To expand on that this year, we will award up to $1500 each to two teachers from the county to attend the next conference. A letter explaining our plan was approved and will be sent to all SAUs in Grafton County.

Two college students, Dory Roy and Griffin Barnes, were awarded $1500 each by GCFB in the spring and have completed their fall semester. Griffin majored in agricultural mechanics at SUNY Cobleskill, and Dory is in a pre-vet program at UNH. Board discussion covered anticipated legislation on the taking of animals in potential cruelty situations, and President Robie reported on building maintenance issues at the NHFB office property.

We are continuing to look for board members. Contact Denis Ward at denwar1951@gmail.com if interested. Our next meeting is set for February 10th. Happy New Year!

Sullivan County Farm Bureau Happenings

by Lisa Holmes, SCFB President

The Sullivan County Farm Bureau Board of Directors met in November to start the new year with a planning meeting, featuring pizza and dessert! We were excited to have our new insurance agent, Valerie Armstrong, join us. We will miss Andy Jellie and send him a big thank you for all of his hard work and dedication to Sullivan County Farm Bureau over the years. His shoes are big ones to fill, however we are confident Valerie is up to the task with her enthusiasm and energy. Valerie gave us a brief update on American National Insurance happenings and jumped right in to offer her help with membership. The meeting continued with the board proposing a calendar of events and a budget, as well as brainstorming strategies for increasing our membership in 2025.

Our SCFB group gathered again in December for a holiday social with our spouses at Holmes Farm. A variety of delicious appetizers and dishes from all were shared with an abundance of cheer! A brief meeting was held to approve our proposed budget which will support events to include School to SCFB Members gathered in November Farm Day and our Legislative Dinner in the spring. and December to plan for the new year and celebrate the old. Photos courtesy of Lisa Holmes

Our next meeting will be in February, destination and time to be determined.

Winter 2025

Farm Bureau - The Voice of N.H. Agriculture

AFBF President Duvall Shares Agriculture Challenges with U.S. Senate

American Farm Bureau Federation, February 5, 2025 [Press Release] America’s farmers and ranchers need a new, modernized farm bill, a strengthened farm safety net, and open trading markets.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall traveled to the Capitol to emphasize those priorities to the Senate Agriculture Committee today as he testified in the hearing “Perspectives from the Field: Farmer and Rancher Views on the Agricultural Economy, Part I.” “Farm families across the country are grateful that you recognized the incredibly hard times across the agricultural economy and included much-needed economic assistance and emergency aid for communities devastated by natural disasters in December’s Continuing Resolution,” Duvall said. “Despite the assistance in the CR, farmers still are looking to you all to pass a modernized, fiveyear farm bill as soon as possible.”

President Duvall took questions from lawmakers, including Chairman John Boozman (R-AR), who asked about the challenges farmers face without a new, modernized farm bill. Duvall said, “We are hearing that maybe 20% or more of our farmers are having difficulties getting operating loans. We’re in a time where that should have already been done, and they should have seed in the barn, ready to start planting. And, it’s really hitting them at a hard, difficult time. They’re telling us they’re losing money per acre – corn over $100 an acre losing. They’re having to make a decision to plant and not to plant.”

Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) asked about the impact of tariffs. “We need more access, not less,” replied Duvall.

“We need this administration– because we haven’t seen it for almost a decade – really getting fair trade deals to be put in place and stick with good rules and keep people working under it. The other issue is the cost of production. I think you said it yourself, over 80% of the potash comes out of Canada that goes on our cropland. And, that would be devastating to our farmers – just that one example is difficult for our farmers.”

As public discussions increase about efforts to make the food system healthier, Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) asked President Duvall to elaborate on the importance of maintaining scientifically proven farming methods. He responded, “It is absolutely critical that we continue to have faith in the system that provides the sciencebased tools that we use on our farm… It takes almost 11-years to get a product to the market. They got 350 scientists at the EPA… making sure that those things are safe. And, our farmers apply it according to the label.”

Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) observed that some farmers are not eligible for risk management assistance. President Duvall said access to the farm safety net needs to be expanded, “Any farmer out there that’s putting a crop in the land, and depending on the good Lord to give him things to grow it with, and with the markets like they are deserve to have some risk management program.

Now, the difficulty comes by making it very complicated. And, the smaller farm it is, the more difficult it is. It needs to be simplified.

A lot of people aren’t going to do it because it’s just too difficult.

They’re in the field working. A lot of these are farm to table, farm to market people, and they deserve a shot to be able to have that risk management tool, too.”

Photo courtesy of AFBF, Philip Gerlach

Page 5

Testimony as submitted by Zippy Duvall, President, American Farm Bureau Federation Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry “Perspectives from the Field: Farmer and Rancher Views on the Agricultural Economy, Part I” February 5, 2025 Chairman Boozman, Ranking Member Klobuchar, and other distinguished members of the committee, I want to begin my testimony by thanking you for what you do for America’s farmers and ranchers.

Farm families across the country are grateful that you recognized the incredibly difficult agricultural economy by including muchneeded economic assistance and emergency aid for communities Vincent “Zippy” Duvall, a poultry, devastated by natural disasters cattle and hay producer from Greene in December’s Continuing County, Georgia, is the 12th president of the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Resolution (CR).

Keeping our farmers and ranchers in production is vital to our food security and our national security, as the members of this committee know, and this assistance was desperately needed.

As Farm Bureau looks at the opportunities and challenges facing American agriculture, there is no doubt that this committee will play a vital role in the successes or failures of farm families across the country.

My testimony today is not much different than it was two years ago when I was asked to testify in front of you. Despite the assistance in the CR, farmers still are looking to you all to pass a modernized, five-year farm bill as soon as possible. In addition to the farm bill concern of two years ago, farm families are now facing the prospects of the largest tax increase in U.S. history if Congress does not pass critical tax reform legislation this year. These are two of the many issues that I will cover in my testimony today. Farmers face several concerns related to their region, weather, trade barriers, and crop protection, all of which will be addressed in my written testimony.

FARM BILL As Congress begins its work on the 2025 farm bill, Farm Bureau supports the following principles to guide the development of programs: • Increase baseline funding commitments to farm programs; • Maintain a unified farm bill that includes nutrition programs and farm programs together; and • Prioritize funding for risk management tools, which include both federal crop insurance and commodity programs.

Farmers and ranchers have faced unprecedented volatility in recent years. From pandemic lockdowns and supply chain disruptions to highly pathogenic avian influenza, and record-high input costs, farmers have dealt with a barrage of impacts to their farms outside of their control.

It has now been seven years since Congress has passed a farm bill.

Farm Bureau is again asking Congress to roll up its sleeves and pass a modernized five-year bill early on in this Congress.

In 2025, farmers will plant one of the most expensive crops ever.

Thanks to rising interest rates, higher energy prices, and input costs that have gone unchecked, choosing whether to plant or not is one a decision that many farmers face. It is in this context that we are asking for an increase to the farm bill’s Title I safety net.

USDA’s most recent Farm Sector Income Forecast has shown a $41-billion decrease in net farm income, down nearly 25% from 2022.

Since crop prices peaked in 2022, they have taken a nosedive. Corn and wheat are down 37%, soybeans down 28% and cotton down 22%.

At the same time, input prices have remained high. As compared to 2020, the cost to produce an acre of corn has grown by nearly 30% nationally. The combination of low crop prices and high input costs has many farmers facing losses on every acre they plant.

TESTIMONY Continued on pg. 10

Page 6

The Communicator

Winter 2025

NHFB Meat Producers Directory Buy Local

buy from a

NH Farm Bureau Member!

Belknap County

Cheshire County

Grafton County

Arándano Farm - Belmont Paul Gareau 603-409-2871 or paul@arandano.farm https://www.arandano.farm/ We specialize in organic-fed, pastureraised chicken and conventional-fed, pasture-raised pork.

Archway Farm - Keene Mark Florenz - 603-352-3198 mark.florenz@gmail.com http://www.archway.farm/ Pasture-raised heritage pork; whole, half, or individual cuts. See our website for details.

Bonnie Brae Farms - Plymouth Henry Ahern - 603-536-3880 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.

Beans & Greens Farm - Gilford Andrew Howe - 603-293-2853 beansandgreensfarm@msn.com www.beansandgreensfarm.com Grass-fed beef, GMO-free pork, chicken, turkey.

Earth Haven Farm - Marlborough Mary & George Iselin - 603-876-4036 www.earthhavenfarm.com Grass-fed low-fat Beefalo. USDA labeled pkg. hamburger, roasts, steaks at our farm store or 1/4, 1/2, or whole for cuts to customer specifications.

Maple Ridge Farm – Wentworth Lance Rand - 603-726-1984 Farm Raised Red Deer / Elk Cross Meat for Sale $6 a lb. - hanging weight.

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 - 603-630-5551 Heidi Loring - 603-630-6493 hdloring@hotmail.com Grass-fed, farm-raised, USDA Angus beef. We sell individual cuts in our farm store, whole and half shares.

LorrenJoyce Farm - Barnstead Amy & Brian Matarozzo - 603-235-5780 lorrenjoycefarm.com Naturally raised beef. USDA approved.

All cryovac packaging.

Shepherd’s Hut Market - Gilford Jeff & Joyce Keyser - 603-393-4696 or jekeyser1958@gmail.com Certified USDA freezer lamb. Various cuts fresh frozen and vacuum sealed.

Velvet Flats - Gilmanton IW Sabrina Hufschmid - 603-491-1687 vrflats.reddeer@gmail.com Farm-raised venison.

Carroll County Mountain Breeze Farm - Ctr. Sandwich Ryan Milbury - 603-677-2605 We offer our own farm-raised beef and pork by the piece, half, or whole.

Wholes and halves choose their own cuts. All processed in a USDA facility.

Pick up and hours by appointment.

Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm - Tamworth Sheena Harte - 603-323-7591 info@remickmuseum.org Farm-raised ground beef, breakfast and sweet Italian sausage.

Top of the Hill Farm - Wolfeboro Alan Fredrickson - 603-569-3137 topofthehillfarm@metrocast.net Beef - pasture exposed and all natural by the piece, 1/4, 1/2 or whole.

East Hill Farm - Troy Dave Adams - 603-242-6495 info@east-hill-farm.com Whole, half, or individual cuts available of pork, beef, lamb and goat.

JHF Stable & Livestock - Alstead John & Hazell Fuller - 603-835-6509 USDA vacuum-packed Beefalo and grass fed on the farm in Alstead.

Manning Hill Farm - Winchester Sarah Costa - 603-239-4397 Grass-fed heritage beef, pastureraised heritage pork, by the individual cut or in bulk-half and whole sides Pasturerasied whole roasting chickens.

Up Top Farm - Winchester Kathy Beaman - 603-355-0818 kathy@kbsunspaces.com Black Angus Beef - hormone and antibiotic free, pasture raised. Grass fed, corn finished, premium freezer beef. Whole or half. Processed in a USDA facility to your specifications.

Coos County CJEJ Farm Meat House - Columbia Chris & Joyce Brady - 603-922-3305 USDA inspected cuts of beef, pork, 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.

Northwinds Farm – N. Stratford Scott & Heidi Mason - 603- 631-5953 northwindsfarm1@yahoo.com USDA inspected, vacuum-packed beef, lamb and pork. Sold by the side or cut. Also available through the Barn Store of New England in Salisbury, NH. Serenity Farm - Stratford Scott Pitas - 603-922-2083 Serenityfarmstratford@gmail.com Grass fed, pasture raised, USDA inspected beef. Pasture raised chicken and turkey. Farm raised, USDA inspected pork.

Rocky Road Tunis Farm - Bath Deb Robie - 603-747-3869 wehunt4@myfairpoint.net Local Lamb.

Hillsborough County Barrett Hill Farm - Mason The LeClairs - 603-878-4022 barretthill@myfairpoint.net or visit our website: barrethillfarm.com Beef, pork, and lamb.

Best Life Farm - New Ipswich Chris Bille - 603-546-8786 cbille@bestlifefarmnh.com or visit our website bestlifefarmnh.com Forest pastured Berkshire pigs, grassfed Suffolk and Dorset lambs, and fresh eggs. Pigs and lambs are sold by the half or whole share.

USDA inspected frozen retail cuts are available yearround.

Broken Bow Farm - Hillsborough Joy LePage - 603-702-2135 trilepage@gmail.com We are a small, family farm, specializing in producing the best pasture raised Cornish Cross meat birds, delicious eggs from our spoiled hens, and artisan sourdough breads. Our Nigerian Dwarf goats provide hugs and laughs with expected milk and kids in 2025.

Buckledown Farm - Francestown Jack & Chris Hopfenspirger603-546-5835 We sell grass fed beef by the whole, half or quarter. 30 pound variety boxes are available on a limited basis.

Gus’s Farm - Mason Gus Franchi - 978-400-8521 gusfarmnh@gmail.com www.gusfarm.com Pork, beef, chicken, and turkeys.

Leel Farm – New Ipswich Butch Leel - 603-562-0860 bleel@comcast.net Pasture-raised beef.

Old Homestead Farm - New Ipswich Ben & Chelsea Hatcher -978-407-6280 oldhomesteadfarmnh@gmail.com Pasture-raised USDA beef & farm fresh eggs. Greenhouse vegetables & meat birds. We also offer horse boarding.

Find us on Facebook & Instagram.

Paradise Farm - Lyndeborough Wayne & Adrienne Colsia - 603-345-0860 wayne@paradisefarmnh.com www.paradisefarmnh.com 100% grass-fed beef, grass-fed lamb, pasture-raised pork, free-range eggs, all natural goat milk.

Rocky Meadow Farm - Francestown Wayne LeClair - 603-731-2342 wayne@rockymeadowfarm.com www.rockymeadowfarm.com Grassfed Beef since 1993.

Temple Mountain Beef - Temple Mark Salisbury - 603-878-4290 Beef by the side – cut and packaged to order.

Merrimack County

Bokaja - Webster 603-731-5381 or 603-648-2520 Local turkeys - various sizes.

Huntoon Farm - Danbury Phil or Donna Sprague - 603-768-5579 46 Huntoon Rd, Danbury Email: huntoonfarm@myfairpoint.net http://huntoonfarm.com Beef, pork, chicken, Thanksgiving turkeys Little Red Hen - Pittsfield 603-568-5540 lrhfarms2018@gmail.com Littleredhenfarm.net Forest-fed pork and pasture-raised chicken.

Miles Smith Farm - Loudon Bruce Dawson or Carole Soule 603-783-5159 https://milessmithfarm.com/ Locally raised beef in retail packages with USDA labels.

Schroeder Farm - South Newbury Bill Schroeder - 603-938-5911 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 - 603-738-5133 nikkinomar@yahoo.com USDA goat meat, farm fresh eggs, alpaca fiber and cashmere fiber.

Yankee Farmers’ Market - Warner Brian & Keira Farmer - 603-456-2833 yankeefarmersmarket@gmail.com https://yankeefarmersmarket.com/ Farm and store are open year-round and offer all natural, USDA buffalo (bison), grass fed beef, venison, elk, lamb, chicken, turkey and pastured pork. Wide variety of individual cuts, CSA shares, 1/2’s & 1/4’s, hides, skulls & breeding stock. Farm tours are also available. Wholesale available. We ship nationwide.

Winter 2025 Rockingham County

Brookvale Mercantile - Nottingham Brenda Barthelemy - 603-693-7291 mercantile@brookvalepinesfarm.com www.brookvalepinesfarm.com/ Selling grass fed beef, non-GMO chicken, non-GMO pork, other local meats, eggs, raw milk, and a variety of products sourced locally.

Gravel Pit Farm - Nottingham Samantha & Allan Trant 603-715-6283 gravelpitfarmnh@gmail.com We raise and sell pasture-raised pork, beef, and poultry.

J&F Farms Inc. - Derry Phil Ferdinando - 603-437-0535 farmstand@JFfarms.com All cuts of frozen beef.

Hay Directory Coos County Northwinds Farm - N Stratford Scott and Heidi Mason 603-631-5953 1st Crop, Dry Round. 2nd Crop, Dry Round. Pick-up or Local Delivery Available Thibeault Farm - Pittsburg Richard Thibeault - 603-246-8227 1st Crop, Dry Round. 2nd Crop, Dry Round. Pick-up or Local Delivery Available

Mandico Cattle Co. - Nottingham Conrad & Kathy Mandsager 603-770-1948 cmandsager@gmail.com Farm-raised, grass-fed Highland beef.

Hillsborough County

Strafford County

1st Crop, Square. Pick-up or Local Delivery Available

Coppal House Farm - Lee John & Carol Hutton - 603-659-3572 coppalhouse@comcast.net USDA certified pasture-raised lamb and pork products. All cuts flash frozen and vacuum-sealed. Various cuts available at the farm stand, special requests are filled when available.

Diamond B Farm - New Durham Meghan Bickford - 603-762-0190 diamondbfarm14@gmail.com www.bickfordsdiamondbfarm.com All natural, pasture-raised beef, pork, chicken, turkey and eggs.

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-Sawtelle & Erick Sawtelle 603-235-7908 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 - 603-542-7339 beaverpondfarm1780@gmail.com tinyurl.com/bpondfarm Raising beef and lamb. For sale at our retail store on the John Stark Hwy between Newport & Claremont. Open year-round.

Eccardt Farm Inc. - Washington George, Sandy & Ryan Eccard 603-495-3830 Eccardtfarm@gsinet.net Our home-grown grass-fed, USDA certified beef. We have an array of steak cuts and roasts all vacuumpacked for longer freshness. Lamb & pork when available.

Far View Farm - Langdon Marilyn Stuller - 603-313-7115 m.stuller@yahoo.com Lamb - naturally raised on pasture.

Icelandic lamb is naturally lean with a mild flavor.

Hill Place Farm - Acworth David Clark - 603-835-9086 www. hillplacenh.com USDA Inspected beef and pork.

Page 7

Farm Bureau - The Voice of N.H. Agriculture

Connolly Brothers Dairy Farm LLC - Temple Chris Connolly - 603-924-5002 connollybrothersdairyfarm@yahoo.com

Hollis Ranch - Hollis 603-465-2672 1st Cut, Timothy mix horse quality.

Old Homestead Farm - New Ipswich 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

Merrimack County Aznive Farm - Loudon Charlie & Pearl Aznive - 603-435-7509 1st Crop, Square. 2nd Crop, Square.

1st Crop, Dry Round. 2nd Crop, Dry Round. Pick-up Only Hersey Farm - Andover Jerry Hersey - 603-848-0109 Dry stock & mulch hay, 1st crop. PickUp Only Johnson Bros. Farm - Pittsfield Colt Johnson - 603-856-1589 1st, 2nd, & 3rd crop, Square.

1st & 2nd Crop, Dry Rounds Wrapped.

Pick-up or Delivery.

Rockingham County Gov Dale Farm - N Hampton Hank - 603-964-0674 hank@govdalefarm.com 1st crop, square. Local delivery available Weeks Point Farm - Greenland John Weeks - 603-431-1823 robinweeks@comcast.net 1st crop, square, 2nd crop, square.

Pick-up or local delivery available. In the field, you pick up

Sullivan County Eccardt Farm - Washington 603-495-3830 1st cut $8 square bales. In the field, you pick up Peachblow Farm - Charlestown Robert Frizzell - 603-398-8090 or 603435-7509 1st Crop, Square. Mulch hay, Seedless straw, pick-up only.

Ag Products & Services Belknap County Silent Night Farm - Meredith Kendall Stapley - 603-279-8838 silentnightfarmNH@gmail.com Rough cut field mowing (bush hogging) available within 20 mile +/- radius of Meredith Center NH. $125/hour, four hour minimum (2 hr minimum within Chemung conservation district in Meredith). Light tractor work also available.

Producers of Other Edibles Belknap County Kenyon Acres - Northfield kenyonacres@gmail.com https://www.kenyonacres.com/ Local honey

Main Street Maple & Honey Farm Belmont Kevin Day kevinday7171@gmail.com www.mainstreetmapleandhoney.com Honey and maple syrup is what we do.

Grafton County We also offer services such as swarm catches, hive removals, cutouts from Cardigan Veterinary Clinic - Canaan homes or buildings and offer many 603-632-7500 other products based on honey and https://www.cardiganvet.com/ maple syrup. We have a Facebook Now accepting new farm and equine clients in New Hampshire & Vermont presence and an online store. within a 40 mile radius of Canaan, New Hampshire. Also specializing in Grafton County Equine Dentistry with over 25 years of experience. Able to travel further for North Facing Sugarworks - Wentworth larger barns.

Ray Welch Instagram.com/northfacingsugarworks/ Resource Management, Inc (RMI) rwelch.jkloggingllc@gmail.com Holderness Local maple syrup Charley Hanson - 603-536-8900 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 slowrelease nitrogen source. Use paper fiber for animal bedding and organic matter on fields. Call for a delivery quote for products to improve your soil health and crop performance.

Merrimack County

Hillsborough County 4 Peaks Farm - Lyndeborough Michael Crombie mcrombie@tds.net Local honey Peter and His Bees, LLC - Amherst Peter de Bruyn Kops Facebook.com/NHlocalhoney/ dbk@acugen.com Local honey. All our hives are in NH and we only sell honey we produce.

Ancora Imparo Equine Center Boscawen Stacia Langille - 603-731-3144 Merrimack County stacialangille@gmail.com Multidisciplinary private horse boarding Lamb’s Maple Syrup - Canterbury facility with indoor, outdoor, round David & Janet Lamb pen, trails. Full service farrier, serving 603-783-9912 equines in central NH. https://www.davidlambfurniture.com/ B.R. Davis Land Services - Canterbury maple-syrup NH Maple Syrup is made by Ben Davis - 603-998-3642 concentrating the sap of the sugar brdavisland@gmail.com B.R. Davis Land services provides maple tree. 100% pure, nothing added. forestry mowing, vegetation control services and general excavation, plus Rockingham County produces high quality hay to central NH. Hastings Welding and Fabrication, LLC - Pembroke Avery Hastings 603-239-2485 aehastings1@gmail.com Call or text me 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 Jay Pritchard - 603-828-1307 pritchardfarms13@gmail.com We repair: Farm equipment, implements, tractors, construction equipment as well as perform welding & fabrication jobs.

Reasonable hourly rates at our shop in Pembroke.

Dill Family Farm - Deerfield Alden Dill Facebook.com/DillFamilyFarm alden_dill@hotmail.com NH maple syrup

Sullivan County Clark’s Sugar House - Langdon David Clark Facebook.com/clarkssugarhouse/ Award winning wood fired pure maple syrup been being produced since 1893.

Cutting Farm - Springfield Keith & Susan Cutting cuttingfarm@myfairpoint.net NH maple syrup

All Member Listings can be found online at: https://www.nhfarmbureau.org/support-farm-bureau-members/

Page 8

The Communicator

Winter 2025

YOUNG FARMER COMMITTEE Learning, Leading & Networking with the Ag Industry

Introducing the Young Farmer Committee Board Members Young Farmer Chair - Caroline Crouch Caroline Crouch got her start in agriculture by showing beef cattle as a teenager. After graduating from SUNY Cobleskill, she returned back to New Hampshire and started raising sheep, her true passion. After a stint of teaching high school animal & plant science, she now works in the office of Osborne’s Farm & Garden Centers. After aging out of FFA & 4-H, she joined Farm Bureau, and specifically Young Farmers’ Committee, to be involved in agriculture on the state level while enjoying the camaraderie of fellow agriculturalists. She looks forward to the work the committee will do to further agriculture and young farmers in the state. Caroline lives in New Hampton with her partner, Nick, her southdown & shropshire sheep, cats, and their beloved English Shepherd, Marlow.

Young Farmer Vice Chair - Katrina Klobucher Katrina Klobucher brings along a wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience from her work on various farms. Her passion for agriculture was sparked at a young age when she joined 4-H, and has only grown since then. She currently raises pigs, chickens, and turkeys on her small but thriving farm, with hopes of adding beef cattle in the future. Katrina is excited to serve on the Young Farmer Board, where she looks forward to connecting with fellow farmers and promoting the vital work of the New Hampshire Farm Bureau.

Young Farmer Board Member - Lucie Brown Lucie Brown, her husband, Nick, and three children live on a small farm in New Hampton. They raise Horned Dorset sheep for meat and fiber, a small herd of beef, meat chickens, and hay. Lucie joined NH Farm Bureau in 2022. She was first introduced to the Young Farmers by Caroline Crouch and then became more involved after her county reached out to ask for a farm tour and to host a meeting.

Since then, she has served as a Belknap County delegate twice and was awarded the Young Farmers Animal Husbandry Award. She currently serves as the Belknap County Farm Bureau Vice President, and was most recently elected as the NHFB 2nd Vice President and a Young Farmer board member.

Young Farmer Board Member - Jay Pritchard Jay Pritchard owns and operates Pritchard Farms in Pembroke. Alongside his wife, Leandra, and three children, Millie, Walter, and Warren, they raise hay, corn silage, beef cattle, and laying hens. Jay also operates a farm equipment repair business and machine shop. Jay and Leandra won the NH Young Farmer Achievement Award in 2019. Jay is actively involved in Merrimack County Farm Bureau and is in his first term as a Young Farmer board member. He has been involved with the Young Farmers since he became a NH Farm Bureau member 13 years ago.

Young Farmer Board Member - Si Robertson Si Robertson is continuing his first two year term as a NH Young Farmer board member. Si owns and operates Contoocook Creamery at Bohanan Farm with his parents and two brothers; they milk 130 cows and bottle and distribute all their milk around the state. He has become involved in the Young Farmers program with his wife, Megan, over the past few years. They traveled to Salt Lake City last year for the AFBF Annual Convention to represent NH in the Achievement Award competition, after receiving the award in NH in 2023.

Winter 2025

Thank You!

Farm Bureau - The Voice of N.H. Agriculture

Page 9

In November 2024, the Young Farmers collaborated with local farms and businesses to provide for their annual Thanksgiving Basket Initiative!

They were able to provide 10 Thanksgiving baskets to the Concord Salvation Army, 10 baskets to the Concord Boys & Girls Club, and 10 baskets to Coos County area food pantries. These baskets were filled with an abundance of local agricultural produce, including farm-raised turkeys, local apple cider, farm-fresh milk, squash, stuffing, potatoes, onions, gravy, and cranberry sauce, among other delightful items. This initiative not only nourished families in need but also showcased the incredible bounty of our local farms, highlighting the importance of community collaboration in making a difference.

Thank you so much to all of the generous donors: • Little Lakeman Farm • Associated Women • Meghan Lapointe • Contoocook Creamery • Moulton Farm • Emily and Matt Pincince • Olivia Camara • Gould Hill Farm • Star Highland Farm • Highland Riders 4-H Club • The Gibson Family • Josh Marshall • Three Creeks Farm • Katrina Klobucher • True North Canine • Whitney Hill Farm • L&S Angus Farm NH Young Farmers strive to do good in their community, while supporting our local farmers.

If you are interested in joining the group, please contact the Young Farmer Coordinator, Amy Matarozzo, at nhyoungfarmers@gmail.com.

The next Young Farmer event is on February 15th with farm tours at Bascom Maple Farm and Cadillac Farms. See the YF Facebook page for more details: facebook.com/NewHampshireYoungFarmers.

YOUNG FARMER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER: DANNY HICKS SUNNYCREST FARM Danny Hicks is the 2024 NH Young Farmer Achievement Award winner nominated by Rockingham County Farm Bureau!

Congratulations Danny!

Page 10

Winter 2025

The Communicator

TESTIMONY (From pg. 5) Despite these increased costs, 2024 payments to farmers are projected to be the lowest since 1982 – over four decades ago. Again, highlighting this reinforces the need for increased coverage in Title I. 2025 TAX BILL We also can’t ignore that at this time of great economic uncertainty, farmers, ranchers and many other small businesses are staring down what may be the largest tax increase in American history.

Failing to extend the expiring provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act would take billions of dollars out of farmers’ pockets when they have no dollars to spare. Congress must find a way to create a stable business environment by making permanent the expiring TCJA provisions and ensure America’s farms and ranches can continue to provide the food, renewable fuel and fiber this country needs.

AG WORKFORCE Without diminishing the previous two issues, the greatest domestic policy threat to American agriculture is the persistent inaction to find a solution to our workforce needs.

In short, the costs are too high, the domestic willingness to work is too low, and family farms are closing down. This is heartbreaking and has direct and tangible impacts to our rural communities.

While not under this committee’s jurisdiction, labor is by far the leading issue I hear about when I visit with my members.

I implore the members of this committee and this body to meet us at the table to get this done – to do right by our farmers and their employees who labor in the fields so you and I don’t have to.

CROP PROTECTION PRODUCTS Costs and access are concerns surrounding crop protection tools as well. This includes the fertilizer, fuel, and pesticides that must be safely used and available to farm families.

Ongoing inflation, supply chain disruptions, and diverging approaches to regulations all threaten a perfect storm for farmers and ranchers.

Sound, risk-based science has always guided our approach, and we should not stray from that.

Farm Bureau has always stood on the side of science-based decision making and we will continue to do so, but we need your help to ensure that regulators are performing their roles appropriately and efficiently in accordance with those principles of sound science.

Farmers seek to live healthily, just like every other American. That pursuit of a healthy lifestyle must include a domestically produced food supply that is resilient, safe, and meets needs.

FREE AND FAIR TRADE U.S. agriculture is foundational to the American economy – reaching beyond farms and rural communities to support millions of jobs across the country.

Key to its economic contributions and its sustainability, the food and agriculture sector exports about 20 percent of production. In 2024, American food and agriculture exports totaled over $170 billion, providing jobs and economic opportunity throughout the supply chain in every corner and coast of the country.

The 2024 marketing year showed a food and agriculture trade deficit of $32 billion, a stark contrast to the United States’ historical trade surplus in agricultural exports, averaging $12.5 billion over the past ten years.

While our two million U.S. farms and ranches are the backbone of America’s food and agricultural sector, the impact of decreased exports and resulting economic fallout reverberates throughout the economy.

We believe an agricultural trade agenda must focus on maintaining existing markets and completing trade agreements that expand market access for U.S. agricultural products. By eliminating and reducing foreign tariff and nontariff trade barriers, American producers will gain export market opportunities.

Congress must protect American agriculture and modern production practices from undue burden, and respect farmers’ and ranchers’ ability to innovate and solve problems.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding today’s hearing. I would be pleased to answer any questions the committee might have.

Casella Organics Colebrook Feeds Farm & Garden Supply LLC Darrell A. Louis Insurance & Financial Services Dr. Christina Swanson LAVender Veterinary Services East Hill Farm J & F Farms Jeremy Hiltz Excavating, Inc. Longview Forest Products LLC Michael Sharp Enterprises LLC Mike Bertolone Insurance

We appreciate you!

K & T AG LLC

Organic Fertilizer Bulk & Bulk Bags Custom Blends Available Bulk Lime Delivered & Spread Calcium & Hi Mag 119 Church St., N. Walpole, NH 03609 Kevin: 603-372-2559 Tom: 603-504-5991

MJM Associates Inc Monadnock Food Co-op Monroe Tractor MontShire Packing NH Veterinary Technician Association Northern Tire of Colebrook, Inc. Pete & Gerry’s Organics LLC Pleasant View Electric LLC Poulsen Lumber Co., Inc. Resource Management Inc. ReVision Energy Inc. Summit Eggs & Produce The Grooming Shop by A Furry Affair Windy Ridge Orchard LLC

Winter 2025

Farm Bureau - The Voice of N.H. Agriculture

Page 11

LEGISLATIVE CORNER

by Robert Johnson, NHFB Policy Director/Acting Adminstrator

Current Use Board Update Farm Land and Forest Land Ranges for 2025-2026 Tax Year Approved At the Current Use Advisory Board’s (CUB) November15 board meeting, immediately following its four public forums, the CUB approved assessment ranges as follows: Current Use Assessment Ranges (Effective for the tax year, 4/1/2025 – 3/31/2026) Farm Land: $57 - 473 per acre ($25 - 425/acre)* Forest Land WITHOUT Documented Stewardship: White Pine $130 – 196 per acre ($122 – 184/acre) Hardwood $72 -108 per acre ($67-101/acre) All Other $42 -62 per acre ($39 – 59/acre) Forest Land WITH Documented Stewardship: White Pine $78 – 118 ($74 – 110/acre) Hardwood $43 – 65 ($40 – 60/acre) All Other $25 – 37 ($24 – 36/acre) Wetland & Unproductive Land: $25 per acre (currently is $24/acre) *Assessment ranges effective for the current tax year, 4/1/2024 – 3/31/2025 are in parenthesis.

The Farm Land range adopted by the CUB reflects a five-year planned phase-in of its new Agricultural Land Assessment Model. The phasein will be accomplished at a rate of 20% in the first year, with an additional 20% each year over the phase-in period until fully implemented in tax year 2029-30. If the new model were to be fully implemented in 2025-26, without a phase-in period, the proposed range with 2024 model inputs would be $189 - $669/acre. To minimize volatility, once fully phased-in, a 5-year rolling average will be used to set the high and the low end of the range each year. A similar phase-in was used when the CUB implemented the current Forest Land Assessment Model over ten years ago. A 5-year rolling average is currently used to set the high and the low end of the Forest Land ranges each year If you remember, at the 2023 CUB Public Forums, the CUB proposed an Agricultural Land Assessment Model that would have set the Farm Land range for this tax year (2024-2025) at $82-471/acre and without a phase-in period using 2023 model inputs would have set a range of $312 - $657/acre. After hearing public comment at the forums, the CUB withdrew its proposal and continued to work on the model. Farm Bureau expressed concerns at the 2023 Forums that the proposed model did not factor in lower value agricultural crops (pastureland) and which makes up nearly one-third of all cropland in the state. We also had the concern that the Capitalization Rate used in the model did not account for agricultural land loan rates available to all borrows. As proposed it appeared to factor in solely USDA Farm Services Agency loan rates, which are not available to all borrowers.

As the CUB addressed these concerns in the model it brought to the 2024 Forums, and understanding the model is a work in progress, Farm Bureau was in support. In our support we also cited the need for the CUB to set the Farm Land ranges based on a defensible model – which by its own admission it did not previously have - for the acceptance of the program amongst non-Current Use landowners moving forward.

Stay Informed with The Friday Review!

Are you keeping up with the latest legislation affecting farm, forest, and rural interests? The Friday Review is your go-to source for weekly updates on key legislative issues impacting New Hampshire’s agricultural community.

• Exclusive to NH Farm Bureau members • Delivered weekly—straight to your inbox • Focused on legislation that matters to you Sign up today! Request your copy and stay ahead of the issues shaping our industry. Call the NHFB office at 603-224-1934 or email assistant@nhfarmbureau.org to get added to the list!

Page 12

The Communicator

Winter 2025

Committee & County News Continued!

by NHFB Staff Rob Johnson & Leandra Pritchard

Merrimack County Farm Bureau Memos

MCFB kicked off the year with a January meeting to map out an exciting agenda for 2025. One of our key events, the annual Large Animal Veterinary Clinic, will be returning! This valuable service for our members is being scheduled earlier in the fair season to better accommodate livestock shows. Stay tuned for the official date and location, which will be announced in The Post!

Get Ready to Dance! Planning is underway for the third annual MCFB Barn Dance, and we’re gearing up for another fantastic event! More details will be released this spring, so mark your calendars and get ready for a night of fun, music, and community spirit.

Scholarship Opportunities – Applications are now open for the MCFB Scholarships, with a deadline of May 15, 2025. Each year, we proudly award the Trudy Gay Memorial Scholarship and the “Chip” McNamara Memorial Scholarship to deserving students pursuing post-secondary education. These scholarships are available to all MCFB members, and the application—along with many other scholarship opportunities—can be found on the NHFB website: NHFB Scholarship Information.

Industry tours will start back up this spring! If you have any suggestions on what farms you would like to visit in Merrimack County send them our way!

Our next MCFB Board Meeting will be held on Thursday, February 20th, at 6:00 PM at the NHFB office in Concord. All MCFB members are welcome to attend! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to MCFB Secretary Leandra Pritchard at merrimackcountyfb@gmail.com or 603-224-1934. Let’s make 2025 a great year for MCFB!

Strafford County Farm Bureau Special Meeting

On the evening of Thursday, January 9th, Strafford County Farm (SCFB) gathered in the Jeremiah Smith Grange in Lee for a specially called meeting of members. As they always do, Jim Brady had the wood-stoves roaring in the Hall and Betty Brady had a treat ready to serve. At this past years October SCFB annual meeting, President Bruce Cilley appointed a committee to review the organizations constitution and by-laws, which had last been amended in 1992. The committee of Jackie Cilley, Glenn Pierce, and Erick Sawtelle reviewed the constitution and by-laws of the other NHFB county Farm Bureau organizations as well as the Federation constitution before drafting the proposal presented to county members. Following discussion their proposal was adopted with minor changes on a unanimous vote of the seventeen members present. Following the vote NHFB Policy Director Rob Johnson discussed bills impacting agriculture and landowners that had been introduced in the Legislature. This was followed by a meeting of the Board of Directors. The SCFB constitution States: The purpose of this organization shall be to strive to assure the viability of agriculture within Strafford County by advocating for agriculture and by educating the public about agriculture and rural Strafford County and it should cooperate with other organizations having similar objectives.

Brewing Connections: NHFB’s Coffee & Conversation Series In December 2024, the NH Farm Bureau (NHFB) began hosting monthly “Coffee & Conversation” gatherings at the NHFB office in Concord.

What started as a small meeting on a snowy December day has quickly grown into a popular event! In January, 19 attendees gathered to engage with Josh Marshall, Assistant Commissioner of the NH Department of Agriculture, to discuss pressing agricultural issues and ask important questions. February’s meeting saw 22 participants join us for a conversation about the municipal, state, and federal resources available to New Hampshire farmers. We were also joined by Carrie Stengel from USDA Wildlife Services and Kat Wadiak from NH Fish & Game, who discussed how their agencies support farmers and landowners, particularly regarding wildlife management.

Looking ahead, our next “Coffee & Conversation” will take place on March 4th at 9:00am, where we will be joined by our friends at Land For Good and NH Community Loan Fund . They will lead a discussion on farm succession planning and the process of connecting landowners with individuals seeking access to farmland.

We invite you to join us! Bring your questions, enthusiasm, and willingness to share. Together, we’ll weave a tapestry of experiences and insights to help elevate our agricultural community. Let’s brew some great conversations and strengthen our community, one cup at a time!

Farm Bureau - The Voice of N.H. Agriculture

Winter 2025

Page 13

NHFB Member Offers Spotlight The Farm Bureau Exclusive Cash Reward* is now compatible with AXZD-Plans!

Ford Super Duty

Farm Bureau members receive a

$500 Exclusive Cash Reward

*

toward an eligible new F-150® Lightning®, Super Duty®, F-150, Ranger® or Maverick®

Visit FordRecognizesU.com/FarmBureau today for complete offer details! *Available on the purchase or lease of an eligible new 2024/2025/2026 model year Ford Maverick, Ranger, F-150, Super Duty or F-150 Lightning. Not available on any other Ford or Lincoln vehicles, including F-150 Raptor® and Ranger Raptor. Vehicle eligibility may change at any time. Available to U.S. residents only. Place a new retail order or take new retail delivery from an authorized Ford Dealer’s stock by 1/5/26. Limit of five purchases or leases per household during the program offer (PGM# 32524). Offer subject to dealer participation. May not be used/combined with most other Ford private offers. See an authorized Ford Dealer, or go to FordRecognizesU.com, for complete details and eligibility (PGM# 32524). Due to high demand and global supply chain constraints, some models, trims, and features may not be available or may be subject to change. Check with your local dealer for current information. Offer subject to confirmation of eligibility.

Learn more about all of the great NHFB Member Benefits & Offers on page 17!

Take advantage of your member discounts now

Sustaining

healthy crops

As a member of the New Hampshire Farm Bureau, you and your family are eligible for exclusive hearing aid discounts through Start Hearing.

Discounts up to 48% on today’s latest technology, including rechargeable hearing aids and tinnitus options Access to a nationwide network of 3,000+ hearing professionals 60-day risk-free trial period FREE Deluxe Warranty Plan, including loss and damage* Access to industry leading hearing protection with SoundGear

Call our Hearing Care Advisors at (888) 304-8531 to take advantage of your exclusive discounts. starthearing.com/partners/nhfb *Professional service fees may apply.

Start Hearing and the Start Hearing logo are trademarks of Starkey Laboratories, Inc. SoundGear is a registered trademark of Starkey Laboratories, Inc. ©2025 Start Hearing, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 1/25 TJAD3332-00-EN-SH

At Bayer, we think of crop science as a journey.

A journey to a sustainable world that grows more with less. We’re pioneering new technologies, expanding education, and supporting farmers and growers. Together, we can improve lives through a food system that is better for farmers, consumers, and the planet.

The Communicator

Page 14

Winter 2025

UNH COLSA/NH Agricultural Experiment Station News Harnessing Manure to Heat Greenhouses and High Tunnels For New Hampshire farmers, the short growing season—typically 135 days—and increasingly unpredictable weather limit local food production.

While greenhouses offer a solution, their high energy costs put them out of reach for most small and medium-sized farms. Researchers at the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station (NHAES) are testing an innovative, cost-effective alternative: using manure to heat greenhouses.

“New Hampshire farmers face substantial obstacles in maintaining production during the winter months,” said Md Sazan Rahman, an assistant professor at UNH’s College of Life Sciences and Agriculture. “The core idea of this project is to turn waste into a resource.”

The team is piloting two systems at the Woodman Horticultural Research Farm to explore whether manure can provide a renewable, low-carbon heating solution. Both systems utilize manure from UNH’s dairy and equine facilities, blended with waste hay to maximize heat generation during composting. The first system captures heat from composting manure piles to warm a water reservoir, which then distributes the heat throughout the greenhouse via a pump system.

The second system uses a biofilter that extracts hot air from the compost while removing harmful gases, allowing the clean, heated air to circulate within the greenhouse.

These methods are being tested with hydroponic lettuce, a crop chosen for its short growing cycle and sensitivity to temperature. “Manure is often seen as just a disposal problem, but it holds so much untapped heating energy potential,” Rahman explained. “Our project seeks to demonstrate whether this energy can be harnessed to benefit farmers and the environment.”

A Sustainable Solution for Winter Farming New Hampshire livestock operations produce approximately 372,900 tons of manure annually, a resource farmers often use as fertilizer during the growing season. However, frozen ground in winter makes spreading manure difficult, leading

to storage challenges. By repurposing manure as a heating source, the NHAES project aims to address this seasonal issue while reducing costs for farmers.

The composting systems are monitored using sensors that collect data on heat output, air quality, and energy efficiency. This information allows the research team to refine the systems for real-world application. The manure-hay mixture is designed to balance aeration and nutrient content, optimizing heat production. Automatic aeration through perforated pipes enhances the composting process by introducing oxygen, which supports higher temperatures and minimizes methane emissions.

“We’re focused on making these systems efficient and scalable for small and medium-sized farms,” Rahman said. “Renewable solutions like this allow us to reduce dependency on fossil fuels while giving farmers the tools to make protected agriculture more efficient and sustainable.”

With construction beginning in spring 2025, the research team will continue to evaluate the systems’ energy efficiency, economic feasibility, and impacts on crop yields over the next three years. Funded by USDA-NIFA and the state of New Hampshire, the project offers a glimpse into the future of renewable energy solutions for cold-climate agriculture.

The early results of the pilot systems suggest the approach could be applied to other high-value crops like tomatoes and cucumbers.

Rahman sees this project as a steppingstone to fully sustainable greenhouses that integrate other renewable technologies, such as solar and geothermal energy.

“Eventually, we hope to integrate multiple renewable energy sources

For New England farmers, managing colostrum quality can be particularly challenging due to the region’s variable weather and shorter growing seasons. Environmental stressors such as temperature fluctuations during a cow’s dry period can significantly impact colostrum production.

These challenges make it even more critical for regional dairy producers to adopt effective strategies to improve colostrum quality.

Data-driven models are tools that analyze information from farms, cows and environmental conditions to identify patterns and factors that influence outcomes. In a study led by Erickson, these models highlighted three key factors affecting colostrum yield and quality: timing, environment and nutrition. The models revealed that colostrum quality decreases significantly if it is not harvested within six hours of calving.

Delaying the first milking reduces IgG levels, limiting the milk’s ability to deliver the protective benefits calves need.

“Our research shows that the timing of colostrum harvest is one of the most critical factors. Even a few hours’ delay can significantly reduce its quality,” Erickson explained.

Visual representation of factors influencing colostrum quality in dairy cows, including nutrition, genetics, and environment.

“This is just the beginning,” Rahman noted. “The system demonstrates how farmers can use existing resources to extend their growing seasons and contribute to environmental sustainability.”

Practical Applications and Environmental Benefits

Data-driven modeling could help dairy farmers maximize colostrum quality and improve herd health

“Colostrum is essential to setting up calves for success,” said Erickson, a professor in the agriculture, nutrition and food systems department at the UNH College of Life Sciences and Agriculture.

“It’s the foundation of their immunity and overall health.”

The environmental benefits are equally promising.

By replacing fossil fuel-based heating systems with compost-generated heat, farmers can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Aerated composting also minimizes methane emissions compared to traditional methods, making it a more sustainable approach to waste management.

Winter temperatures in New Hampshire often drop well below freezing, leaving high tunnels and unheated greenhouses at 35–45°F—too cold Learn more about the research and work of the for most crops. Traditional heating systems, NH Agricultural Experiment Station (NHAES) by while effective, are costly and environmentally visiting colsa.unh.edu/nhaes unsustainable. Rahman’s systems offer an alternative, with the Diagram of a manure-powered heating potential to enable year-round system, detailing components like the farming by maintaining optimal biofilter and heat pump for sustainable growing conditions even during farming. harsh winters.

Predicting Better Colostrum for Healthier Calves Colostrum, the nutrient-rich first milk from cows, plays a critical role in calf health, providing essential antibodies such as immunoglobulin G (IgG) to boost immunity and support early growth. Pete Erickson, a researcher with the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station (NHAES) at the University of New Hampshire, has developed data-driven models to identify key factors affecting colostrum yield and quality—insights that could help dairy farmers improve calf health as well as long-term productivity and health of adult cows.

to create a low-carbon greenhouse system that is both cost-effective and scalable,” Rahman said.

Temperature extremes during the dry period—both very hot and very cold—were shown to negatively affect colostrum yield and quality. Environmental stress disrupts the biological processes that cows rely on to produce colostrum rich in nutrients and antibodies.

Additionally, balanced, energy-dense diets for dry cows were also found to improve both colostrum yield and IgG concentration. Proper nutrition in the weeks leading up to calving ensures cows have the energy reserves necessary to produce highquality colostrum.

The study’s results can guide farmers in making targeted management decisions, such as adjusting milking schedules, improving cow comfort and refining feeding practices. Based on the findings, three actionable strategies that farmers could consider implementing to improve colostrum production and calf health are: • Harvest Timing: Ensure colostrum is collected within six hours of calving to preserve its IgG levels and overall quality.

• Environmental Management: Protect dry cows from extreme temperatures using appropriate housing, such as well-ventilated barns in summer or insulated shelters during winter, to minimize stress.

• Nutritional Support: Provide dry cows with energy-rich diets during late gestation to ensure they are prepared to produce high-quality colostrum at calving.

“Making small adjustments, like focusing on timing or improving nutrition, can make a big difference in colostrum quality,” Erickson said. “It’s about giving farmers practical, research-backed steps they can implement easily.”

This material is based on work supported by NHAES through joint funding from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (under Hatch Multistate award number 1016574) and the state of New Hampshire.

For more information about colostrum management and to explore insights into improving herd health, check out the latest issue of INSPIRED Dairy.

Winter 2025

Farm Bureau - The Voice of N.H. Agriculture

Page 15

Upcoming Events AGRICULTURE EVENTS unh.how/ag-events

EXTENSION UPDATE

4-H EVENTS unh.how/4-H-events

Extension Services PLANT DIAGNOSTIC LAB Questions?

Reach out to the lab at unh.pdl@unh.edu or 603-862-3043. unh.how/plant-diagnostic

Featured Events

Featured Resources

SOIL TESTING

PRUNING DEMOS

FACTORS INFLUENCING COLOSTRUM YIELD

Questions?

Kiwiberry Pruning Spring Ledge Farm, New London March 1 | 1 - 3 p.m.

Colostrum yield is crucial for dairy farmers because it directly impacts the health and survival of newborn calves.

New fact sheets authored by UNH Professor of Dairy Management and Extension Dairy Specialist examine factors such as dry period length, prepartum nutrition, hormones, mastitis, calf size, udder size and environmental temperature and photoperiod.

Email soil.testing@unh.edu or leave a message for Shyloh Favreau at (603) 862-3200

Apple, Blueberry, Raspberry Pruning Beaver Pond Farm, Newport March 1 | 9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Blueberry Pruning Green Acres Berries, New Hampton March 8 | 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

FACT SHEETS

Apple Pruning Hollow Hill Farm, Tamworth March 14 | 5 - 7 p.m.

GIBBERA TWIG BLIGHT

Blueberry and Grape Pruning UNH Woodman Farm, Durham March 25 | 5:30 - 7 p.m.

Raspberry and Apple Pruning Tellman Hill, Whitefield March 27 | 5 - 7 p.m.

Blueberry Pruning Meadowstone Farm, Bethlehem March 29 | 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Ornamental Pruning Ashuelot River Park, Keene April 5 | 12 - 2 p.m.

Blueberry Pruning Blueberry Bay Farm, Stratham April 18 | 2 - 4 p.m.

DETAILS unh.how/pruning25

FOOD SAFETY FOR POULTRY & RABBIT PRODUCERS Online Certification Course March 3 & 4 | 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

DETAILS unh.how/safe25

unh.how/colostrum

Gibbera twig blight primarily affects blueberries in the Northeastern U.S. and Eastern Canada. It is known to be in Merrimack, Sullivan, Cheshire and Grafton counties.

This disease will affect fruit yield; affected twigs are more prone to winter damage, and severe cases can cause the twigs to die when the fungus forms cankers that cut off their nutrients. Heavily infected twigs are often killed when fruiting bodies form girdling cankers.

FACT SHEET unh.how/gibbera

Featured News 2025 TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROSPECTIVE PESTICIDE APPLICATORS ANNOUNCED Those planning to take the state exam to become licensed to apply pesticides in the production of agricultural products, such as fruits, vegetables, forage and ornamentals, may want to take an Extension course to help prepare. The $60 course spans three weeks and consists of two, half-day sessions, and a third to take the exam.

The course is available in: Goffstown (March 4, 11, 18), Brentwood (March 5, 12, 19) Lancaster (March 6, 13, 20).

REGISTER unh.how/certification

The University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension is an equal opportunity educator and employer.

UNH, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, and New Hampshire counties cooperating. Direct inquiries to unh. civilrights@unh.edu. Accommodations available, including language access services, upon request before any event at unh.how/request © 2024 University of New Hampshire

unh.how/soil

VISIT OUR WEBSITE! Explore upcoming events and programming. unh.how/extension-ag

Page 16

Winter 2025

The Communicator

Strength in Community: The Impact of the Abbie Sargent Memorial Scholarship

by Deb Robie, Abbie Sargent Memorial Scholarship Trustee “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” – Dr. Seuss At the recent NH Farm Bureau annual meeting at UNH, we had the privilege of hearing from AFBF President Zippy Duvall. As always, his words were both inspiring and deeply meaningful for everyone in attendance.

I had the pleasure of inviting Dory Roy, one of the recipients of the Abbie Sargent Memorial Scholarship, to join us for the luncheon. This gave her the opportunity to meet some of the generous individuals who make this scholarship possible. She chose to be there, and I believe she gained valuable insight into Farm Bureau’s mission and the values we uphold.

During his speech, Zippy shared personal stories of hardship Left to right: NHFB President Joyce Brady, Abbie Sargent Memorial and the importance of seeking support during difficult Scholarship Trustee Deb Robie, Scholarship recipient Dorothy “Dory” times. Anyone who has had the privilege of knowing Dory Roy, and AFBF President Zippy Duvall, at the NHFB Annual Meeting understands just how impactful that message was—not on November 9, 2024. Photo by Ryan Mattews. only for her but for all of us in the room that day.

As a member of the Abbie Sargent Memorial Scholarship committee, I see firsthand the many deserving applicants who apply each year. This scholarship exists solely because of generous donors like you. Every contribution makes a difference, and if you’re able, a donation with a few extra zeros at the end would be especially appreciated!

To learn more about how you can support students like Dory, contact the Trustees at abbie.sargent.scholarship@ gmail.com or call the NHFB office at 603-224-1934.

pritchard farms repair • Farm Equipment • Implements • Tractors • Construction Equipment • Welding • Fabrication Reasonable hourly rates at our shop in pembroke

Specializing in: Ben Davis Owner Operator • Forestry Mowing • R.O.W Maintenance 603-998-3642 • Wildlife Habitat Canterbury, NH • Field Reclamation • •

Invasive Species Control General Excavation

Call 603.828.1307 Ask for Jay Pritchard Farms 326 Buck Street Pembroke, NH 03275

Farm Bureau - The Voice of N.H. Agriculture

Winter 2025

Page 17

Benefits of Your NH Farm Bureau Membership Networking

Advocacy Farm Bureau policy is established through a “grassroots” time-tested policy development process in which members set the direction that guides our leaders and staff advocacy efforts.

Ways you can participate include: D Proposing a policy resolution for discussion at your county Farm Bureau annual meeting D Serving on a Farm Bureau policy development committee D Representing your county Farm Bureau by serving as a voting delegate at the NHFB Annual Meeting D Staying informed by reading The Friday Review and contacting your legislators in support of priority legislation D Hosting or helping to organize a farm tour for legislators and other NH decision makers D Volunteering to serve on one of the numerous advisory and study committees in which Farm Bureau or the agricultural community has a seat at the table. These include the Invasive Species Committee, Rivers Management Advisory Committee, & Wetlands Council

Meet other NH farmers: D At your county Farm Bureau annual meeting or other county Farm Bureau event, NHFB summer picnic, or the NHFB annual meeting D By serving on your county Farm Bureau Board of Directors or an NHFB committee D Participating in the Young Farmer program (ages 18-35) D Attending a meeting of the Associated Women who have a mission of communicating the story of NH agriculture D The best information and advice on insurance for your farm as a result of Farm Bureau’s special relationship with American National and the relationship available to you through Farm Bureau with their NH agents

Resources Make sure you are receiving and making us of the following: D The Communicator, our member publication bringing you Farm Bureau and agricultural news. As a member your farm business is entitled to free listing under: Ag Services, Fruits & Vegetables, Hay, Meat Producers, or Other Edibles, and to free advertisements in the Farmer to Farmer Classifieds section D Our weekly e-newsletter The Post, containing a listing of upcoming agricultural events and workshops D The Friday Review, our public policy newsletter, published on Friday’s when the NH Legislature is in session D Coming this winter, our ag policy podcast “The APP” D Access to other information published for members periodically such as the New Farmer Toolkit, containing pertinent information on running a farm business in New Hampshire

The Voice of Agriculture for over 100 years

NHFB Member Offers Insurance

Travel & Auto

Farm & Business

PRESCRIPTION SAVINGS! Free Rx Coupon Card

AmericanCompliments National Insurance Special Rate Free Rx Drug Card, Compliments of: of: Plans for NHFB Members To PROGRAM find your local agent, call: HIGHLIGHTS BrandonSaveCoffman, General Agent up to 80% on prescriptions 603.724.1367 Free pharmacy coupon card Accepted at over 68,000 pharmacies nationwide americannational.com Discounts on brand & generic drugs

American NationalNoisrestrictions endorsed by the NH Farm Bureau & HIPAA compliant

Health & dental insurance available for qualifying NH Farm Bureau members.

Call NEEBCo, our exclusive broker at 603.228.1133 The card below is pre-activated and can be used immediately to more information. save up for to 80% on your prescription drugs. » Bring the discount coupon card to your pharmacy. «

Health & Wellness » Save on your prescriptions! «

» Present the coupon card to the pharmacist when paying. «

FRONT

BACK

FREE prescription card Take this card to a participating pharmacy with your Rx to qualify for discounts on medication. Find this card in your member benefits packet.

THIS PROGRAM IS NOT INSURANCE.

Call LifeLine Screening for a Health Risk Assessment at 800.718.1169 or for more information.

Discounts up to 48% OFF Start Hearing hearing aids and discounts on SoundGear hearing protection.

Call 888.304.8531 for more information.

Enjoy exclusive savings when renting from AVIS. Visit: Avis.com/nhfb Members save $200 - $500 per unit on the purchase or lease of eligible Case IH tractors and farm equipment.

Download your certificate online at nhfarmbureau.org/ member-benefits and present it to your dealer.

Save when renting from Budget & Budget Truck Rentals.

Visit: Budget.com/nhfb

Eligible members can save up to $2,750 on the purchase or lease of eligible Cat® vehicles.

Save up to 30% Call 800.258.2847 or visit choicehotels.com/nhfb

Visit CAT.com/FarmBureau for more info

Save up to 20% Visit wyndhamhotels.com/ hotel-deals/farm-bureau

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

For information call Joel Breton at 603.623.0561 or email sales@mjmassociates.net.

Receive special member prices on selected categories and brands from Grainger, PLUS get free standard parcel shipping on all standard Grainger products*.

Grainger is Farm Bureau’s Preferred MRO Seller.

Eligible NHFB members receive $500 off Exclusive Ford Trucks

Visit FordRecognizesU.com/FarmBureau or see your authorized Ford Dealer for qualifications and complete details.

Apparel

Visit grainger.com/farmbureau using your NHFB Account #: 855922498 or call 877.202.2594

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

Receive up to 12% OFF MSRP on the purchase of any new Grasshopper Zero Turn Mower. Find your nearest dealer at GrasshopperDealers.com.

Purchase NHFB merchandise or custom signs anytime online at nhfarmbureau.org/store or stop in at our Concord office to see what’s available!

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.

There are also savings on qualifying equipment categories.

Visit JohnDeere.com/FarmBureau today!

For more information visit nhfarmbureau.org/member-benefits or call 603.224.1934.

®

A GUID E TO YO UR FA MEMBE RM BUREAU R BENEF ITS PLAN Leverage your Far m Burea u memb

Grai nger

.com /Far

mBu reau

| 1.80 0.GR

AING ER

ership &

save!

Page 18

Winter 2025

The Communicator

Farmer to Farmer Classifieds

Connecting NHFB members! See what others have to sell AND what you 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 603-224-1934.

FOR SALE FOR SALE: 4 yr. old Triplet East Friesian Ram throws beautiful uniform lambs- a big boy with a brown fleece.

Halter broke $400 or B/O. Call Claire at 603-239-7098.

FOR SALE: 3 Tunis ram lambs, 1 born 12/23, 2 born 3/24. Weaned. Can be registered if wanted. 4-H & FFA discount. $150 each or $400 for all. Delivery possible.

Phone Deb Robie at 603-747-3869 or email wehunt4@ myfairpoint.net.

FOR SALE: Full-time and part-time seasonal help needed starting late March-early April. Greenhouse work, order pulling and shipping. $20/hr. South Hampton. Call Richard at 603-682-0399.

FOR SALE: IH Model 27 Baler with bale thrower.

Always under cover. For parts only. $500. Call Wayne at 603-225-9656 Concord, NH.

FOR SALE: Various 3 & 4 med. frame bee hives w/ bees $125; unpopulated hives $75; 3 frame manual radial stainless extractor $750; 1 disassembled Dakota Gunes multi-frame stainless steel chain uncapper $3,200. Call Alden at 603-883-6764.

FOR SALE: Irrigation Pipe - Hook and Latch, 2” pipe – 3000 feet (100 pieces,* some with sprinklers and 8” risers) $1.50 per ft, 6” pipe – 800 feet (26 pieces) $5.00 per ft, (2) Nelson 100 guns 24 degree angle – 1” nozzle $500.00 each. Call Wayne at 603-225-9656 Concord, NH.

FOR SALE: 1969 International 2544 Hydro tractor, C-200, 4 Cyl, 52 HP gas engine. Deserves restoration.

Starts, Runs, Quits. $2,200.00 Call Kevin at 603-3274406 in Chester.

FOR SALE: Oasis Springs Farm in Nashua, NH is currently selling their 3 Shipping containers set up for growing hydroponic leafy greens. One unit is a 2015 Freight Farm LGM and the other 2 are custom builds with horizontal NFT trays designed for high volume growth. For details check out our FB page or contact Chris@OasisSpringsFarm.com or (603) 521-2003.

FOR SALE: Livestock Guardian Dog pups. Born & raised with livestock. Great Pyranees-MaremmaAnatolian. From working parents. 1st shots, wormed, Health Certificate & booklet on raising & working with LGDs incl. Ready to bond to your livestock. Also a couple young adults. Call Gordon at 603-490-0899 FOR SALE: John Deere 4030 tractor with loader, $15,000. Call Alan Savage at 603-788-4484.

FOR SALE: Maple Equipment: Leader Vacuum Filler SS (good) $500. Gold Metal Ice Shaver for clean snow (good) $300. Maple Miscellaneous - SS Draw Off Pail, 12 qt. (good) $75 New Maple Plastic Jugs (full case only) - 3.4 oz. NH $50/case. Maple Tree Farm, Concord - 603-224-9548 evenings.

FOR SALE: Farm Raised Red Deer / Elk Crosses for Sale 13 animals – Breeding stock bucks & does available or for meat. Call for pricing. Maple Ridge Farm - Wentworth, Contact Lance Rand at 603-726-1984.

FOR SALE: Loader to fit 1950 John Deere Model A tractor, call Alan Savage at 603-788-4484.

FOR SALE: Farmall Super C. Fully restored - $6,000.

Boscawen at 603-796-2779.

FOR SALE: John Deere – 47 Quick Hitch Snow Thrower. For M700 riding mowers and up. Excellent condition - $1800. Boscawen at 603-796-2779.

FOR SALE: Hardee long reach cutter - $9,000.

Concord. Call Robert at 603-224-3036.

FOR LEASE/RENT FOR LEASE/RENT: Horse/Livestock Boarding, A la carte pricing, reasonable rates, stall run out to separate pasture, 3 stalls currently available. Farmings, NH. Call Bob at 603-834-3240.

WANTED WANTED: Pasture with good fencing for temporary short time turnout of horses. Phone Richie at 603-465-2672.

WANTED: 20-25 acres of hay/crop land (open to more or less) and located somewhere near I-91/I-89 or other reliable access roads. We are open to NH or VT. We are open to agriculturally conserved land. Our hope is to have a productive field that we can responsibly manage to meet our hay needs as we continue to grow.

If you know of any fields that may be a good fit, please reach out to us! Call Seth at 603-715-0067 or email mooserunfarm@gmail.com.

HELP WANTED HELP WANTED: Full time and part time seasonal help needed starting late March-early April. Greenhouse work, order pulling and shipping. $20/hr. South Hampton. Call Richard at 603-682-0399.

HELP WANTED: Seeking motivated person to join our Certified Organic vegetable farm and kitchen. Experience with mechanical, agricultural, sales, and kitchen protocols a plus! Pay negotiable based on experience and interest.

Base pay $14/hr. Drivers license required. Strafford, NH - text John at 603-781-2931.

Classifieds are updated weekly on our website! https://www.nhfarmbureau.org/classifieds/

A Step-by-Step Guide to becoming a Certified Organic Farm The process of organic certification can be a rewarding journey and ensures that agricultural products are produced using methods that align with specific national standards for sustainability, soil quality, animal welfare, and more. To be labeled as USDA Organic, farms must meet strict guidelines established by the National Organic Program (NOP). Certified organic status can boost your marketability, customer trust, and overall impact on environmental sustainability. These rules pertain to everything from seed selection to pest control and even the handling of farm waste.

Step 1: Understand What Organic Farming Entails Familiarizing yourself with the basic principles of organic farming can be helpful before starting this process. Organic agriculture prohibits the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Instead, organic farmers must rely on natural methods like composting, cover cropping, crop rotation, and biological pest control to maintain soil health and prevent diseases.

National Organic Program (NOP): The NOP regulates all organic crop and livestock production, handling, and labeling in the United States. The official guidelines can be found at https://www.ams.usda.gov/about-ams/programsoffices/national-organic-program NOFA-NH (Northeast Organic Farming Association - New Hampshire): offers educational workshops, resources, and community support for those transitioning to organic farming in New Hampshire.

Read more about organic certification at https://www.nofanh.org/organiccertification Step 2: Develop an Organic System Plan One of the first tasks in the organic certification process is creating an Organic System Plan (OSP).

This plan outlines your entire farming system, from soil preparation to harvesting, selling and how you will document adherence to the USDA organic regulations. The key areas to cover include soil management practices, crop management, pest and weed control and livestock management.

The OSP serves as your roadmap and will be reviewed during the certification process. Keep detailed records of everything you do for good business practices, and this will help you during inspections.

Step 3: Choose an Accredited Certifying Agent (ACA) The USDA accredits independent organizations called "accredited certifying agents" (ACA) to review OSPs and ensure they meet organic standards. NOFA-NH is an excellent resource to assist farmers through the certification process and connect you with an ACA. https://www.nofanh.org/organiccertification An ACA will review your OSP, conduct inspections, and determine whether your farm complies with organic standards. Some ACAs also offer organic consultations and workshops to help you prepare.

Step 4: Transition Period (Typically thirty-six months or less) The USDA requires that land must be free from prohibited substances (such as synthetic chemicals or GMOs) for at least thirty-six months before it can be certified organic.

During this transition time eliminate synthetic inputs and introduce organic methods to start your transition period. Practices like cover cropping to improve soil health and suppress weeds will help to build soil nutrients without the need for synthetic fertilizers.

Build your recordkeeping system to include all your practices and inputs, which is a major component of your organic system plan.

Step 5: Organic System Plan (OSP) Submission Your OSP will be submitted to your chosen ACA at the end of your transition time. The OSP details how your farm operates under organic principles and is used by the certifier to ensure compliance with USDA organic regulations.

Your OSP will include the following: Field maps, including boundaries and buffer zones Crop rotation practices Input materials used (such as compost, seeds, or livestock feed) Pest management strategies Animal health and welfare documentation (if you have livestock) Step 6: On-Site Inspection After your certifying agent reviews your OSP, they will schedule an on-site inspection. During the inspection, an organic inspector will verify that your OSP accurately reflects your farming practices by observing farm

operations, reviewing records and input materials, assessing crop and animal health and asking questions.

The inspector will also assess potential contamination risks from non-organic sources, such as neighboring conventional farms. Be sure your buffer zones and contamination prevention measures are welldocumented and visible.

Step 7: Certification Decision After the inspection, your certifying agent will review the inspector’s report and decide whether your farm meets the USDA organic standards. If any issues arise during the inspection, you may be asked to make adjustments before certification is granted. If everything is in order, you will receive your USDA Organic Certificate.

Step 8: Maintain Certification Organic certification is not a one-time event—it requires ongoing compliance. Every year, you’ll need to update your Organic System Plan and undergo an annual inspection. Maintaining thorough records of your practices and inputs is crucial for staying certified.

Resources for New Hampshire Farmers Becoming USDA certified organic is a process that requires patience, dedication, and a commitment to sustainable farming practices. By following these steps and staying involved in the organic community by attending workshops, webinars, and field days as well as tapping into the resources available, including NOFA-NH, you’ll be well on your way to growing certified organic products that benefit your farm, your customers, and the environment.

NOFA-NH can help support your transition to organic farming through a wealth of resources, from certification assistance to field workshops and a mentorship program with the Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). These free technical support and mentorship services can guide you through the organic certification process.

Interested in learning more?

Contact NOFA-NH at info@nofanh.org, 603-225-5022 or the TOPP Coordinator at teresa@nofanh.org to learn more.

Find more information at nofanh.org/topp or at organictransition.org

Winter 2025

Farm Bureau - The Voice of N.H. Agriculture

Page 19

DISCOVER AN ENTIRE ORGANIZATION WORKING FOR YOUR SUCCESS. Nobody serves your ag credit needs like Farm Credit East.

Farm Credit East was made in agriculture. It’s all we do. So every product, every service and every person is dedicated to meeting your financial needs and growing your success. We know agriculture, we understand your business needs, and work to achieve your goals.

Discover the difference at Farm Credit East.

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

farmcrediteast.com | 800.562.2235

USDA Issues its Final Decision for Changes to the Federal Milk Marketing Orders

by Chris Laughton, Farm Credit East Knowledge Exchange USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) released its final decision for changes to the Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMOs) on November 12.

Now producers, and their coops have to vote to approve (or reject) these changes.

reflect market realities. If implemented over the past four years, this change would have increased the Class I price by 24 cents/cwt and the Class III price by 53 cents/cwt.

With a lot at stake for producers, processors, and consumers of milk and dairy products, obviously these changes are a result of a great deal of negotiation. The final changes are a result of testimony by numerous producers, producer groups, processors, and other stakeholders. The changes are numerous, but the significant ones can be organized in five broad categories:

Probably the most discussed changes were those to make allowances. Make allowances account for the manufacturing costs of dairy products such as cheese and powder, including labor, energy and packaging.

USDA’s changes include significant increases to make allowances, which reduces the prices farmers receive.

USDA recommends the cheese make allowance increase by 5 cents, the butter make allowance increase by 5.4 cents, the nonfat dry milk make allowance increase by 5.9 cents and the dry whey make allowance increase by 6.6 cents. Had these higher values been in place between 2020-2023 they would have reduced Class prices by between 74 cents and 89 cents per hundredweight.

1. Milk Composition For FMMOs, USDA formulas assume certain milk composition levels in skim milk. The current assumption is that 100 pounds of skim milk (cwt.) contains 3.1 pounds of protein and 5.9 pounds of other solids. However, due to improved farming practices, protein levels have risen since these assumptions were last updated in 2000.

USDA will increase the assumption of protein to 3.3 pounds and of other solids to 6 pounds for a total of 9.3 pounds of nonfat solids, which corresponds to higher Class prices across the board. On average, from 2020-2023, Class I prices would have increased 46 cents/cwt; Class II prices would have increased by 32 cents/cwt; Class III prices would have increased by 57 cents/cwt; and Class IV prices would have increased by 32 cents/cwt. This change more accurately reflects milk’s current composition and market value.

2. Surveyed Commodity Products FMMO prices are based on surveys of wholesale dairy product prices. Currently, cheddar cheese prices are determined using 40-pound blocks and 500-pound barrels, though the barrel price has become increasingly volatile and less reflective of the broader market.

USDA proposes eliminating 500-pound barrels from the survey, which would stabilize prices and better

3. Class III & IV Make Allowances

4. Base Class I Skim Milk Price The Class I skim milk price is currently based on the average of Class III and IV skim prices. However, market volatility revealed flaws in this system, as large discrepancies between these Class prices led to a substantial reduction in the class I price for farmers.

USDA recommends reverting to the previous “higherof” Class III or IV formula, which would have increased Class I prices by 64 cents/cwt over the past four years. This change aligns with dairy farmer priorities.

However, instead of a simple switch back to the easy to understand “higher-of,” USDA recommends the addition of an adjuster for extended shelf life (ESL) milk. The adjuster is calculated as the rolling average of the differences between the higher-of and the average-of the advanced Class III and Class IV skim milk pricing factors over the prior 13 to 36 months.

This adjuster, announced 12 months in advance, aims to account for fluid milk cost differences but introduces significant complexity and may not effectively stabilize ESL milk prices.

5. Class I Differentials Class I differentials account for the cost of transporting milk to fluid markets and have not been comprehensively updated since 1998. USDA proposes increasing differentials across most regions, with the largest increases in the Southeast and Appalachian orders. The average increase would be $1.25/cwt, with some regions seeing as much as a $2.60 increase.

For FMMO one, which covers much of the Northeast, the average increase is about $2.00/cwt.

Conclusion One of the key elements of the FMMO system is its pooling mechanism, which ensures that farmers receive a uniform price for their milk, regardless of what it is used for. The intention is to ensure handlers in a similar location who produce similar products pay the same minimum classified price for the raw milk and that farmers producing milk in the same area receive the same price (i.e., uniform pricing).

Each month, the total Class values of milk within an order are aggregated, and an average uniform price is calculated. The contributions of different Class prices to the pool can vary significantly depending on the supply and demand conditions within an order. Consequently, the effects of adjustments to Class price formulas on individual orders are best understood once differences in Class utilization and production volumes are accounted for.

The proposed increases in make allowances have significant negative impacts to order pool values, ranging from a pool value impact of -$20 million in the Florida order to -$223 million in the Upper Midwest order. For the Northeast order, the increased make allowances are estimated to have a -$216 million annual impact to the pool value. However, all other adjustments mentioned above will positively impact pool values, and, for the Northeast, should outweigh the impact of make allowance increases. When both the positive and negative impacts are accounted for, the reforms will have an estimated annual impact of +$67 million.

Page 20

Winter 2025

The Communicator

Associated Women Adventures

by Jozi Best, Associated Women President

Celebrating Winter: Friendship, Farming, and Festivities Yippee! Daylight is gaining, and the moon has been so bright I have often been able to see my shadow in the field after my last check out back at dusk to say goodnight to Annie, the mini donkey; senior grey Araby mare Misty; ten plump Tunis brood ewes; and the last remaining “appy” alpaca. I always pause in the precious complete stillness when the snow is pink and blue to give thanks for so many blessings, sometimes even laughing and taking a slide in the empty sled-toboggan that carries out the grain and hay, with Aussie JillyJo’s sleigh bells jingling as she races around me. The light climb back up feels good too.

December and January have been busy and cheery with meetings and gatherings. Our December Associated Women meeting included a morning visit to open the doors to celebrate the annual Christmas Bazaar event at Naomi Scanlan’s historic Clough Tavern Farm in Canterbury. All four or five rooms on the main floor of her classic old “four square” colonial house were filled floor to ceiling with so many handcrafted treasures that it took several rounds of looking before being able to make any choices. All created by local artists—mittens to jewelry, pottery to scarves, paintings to blankets, and of course, ornaments for trees and everywhere you might wish to decorate. Too many to remember, too many to write… just a feast of treasures—shiny, fluffy, dazzling, exquisite things so artfully displayed.

From there, we drove to Judy McPhail’s spacious home in Penacook for a brown bag lunch and an informal meeting. Over lunch, we discussed plans for having a table booth at the NOFA conference in February for the first time, as well as ways to grow member participation in our counties. Conversations about membership often come up when speaking with those interested in organic farming, and we emphasized that NH Farm Bureau is not against organics, even having a dedicated section in our policy document addressing the topic.

In January, our new regular meeting time of First Tuesdays of the month (instead of First Mondays) coincided with the new “Coffee and Conversation” event at the NHFB office. So we joined in and thoroughly enjoyed the banter with “guest”—our own Josh Marshall, presently NHDAMF Assistant Commissioner of Agriculture. There were thoughtful questions from NHFB members and a couple of non-members. Josh was very articulate on all subjects and straightforward on state budget concerns.

After doing our quick bag lunches, we had a brief business meeting, then adjourned to try to help Leandra and Mindy with some of the archives, especially trying to identify some old photos.

Please keep an eye on The Post for our upcoming events, including some farm tours we are planning for the springtime!



AW members (L-R standing) Naomi Scanlon, Ruth Scruton, Judy McPhail, Jolee Chase, Ruth Mann, Leandra Pritchard, (L-R sitting) Jozi Best & Tina Daniels at Clough Tavern Farm Christmas this past December.

Photo courtesy of Leandra Pritchard.



              

     

                          

                



Farm Bureau - The Voice of N.H. Agriculture

Winter 2025

NOFA-NH Winter Conference

Page 21

WELCOME - NEW Members!

(October 26, 2024 - February 6, 2025) City

Name

Member Type

Solicitor

Alton Antrim Barnstead Barnstead Barnstead Belmont Boscawen Boscawen Bradford Brookline Campton Canterbury Concord Concord Concord Concord Concord

Bob Burton Steve Blair Amy McCarthy Brian Bissonnette Leah Glazier Jason Pochily Sarah Millard Lorrie Carey Patrick Smerczynski Gavin Knudsen John Bates Allan Wolf Angela Raymond David Potter Karina Mitchell Jim Figueira Paul Ebbs

Farmer Farmer Farmer Farmer Student Supporter Farmer Farmer Farmer Student Farmer Supporter Farmer Farmer Student Supporter Supporter

Randy Joyner NHFB Website Mike Bertolone Amy Matarozzo Amy Matarozzo

Concord

Renee Denis

Supporter

Mike Bertolone

Conway Dalton Danville Deerfield Deering Dover Dover

Jason Richardson Doug Morin Mary Burnett Andrew Hackett John Thyng Daniel Ayer David Watters

Farmer Farmer Supporter Supporter Farmer Farmer Supporter

Olivia Saunders NHFB Website Mike Bertolone Christie Brown NHFB Website

Dracut

Warren Shaw

Farmer

Joyce Brady

Durham

Sarah Wrocklage

Farmer

Epping Epsom

Emily Stearns Brenda Corliss

Farmer Farmer

Goffstown

Tina Daniels

Farmer

Hancock Henniker Henniker Hinsdale Hollis Hudson

Jacob Krashan Ken Hadley Leo Aucoin Julia Jochums Jeff Begin James Rowe

Farmer Farmer Farmer Farmer Farmer Student

Lancaster

Dana Southworth

Supporter

Londonderry Lynbrook Lyndeborough

Chrissy Breault Jason Curley Phil Fremont-Smith Christopher & Krista Crotty Ronald Alley Jr Adam & Sadie Bilodeau Pleasant View Electric LLC

Supporter Farmer Farmer

Mike Bertolone NHFB Website Jozi Best John Porter Victoria Scarbro Sally GaynorKnecht Daniel Hicks, IV Susan Lange Mike Bertolone

Farmer

Mike Bertolone

Farmer

NHFB Website

Business Supporter

Denis Ward

Newbury

Michael Plunkett

Farmer

Mike Bertolone

NOFA-NH's annual Spring Bulk Order is a collective buying program for organic farming & gardening supplies. Small-scale gardeners & large-scale farmers alike are invited to participate.

Penacook

Glenn Shepherd

Supporter

Mike Bertolone

Plaistow

Christopher Peach

Supporter

NHFB Website

Save big on farming & gardening supplies!

Raymond

Nicklas Kruger

Farmer

Mike Bertolone

Richmond

Claire Jahnke

Farmer

NHFB Website

Strafford

Eric Sideman

Farmer

Mike Bertolone

Troy Warner

Matthew Meacham Rebecca Mock NH Veterinary Technician Assoc.

Farmer Farmer Business Supporter

NHFB Website Mike Bertolone

Richard Pine

Supporter

Jolee Chase was one of the representatives at the NHFB & Associated Women booth during the NOFA-NH Winter Conference. Photo

by Mike Bertolone.

Mike Bertolone & Maureen DuffyBertolone, proud NHFB members, at the American National Insurance booth. Photo courtesy of Mike Bertolone.

3RD ANNUAL WINTER CONFERE There NCE were 250 NOFA-NH’S 2

attendees at the NOFA-NH Winter Conference! Photo FEBRUARY 8 H Daniels. , NTina , 2025 | SNHU | MANCHESTERby

Sowing Hope, Cultivating Joy

Tickets NHFB was pleased to attend the NOFA-NH Sliding WinterScale Conference SUPER SUPPORTER $125to on February 8th at SNHU, demonstrating our commitment supporting all farmers in New Hampshire. Our members were SUPPORTER $100 available to answer questions, share insights about Farm Bureau, STANDARD* $75* and connect with the organic farming community.

REDUCED

$50

We look forward to strengthening our collaboration with NOFA25and + Engaging Workshops, & Activities - Keynote NH its members, fosteringPanels meaningful engagement to support Speaker Chef David Vargas Green Market Fair and advocate for New Hampshire’s agricultural industry. Community Art Installations - Seed Swap - Great Raffle Prizes - Organic Community Awards - Delicious Food

Interested in learning more about NOFA-NH and supporting their upcoming BulkWWW.NOFANH.ORG/WINTERCONFERENCE Order? Visit: https://www.nofanh.org/.

Manchester Melrose Milan

NOFA-NH's 2025

Bulk Order

Products include soil amendments, potting soil & compost, pest & weed control products, organic cover crop seed, seed starting supplies, animal nutrition & more. Special orders are accepted! No Minimum. No Shipping Charges. Order online through March 1, 2025!

BULKORDERSTORE.NOFANH.ORG

Monroe

Weare Westmoreland

Mike Bertolone Mike Bertolone NHFB Website NHFB Website Mike Bertolone Mike Bertolone The Post Mike Bertolone Mike Bertolone

Rob Johnson Durham Ag Commission NHFB Website Charles Corliss Associated Women

Supporter

NHFB Website Emmalee Bauckman

Page 22

The Communicator

Winter 2025

The start of a new year is always a great time to reflect on how far we’ve come. As I look back to last year, I remember feeling a bit overwhelmed with a list of “firsts” I was about to dive into—like leading seven School to Farm Days and stepping into my first NH Farm, Forest, and Garden event. While there were plenty of unknowns, I embraced the challenge, and now, with a whole year of new experiences under my belt, I feel a lot more confident. Sure, there’s still plenty to do, but now there’s less guessing and a whole lot more knowing!

Exciting things are happening this year, and I’m thrilled to share them with you. By the time you’re reading this, NH Ag in the Classroom, in partnership with 4-H, will have already hosted its first-ever Maple Symposium for educators. This event will help teachers break down barriers to incorporating maple education into their classrooms, with over forty educators joining us to explore everything from how to tap maple trees to creating interactive classroom stations. There will even be a school sugar house tour and a deep dive into what makes the life of a maple tree so fascinating. It’s sure to be a fantastic learning experience!

We’re also continuing our collaboration with 4-H in delivering Agsplorations in Maple Tales, which has seen incredible growth.

What started with a small cohort of seven last year has expanded to more than twenty participants in our second round. This year-long curriculum is designed to help educators teach solid science lessons to younger students using maple trees as a foundation, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.

On top of that, we’re developing a brand new agroforestry program through an exciting grant from UNH, in partnership with Dartmouth and Yale. This initiative will target middle and high school educators, but it’s open to K-12 teachers as well. We’re still in the development stages, but we envision a hands-on program filled with field trips and site visits, giving educators a chance to see agroforestry in action and connect directly with farmers and researchers involved in the project.

And as if that wasn’t enough, the planning for this year’s School to Farm Days is well underway. Schools are signing up, presenters are getting lined up, and all the pieces that seemed like a challenge last year are falling into place this year. All in all, things are looking good.

If any of this sparks your interest and you’d like to learn more, don’t hesitate to reach out. You can email me or stop by the office on Sheep Davis Road—I’d be more than happy to chat.

Lastly, I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to NH Farm Bureau members for their generous donations this year. Your support truly makes a difference!

Mike Smith, NH Agriculture in the Classroom, Michael.Smith1@unh.edu

Farm Bureau - The Voice of N.H. Agriculture

Winter 2025

Page 23

2025 New Hampshire Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors Executive Committee

President Joyce Brady, Columbia 603.922.3305 jbrady@nhfarmbureau.org

1st Vice President Beth Hodge, Hinsdale 603.336.7706 beth@echofarmpuddings.com

2nd Vice President Tom McElroy, Newton 603.382.5289 tomrmcelroy@aol.com

Associated Women President Jozi Best, Unity 603.304.9152 Jozibest@aol.com

Treasurer Seth Wilner, Newport 603.863.4497 seth.wilner@unh.edu

2nd Vice President Lucienne Brown, New Hampton 603.988.3432 luciebrownNH@gmail.com

Young Farmer Chair Caroline Crouch, New Hampton 603.731.4652 whitneyhillfarmNH@gmail.com

County Presidents

Belknap County Cheshire County President President Brian Matarozzo, Ctr. Barnstead Beth Hodge, Hinsdale 603.235.5780 603.336.7706 bmatarozzo@yahoo.com beth@echofarmpuddings.com

Merrimack County President Mike Bertolone, Canterbury 603.344.6686 Mike_Bertolone@americannational.com

Coos County President Mary Tichy, Milan 603.915.6913 mary.tichy@gmail.com

Rockingham County President Phil Ferdinando, Derry 603.234.5603

Grafton County President Deb Robie, Bath 603.747.3869 wehunt4@myfairpoint.net

Strafford County President Bruce Cilley 603.664.5597 bcilley@horseshoesplus.com

Hillsborough County President Trevor Hardy, Hollis 603.860.1657 tractortrv@aol.com

Sullivan County President Lisa Holmes 603.313.3324 holmesfarmnh@comcast.net

Page 24

The Communicator

Winter 2025

2025 NH Agricultural Policy Forum Recording Available NH Food Alliance, January 3, 2025 [Press Release]

On January 3, the NH Food Alliance and the Monadnock Farm & Community Coalition held the 2025 NH Agricultural Policy Forum as part of its monthly Network Café part of their 2024-2025 Network Café Series. In preparation for the 2025 legislative session, we were joined by New Hampshire’s most well-informed food policy minds as they provided insights on the state level legislation being considered this session and shared what individuals, communities, organizations, and businesses can do to get involved in the legislative process and support positive change in our food system.

Theresa Walker, of the Durham Agricultural Commission, spoke about HB 339 (relative to municipal master plans), a legislative change proposed

by Representative Peter Bixby after consulting the Land Use Planning brief part of the NH Food and Agriculture Strategic Plan. The bill will add agriculture as a land use and activity to be addressed by municipal master plans, encouraging the development of farm-friendly land use regulations and elevating the importance of increasing local food production, consumption, and protecting farmland.

Amanda Littleton, of the Cheshire County Conservation District, spoke about HB 246-FN-A (directing the state conservation committee to implement the conservation district climate resilience grant program and making an appropriation therefor), legislation that will support the NH Conservation Districts Climate Resilience Grant. The grant supports farmers in pursuing climate resilient practices and project.

A special bill hearing update! One of the bills covered during the forum, HB 246-FN-A (directing the state conservation committee to implement the conservation district climate resilience grant program and making an appropriation therefor) which will provide state funding for the conservation districts’ NH Climate Resilience grant program, is scheduled for a hearing on January 23 in the House Finance Committee. Voice your opinion by signing into the bill hearing and officially noting your support or opposition to this bill and view contact information for representatives on the House Finance Committee if you’d prefer to contact them directly.

Rob Johnson, the Policy Director for the NH Farm Bureau Federation, and Julie Davenson, the President of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Hampshire (NOFA-NH) spoke about multiple policy priorities and proposed bills on behalf of their organizations and the farmers they represent, including the state budget and its effects on the NH Department of Agriculture, Markets, and Food and legislation in support of a Granite Stater’s right to clean air, water, and other natural resources.

More details and the recording are found here: https://www.nhfoodalliance. org/blog/2025/01/recording-2025-agricultural-policy-forum

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

NHFB Policy Director Rob Johnson was a featured presenter at the 2025 NH Agriculutral Policy Forum on January 9, 2025 over Zoom, where he reviewed NHFB’s “Watch List” topics (see list below).

2025 NHFB Policy Watch List Topics Include: • Labor • Pesticides & Fertilizer • Right to Farm • Care of Livestock • Climate Mitigation • Homestead Food Production • Affordable Housing • State Funding • State Budget Bills for FY 2025-2026

Winter 2025

Farm Bureau - The Voice of N.H. Agriculture

Members Share WHY they Belong to NH Farm Bureau

Page 25

Why Join NHFB?

by Katy Peternel of Carroll County Our family has been farming for 25 years. We joined the NH Farm Bureau in our early days to obtain farm insurance. My husband attended a few meetings, but I never had much to do with the organization besides paying for our membership. Eventually, we could obtain insurance without a membership, so we let it lapse. When I chose to run for State Representative in 2022, I wanted to be certain constituents knew that farming is important to me, so I renewed our membership. Over the last two years, I have kept a close eye on legislative priorities for the Farm Bureau. HB 1215 caught my attention about the value of NHFB membership. This bill allowed the Town of Hampton to close a road, which seemed out of the scope of the organization. However, the NHFB works while we are all sleeping.

Concerned about how this legislation might affect any landowner prompted a statement in opposition from the NHFB. While I had no intention of supporting the bill, my interest was renewed in becoming more involved with NHFB. Since then I have had opportunities to attend a Carroll County meeting that was long overdue and joined a Coffee and Conversations in the main office. Both events reconnected me with friends and deepened my interest in the bureau. While some may see the social aspects of the NHFB as a necessity, I now see the importance of membership as an insurance policy for our rights of land ownership and agriculture. While you are might fall asleep reading legislation, the NHFB is making sure that your rights are protected.

The Peternel family during a day of farm chores. Pictured left to right are: Sarah, Annie, Bill, Mary, Becky, and Katy Peternel. They operate Rock Farm in Wolfeboro, NH, where they raise beef cattle as a beloved hobby. They currently have four Angus cows, two heifers, two steers, and a bull on their farm. They have raised/sold beef, chickens, eggs, pork and lamb. Photo courtesy of the Peternel family.

When my children were born and our farm expanded, I stepped back from leading the Young Farmers program. We found a new home in Belknap County Farm Bureau, where we’ve both served on the board—Brian as president and me as secretary before becoming president. I value the relationships we’ve built, both locally and nationally, through Farm Bureau.

Networking Opportunities One reason is the networking opportunities Farm Bureau offers farmers, both locally and nationally. I have had the opportunity to make friends with other young farmers from around the country, and we keep in touch with one another via Facebook. I have also made friendships with other farmers from NH that will be lifelong friends of mine. Being able to grow as an adult with a group of farmer friends to celebrate all the highs and lows of life is priceless.

Legislative Connection and Protection

The Matarozzo family operates LorrenJoyce Farm in Center Barnstead, NH. Pictured left to right are: Hayden, Amy, Emerson, and Brian Matarozzo. They started their farm in 2014 with beef, dairy, and laying hens, and it has changed over the years. Currently, they milk registered Jersey cows and sell all of their milk and raw cream direct to consumer from their farm. They also raise Hereford beef cattle to sell beef by the side and have 75 laying hens to supply eggs to their farm fridge. Amy homeschools her sons, while operating the farm alongside Brian, who also has an off-farm job as a forestry mechanic.

Photo by Anna Elaine Photography.

Why NH Farm Bureau is Valuable to Me

by Amy Matarozzo of Belknap County

My Story My story with NH Farm Bureau began as a young girl, when Beth Hodge, an active young farmer, took me to Young Farmer events. Growing up at Echo Farm in Hinsdale, NH, I am forever grateful to Beth, Courtney, and Shelley for teaching me all about cows. I wouldn’t be where I am today without those early experiences.

Some of my first Young Farmer memories include helping at the Keene Pumpkin Festival and NHFB Annual Meetings. I assisted with the NH Dairy Promotion, first in an ice cream truck and later at a food booth serving our famous macaroni and cheese, shepherd’s pie, and Echo Farm’s Indian pudding. As I got older, I began attending meetings in Concord and met my future husband, Brian Matarozzo. Together, we traveled to Washington, D.C., for agricultural lobbying and national Farm Bureau conferences. We got married on our farm in 2015, and I served as vice chair and chair of NH Young Farmers. One of our proudest projects was raising a calf, donated

by Hatchland Dairy, which was then processed and donated to local soup kitchens in NH. We received donations for grain, hay, and processing from Russ and Kristi Atherton, and the project earned national recognition for NH Young Farmers in 2017. I was so honored to receive the award and to shake hands with American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall! This recognition, along with a grant from Hannaford, has helped fund many more “Harvest for All” projects, and continues to do so today. I’m deeply grateful to Maureen Duffy (Bertolone) for her outstanding leadership of NH Young Farmers during this time.

Another reason NH Farm Bureau matters to me is the legislative connection and protection for farmers. NH Farm Bureau provides farmers with a direct connection to our legislators both nationally and locally. There truly is no dollar amount you could put on the value of having a policy director, Rob Johnson, representing NH farmers in Concord. Many times over the years I have been really passionate about a bill that they are hearing in Concord but I am not able to attend in person. Rob Johnson cares about farmers and protecting our rights to farm in New Hampshire. The legislative breakfast that the Young Famers host has been an incredible annual event that develops relationships with our local representatives. When the Young Farmers traveled to Washington DC yearly to speak to their congressmen this also made a great connection and impact. We were able to speak on specific issues that we were struggling with on our farms.

Leadership Development Lastly, NH Farm Bureau is important to me because it grows and develops leaders. Farm Bureau taught me the value of service and volunteerism. My husband and I have spent countless hours over the last decade serving alongside other farmers for Farm Bureau because we valued the organization and wanted to see it succeed. I wouldn’t be the leader I am today without the many leadership opportunities I have had with Farm Bureau (both on the local level and nationally). Along with the long list of member benefits and resources that Farm Bureau offers, they also offer many opportunities for farmers to get involved and make a difference in their communities.

Connection with NH Ag in the Classroom One of my favorite connections with Farm Bureau is the connection with Ag in the Classroom. I have really enjoyed going to the schools to read books prior to the pandemic and being involved in School to Farm Days.

The education of young children on where their food comes from is a topic that’s very important to me! There have been so many generations now off the farm that even parents of children today don’t know where the food is coming from. I remind myself when it’s close to zero degrees outside in February that I am still farming for my boys. I want them to have strong work ethics, a well-rounded agricultural knowledge, and deep respect for agriculture. Even if they don’t choose to farm as an adult, they will certainly know the hard work and sacrifices that go into farming.

I want to thank the board of directors for allowing me to have the opportunity to be the Young Farmer coordinator. I am looking forward to helping the group develop a strong and thriving Young Farmer program statewide.

Page 26

Winter 2025

The Communicator

Submit your story...

Help the Associated Women of NH Farm Bureau celebrate historic NH farms in their upcoming expanded edition of Our Farming Heritage Lives On

Get your Farm INCLUDED! Scan for more information

100 y ea rs +

Due by June 1, 2025

bit.ly/42nqX7O

Almost 10 years ago, the Associated Women published Our Farming Heritage Lives On: Celebrating 100 Years Of New Hampshire Farm Bureau Federation 1916-2016. They are now working on an expanded edition and seeking those farms 100 years old by 2027. The expanded edition will also include all of the previous stories. If your farm was featured in the first edition and you have some revisions to make, please contact us. The deadline for any new stories or revisions to previously published stories will be June 1, 2025.

The NH Farm Bureau office has more information, including a list of suggested questions available to help you write the farm’s story. Associated Women members are available and happy to help write your story as well.

More details can be found using this link: bit.ly/42nqX7O or by calling the NHFB office at 603-224-1934.

Submit your story by June 1st to be entered to win a copy of the expanded edition!

Below is an excerpt from the first edition of Our Farming Heritage Lives On: Huntoon Farm was established in 1856, by Harvey Huntoon, passed to William and then to Willard. The farm is now operated by Donna Huntoon Sprague and has five continuous generations farming the land with the sixth generation born July 6, 2016. Maple production and cows have always been a part of the farm. Milking Shorthorns and dairy cows were phased out in the late 1990’s, and replaced by Herefords and Angus crosses.

Today, this diversified farm produces maple products, beef and pork, laying hens, broilers and turkeys. There is a commercial kitchen producing bakery items and prepared foods.

Donna is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire College of Life Sciences and Agriculture with a degree in Animal Science. The family is working toward preserving the farm for future generations and to share the farm with the public.

The farm was recognized as a Century Farm by the New Hampshire State Grange in 1962, when owned by Willard and Marjorie Huntoon.

Donna is a member of Blazing Star Grange #71 and manager of the Danbury Winter Farmers’ Market. She is a member of Merrimack County Farm Bureau.

Historical photos from Huntoon Farm. The bottom picture is labeled as “Willard and Will, 1938.” Photos courtesy of Huntoon Farm.

Winter 2025

Farm Bureau - The Voice of N.H. Agriculture

Page 27

Page 28

Winter 2025

The Communicator

NHFB 107TH ANNUAL MEETING NOVEMBER 9, 2024 - UNH Holloway Commons ANNUAL MEETING (From front) responsibility of electing officers, approving changes to the constitution, and determining the organization’s policies. Only delegates, and not officers, vote on these matters.

The first major order of business was to elect the officers to lead NH Farm Bureau in 2025. A slate of candidates was put forward by the chair of the Nominating Committee, Denis Ward. The slate presented consisted of four incumbent candidates as well as two candidates for one of the Second Vice-President positions for the retiring Jay Phinizy (Acworth) – Lucie Brown and Mark Florenz (Keene). The officers elected for 2025: *President – Joyce Brady, Columbia (Livestock) *First Vice-President – Beth Hodge, Hinsdale (Dairy) *Second Vice President – Tom McElroy, Newton (Ornamental Greenhouse Production) Second Vice-President – Lucie Brown (Sheep) *Treasurer – Seth Wilner, Newport (Garlic) * Denotes incumbent Primary farming enterprise is in parenthesis.

New Farm Bureau Policy Adopted for 2025 Delegates deliberated 20 new policy proposals for addition to the existing NHFB policy document. The proposals came from resolutions adopted at county Farm Bureau annual meetings, put forward by NHFB committees, and introduced from the floor during the meeting. First Vice-President & Chair of the Policy Development Committee Beth Hodge introduced the proposals with President Joyce Brady moderating the discussion. In addition to discussing new policy, changes and deletions to language in the policy document recommended by the Policy Development Committee were reviewed and approved. These changes were made with the purpose of clarifying and/or updating the document.

Reprinted below are newly adopted policy resolutions. The underlined headings indicate the section of the policy document to which the resolutions have been added. Those followed by an asterisk* were forwarded and adopted by Delegates at the national American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) convention and are now part of AFBF policy.

The NHFB policy document guides the Board of Directors and staff in our advocacy work on behalf of Farm Bureau members. The complete document can be found on the NHFB website at www.nhfarmbureau.org.

In additional voting, Delegates elected President Brady as NHFB’s representative to the Farm Family/American National Insurance Company advisory board and as NHFB’s delegate to the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) annual convention held this January in San Antonio, Texas. Elected as the alternate delegate Dairy was Beth Hodge. Language making clarifications and updates to the constitution was also approved Add the following language in bold italics print to the existing Dairy policy as follows: by the Delegates.

We support allowing milk producers to sell Treasurer’s Report raw milk directly to consumers, provided it is Delegates also received a condensed labeled as such and purchaser name and contact financial report from Treasurer Seth Wilner. He information are collected for recall purposes. We pointed out membership dues accounted for about encourage inspection and licensing and oppose half of revenue generated, with other significant dairy cooperatives restricting raw milk sales. sources being related to our partnership with American National, the Putnam Fund (set-up at the NH Charitable Foundation and used to Fish and Game support NHFB philanthropic work), the Deerfield We support search and rescue expenses being Fair Dairy Booth, Communicator advertisements, covered by the state out of the General Fund instead of from the Fish and Game Fund. and rental property income.

On the expense side, he pointed out employee salaries, wages & benefits made Federal Government up nearly half of total expenses. Other major expenses included office administration costs, We oppose Corporate Transparency Act expenses related to The Communicator, the requirements on small businesses.

Deerfield Fair Dairy Booth, building maintenance and repairs, property taxes, meetings & events, Livestock and funds allocated to counties. He also reviewed We believe when livestock are removed from a significant expenses anticipated for 2025, which location due to a charge of animal cruelty, their consist of replacing heating & air conditioning relocation must allow for the animal’s welfare. systems in both buildings, upgrades to our (Philosophy section) financial record-keeping system, and necessary We support State Police and County Sheriff sewer system work.

During the meeting, President Brady Departments employing at least one officer with recognized four UNH Students from Professor jurisdiction in each county who has completed a Wendy Johnecheck’ s Ag and Food Policy training course in the humane care and needs of course who were on hand to observe the policy animals, including livestock.

We support requiring an officer trained in the development process in action! humane care and husbandry of all animals, The meeting adjourned at 10:30 a.m.

including livestock, be present and consent to the recommendation of a licensed veterinarian with expertise in the class of animal being investigated, on the intervention and/or relocation of animals including livestock.

We support relocation of livestock in an alleged animal cruelty care case, prior to a conviction, seek to minimize any adverse effect on the farm business.

We oppose overreaching federal mandates in response to livestock health outbreaks.* We support local oversight by state veterinarians in instances of animal health outbreaks.* We support a law prohibiting confiscated animals from being used to solicit donations or in fundraising efforts prior to a conviction of animal abuse.

We support exempting from federal USDA slaughter inspection requirements animals and meat sold to the end user that has been slaughtered and processed at a NH Department of Health and Human Services inspected custom licensed slaughter facility in NH.* - We modified this resolution prior to sending it to AFBF so that it made sense at a national level as follows: We support exempting from federal USDA slaughter inspection requirements animals and meat sold to the end user that has been slaughtered and processed at a state inspected custom licensed slaughter facility.

Marketing We support defining a “farmers’ market” in state law as events in which a majority of the vendors meet the definition of farm contained in RSA 21:34-a Farm, Agriculture, Farming.

Nutrition and Food Programs We support the Granite State Market Match program which doubles SNAP/EBT benefits.

State and County Government We support state funding for the NH Conservation District’s Climate Resilience grant program, promoting climate resilience on NH farms.

We support the establishment of a state assistance fund for farmers who experience losses due to natural disasters.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) We support raising USDA payment limitations.

Water Resources and Environmental Regulation We oppose locating wind turbines off the New Hampshire coast.

Internal Affairs We will inform our members of their legal rights and of resources available related to livestock ownership.

Winter 2025

Farm Bureau - The Voice of N.H. Agriculture

Profile Award (above photo) The Profile Award, originally the Mary Lee Ware Trophy (est. 1941), honors distinguished service to agriculture and rural life in New Hampshire. It was renamed in 1987 and is awarded to a Farm Bureau member or couple with significant contributions to Farm Bureau and agriculture. Priority is given to those in production agriculture, with winners selected by past recipients from county nominations.

The 2024 Profile Award, the first since 2021, was awarded to Denis Ward of Monroe, nominated by Grafton County Farm Bureau.

Denis began his dairy career in the 1970s, pioneering innovations such as round bale haying and greenhouse barns for cattle. He received the NH Green Pastures Award in 2000 for outstanding pasture and dairy farm management.

After selling his herd, he managed Hatchland Farm until retiring in 2016.

Beyond farming, Denis has dedicated his life to service, holding leadership roles in his community, Farm Bureau, and agricultural organizations. His contributions include: • Community: Chair of Monroe’s Board of Adjustment, Planning Board, School Board; longtime Town and School District Moderator.

• Farm Bureau: Past President of Grafton County Farm Bureau, President of NH Farm Bureau (2015-2021), currently Secretary/ Treasurer of Grafton County Farm Bureau.

• Agriculture: Chair of NH Department of Agriculture’s Advisory Board, Supervisor for Grafton County Conservation District, and various Extension advisory committees.

Denis credits his wife Jeanne for their shared success, acknowledging her unwavering support throughout their journey.

Congratulations to Denis Ward and his family on this well-deserved honor!

President’s Award (as seen in the front cover photo) At the NH Farm Bureau annual meeting, President Joyce Brady honored county Farm Bureau leaders with the President’s Award, in recognition of their leadership and dedication.

Recipients: • Belknap County Farm Bureau – Amy Matarozzo • Carroll County Farm Bureau – Vin & Cindy Blandini • Cheshire County Farm Bureau – Beth Hodge • Coos County Farm Bureau – Mary Tichy • Grafton County Farm Bureau – Deb Robie • Hillsborough County Farm Bureau – Henry Kunhardt • Merrimack County Farm Bureau – Christina Swanson • Rockingham County Farm Bureau – Phil Ferdinando • Stratford County Farm Bureau – Erick Sawtelle • Sullivan County Farm Bureau – Jozi Best This award aligns with American Farm Bureau’s emphasis on county leaders, echoing President Duvall’s sentiment that the most important person in Farm Bureau is the county Farm Bureau leader.

Congratulations to all honorees for their dedication and service!

Page 29

County Farm Bureau Delegates 2024 NHFB Annual Meeting “House of Delegates” Belknap County Amy Matarozzo (Center Barnstead) Lucie Brown (New Hampton) Barbara Comtois (Center Barnstead) Carroll County Nadia Carpenter (Brookfield) Lawreen Strauch (Ossipee) Cheshire County Beth Hodge (Hinsdale) Bridget Cummings (Hinsdale) Frank Linnenbringer (Winchester) Coos County Mary Tichy (Milan) Ted Tichy (Milan)

Hillsborough County Trevor Hardy (Hollis) Bob Haefner (Hudson) Sean Trombly (Milford) Merrimack County John Porter (Boscawen) Chuck Souther (Concord) Christina Swanson (Deering) Rockingham County Andrew Chisholm (Hampstead) John Fernald, III (Nottingham) Nyklaus Lytle (Sandown) Strafford County Bruce Cilley (Barrington) Erick Sawtelle (Lee) Ruth Scruton (Farmington)

Sullivan County Grafton County Jozi Best (Unity) Deb Robie (Bath) Lisa Holmes (Langdon) Henry Ahern (Plymouth) Seth Wilner (Newport) Kris May (North Haverhill) Denis Ward (Monroe)

Page 30

The Communicator

Many of the Convention attendees visited the Alamo during their time in San Antonio. This is a plaque recognizing the one defender of the Alamo from New Hampshire.

Winter 2025

Colton Bornkessel and aunt Beth Hodge pose for a selfie with the Buc-ees mascot during their trip to San Antonio, TX.

Youth Perspective: Colton Bornkessel’s Take on the AFBF Convention What was your favorite aspect of the Convention?

My favorite aspect was the insight into different types of farming.

Who was your favorite speaker?

My favorite speaker was definitely the Top Gun instructor, Lt. Col. Dan Rooney. He was super cool and really motivational.

What was the most relevant message you heard at the Convention?

The most relevant message I heard was from an Iowa dairy farmer about the consumption of technology. He said that we need to consume technology, but we don’t need to overconsume.

As a youth, what do you think about the future of farming?

As a youth, I think farming is going to change and have different rules and laws in place. In the next ten years, I think new equipment will make people’s lives easier.

Would you recommend this Convention to others (especially other young people)?

I would strongly recommend this to younger people to see the potential threats going on in farming. Also, to meet new people, find new resources, and show that farming is not bad.

What was your favorite tour and what did you learn?

My favorite tour was of the Alamo. I learned a lot that I didn’t know like how Davy Crockett was involved and how important the battle was.

And lastly, what was the best Texas-sized food you ate?!

My favorite food was the Buc-ees brisket sandwich.

Overall, I had a great time and I would love to go again!

Iowa Dairy Farmer Dan Venteicher, an online ag-vocate, @iowadairyfarmer (left), and Colton Bornkessel (right) at the AFBF Convention.

Jozi Best & Rob Johnson in front of the Tower of Americas

Business Supporter/Service Provider.. ... $250

Thank you for your support!

Make checks payable to: NH FARM BUREAU

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

If you would like to receive our Friday Review publication of legislative updates, please check the box:

Check all that apply -- Circle primary commodity

___Fruit/Berry ___Turf ___Goats ___Vegetables ___Greenhouse Production ___Ag Service Provider ___Hogs ___Agri-Tourism ___Honey ___Farmers’ Market Vendor ___Landscaper ___Other Livestock: ___Maple _______________________ ___Nursery ___Other Product: ___Poultry/Eggs _______________________ ___Sheep ___Certified Organic Producer ___Specialty Foods ___U.S. Veteran Are you interested in any of the following programs or committees? ___Ag in the Classroom ___Government Affairs ___Special Events ___Associated Women ___Policy Development ___Board Member ___Promotion & Education ___Young Farmers (ages 16 - 35)

___Forage Crops/Hay ___Forest Products

No. Acres Owned/Leased Commodities/Services ___Aquaculture ___0-49 ___Beef Cattle ___50-99 ___Christmas Trees ___100-249 ___Commercial Fishery ___250-499 ___Corn/Grain ___500 and over ___Dairy Do you have land under ___Equine Current Use Taxation? ___Farm Stand ___Yes ___No ___Flowers/Herbs

Farm Bureau - The Voice of N.H. Agriculture

Student................................................. $30

Non-Farmer CU Landowner/Supporter.... $75

Address ___________________________________________________________________________________________

Degree of Farming ___Full-time Farmer Phone _____________________________E-mail __________________________________________________________ ___Part-time Farmer Solicitor __________________________________________ NHFB#____________________________ ___Retired Farmer ( For Office Only) ___Agribusiness Dues Membership Dues (Please circle one) Membership Dues $______________ ___Ag Professional Farmer Members (Based on Gross Ag Income) NHAITC Donation $______________ ___Farm Employee Mail application and payment to: $1 - $10,000........................................ $100 NH Farm Bureau Federation Please consider a donation. ___Ag Student $10,001 - and over.. ............................. $250 295 Sheep Davis Road, Retired Farmer...................................... $50 Total $_______________ Concord, NH 03301 Supporting Members

Enclosed Check #______

To assist us in serving you better, please answer the following questions. Note: we do not share your information with others.

NHFB Voting Delegate to the AFBF Convention Joyce Brady and NHFB Alternate Voting Delegate Beth Hodge pictured on the convention floor during a break in proceedings. When a delegate wants to speak from the floor, they raise the numbered yellow paddle each delegate is provided. A total of 348 delegates were seated on the floor. State Farm Bureaus with the largest number of delegates (based on state membership numbers) were Tennessee (36), North Carolina (32), and Texas (28). Alternate delegates are seated in the gallery. When a delegate takes a break, they meet their alternate at the “Credentials Desk” and the switch is made.

Name _________________________________Farm Name__________________________________Date ___/____/____

American National Insurance treated AFBF convention attendees from partner states – NH, NJ, ME, & RI to a reception held in one of the private dining rooms in the Tower of the Americas. The Tower was built for the 1968 World’s Fair held in San Antonio to celebrate its 250th anniversary. The Tower is 750-feet tall and a staircase of 952 steps takes you to the top – or you can take one of its elevators, at 800 feet-per-minute, it climbs to the top in 43 seconds.

Pictured clockwise starting bottom left: Eleanor DeBow (Joyce’s mother), Joyce Brady, Chrissy Breault, Dominique Hicks, Danny Hicks, Dan Hicks, Rob Johnson, Carrie Johnson, Stephanie Lamere, Mabel Johnson, & Jozi Best.

New Members - Please Tell Us About Yourself

Joyce Brady & Eleanor DeBow with the famous AFBF sign

Support NH Farmers - Join The New Hampshire Farm Bureau!

Winter 2025 Page 31

Page 32

Winter 2025

The Communicator

FARM BUREAU SCHOLARSHIPS

2025

APPLICATIONS OPEN! AGRICULTURE STUDENTS & COUNTY FARM BUREAU MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY NHFARMBUREAU.ORG/ SCHOLARSHIP-INFORMATION

Cheshire County Farm Bureau Scholarship This scholarship was established in honor of Bob Moore, long-time CCFB member, to help a Cheshire County resident wishing to attend a leadership or agricultural advocacy event/ conference. The scholarship will be awarded up to $500.

Deadline: Submissions accepted year-round Grafton County Farm Bureau Scholarship This scholarship is for any Grafton County resident who is a Senior in High School, has graduated High School, or is a college student pursuing a career related to agriculture. Grafton County Farm Bureau will be awarding as many as two scholarships in the amount of $1500.00.

Please follow the instructions on the application form available on the NHFB website and return by email to Grafton County Farm Bureau, Denis Ward, Secretary.

Deadline: May 3, 2025 Merrimack County Farm Bureau Scholarship

Abbie Sargent Memorial Scholarship Applicants for the 2025 Abbie Sargent Memorial Scholarship must be a resident of New Hampshire, a graduate of an approved public/private high school with average or better grades. Additionally, they must demonstrate acceptance of responsibility and financial need. Applicants must be a full or part-time student at an institute of higher learning. Preference will be given to those enrolled in an agriculture related study.

Deadline: April 15, 2025 Applications are available at www.nhfarmbureau.org.

Contact NHFB Financial Manager Leandra Pritchard at 603.224.1934 for more information.

For a list of these scholarships as well as others related to agriculture studies, visit: https://www.nhfarmbureau.org/scholarship-information/

The Trudy Gay Memorial Scholarship and the “Chip” McNamara Memorial Scholarship are awarded annually. For full eligibility details and application, please visit the NHFB website. For more information, contact the Merrimack County Farm Bureau Secretary, Leandra Pritchard at merrimackcountyfb@ gmail.com.

Deadline: May 15, 2025 Rockingham County Farm Bureau Scholarship This scholarship is available to members/residents of Rockingham County with preference given to members of Rockingham County Farm Bureau families. A selection committee will evaluate applications and select the student receiving the award. The winner will be contacted by RCFB Secretary, Heather Fernald. Application must be submitted to RCFB by April 11, 2025.

For more information or to obtain a hard copy of this application, contact the secretary of RCFB, Heather Fernald, 603.679.1066 or RCFB.NH@gmail.com, or pick one up from the high school guidance office. Applications will be made available to high schools in Rockingham County.

Deadline: April 11, 2025 Strafford County Farm Bureau Scholarship A scholarship/grant award program offers funding to small to medium sized projects designed to promote agricultural education, programs, and opportunities for youth. Awarded annually. For application information, visit the NHFB website or contact Strafford County Farm Bureau President Bruce Cilley at bcilley@horseshoesplus.com.

Deadline: Submissions accepted year-round