One of the greatest attributes of Long Island’s agriculture industry and our farmers is resiliency. Through our history and the ups and downs, the industry is still alive and well. Considering the crises in the overall economy nationwide, Long Island agriculture will be a bright spot in 2009. Our farming families are committed to the land and will continue to be here for generations to come provided the business, environmental, and social climate allows farming to be profitable. The best farmland preservation program we know is for the “farmer business” stay profitable and keep our valuable farmland in production.
Since 9-11, the public is starting to understand the value of locally produced food, seafood and agricultural products. In fact the new or definition is known as “localvours” or people who seek and want local products. Grocery stores such as King Kullen have worked with Long Island Farm Bureau to feature our quality fruit and vegetables by displaying our “Grown on Long Island” logo in their produce departments. Tom and Brian Cullen supported the locally grown movement long before it became fashionable and are true believers in supporting Long Island as their home. It is cheaper for the grocery stores to buy Long Island and New York products from our producers than truck products from California or other countries. It requires 650 gallons of fuel to bring a load from the West Coast to New York compared to 25 gallons of fuel from right here on Long Island. Talk about reducing the “carbon footprint” plus the quality and freshness of local produce is unparalleled.
For the 2009 growing season, it is very hard to predict success or failure because agriculture is a weather dependent industry. However, there are general issues that we are dealing with in public policy that will impact the industry regardless of weather conditions.
Long Island agriculture prides itself in that we don’t depend on Federal farm subsidy programs as a means for survival. But Washington does impact us in many other ways. The Congress has failed to address comprehensive Immigration Reform for over 20 years. For farmers it has been increasingly difficult to secure an adequate and legal workforce for both year round and seasonal employment. We employ approximately 7,000 workers on Long Island. We need a legal seasonal guestworker program to guarantee our ability to grow, maintain and harvest our crops. Imagine investing hundreds of thousands of dollars, not knowing if there will be adequate labor to harvest and get your return on investment?
What’s going on in Albany is also very troubling and will affect our industry in numerous ways. Taxes, fees, permits and the cost of doing business is going to be a problem as the Governor and State Legislature try to close the budget gap. Agricultural programs at the Department of Ag & Markets, research dollars at Cornell, marketing monies to promote our World Class Wine Industry are in jeopardy of not only being reduced but in some cases zeroed out. A raid on the Environmental Protection Fund where money is used to fund farmland preservation and conservation stewardship programs has caused concern to the state’s agricultural and environmental communities. I could go on and on but you get the picture.
Its going to be an adventure for all of us in 2009. But one thing I know is that all of our citizens need to eat, therefore food production will be ok. Our agriculture industry provides much more to our citizens than just food, including open space, environmental habitat, background for tourism (wineries and farmstands), horticultural products, maintain property values, seafood for consumption and recreation opportunities. The list of benefits goes on.
Just remember one thing in 2009:
Did you hug a Long Island farmer this year?
By:
Joseph Gergela
Executive director of Long Island Farm Bureau