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Pass, or pay food bill?
By Francesca Olsen
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers
As the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 (HR 2749/S510) makes its way to the U.S. Senate, concerns in the local community continue to mount about the effect such a bill will have on the farmers of Columbia County, as well as the nation.
The bill already passed in the U.S. House of Representatives July 30, with 283 ayes, 142 nays, and 8 present/not voting. It will head to the Senate when it is scheduled to reconvene today.
Gianni Ortiz, executive director of the Regional Farm and Food project, a non-profit dedicated to promoting sustainable agriculture and local food systems in the Hudson Valley, is concerned about the potential implications for local farms. “Our farmers, especially small farming, are a national treasure,” she said. “We can’t be making it impossible for them to do this.”
Ortiz refers to a yearly registration for all farms with the Federal Drug administration (FDA) at a cost of $500; FDA-approved methods by which crops are raised and harvested, and a full Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point Plan (HACCP plan) for every type of produce sold or processed, all included in the bill. She says this kind of regulation translates into additional cost and off-field man hours that small farms will not be able to afford or survive.
A guide to developing a HACCP plan from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations outlines 12 tasks required to develop such a plan, and calls for the work of several specialists, such as a mycotoxicologist and process engineer. Hazards must be identified, information must be recorded, and appropriate control measures must be considered, adding up to a lengthy process.
“We’re going to lose farms this year anyway,” said Ortiz, referencing an abysmal growing season here in Columbia County. “And we have so many new farmers. One of the most exciting things that is happening is we have new farmers and young people coming into farming.”
“Obviously, the math around farming is very challenging. You cannot purchase a farm and expect to pay the mortgage by farming,” Ortiz said. “Young farmers have a lot of challenges. They probably don’t own their land. If they have additional administration and farming fees on top of it, it’s just the wrong thing at the wrong time.
“In Columbia County, farming is and has been a cornerstone of the local economy. “We happen to be blessed with a lot of artisanal processors and farms. It’s one of our greatest distinguishing marks. And this will impact each and every one of them,” said Ortiz.
During the vote in the U.S. House, congressmen John Hall, NY-19, and Scott Murphy, NY-20, voted yes on HR 2749; Maurice Hinchey, NY-22, voted no. Hinchey was part of a group of congressmen who sponsored the Kaptur/Farr Amendment, which recommends changes to the Food Safety Act.
The proposal recommends “removing unintended negative impacts on family farms, local and regional food systems, conservation and the environment.”
“We are particularly concerned about the impact of the bill on the growing numbers of farms across the country that combine agricultural production with on-farm, value-added processing,” the introduction letter to the amendment reads.
Among other suggestions, the Kaptur/Farr amendment to the bill suggests a sliding scale for facility registration fees “for farms that qualify by virtue of their processing activities.”
“This needs to be scaled appropriately and science-based,” said Ortiz. “I would say unless people are made aware of this and pay attention to it that it probably will get passed.”
Several letters concerning HR 2749 have already been published in the Register-Star prior to the vote in the house of representatives. Peter Sagal of Philmont wrote a letter asking Congressman Murphy to vote against the bill “unless the proposals included in the Kaptur/Farr letter are included in the final bill.”
Henry Smedley of Millerton also encouraged congressmen to vote no in order to “allow small, local farmers to continue to exist without burdensome regulations that are geared toward the large, industrial food companies that have created the food safety problems.”
Nick Franceschelli of Ghent also wrote in to oppose the bill, “on the grounds that it would inevitably brutally stifle the one area of economic activity that will be the cornerstone of a revitalized economy, namely local and regional food systems.”
Ortiz said that most food safety issues arise from the growing and harvesting practices at large factory farms, citing infamous incidents concerning bagged lettuce contaminated with salmonella.
“If you contrast that with how small farmers harvest, it’s a person with a set of eyes in the light of day inspecting each head of greens. It’s a human, one-on-one process,” she said. “Now our representatives can say that they did something, which for all intensive purposes is basically to hamper the efforts of the safest food in the system.”
Ortiz said she has been trying to get an appointment with congressman Murphy to discuss the bill but has so far been unsuccessful.
For more information about the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009, visit www.thomas.loc.gov for a full list of votes, status updates, and a summary and full text of the proposed bill.
***
To reach reporter Francesca Olsen call 518-828-1616, ext. 2272, or e-mail folsen@registerstar.com.
The bill already passed in the U.S. House of Representatives July 30, with 283 ayes, 142 nays, and 8 present/not voting. It will head to the Senate when it is scheduled to reconvene today.
Gianni Ortiz, executive director of the Regional Farm and Food project, a non-profit dedicated to promoting sustainable agriculture and local food systems in the Hudson Valley, is concerned about the potential implications for local farms. “Our farmers, especially small farming, are a national treasure,” she said. “We can’t be making it impossible for them to do this.”
Ortiz refers to a yearly registration for all farms with the Federal Drug administration (FDA) at a cost of $500; FDA-approved methods by which crops are raised and harvested, and a full Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point Plan (HACCP plan) for every type of produce sold or processed, all included in the bill. She says this kind of regulation translates into additional cost and off-field man hours that small farms will not be able to afford or survive.
A guide to developing a HACCP plan from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations outlines 12 tasks required to develop such a plan, and calls for the work of several specialists, such as a mycotoxicologist and process engineer. Hazards must be identified, information must be recorded, and appropriate control measures must be considered, adding up to a lengthy process.
“We’re going to lose farms this year anyway,” said Ortiz, referencing an abysmal growing season here in Columbia County. “And we have so many new farmers. One of the most exciting things that is happening is we have new farmers and young people coming into farming.”
“Obviously, the math around farming is very challenging. You cannot purchase a farm and expect to pay the mortgage by farming,” Ortiz said. “Young farmers have a lot of challenges. They probably don’t own their land. If they have additional administration and farming fees on top of it, it’s just the wrong thing at the wrong time.
“In Columbia County, farming is and has been a cornerstone of the local economy. “We happen to be blessed with a lot of artisanal processors and farms. It’s one of our greatest distinguishing marks. And this will impact each and every one of them,” said Ortiz.
During the vote in the U.S. House, congressmen John Hall, NY-19, and Scott Murphy, NY-20, voted yes on HR 2749; Maurice Hinchey, NY-22, voted no. Hinchey was part of a group of congressmen who sponsored the Kaptur/Farr Amendment, which recommends changes to the Food Safety Act.
The proposal recommends “removing unintended negative impacts on family farms, local and regional food systems, conservation and the environment.”
“We are particularly concerned about the impact of the bill on the growing numbers of farms across the country that combine agricultural production with on-farm, value-added processing,” the introduction letter to the amendment reads.
Among other suggestions, the Kaptur/Farr amendment to the bill suggests a sliding scale for facility registration fees “for farms that qualify by virtue of their processing activities.”
“This needs to be scaled appropriately and science-based,” said Ortiz. “I would say unless people are made aware of this and pay attention to it that it probably will get passed.”
Several letters concerning HR 2749 have already been published in the Register-Star prior to the vote in the house of representatives. Peter Sagal of Philmont wrote a letter asking Congressman Murphy to vote against the bill “unless the proposals included in the Kaptur/Farr letter are included in the final bill.”
Henry Smedley of Millerton also encouraged congressmen to vote no in order to “allow small, local farmers to continue to exist without burdensome regulations that are geared toward the large, industrial food companies that have created the food safety problems.”
Nick Franceschelli of Ghent also wrote in to oppose the bill, “on the grounds that it would inevitably brutally stifle the one area of economic activity that will be the cornerstone of a revitalized economy, namely local and regional food systems.”
Ortiz said that most food safety issues arise from the growing and harvesting practices at large factory farms, citing infamous incidents concerning bagged lettuce contaminated with salmonella.
“If you contrast that with how small farmers harvest, it’s a person with a set of eyes in the light of day inspecting each head of greens. It’s a human, one-on-one process,” she said. “Now our representatives can say that they did something, which for all intensive purposes is basically to hamper the efforts of the safest food in the system.”
Ortiz said she has been trying to get an appointment with congressman Murphy to discuss the bill but has so far been unsuccessful.
For more information about the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009, visit www.thomas.loc.gov for a full list of votes, status updates, and a summary and full text of the proposed bill.
***
To reach reporter Francesca Olsen call 518-828-1616, ext. 2272, or e-mail folsen@registerstar.com.
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WatchfulBystander wrote on Sep 8, 2009 1:05 PM:
There is a war being waged on rural America. Look and you will find articles which report the attack on dairy farmers, their cows (belching tax), and now small atrisanl organic farmers.
The standards which this bill calls for should be applied to imported agricultural products, not local ones. Perhaps the Melanine would have been discovered sooner before it poisoned cherished pets across the nation a few years ago.
The bottom line is, of course, control. The government wants to control every drop of milk, every bud, every egg, every head of lettuce, etc. The government now controls the banks, automotive companies, insurance companies,utilities (have you noticed the new "assesmnet" added to your electric bill?), and soon it will control what and how small farmers grow on their own PRIVATE land. Private enterprise is being phased out little by little.
Farming is a trade. Methods are passed down from generation to generation. If safe methods were never followed, common sense never applied, humans would have been wiped out long ago. I think the farmers know what they are doing, without intervention by the government. Will we see the Future Farmers of America organization be outlawed? Perhaps the Grange meetings should be brought back. Farmers should take some time to meet and share ideas and concerns like back in the 1800's, not just to discuss prices and weather, but to become a cohesive group once more.
The small, private family farms which dot our region and the nation seem to be "sitting ducks" for big government. Shame on the elected members of government who do not consider the voters who placed them there, to represent them, the voters. Kudos to Maurice Hinchey and others who will stand up and do their job, not forgetting that they are public servants, not public princes! Pay attention voter, and be very mindful of who will get your vote next Election Day! Stay informed! The next trade or line of business may be your own! "