Kane County Farm Bureau

Transcription

1 Kane County Farm Bureau Kane County Farm Bureau Steve Arnold CAE, FBCM, Manager KANE COUNTY FARM BUREAU

2 Organized December 31,1912 under the name of Kane County FARM Improvement Association But, why?

3 First message to Congress "Agriculture, confessedly the largest interest of the nation, has not a department nor a bureau, but a clerkship only, assigned to it in the Government. While it is fortunate that this great interest is so independent in its nature as to not have demanded and extorted more from the Government, I respectfully ask Congress to consider whether something more can not be given voluntarily with general advantage... While I make no suggestions as to details, I venture the opinion that an agricultural and statistical bureau might profitably be organized."

4 Lincoln s Agricultural Legacy May 15, 1862 Established USDA May 20, 1862 Homestead Act July 1, Pacific (Transcontinental) Railroad Act July 2, 1862 Morrill (Land Grant) College Act Acres 270,000, ,000,000 17,400,000

5 Land Grant Colleges are established, enlarged Hatch Act (1877) establishes Agricultural Research stations Farmer institutes are begun

6 USDA Census of Agriculture, Illinois % 231% 457% Farmer Institutes no longer sufficient to pass the results of practical research along to farmers. Progressive farmers begin forming associations to employ University trained soil scientists

7 1911- Broome County, New York Kane County FARM Improvement Association 1912 Soil & Crop Improvement Associations formed in 13 Illinois counties

8 Jerome Readheimer Soil Scientist & Assistant Professor, U of I Kane County s first Farm Adviser, 1913

9 Smith -Lever Act of 1914 established a Nation-wide system of cooperative extension services, connected to the land-grant universities, in order to conduct general demonstrations in local fields, inform farmers about developments in agriculture, home economics, public policy/government, leadership, & 4-H. In Illinois, Farm Bureau became the local organization coordinating Extension work in the various counties

10 Capper-Volstead Act, 1922 The Capper-Volstead Act, 1922, authorized farmers to form voluntary co-operative associations for purposes of producing, handling and marketing farm products and exempted those associations from antitrust laws.

11 Yada, Yada, Yada, it s Improved transportation, educational access, distance learning & communications technology have vastly changed information delivery. Farmer-owned cooperatives have fulfilled the need for farm supplies, services and cooperative marketing. But the Farm Bureau is still here!

12 Serving 16,000 member families Governed by a Board of 15 farmers With a mission to: Enhance the quality of life for member families, promote all aspects of agriculture and advocate good stewardship our land and resources.

13 Quality of Life Our annual Farm-City event

14 The equivalent of 700,000 meals to local food pantries Our 2013 goal is to raise that number to 1,000,000,000 meals through our Million Meal CHALLENGE.

15 College Scholarships & Internships to over 20 students each year.

16 Promotion & Education Ag Days Donations to schools & public libraries of farm themed books each year during National Library Week. SAI I & II Annual graduate Credit institutes for teachers on farm & natural resources themed lesson planning.

17 WiNNER S CHOICE Touch-A-Tractor, Harvest for ALL, Ag Days, SPROUTS, Scholarships, Internships and the Winner s Choice Raffle are conducted by the Kane County Farm Bureau Foundation, a 501 (c) 3 created in 1989 to carry out charitable and educational activities for Farm Bureau.

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19 Interactive map of 40 direct farm market locations and 13 Farmer s Markets in Kane County.

20 Advocacy Kane County Farm Bureau 1912 Illinois Farm Bureau (IAA) 1916 American Farm Bureau Federation 1919 Known Nationally, for Grassroots Political Organization Statewide, comprehensive policies on issues of the day, reviewing every bill filed in the General Assembly & conducting Adopt-A-Legislator with urban lawmakers Locally for relationship building efforts with public officials, including... Winter Shopping Sprees for local food pantries Spring Lunches to Legislators Fall - Harvest Leadership Picnic

21 Shared Success The long standing partnership of Farm Bureau and the Kane County Board have lead to several historic firsts that are a credit to both. Illinois first ordinance to protect farms from nuisance lawsuits. Illinois first Stormwater Ordinance designed to protect farms from the effects of development. Illinois first (and only) funded Farmland Protection Program. Illinois first Farmland Drainage Assistance program.

22 Future Wishes Continued dialogue with local leaders on the issues of property and profitability that matter most to our members. Land Use Public Safety Taxes Fiscal Issues Drainage Zoning Transportation Planning Farmland Protection Stormwater Management

23 Census of Agriculture statistics for Kane County No. of farms Land in farms 192,372 acres 198,227 acres 215,146 acres Average size of farm 253 acres 320 acres 304 acres Mkt. Value of Production, average per farm - $261,011 $187,487 $176, % 6.25% *Crop sales accounted for $175,589,000 of the total value in Livestock sales accounted for $22,519,000 of the total value in *Nursery, Greenhouse, Floriculture & Sod accounted for $ 80,475,000 of crop sales, #1 in Illinois

24 Questions? Contact info: Steve Arnold Kane County Farm Bureau

25 Current world population (estimated) 7,156,776,988.

26 Proposed Food and Farm Ordinance To Complement Ordinance Farmland Protection Ordinance Kane County Ag Committee May 20, 2013

27 Background The Concept The Opportunity The Potential Create Kane County policy to support more fruits, vegetables, dairy and meat produced in Kane County More Jobs More Revenue Better health outcomes for residents Increased access to fresh food for NIIFB and food pantries $ 14.8 million in annual economic contribution $ 4.5 million in total labor Total Jobs 103

28 Research Health Projections Providing more locally grown fruits, vegetables, especially to Kane County s vulnerable population will: Reduce health disparities in vulnerable population Improve chronic disease rate Improve obesity rate Improve life expectancy Improve social and emotional wellness

29 Research Results American Farmland Trust s consultant recommendation: Create a stand alone, but complementary ordinance to Customize a program for Kane County that includes features from Connecticut's Community farms program and other nation wide examples programs while meeting goals of the county s adopted goals in the Food and Farm section of the 2040 Plan Economists estimates: $ million in total annual economic contribution $ 4.5 in total labor revenue 103 total Jobs with 2,496 acres of land in local food production

30 Current Farmland Protection Ordinance Kane County Ordinance Created Farmland Protection Commission with authority to: Buy development rights Accept donated development rights Buy land fee simple for to protect farming and farmland using a perpetual agricultural easement.

31 New Food and Farm Ordinance (complements not replaces Ordinance 01-67) Protects the existing ordinance and easements (main concern of AFT and KCFB) Accepts applications from farms throughout the county Accepts applications from farms of all size Offers financial and other incentives customized Land owner commitments may include lease agreements, term easements, or perpetual easements to ensure long term land access for agriculture Prioritizes farms that produce fruits, vegetables, dairy and meat Allows simpler review of the new proposal since the new features will stand alone (term easements, focus on fruits and vegetables) Allows for easier revisions/amendments in the future if the new ordinance needs to be tweaked, again protecting the original ordinance Could serve as a model ordinance for municipalities if they want to likewise encourage local food production

32 Tentative Schedule May 31st Draft report with Recommendations June 17 th AG Committee June 20 th Farmland Protection Commission Executive Committee July 3rd County Board July 9 th

33 Sneak Peek: Report Recommendations Food Hub feasibility grant Potential market for local producers (economic development material) Lease options public property to new farmers Coordinate with U of I extension for Beginning Farmers Program Investigate potential for farm to school using Kane County vendors/growers Consider Grown in Kane campaign Conduct a policy/ordinance audit to examine county restrictions Coordinate with GAP (food safety handling programs Coordinate with farm bureau Meet the Buyer programs Coordinate with major institutional buyers such as Northern IL Food Bank to reach vulnerable populations Coordinate access to LINK technology directly to producers and CSAs Create a financial entity to attract and distribute funding for programs, grants, loans to start or scale up producers Continue to expand locally grown food access opportunities to NIFB, food pantries and other institutions (including schools, restaurants, retailers, hospitals) to local growers