Former Farm Bureau President John Lincoln Dies

Sad news for New York state agriculture.

New York Farm Bureau has reported the death of former New York Farm Bureau President John Lincoln.

Lincoln

Lincoln died last week at the age of 80. He served as this organization's leader for 14 years, from 1994-2008. 

During his time as president, Lincoln was successful in helping to secure the adoption of significant property tax savings that were essential for New York farmers. He also had a tremendous impact on funding for agricultural education and applied research, supporting Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences by serving on the CALS Agricultural Advisory Board, and helping to establish the New York Farm Viability Institute. 

He saw Farm Bureau through some major victories for agriculture, including substantial revisions to the agricultural districts and agricultural assessments program in the 1980s, the inception of the farmland protection program, passage of the farmers' school property tax credit in 1996, authorizing interstate shipment of wine, various incentive programs through NYSERDA and the tax code to encourage on-farm production of renewable energy and fighting for specialty crops funding in the federal Farm Bill.

Lincoln also served on the American Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors.    

In all, Lincoln served for 29 years on the farm bureau board of directors. Prior to becoming president in 1994, he served as the organization's vice president for nine years and for six years as a New York Farm Bureau board member. He also served as the county president for Ontario County Farm Bureau.
Through it all he remained a farmer, operating Linholm Dairy LLC with his wife Anne. The farm has expanded over the years to include his daughter Julie and son Mike, ensuring that the next generation of Lincolns will keep the farm in Bloomfield.

American Farm Bureau Federation Comments on Nov. 8 National Election

Statement from American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall on the election results from Tuesday, Nov. 8:

“The American Farm Bureau Federation congratulates President-elect Trump on his election, as well as those candidates elected to serve during the 115th Congress. 

"The important issues facing American agriculture are not red or blue, but they are critical to the prosperity of rural America and our ability to protect our nation’s food supply. We urge our elected representatives to reach across the aisle and come together to resolve the challenges we face.

“Farmers and ranchers understand that their businesses and their families have too much at stake to take a back seat on Election Day, and rural America clearly made a difference in this election. Now it’s time for our newly elected leaders to turn up for rural America and keep their campaign promises by addressing the issues that matter to the people who sent them to Washington. 

"Farm Bureau looks forward to working with the new administration and Congress on issues such as the farm bill, tax reform and a trade agenda focused on reducing barriers and expanding exports.

“America’s farmers and ranchers are working overtime to ensure our food supply is safe and sustainable. It’s time our elected leaders put that same diligence to work protecting U.S. agriculture by promoting innovation and ensuring we have an adequate workforce. 

"We need regulatory reform that boosts farm businesses rather than shutting them down. Farmers are concerned for the environment and are hopeful that the new administration will recognize agriculture’s strides in sustainability and protect our ability to produce.

“Elected officials come to Washington with different perspectives and ideas, but they share a common goal of wanting to make our nation better for all Americans. At Farm Bureau, we will continue to do our part to help identify opportunities for cooperation to improve the lives of rural communities, and all American farmers and ranchers.”

Miss America to Promote Agriculture

Well, it's about time.

Check this out -- http://beefmagazine.com/blog/miss-america-betty-cantrell-promote-agriculture-platform

Farm Bureau President Dean Norton Running for National Office

Norton

New York Farm Bureau President Dean Norton is running to become the next vice president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. 

“This is an important time for agriculture in New York and throughout our great nation. As farmers, we have many opportunities and challenges ahead of us, and my years of leadership in Farm Bureau at the state and national levels have prepared me well to take them on as AFBF’s vice president,” Norton said in a statement.
 
“The office would allow me to expand my advocacy for hard working farm families across America and give my home state a more visible role in this vital organization,” he said. “Serving in this role will allow me to still be president of New York Farm Bureau, and if I am successful in this endeavor, I will do all that I can to make both organizations even more effective.”
 
Norton, along with his wife Melanie and two children, reside in Elba, Genesee County. He is employed as a senior agriculture consultant at a CPA firm in Batavia, and his family owns a dairy farm in Elba.
 
In addition, he and his wife operate DMCK Cattle Co., LLC renting dairy cows and tillable land along with selling beef cattle.
 
Norton has served on the American Farm Bureau board of directors representing the Northeast since 2010 as well as the AFBF executive committee. He was elected NYFB president in December of 2008, and he has served on a variety of NYFB commodity committees, was county president for four years, and served four years on the NYFB State Board of Directors prior to being elected president of NYFB.

Lowville Academy Grad Finishes Strong at National Competition

Willits

Ashley Willits, a Morrisville State College student from Copenhagen, Lewis County, earned a spot in the "Sweet 16" as one of the top finishers in the Collegiate Discussion Meet at the American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers and Ranchers Leadership Conference in Nashville.

Willits, who represented the New York Farm Bureau, was one of 47 participants in the meet. She is a freshman in the agriculture business program and qualified for the national competition after placing first at the New York State Collegiate Discussion Meet competition held at Morrisville State.

During the three-day leadership and development conference in Tennessee, Willits participated in many educational sessions where she learned about the Farm Bill, growing trends in the agricultural industry and how to be a better leader.

The Collegiate Discussion Meet is a competition in which four contestants simulate a committee meeting where they discuss rising issues in the agricultural industry and develop possible solutions for these problems, taking into account how the problems change across state boundaries. 

Judging is based on contestants’ constructive criticism, cooperation, and communication while analyzing agricultural problems and developing solutions.

Willits has extensive experience in the agriculture industry, having served as the 2013-2014 president of the New York State FFA Association and as chapter reporter and secretary and the District VI President on the 2012-2013 State Officer Team. 

She was a state finalist in 2012 and 2013 in the Prepared Speaking and Job Interview Career Development Event and was a national finalist in 2010 for the FFA Creed Speaking Career Development Event. She also was a member of the National Poultry Judging Team in 2011 and was the recipient of the 2014 Empire State Potato Growers Association Scholarship.

She also has traveled with the National FFA Organization to South Africa as a part of the International Leadership Seminar for State Officers. The two-week long trip gave participants the opportunity to volunteer in a South African community, meet agricultural leaders, explore South African agriculture, and gain a better understanding of the global marketplace.

Willits, a 2014 graduate of Lowville Academy and Central School, is the daughter of Jennifer and Melvin Phelps of Copenhagen.

Winners Announced for American Farm Bureau Contests

From the American Farm Bureau convention in San Diego:

The final winners have been announced for the Achievement Award, Discussion Meet & Excellence in Agriculture!

Achievement Award

Award	Name	State
Runner Up	Ben & Amy Gittins	Idaho
Runner Up	Matt & Jenna Kilgus	Illinois
Runner Up	Mark & Cindy Klepper	Tennessee
Winner	Chris & Rebekah Pierce	Kentucky

Discussion Meet

Award	Name	State
Finalist	Megan Hansen	Iowa
Finalist	Doug Giles	Tennessee
Finalist	Jeremy Barron	Indiana
Winner	Sean Arians	Illinois

Excellence in Agriculture

Award	Name	State
Runner Up	Jessica Jones	Virginia
Runner Up	Michael & Amy             Shirley	Tennessee
Runner Up	Phillip & Allison Honea	South Carolina
Winner	Paul & Ruth Lanoue	Minnesota

National Security and the Farm Bill -- Wake Up D.C.

Check out this blog post http://fblog.fb.org/2013/08/27/national-security-and-the-farm-bill-wake-up-d-c/#.Uh0GFA4PFVI.twitter from the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Farmers Want Congress to Feel the Same Heat They Do Concerning Farm Bill

Go to http://www.fb.org/index.php?action=newsroom.newsclip&id=69839 to see this story from American Farm Bureau.

Assessing the Future of Agriculture

Go to http://www.fb.org/index.php?action=newsroom.focus&year=2013&file=fo0717.html to read the story.

Farm Bureau Legal Counsel Talks About Lawsuit Against EPA

Just what's the latest in the federal Environmental Protection Agency's attempt to open all farm data to the public?

Read this http://magazines.dairybusiness.com/dbw7-17-13/files/6.html from DairyBusiness magazine.  The American Farm Bureau Federation is taking legal action against the EPA concerning this issue.

Food and Farm Facts Book Available Now

The Food and Farm Facts book put out by the American Farm Bureau Federation is available now.

The book explains what farmers and ranchers do each and every day to produce food for all of us.

Go to http://www.fb.org/index.php?action=newsroom.news&year=2013&file=nr0715.html to find out more about the book and how to buy it.

Lawsuit Filed to Stop Release of Farmers' Personal Data

It will be interesting to see how this lawsuit turns out. 

As a journalist, I can see the importance of releasing information. But as a lover of agriculture, I can see the other side too.

What do you think?

Go to http://www.agri-pulse.com/Farm-groups-file-lawsuit-to-stop-EPA-release-of-farmers-personal-data-07082013.asp#.UdqdtyEfAMI.twitter to see the story about a lawsuit filed to stop the release of farmer information through the Freedom of Information Law.

Moving Forward in the Digital Age

Here's a column http://www.fb.org/index.php?action=newsroom.focus&year=2013&file=fo0508.html from the American Farm Bureau Federation about how technology has changed Farm Bureau.

Smithsonian Begins Exhbit on Agriculture Innovations

Go to http://www.fb.org/index.php?action=newsroom.focus&year=2013&file=fo0412.html to see a story about this exhibit from the American Farm Bureau Foundation.

American Farm Bureau Federation Issues Farm Bill Proposal

Go to http://www.agri-pulse.com/Audio-Thursday.asp to hear an audio clip explaining the Farm Bill proposal from the American Farm Bureau Federation.

NYS Teacher One of 10 Honored for Agriculture Education

This comes from the American Farm Bureau Federation:


Washington, D.C. – The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture recognized eight teachers and two volunteer educators for their exceptional efforts to encourage agricultural literacy.

One of the teachers is Cathy Carr, Banford Elementary School, Canton. She has been teaching for 25 years and has incorporated agriculture into each of her subjects with her first, second and third grade pupils. She also has partnered with the high school ag program and has started a school garden, developed garden newsletters and created promotional posters with her pupils and created planting grids with her math students. She also gets her pupils involved in a class worm farm during science to learn about ecosystems, life cycles, and healthy soil.

The educators will each receive $1,500 scholarships to attend the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in Minneapolis, Minn., in June. The Foundation, through the White-Reinhardt Fund for Education, sponsors the scholarships in cooperation with the American Farm Bureau’s Women’s Leadership Committee.
This year’s other teacher recipients are: Cathy Britts Axen, Central Middle School, North Aurora, Ill.; Sarah Glenn, Huntsville Intermediate School, Elkins, Ark.; Shirley Lettkeman, Watonga Elementary School, Watonga, Okla.; Missy Locke, Richland Elementary School, Lynnville, Tenn.; Raymond Dennis Peavy, Lake Joy Elementary, Perry, Ga.; Andrea Jones Seagraves, Crawford County Eagle’s Nest, Musella, Ga.; and Debra Templin, Prosperity-Rikard Elementary School, Prosperity, S.C.

This year’s volunteer recipients are: Martha Cripe of Vandalia, Ill., and Melvin Grones of Seguin, Texas.

Educators nationwide attend the conference to learn how to incorporate real-life agricultural applications into science, social studies, language arts, math and nutrition lessons.

Scholarship recipients were judged on past use of innovative programs to educate students about agriculture as well as future plans to implement information gained at the Ag In The Classroom conference in their own lesson plans and share the information with other educators.
The Ag In The Classroom conference joins a diverse group of organizations and speakers to address how to improve agricultural education and literacy, showcase successful programs and offer educational materials.

The Agriculture Department coordinates the Ag In The Classroom program with the goal of helping students gain a greater awareness of the role of agriculture in the economy and society.

The American Farm Bureau Federation and state Farm Bureaus also support and participate in the program’s efforts. The White-Reinhardt Fund for Education honors two former American Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee chairwomen, Berta White and Linda Reinhardt, who were leaders in early national efforts to educate about agriculture and improve agricultural literacy.