Vol. 78, No. 10, October 2001 Commissioner’s Column In Memoriam: Dairy Compact Changeable Skies John Ogonowski Expires The Department of Food and Agriculture was The Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact lost its for Bay State shocked and deeply saddened to learn that Congressional consent to exist as of Sunday Dracut farmer John Ogonowski was the pilot September 30, 2001. Attempts to extend Agriculture of American Airlines flight 11, the first plane Congressional authority beyond that date fell to crash into the World Trade Center in New short but will continue. by Jonathan L. Healy York City on September 11th. John was a full time 23-year veteran pilot for American “It’s unfortunate that such a valuable tool has As a farmer and state official, I find Airlines who also raised crops on 200 acres been lost,” says Commissioner Healy. “The real that both activities have something in in Dracut. tragedy is that the Compact became embroiled common: you have some good years and in politics, while its merits were ignored. The some bad years, weather intervenes, and John was a founder and active member of fact is that the Compact offered opportunity to sometimes you can’t control your destiny a local land trust that has helped to save dairy farmers and served the farmer well in its due to factors out of your control. Dracut farmland from development. His land brief life,” Healy said. is protected under the state’s Agricultural September state revenues were down Preservation Restriction (APR) program. He The Compact Commission held its last meeting $213 million from last September. It was very much involved in USDA’s New on September 28th to provide for the orderly is clear that our department will be Entry Sustainable Farming Project (NEFSP), close of the Compact Commission’s business fortunate to even be level funded at assisting and providing land for Cambodian including paying final bills and debts of the Commission. The Commission transferred the last year’s levels, given the clear turn in immigrant farmers. John was also a member assets of the Commission to the Center for our economy. Our Department, thanks of the Dracut Grange. New England Dairy Compact Research, which to the Weld/Cellucci/Swift administrations Our deepest sympathy is extended to John’s is a non-profit corporation with the purpose of and the Legislature, has had significant winding up the affairs of the Compact. budgetary increases to fund a whole new wife Peggy, his daughters Laura, Caroline set of tools for our farmer-friendly toolbox. and Mary Katharine, brother Jim, parents Alexander and Theresa and his entire family. The continuing efforts to permanently On the other hand, the federal farm reauthorize and expand the Compact continue We also offer our condolences to anyone bill, with billions of dollars of resources, despite daunting odds. “While Congressional who lost loved ones in the September 11th has largely ignored New England farm consent has expired state laws remain intact. tragedy. assistance in favoring large subsidies for The only requirement for the Compact to restart agri-businesses in the Midwest. is for Congress to give its consent,” states Memorials for John Ogonowski may be made Healy. to Dracut Land Trust Inc., care of Enterprise While state funding looks precarious, Bank and Trust Co., 1168 Lakeview Ave., federal funding might be more favorable Current prospects of such consent are to attach Dracut, MA 01826.t in future years. We have helped establish compact legislation to an appropriations bill a new coalition of New England farmers, or to the federal farm bill. The Congress may departments of agriculture, farm bureaus, Notice to Readers not complete work on the farm bill, however, until after the first of the year. Appropriations and environmentalists. The coalition is bills are currently the best hope for successful urging Congress to provide more Due to budget constraints, DFA must passage of Congressional consent. marketing, viability, and business implement tight spending controls including reducing printing and postage development funds. These programs are “I remain hopeful that when the Congress both much less costly than present costs. For that reason, we will begin sending the Farm & Market Report by gets a handle on the more pressing issues federal subsidies and much more effective of our National defense, that it will consider in keeping farmers profitable through e-mail next month to all subscribers who provide an e-mail address. Please help the merits of the Compact and reauthorize it,” market-driven approaches to agriculture. Commissioner Healy says. us continue publishing the Farm & Market Report by sending us your e-mail address The first fruit from our farm bill coalition Compact Commission Executive Director if you have one. Send a message to is ready to be harvested. USDA and Daniel Smith agrees: “I remain eternally [email protected] and be Congress have given Massachusetts over optimistic, as I always have been with the sure to include your name, mailing address $1 million to help promote Massachusetts Compact effort, that the substance of what we where you currently receive the newsletter, are trying to accomplish, and now with the and your phone number. Thank you.t Commissioner, cont on pg 2 proof of what we actually have accomplished, will prevail over base politics.”t Farm & Market Report FARM-CITY CONNECTIONS Massachusetts Agriculture Photo Contest Winners Announced! Celebrate National Farm-City Week, 2002 Mass. Agriculture Calendar Published November 16 to 22 WEST SPRINGFIELD -- The winning photos from this year’s Massachusetts Agriculture Calendar The week prior to Thanksgiving is again Photo Contest have been selected and published in the 2002 Massachusetts Agriculture Calendar. designated Farm-City Week by the National The calendar, published by the Massachusetts Department of Food Agriculture, features a winning Farm-City Council to strengthen public photograph each month and on the cover. The 13 pictures portray local farms and products understanding of our farm-city connections. throughout the seasons. First conceptualized in 1955 by Merle Tucker Several of the winners received their awards in a ceremony on Thursday, September 20 – of Kiwanis International and Charles Dana Massachusetts Day – at The Big E, West Springfield. Massachusetts Governor Jane Swift and Bennett, a Vermont entrepreneur, the week Commissioner of Food and Agriculture Jonathan L. Healy presented the awards on the front lawn of gained wide support from various farm the Massachusetts Building on the fairgrounds. organizations as the need for more positive public relations between farm and city dwellers The 2002 Massachusetts Agriculture Photo Contest winners are: was recognized. MONTH WINNER TOWN PHOTO DESCRIPTION Cover Julian Robinson Oak Bluffs Cow & Calf at Whiting Farm, West Tisbury To celebrate farm-city week on your farm January Fran Imhoff Berlin Horses at Orchard Hill Equestrian Center , Berlin or in your community, a kit of materials February Kristi Oliver Millis Julianna & Taylor at Acorn Alpaca Ranch, Millis offers tips for organizing events, public March Martha Wholey Shelburne Collecting Sap, Shelburne service announcements, news columns, a local April Kate Morris North Andover Baby Pigs at Smolak Farm, North Andover proclamation, a letter to the editor, grade May Tom Nelson Rochester Lilac Sensation – Rabbit Run Nursery school activity sheets, logos, stickers, placemats June Faith Everett Williamsburg Cow at Hemenway Hill Fam and various farm-city facts to help create a July Donna Blischke Carver Children eating corn at Web of Life Organic Farm memorable occasion. August Nancy King Northfield Cucumbers September Robin Paris East Falmouth Harvested apples in Bolton If you would like to plan a local “farm-city” October Mary Maher Orleans Son Jamie in field with cranberries event during, prior to or after the designated November Nancy King Northfield Pumpkins with CISA logo week, we will do our best to help you December Robin Paris East Falmouth Christmas trees out. Phone us at 617-626-1735 or e-mail [email protected] “This calendar will educate consumers about the rich diversity of agriculture in the Bay State,” commented Commissioner Healy. “I’m sure folks will enjoy viewing these attractive pictures “Farm To School Cafeteria”: Northeast throughout the year while learning about farming in Commonwealth.” Regional Conference December 9 &10 Each winner received a “Massachusetts grown...and fresher!” logo merchandise item, two tickets to Cornell University is sponsoring a unique the Eastern States Exposition (The Big E), and two complimentary calendars. program to encourage partnerships for improving health, supporting farms and building community. The program aims Calendars may be purchased for $5.00 each; proceeds will benefit Massachusetts Agriculture in the to stimulate new farm to school links Classroom, a non-profit organization that works with teachers throughout the state in developing and strengthen existing projects linking local classroom materials. Send a check payable to Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom with your producers with K-12 and college and university name and address to: Calendar, Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture, 251 Causeway cafeterias throughout the Northeast. Street, Suite 500, Boston, MA 02114. t Farmers and food service buyers will meet with In Memoriam: Commissioner, cont from pg 1 educators and distributors, and a variety of workshops and discussions are planned. For Robert Young specialty crops such as cranberries, apples, info, check out vegetables, and horticultural crops. We www.cals.edu/agfoodcommunity/afc.cfm or Robert E. (Bob) Young, Professor Emeritus, hope to leverage these funds with other phone Heidi at 607-255-0417. University of Massachusetts, passed away on private and public sector entities to help September 1, 2001 at the age of 93. A sustain economically viable possibilities for Ag In The Classroom Activities Up And leading authority on greenhouse vegetable this important sector. DFA is establishing a Running crop culture, Bob was a frequent speaker working advisory group to give advice as to at vegetable grower meetings.