Farm Bureau’s Own March Madness . . . More to March than basketball tourney
Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010
It happens every March: March-madness basketball, maple sugaring, and membership campaigns for county Farm Bureaus across New York State (and, yes, mud).
Although it goes on all year long, March is the month when farmers make a special point of contacting neighbors, inviting them to join the state’s biggest and—many would say—most-effective-by-far voice of agriculture, family farms, and rural New York.
What’s in it for them, the neighbors? A strong voice at the county legislative chamber, at the state capitol, and in Washington, first and foremost. Farm Bureau’s grassroots “policy development process,” which begins with conversations, debates, and voting on resolutions at the county level, is seen by legislators as having great credibility.
Over the years, Farm Bureau’s track record of legislative wins for farmers and rural communities has been impressive. New York’s groundbreaking Agricultural Districts Law and its companion “right to farm” law can be traced back to Farm Bureau advocacy. Numerous adjustments to New York’s tax laws, such as agricultural assessments, the farmer’s school property tax credit, and farm fuel tax exemptions also were born of Farm Bureau advocacy, as was the law that permitted farm wineries and, later, interstate shipment of wines from New York’s wineries.
In the here and now, Farm Bureau continues to advocate for fair taxation of farmers and landowners, wise investments by the state to nurture agriculture as an engine of economic development, and sane administration of regulations—no small task.
On a more personal level, these neighbors, should they join, would become eligible for a long list of money-in-their-pocket savings. They would be eligible for a members-only discount on Farm Family insurance, on AmeriGas propane, and EnergyPlus electricity. By flashing their membership card at one of nearly 100 participating farm stands and farm wineries they would receive a members-only discount on farm-fresh produce. (Find the list of participating farms at www.nyfb.org and click on “marketplace.”
Need a new truck or new family car? Farm Bureau members receive a five-hundred dollar rebate from Dodge.
Like to (or need to) travel? Farm Bureau membership brings you discounts on auto rental and hotels.
They could also get a free classified advertisement each month in New York’s largest-circulation farm monthly, Grassroots. Whether you need to sell honey or hay, or hire a farm employee, that savings alone can repay your membership dues.
Some members view Farm Bureau membership as a front-row seat on agricultural affairs. As members they receive the monthly Grassroots newspaper, frequent e-mailed news, and alerts that activate citizen-lobbyists to speak up on agricultural issues when it matters.
Membership also buys a share in Farm Bureau’s public relations and educational efforts on behalf of agriculture. New York Farm Bureau and many of the 50 county Farm Bureaus are very active in telling agriculture’s story in schools, the news media, and at special events, such as Farm Days at the Mall.
So when the doorbell rings, and your friendly neighborhood farmer says, “Hi, I’d like to talk to you about Farm Bureau membership,” put on a pot of coffee. It could be the best 20 minutes you’ll spend all month.
You can read all about New York Farm Bureau (including back issues of Grassroots newspaper) and join at www.nyfb.org.
