As we close out 2009 (thank goodness), Farm Bureau as an organization is busy preparing for the 2010 Legislative Session at the Federal, State and local level of government. 2009 was a challenge for all commodity groups in New York agriculture due to bad weather, bad prices of commodities and a bad economy. Farmers are not only feeling the pinch, but many, many small businesses too.
It has been a challenge organizationally for Farm Bureau, not only legislatively, but internally as well. The frustrating thing for us staff people, as good as Farm Bureau is at performing our mission (to strengthen and protect our industry), it is never enough to satisfy some members. Long Island and New York Farm Bureaus are extremely respected and effective in thwarting bad public policy before it happens. Time and time again Farm Bureau is in there fighting bad legislative proposals on your behalf without anyone even realizing we “took care of it”. It makes me quite angry that some farmers aren’t members of this fine organization and get a free ride on the backs of those who are members, leaders and financial supporters. I don’t know how a farmer in good conscience doesn’t dig in his or her pocket for a hundred dollar bill to be a member. You can’t even go out for dinner for a $100.00 a couple any more. Yet, the membership in Farm Bureau is so valuable on its return in keeping every single New York farmer in business.
I guess some people need something or someone to blame for the times we live in, not realizing that if we don’t stick together, we will certainly fail together. Membership in Farm Bureau is essential to organizational stability and political clout in numbers. Recently, a good friend of mine, a prominent lawyer, told me and our Vice President Frank Beyrodt that the perception of Long Island business leaders and government officials is that we are the most powerful and effective business organization on Long Island. That says something about our effectiveness. We need our farmers, landscapers, associated partner organizations and individuals that want to see Long Island agriculture survive to make sure they are LIFB members and bring in friends, neighbors and associates to the table so we can continue our mission.
Julie Suarez and her team in Albany have been doing a tremendous job with all ten fingers in the dike when it comes to issues we face. She and her team, along with Senator Darrell Aubertine, NYS Senate Ag Chair, have kept the legislature from passing “labor reform” meaning time and a half for farm workers along with other detrimental proposals from becoming law. State budget, dairy issues, labor, immigration, taxes including repeal of the MTA tax here on Long Island are priority issues for us as we start the new year.
What can you do to help?
Help us with membership, participate in policy meetings, use the NYFB E-Lobby on issues which is on the NYFB Website (
www.nyfb.org), stay engaged in what’s happening at the local scene. All these things would be helpful to us. Remember, this is your organization. We can’t do it all on your behalf even though some farmers think all this stuff gets taken care of by magic. It doesn’t! It happens by your leaders, our volunteer board of directors and your Farm Bureau staff.