| JANUARY 1, 2011 -- Over the last 12 months we have been involved in some exciting projects that are helping to revitalize New England’s food system, improve our agricultural economy, and protect and retain our vital farmland. Here are a few highlights from 2010:
New England Farm and Food Security Initiative
This exciting project—directed by the region’s six state “Chief Agricultural Officers” in collaboration with the New England Commission on Land Conservation and AFT—is focusing on ways to improve the region’s farm and food security through public-private partnerships and multi-state projects and investments. Read the latest report on the initiative to the six New England governors.
Supporting New England’s Dairy Farms
New England’s dairy farms are the anchor tenants of the region’s agricultural land base, managing over 50 percent of the cropland in five of the region’s six states and stewarding thousands more acres of woodlands, wetlands and pasture. The region’s 2,100 dairy farms are vital to the region’s economy, generating more than $13,000 per cow annually in direct economic activity. Yet, these farms continue to struggle with milk prices that often do not cover their costs of production.
New England consumers are often unaware of the source of their daily milk and of the economic precipice on which the region’s dairy industry teeters. That’s why, with Tufts University, AFT is undertaking an innovative “milkshed” study which will map the flow of milk through the region, informing consumers about where their milk comes from and how they can help support the region’s dairy farms. It will also identify potential new market opportunities that can improve profitability and encourage dairy product consumption and develop policy recommendations to address associated barriers.
Building Coalitions to Support Local Food Systems
Over the past two years, AFT has worked with a committed group of over 30 organizations involved in food, agriculture, hunger, nutrition and land protection to create a statewide Massachusetts Food Policy Alliance. The alliance celebrated their first legislative victory with passage of House Bill 4568, which establishes a 15-member statewide food policy council to advance four food system goals: increase production, sales and consumption of Massachusetts-grown foods; bring healthy local foods to Massachusetts residents and increase access in communities with disproportionate burdens of obesity and chronic diseases; protect the land and water resources needed for sustained local food production; and train, retain and recruit farmers and provide for the continued economic viability of local food production, processing and distribution.
Vision for Rhode Island’s Agriculture
Last winter, AFT was hired by the Rhode Island Agricultural Partnership —a collaborative of farmers, food producers, farm agencies, commodity organizations, agricultural non-profits, and state and local agencies in Rhode Island—to facilitate the development of a five-year Strategic Plan for the state’s agricultural sector. Nearing completion, the plan will provide a statewide vision for agriculture’s future, identify its needs, establish measurable goals and objectives, and recommend specific courses of action to meet those needs and objectives.
Connecticut Farms, Food and Jobs Bill Passes
With the backing of AFT and other members of our Working Lands Alliance (WLA) project, legislation offering new market opportunities for Connecticut farmers passed the Connecticut Legislature this summer with overwhelming support. The Farms, Food and Jobs bill allows on-farm production of acidified foods such as pickles, tomato sauce and salsa and their sale at farm stands and farmers markets; allows turkey and poultry producers to process their birds and sell directly to consumers and restaurants; and authorizes funding for marketing Connecticut-grown dairy products. By giving farmers new options to market their products directly to consumers, this bill should improve farm profitability and help keep farmland in production.
|
