New York Apple Grower Testifies on Capitol Hill

Washington, DC — U.S. Apple Association (USApple) Board member Mark Nicholson today
urged a U.S. House subcommittee to continue its full support of specialty crop programs in the
next Farm Bill.

Sharing specific examples of the positive impact of the 2008 Farm Bill,  Nicholson – co-owner of Red Jacket Orchards in Geneva, New York – emphasized the importance of the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, the Specialty Crop Research Initiative, Fruit and Vegetable Program, the Market Access Program and other priority initiatives.

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New York Apple Grower Testifies on Capitol Hill

Lazio Tours Marcy Farm, Discusses Agricultural Issues

Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Lazio

Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Lazio learned how to milk a cow Tuesday while visiting DiNitto Farms in Marcy.

The tour also reinforced concerns Lazio has heard from dairy farmers about issues such as struggling to make a profit from producing milk, he said.

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Lazio Tours Marcy Farm, Discusses Agricultural Issues

A Black Dirt Farmer Goes to Washington

Chris Pawelski, seated, with him, William Murphy.

Goshen — Orange County’s Chris Pawelski once again pleaded the case of black dirt farmers, who in recent years have been struggling with bad weather and complicated federal insurance programs that fail them when times are tough.

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand asked Pawelski to come to Washington, D.C., to describe a gaping hole in crop insurance coverage before the 16-member Senate Agriculture Committee and its Risk Management Agency.

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A Black Dirt Farmer Goes to Washington

Barriers to Small Farm Success Focus of Survey

Having access to a piece of land wasn’t the issue for Erica Frenay and Craig Modisher when they decided to start farming a few years ago in Caroline, N.Y., a small town in the Finger Lakes region.

But for two people with little practical farming experience, it’s been a challenge trying to get a small pastured poultry operation going with little training or mentoring.

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Barriers to Small Farm Success Focus of Survey