Source: New Jersey Herald
With the current national Farm Bill less than two months from expiring, Rep. Josh Gottheimer met with agricultural constituents Thursday at the New Jersey State Fair/Sussex County Farm and Horse Show to hear what issues they believed should be addressed in a new bill.
Meeting near the Livestock Pavillion where cattle judging was being held, the dozen people offered information on what they see are needed changes to the law as well as programs which need bolstering.
As an example, Sussex County is a rural area, but is considered “urban/suburban” because of its closeness to the well-populated areas of northeastern New Jersey and New York City. As such, some federal programs aimed at rural areas are not available to Sussex farmers.
Other priorities are boosting investment for specialty crops, increased research on how to fight against invasive species, increased uses leading to bigger sales of whole milk, expanding investments for meat and poultry processors and supporting 4-H programs.
The “whole milk” issue would involve relaxing rules which don’t allow for whole milk to be provided in schools or even military cafeterias and dining halls. Those rules also limit “flavored” products, such as chocolate milk.
He noted there needs to be increased money on combating spotted lanternflies, an invasive pest which feeds on fruit trees and vines.
The 90-minute discussion, which was deemed to be “confidential” among the participants, and reporters were not allowed to take notes, also included concerns about the lack of people willing to work in the fields and orchards for minimum wage and still keep the farm operation “in the black.”
In his prepared remarks, Gottheimer told the group: “It’s because of all of you — and the more than 1,000 farms in New Jersey’s Fifth District — that families across our state and nation have fresh, high quality, and nutritious meals. You not only feed families, but you also create thousands of jobs and bring millions of dollars to our region.”
He said the Farm Bill is normally done on a five-year cycle and he has been working with groups such as the Farm Bureau to get initial feedback. “But I really wanted to hear from all of you, from Jersey farmers and rural businesses,” he said.
The group included New Jersey Farm Bureau Research Associate Liz Thompson; Sussex Rural Electric Cooperative Inc. President and CEO Chris Reese; Sussex Rural Electric Cooperative Inc. Director of Marketing & Member Services Claudia Raffay; and Agriculture & Natural Resources County Agent and Sussex County Extension Department Head Steve Komar.
Also attending were Peter Southway, owner of Springhouse Creamery in Fredon and the chairman of Sussex County Agriculture Development Board; Jim Hunt of Windy Brow Farms; Erin Lytle of Tranquility Farms; Windy Flats Dairy and state Agriculture Board member Holly Systema; New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Warren County Chair Tracy Smith; and New Jersey Department of Agriculture Animal Health Technician Lisa Delambert.