A good read from the Watertown Daily Times.
Go to http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/news03/farmnet-director-discusses-passing-farm-ownership-to-younger-generations-in-senate-ag-meeting-20160511 to check out the story.
Showing posts with label Ed Staehr. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ed Staehr. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
Friday, September 27, 2013
A Reflection on What FarmAid Really Means
Hello all.
The FarmAid concert was last Saturday. I couldn't attend, but I saw on Facebook that a number of my farm friends did attend.
So I asked one -- Rebecca Schuelke Staehr of Cayuga Pumpkin Barn -- to write about it. So here's her report.
Enjoy!
We’ve just returned from Farm Aid – a daylong celebration of farmers, “good” food, and music – held, Sept. 21 in Saratoga, NY.
It was Farm Aid’s second trip to New York State. My husband, Ed, and I are pleased to say, “we were there” – this time around, as well as at the 2007 event on Randall’s Island in New York City.
Now in its 28th year, Farm Aid is an annual concert and much more. Born out of the farm crisis of the 1980s and conceived as a fundraiser to help farmers remain on their land, Farm Aid has evolved to include a Farmer Resource Network, a sort of
clearinghouse that offers information and contacts to hotline callers. Farm Aid runs an annual grant program, mostly for agricultural nonprofits, and has reportedly raised more than $43 million.
For years, the show has been anchored by performances from Dave Matthews Band, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, and Willie Nelson – peppered with a revolving door of musicians that donate their time to the cause. This year’s lineup included Jack Johnson, Kacey Musgraves, Carlene Carter, Toad the Wet Sprocket, and many others.
Despite a heavy downpour that began shortly after John Mellencamp took the stage, the Indiana singer-songwriter’s performance was among the evening’s highlights. It really wouldn’t be Farm Aid without the seminal “Rain on the Scarecrow,” a
haunting song that describes a multi-generation farm lost to foreclosure that Mellencamp released in 1985.
Food was center-stage at Farm Aid, too. Farm Aid’s trademarked Homegrown Concessions seeks to bring the good food movement to rock stadiums. The $11 cans of Pabst Blue Ribbon and nachos with “cheese-like” goop were still there, but so too were veggie burritos, “non-confinement” hot dogs, organic French fries, and antibiotic-free chicken tenders.
A big difference in Farm Aid from the 2007 show was the expanded role thatfarmers and agricultural organizations played, thanks to the Homegrown Village.
Fifty or so groups, including Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Northeast Organic Farming Association, found creative ways to reach out to concertgoers while describing their work.
The American Stewardship Association encouragedpeople to don a cap and mask and pose for “farmer hero” photos of those that
valued farmland conservation. Somervile, MA artist Cheryl Hirshman asked peopleto decorate a glove with words that represented farming to each participant; the gloves will be part of an installation about the work of farmers.
As Farm Aid has matured it seems to have moved from its more centrist roots toward an idealism that glorifies the small, family farm while vilifying the “factory farm.” Food quality, environmental stewardship, and biodiversity – as Farm Aid
will tell you – are issues of critical importance to farmers, and all living beings.
However, it’s disappointing to see an organization promote division among farmers, even proposing that large farms are crowding out small farms – glossing over the pressure all farmers (good and bad ones, too) are facing from urban development, government regulation, business taxation, and more. Despite the diversity of
business and production practices, farmers are a really small group. It doesn’t make sense to direct the little energy we have in fighting each other.
Equally disappointing is to see the occasionally complex issues around farming over-simplified to good versus bad. Farm Aid, after all, has the nation’s ear.
I said this once already – Farm Aid is a concert and much more.
The greatest accomplishment of Farm Aid has always been its ability to raise awareness about farming, and farmers, among the general public. In the days before farmers and local food were trendy, the Farm Aid concert was among the few times each year
that the media might cast a light on agriculture that was positive.
For a few days, we might set aside our stereotypes about the millionaire absentee-owner whocollects farm subsidies, the alleged polluters and animal abusers, and a whole slew of stories that could be summarized as “the dumb farmer.” We could remember – or, learn – that the vast majority of farmers in the United States work pretty hard, for not a lot of money, but a great deal of love, to produce fiber, fuel, and food – the stuff we literally cannot live without.
** Rebecca Schuelke Staehr is co-owner of Staehr Family Farm and Cayuga Pumpkin Barn, a field crop and vegetable farm in New York’s Finger Lakes region.
The FarmAid concert was last Saturday. I couldn't attend, but I saw on Facebook that a number of my farm friends did attend.
So I asked one -- Rebecca Schuelke Staehr of Cayuga Pumpkin Barn -- to write about it. So here's her report.
Enjoy!
 |
| Ed and Rebecca Staehr as "farmer heroes" in the ASA booth at Farm Aid's Homegrown Village. The group encouraged everyone to become "farmer heroes" by supporting farmland conservation. |
It was Farm Aid’s second trip to New York State. My husband, Ed, and I are pleased to say, “we were there” – this time around, as well as at the 2007 event on Randall’s Island in New York City.
Now in its 28th year, Farm Aid is an annual concert and much more. Born out of the farm crisis of the 1980s and conceived as a fundraiser to help farmers remain on their land, Farm Aid has evolved to include a Farmer Resource Network, a sort of
clearinghouse that offers information and contacts to hotline callers. Farm Aid runs an annual grant program, mostly for agricultural nonprofits, and has reportedly raised more than $43 million.
For years, the show has been anchored by performances from Dave Matthews Band, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, and Willie Nelson – peppered with a revolving door of musicians that donate their time to the cause. This year’s lineup included Jack Johnson, Kacey Musgraves, Carlene Carter, Toad the Wet Sprocket, and many others.
Despite a heavy downpour that began shortly after John Mellencamp took the stage, the Indiana singer-songwriter’s performance was among the evening’s highlights. It really wouldn’t be Farm Aid without the seminal “Rain on the Scarecrow,” a
haunting song that describes a multi-generation farm lost to foreclosure that Mellencamp released in 1985.
Food was center-stage at Farm Aid, too. Farm Aid’s trademarked Homegrown Concessions seeks to bring the good food movement to rock stadiums. The $11 cans of Pabst Blue Ribbon and nachos with “cheese-like” goop were still there, but so too were veggie burritos, “non-confinement” hot dogs, organic French fries, and antibiotic-free chicken tenders.
A big difference in Farm Aid from the 2007 show was the expanded role thatfarmers and agricultural organizations played, thanks to the Homegrown Village.
Fifty or so groups, including Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Northeast Organic Farming Association, found creative ways to reach out to concertgoers while describing their work.
The American Stewardship Association encouragedpeople to don a cap and mask and pose for “farmer hero” photos of those that
valued farmland conservation. Somervile, MA artist Cheryl Hirshman asked peopleto decorate a glove with words that represented farming to each participant; the gloves will be part of an installation about the work of farmers.
As Farm Aid has matured it seems to have moved from its more centrist roots toward an idealism that glorifies the small, family farm while vilifying the “factory farm.” Food quality, environmental stewardship, and biodiversity – as Farm Aid
will tell you – are issues of critical importance to farmers, and all living beings.
However, it’s disappointing to see an organization promote division among farmers, even proposing that large farms are crowding out small farms – glossing over the pressure all farmers (good and bad ones, too) are facing from urban development, government regulation, business taxation, and more. Despite the diversity of
business and production practices, farmers are a really small group. It doesn’t make sense to direct the little energy we have in fighting each other.
Equally disappointing is to see the occasionally complex issues around farming over-simplified to good versus bad. Farm Aid, after all, has the nation’s ear.
I said this once already – Farm Aid is a concert and much more.
The greatest accomplishment of Farm Aid has always been its ability to raise awareness about farming, and farmers, among the general public. In the days before farmers and local food were trendy, the Farm Aid concert was among the few times each year
that the media might cast a light on agriculture that was positive.
For a few days, we might set aside our stereotypes about the millionaire absentee-owner whocollects farm subsidies, the alleged polluters and animal abusers, and a whole slew of stories that could be summarized as “the dumb farmer.” We could remember – or, learn – that the vast majority of farmers in the United States work pretty hard, for not a lot of money, but a great deal of love, to produce fiber, fuel, and food – the stuff we literally cannot live without.
** Rebecca Schuelke Staehr is co-owner of Staehr Family Farm and Cayuga Pumpkin Barn, a field crop and vegetable farm in New York’s Finger Lakes region.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Register by Sept. 12 for Conference on Farm Transfers
News from NY FarmNet:
This
isn’t your grandpa’s farm transfer.
Farm
succession now requires legal, tax and business strategy.
Industry
professionals and farmers will offers tips for transferring farm ownership to
the next generation at a conference, “New Strategies for Farm Succession
Planning,” slated for Sept. 24-25 at the New York State Fairgrounds in
Geddes, just west of Syracuse.
Registrations are due Sept. 12.
“Over
the years, the farm transfer process has become increasingly complex. At the
same time, farmland values continue to appreciate. These factors make it
necessary for farmers to have in place innovative strategies to ensure a
successful transition in ownership and keep the farm in agriculture,” said Ed
Staehr, executive director of NY FarmNet and a senior extension associate with the
Dyson School at Cornell University.
NY
FarmNet organized the conference in light of the growing number of requests
from farmers faced with how to successfully keep the farm business going under new management of the next generation of operators – from within, and outside,
the farm family.
NY
FarmNet provides free and confidential technical assistance in farm financial
matters, including farm startup, business planning, developing financial
statements, debt restructuring, and more. NY FarmNet’s personal wellbeing staff
helps farmers improve family and business communication skills and address
stress, communication, and other concerns.
The
conference provides farm families and their advisers information on developing
effective farm business succession plans.
Presenters include nationally
renowned experts in farm succession planning. Robert Milligan, senior
consultant with Dairy Strategies/Professor Emeritus Cornell University; and
Sharon Danes, professor and family economist at the University of Minnesota,
who will lead discussions on management and relationship-building relevant to farm
succession planning.
Professionals
from Farm Credit, Farm Family Insurance and a leading law firm in succession
planning will describe how to develop a plan that works for your farm business,
including funding, tax, legal, and insurance strategies.
A
multigenerational panel of farmers will share how they implemented succession
plans for their farm business.
A
significant number of farms now exceed federal gift and estate tax
exemptions. As a result, some farm owners are reluctant to develop a
strategy for the next generation to continue farming.
In many cases,
profitability is not a limiting factor in farm business transferability.
Family communication issues between generations are a frequent impediment to
successful farm business transfers.
Registration is due by Sept. 12 and is $100 and includes meals and educational material. For more information, call (800) 547-3276 or email aes6@cornell.edu.
NY
FarmNet is an extension and outreach program of the Charles H. Dyson School of
Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University. Look
for NY Farm Net online at www.nyfarmnet.org,
or www.facebook.com/nyfarmnet/.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Documentary Chronicles Beginnings of NY FarmNet
FarmNet officials say they hope to have this ready to go at FarmAid in Saratoga.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
FarmAid Gives a Shout-Out to NY FarmNet
Go to the FarmAid website at http://www.farmaid.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=qlI5IhNVJsE&b=8560599&ct=13226991¬oc=1&msource=july13news to see what the folks with this concert event are saying about NY FarmNet, an organization that helps farmers throughout New York state.
Quoted in the article is Ed Staehr, of Union Springs in Cayuga County, who runs Cayuga Pumpkin Farm in his spare time (do farmers have spare time??) and works during the day as NY FarmNet executive director.
For more information on NY FarmNet, check out this http://blog.syracuse.com/farms/2010/02/farmnet_helps_farmers_survive.html story I wrote about the organization in 2010.
Quoted in the article is Ed Staehr, of Union Springs in Cayuga County, who runs Cayuga Pumpkin Farm in his spare time (do farmers have spare time??) and works during the day as NY FarmNet executive director.
For more information on NY FarmNet, check out this http://blog.syracuse.com/farms/2010/02/farmnet_helps_farmers_survive.html story I wrote about the organization in 2010.
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