Talking about Grazing
Editor’s Note: Troy Bishopp is a New York farmer with a passion for grazing. And he is especially passionate about educating others about the important value grazing offers. Here he shares a letter to the President highlighting his views.
Dear Mr. President, Please Stop The Cutting of America’s Grasslands
I appreciate your inspiration to exercise my right to free speech and question the judgment for the recent funding cuts to grassland research, managed grazing programs and conservation assistance initiatives in your 2009 proposed budget. The tactical cutting of funds for the National Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI), the National Resource Conservation and Development Councils (RC&Ds), the Northeast Pasture Systems and Watershed Research Unit at Penn State University and the diminishment of Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA) funding slaps the face of a growing grass-based sustainable way of farming here in the Northeast and elsewhere. The incredible irony of this “zeroing” out of funding just happens to coincide with the death of Mr. “plant fencerow to fencerow” Earl Butz. Perhaps you have forgotten what has happened to agriculture since the resignation of Ag. Secretary “get big or get out.” Your citizens and their children are drowning in corn syrup and your rivers, gulfs and bays are filling up with soil, while your farming population has diminished to less then 2% of the population. This is progress?
I have to write to you directly because going through the proper channels of command hasn’t helped you to understand the importance of grass-based agriculture for America. I am quite surprised that you took this action, especially with Texas being the largest beef state relying on grasslands for its survival. I write this from New York, with some 3 million acres of grazing lands and being part of the largest freshwater watershed. The nation’s grasslands and pastures span every state and affects almost every farmer and rural community in some way. Whether you are utilizing grasslands for livestock feed, wildlife habitat, cover cropping, carbon sequestration, cellulosic fuel, riparian buffers or maintaining open space for communities, this American resource deserves much more credit then you have given it in your budget. I also find it hard to believe that your staff of professionals advising you hasn’t noticed the trend of consumers buying more sustainable grass-fed local products. I assumed this movement to green would please you on the basis of using less fossil fuels and promoting economic stimulus to small businesses like farm families and rural entities.
I am especially sensitive in your lack of regard for grassland resources because of my family farming background that has spanned 5 generations on the same land. I am also reeling by the recent loss of a young solider from my hometown of Waterville, N.Y. My ancestors persevered in farming through the many challenges of wars, the depression, agricultural policies and the loss of bountiful rural communities and Mom & Pop businesses to where we are today by doing one thing well. Taking proper care of the land with green cover. My grandfather would say it was against the law of nature to not cover the soil with either pasture or a cover crop in concert with tillage. They arose every morning with the passion for farming and to protect the land and water for the next generation. I owe it to them, my daughters, future grandchildren and consumers to push back against a system that has forgotten the importance of covering soil with sod. In regard to the loss of a hometown hero, doesn’t it make common sense at all to minimize our reliance on fossil fuels by utilizing animal grazing power to feed this country as much as possible. Maybe this strategy would help get our troops out of harm’s way protecting that fuel on foreign soil. I sure would look forward to the day when we had more farmers than soldiers. Wouldn’t agricultural policy be better for this country if we used more homegrown resources like grass and forage crops while holding tight to our national treasure, topsoil? This is a national security issue, in my mind.
How do your national program leaders in the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and other national conservation groups view your decision to affect the country’s water and soil resources? You can’t convince me they would sign off on this under- funding of America’s grasslands. Having conservation programs paid for by U.S. taxpayers without the necessary “on the ground” workforce and support at the local farming level is truly foolish. What about farmers that are not in USDA programs that need some technical assistance or educational programming needs? Your “zeroing” out of budgets without farmer input or advice shows me, a steward of the land and provider of America’s food, a disrespect that hurts deeply. It’s pretty funny when leaders rise out of slumber to their coffee, half an half, cereal, fruit or bagel and forget the many men and women of agriculture that provided the sustenance to fuel a country.
If you haven’t guessed by now, my family and I are very passionate about our farm, grazing lands, community and future. Your administration’s position on America’s Grasslands and subsequent soil and water resources has us worried about that future.
We will continue however, to preserve our heritage even in the face of this challenge and continue to be a strong voice that works with Mother Nature not against. Remember the Lord said, “All Flesh is Grass.”
Troy Bishopp, Bishopp Family Farm
Deansboro, N.Y.
Related Topics: Small Producer Challenges
February 26th, 2008 at 9:51 am
Editor’s Note: Here we get another glimpse at Troy Bishopp’s efforts on spreading the important message about grazing and funding for grazing programs. This item was originally published in Country Folks Farm Paper on Feb. 10, 2008.
Farmer’s Voices Make A Difference
By Troy Bishopp
I opened up the Sunday Syracuse Post Standard Newspaper to find the usual fare on politics, traffic accidents, want ads and sale flyers, until I landed on a page that shook me to the core. The good news that the federally funded Graze-NY Initiative, under Congressman James Walsh’s and other NY representative’s support had been brought back to Central New York Agriculture. Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, this announcement was a fast forward if you will, of a year-long campaign by a grassroots bunch of farmers, conservation professionals and friends to educate leaders on the value of a grass-based system for New York State. The words from farmers, much like a cat scratching at the door, have proven to make a difference when the odds were not looking so good.
The true wake up call to action came back in late 2006, when this beneficial initiative and its staff were basically eliminated because of the restructuring in Congressional leadership. The question was posed. What could be done to change this outcome? The call went out to the countryside to ask farmers to tell their stories on how the Graze-NY Program has impacted their farms, families and natural resources. The thoughts written down on those letters came from the hearts of some very passionate people. Marvin Moyer from Tioga Co. wrote, “ I think managed grazing is the best thing that ever happened to farming. I have no erosion or runoff going down the river into the Chesapeake Bay.” Bill Guptill from Onondaga Co. writes, “Without this program, our farm’s economic and environmental sustainability would be in question. There isn’t a community event that goes by that folks don’t say how much they love seeing the animals grazing.” “It is very difficult to continue to farm with the cost of taxes, fuel, equipment, feed and other supplies constantly rising. At least, with the assistance of Graze-NY and technical support from Dan Vrendenburgh we were encouraged in finding better ways to continue farming”, said George Bolson, Broome County. Bruce Rivington from Madison Co. comments, “Now is not the time to be cutting back support for a program that has the potential to revitalize the agricultural economy of upstate NY and be aesthetically pleasing to the urban population that visit our rural areas”. George Siemon, CEO of Organic Valley/CROPP Cooperative, emphasized on behalf of New York that technical assistance from various conservation organizations and programs along with farmer to farmer mentoring opportunities are extremely valuable tools for transitioning to organic practices and developing more grazing farms into the future. Upon receiving some 60 letters, I vowed to side step the mail screening backlog and personally hand deliver them to our New York Representatives in Washington, D.C. Little did I know the work involved in making this promise a reality.
The process started by making connections with local and D.C. staff people to set up appointments and get appropriate educational materials and letters out of why I was coming and why folks needed to hear these stories about grass-based agriculture. The printer worked overtime, but I was able to make up 16 full packets with 70 pages each and stuff them in my cloth “Pride of New York” bag, which seemed to weigh up like a bale of hay. The 6 hour journey to the Capitol was of course stressful because of a spring snowstorm and people forgetting how to drive in the weather. Parking in the shadow of the Arlington Cemetery I hoofed over to the subway to experience the “flight zone” effect of people crammed together for a 15 minute ride underground. As I looked at the many scowled faces, my mind was swirling with apprehension. How long will take to get through security? Can I make the appointments on time from one building to the other and back again? What happens if a meeting goes too long and messes up the schedule? Will one farmer make a difference in the sea of people much more adept and polished than I? Ugh! I am starting to stress out. Too late to worry, I’m riding the escalator up to my rendezvous point with a map in one hand and a 50 lb. bag in the other. Security was a breeze, since I didn’t have a pocketful of change or other related objects. I arrived early at Mr. Hinchey’s office, which was a very good thing, since the staff hadn’t been bombarded with phone calls or lobbyists yet. As staff person, Moria read a few letters, took notes and listened to my passion for pastures, family farms, conservation and local food it was evident that this was also very important to the Congressman. The same reaction echoed loudly from every office I visited with those precious letters. At one point, Congressman Steve Israel yelled from his office and said, “stop that farmer, I want to hear more about grass-fed meat.” I obliged of course.
I was sitting in Mrs. Clinton’s outer office waiting, as a wave of blue, power-suited pharmaceutical lobbyists surrounded the ole’ farmer. You can tell they are lobbyists because they have to wear a special tag. After the commotion and chest pounded ended, a fellow leaned over an asked, “what do you do?” Being somewhat tired and hungry, I responded, “Oh, I don’t know, I only help feed this nation” pointing to the basket of Pride of NY Products on the table. The timing of that jab and the staff person announcing he was looking for the farmer could not have been more perfect.
I stopped in the cafeteria for some ice-cream and to rest my sore feet from walking on concrete. As I enjoyed my respite, one couldn’t help but notice all the groups of people strategizing and talking about bills, amendments and what appointments they needed to hit to get the most bang for the buck. Yes, Ladies and Gentleman, we are a very little fish in a huge pond. Hearing and seeing this process in motion, I can really feel for the enormous workload placed on legislator’s staff to work with some many people.
The rest of the day went surprising smooth and our New York Representatives and their staff were very engaging, enjoyable and helpful. The last appointment and packet ended up in Senator Schumer’s office at 6 pm with a “face to face” meeting with myself and member farmers from NY Farm Bureau. The farmers and their farms represented a diverse array of products such as: fruits and vegetables, maple syrup and honey, shellfish and dairy, along with this guy that calls himself a “grass farmer”. What a fitting way to end the day amongst my fellow farmers.
The walk from the Hart Senate Building to the subway was a lonely one. No one there to say good job, No one around to say that the efforts by a bunch of farmers made a difference, No fanfare, nothing, but sore feet, an empty sack and humility for what farmers do 7 days a week. The Blue-Line was almost empty with weary travelers as I passed by the Chesapeake Bay Program’s “Save the Crabs, then Eat’em” poster. That little bit of humor snapped me back to life and I started to feel warm inside again.
Approaching my 2001 Dodge Dakota pickup, I could see the familiar dent in the tailgate from a cantankerous steer, the sun faded fireman’s cap on the dash purchased to help 911 victims, the John Elway figurine hanging on the mirror, the red bandana tied on the shifter and the back window covered with support grazing stickers. Can anyone say “fish out of water.” I opened the door and collapsed in the seat, but before the dome light went out, it cascaded a ray of light on my Grandfather Jimmy Steele’s picture which I carry with me always. I cried, and I cried some more. I was a tired, proud, overworked emotional wreck right smack dab in the nation’s capitol. I wish he was here to see me talk about those letters and see the reactions of people that can identify with the importance of the family farmer and grass-based agriculture. After finally regaining my composure, I put the truck in drive, proud to have left a little of my 5 generations of farming roots and that of my fellow farmers behind to shape a nation. As the lights of the city turned into darkness, the words from those letters played back many times in my head helping me navigate the journey back to the country where I belong.
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