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Remembering Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans

By Scott Marlow on January 27th, 2012

I am saddened this week by the loss of Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans. You only have to turn on the radio or open the paper this week in North Carolina to hear a flood of remembrances of her remarkable life. The Durham Herald Sun listed some of her contributions to the state:

She was a City Council member and mayor pro tem, a trustee of Duke University and the founder of the Mary Duke Biddle Foundation, a board member of Lincoln Community Health Center and a major force behind the creation of the Nasher Museum.

She served as trustee, vice president and president of the Duke Endowment. She was involved in the creation of the Josiah Charles Trent Memorial Foundation, the Josiah Charles Trent Collection of the History of Medicine and the Mary Duke Biddle Scholarship.

Mrs. Semans helped found the Durham Arts Council and the N.C. School of the Arts. She was a champion of education and fought for civil rights and affordable housing.

As truly great a woman as she was, and as amazing as her achievements in improving the quality of life for all North Carolinians were, I find myself remembering my first direct interaction with her. Back in my days as a Duke student, I worked for Technical Services, and one of my jobs was running a sound board at the groundbreaking of one of the huge science buildings – big crowd, all major players and big money. I might as well have been invisible. As soon as the program ended, she walked directly through this crowd of powerful people to the back of the tent to thank and compliment us for our good work and spent a few minutes chatting with us. That will always be my impression of her – a woman who sought out and appreciated the invisible people. That night, every member of the crew would have moved heaven and earth for her. I still would.

Mary’s wide-ranging and fierce dedication to her community touched our work at RAFI, too. She was the Chair of the Duke Endowment board during the years when Duke began to support RAFI’s work. Under her tenure, that support enabled us to train rural clergy and reach out to farmers in crisis through their churches, get a strong start to start our Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Program, and see farmers through the aftermath of Hurricane Floyd. In the years since, her legacy can be seen in the Duke Endowment’s ongoing commitment, which has allowed us to provide mental health and suicide prevention training to rural clergy who serve contract poultry farmers, found and build the Come to the Table Project, and more. It’s no coincidence that these initiatives have enabled RAFI to support farm families whose struggles would have otherwise been invisible.

She will be missed.

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Dudley Butler steps down from USDA

By Claire Hermann on January 20th, 2012

Dudley Butler, the Administrator of the USDA Grain Inspection and Packers and Stockyards Administration stepped down yesterday. Becky and I – and the rest of the folks at RAFI – wanted to take a moment to say “thank you.” Under Dudley’s administration, GIPSA released a rule that gives contract poultry farmers some of the rights for which they have been fighting for decades. Because Congress severely limited the regulations that GIPSA could finalize, the rule was not all that we had hoped for, but it still represents an important step towards fairness and balance in an industry that has little of either.

Dudley has been a long-time ally of family farmers. Before taking the post at the USDA, he had been a friend of contract poultry growers for over 30 years – fighting for farmers in court and working with RAFI to get rid of binding mandatory arbitration.

Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack told the AP that the USDA will continue Dudley’s work for a fairer industry:

“President Obama and I believe fair and competitive markets are critical to the success of American agriculture, and Dudley has worked tirelessly to advance this cause. USDA looks forward to continuing this work on behalf of our nation’s producers,” Vilsack said in an e-mail to the AP.”President Obama and I believe fair and competitive markets are critical to the success of American agriculture, and Dudley has worked tirelessly to advance this cause. USDA looks forward to continuing this work on behalf of our nation’s producers,” Vilsack said.

We wish Dudley well, and we look forward to working with GIPSA going forward, as we join contract farmers in their continuing struggle to balance the power in agriculture and get the fair treatment that they deserve.

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Wake County Nonprofit Donates Starter Plants to Local Gardeners and Ministries

By Sarah Gibson on January 20th, 2012

NOTE: This is the first in a series of profiles by the Come to the Table Project of faith-led projects that are relieving hunger and supporting local farms in North Carolina.

It’s that time of year when gardeners begin to plan their gardens and order seed for the growing season.  For some folks, the cost and time of starting plants can be prohibitive, and that’s where Grow and Share comes in. Based in Zebulon, Grow and Share donates over 20,000 seeds and starter plants to residents of the Triangle and eastern NC every year. The non-profit provides plants and educational workshops to families, churches, and organizations in exchange for a pledge from participants to share some of their garden’s bounty with their community. Participants can make requests for Grow and Share to raise particular plants in its greenhouses in Zebulon and Wendell, and the starter plants will be available by mid-April. Grow and Share’s mission is to provide support and resources to families and groups that will consume and share the harvest, so plants are not typically available for income-generating projects.

Grow and Share founders Kay and Frank Whately cite Leviticus 19:9-10, which reads, in part, “[D]o not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest…Leave them for the poor and the foreigner,” as part of the inspiration for their work; if each gardener who receives plants from Grow and Share allocates some of the harvest for families in need, there will be more healthy, fresh food available for participants to share with neighbors or bring to local food ministries. Grow and Share’s website has a list of churches and agencies that accept fresh produce from Grow and Share participants to distribute to local residents.

If you would like to learn more about how to request plants, participate in gardening workshops, or receive donations of harvested produce, email info@growandshare.org

You can also learn more on their website and in a story from Eastern Wake News.

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Farm Open House Events Part III

By Francesca Hyatt on October 26th, 2011

More events you might be interested in! If you attend any of these – send me an email and tell me about it: francesca@rafiusa.org

Riley Livestock Facility – Cattle Handling Facility

When: Saturday, October 29th at 10:30am

What: Tour Taylor Clay Riley’s custom livestock handling facility. His facility is made to comfortably handle calves when he needs to vaccinate, dehorn, castrate etc. Taylor designed the system himself and uses a hydraulic sweep.

Where: 5146 Crater Rd, Hamptonville, NC 27020

Grietje’s Garden Muscadine and Scuoppernong Vineyard

When: Sunday, October 30th 2-4pm

What: Enjoy a self guided tour of the vineyard, visit the new farm distribution facility and taste Penny’s value added      products.

Where: 324 Mosswood Road, Olin NC 28660

RSVP required. Please email: grietje@yadtel.net http://www.ncagr.gov/ncproducts/ShowSite.asp?ID=101017

Snow Creek Family Organics – Grain Puffing Demo

When: Monday, November 7th at 5pm

What: “We are inviting our fellow farmers to a grain puffing demonstration … We are a small-scale family farm growing organically. We want to promote a healthy, sustainable way of life. By growing grain and making cereal, we’ll show one example of how simple it is for farmers to make a living on small acreage.”

Where: 3359 Moir Farm Rd, Sandy Ridge, NC 27046                                                          http://www.localharvest.org/snow-creek-family-organics-M9713

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Farm Open House Events – Part II

By Francesca Hyatt on October 14th, 2011


A few more events coming up soon that you should check out!

Bluebird Farm
When: Sunday, Oct 16th. 2:30 – 5pm
What: Farm tour and potluck. “We will focus on the construction of a hydraulic ram pump system, low tech portable watering system, and production techniques for pastured broilers and hogs: improvements, mistakes, challenges, and plans. We will also discuss our small grass-finished lamb operation, free-range layer hens, and marketing pastured meats in a local economy.” If you plan to stay for the potluck, please bring a dish to share.
Where: Bluebird Farm, 4178 Bluebird Drive, Morganton, NC
https://sites.google.com/site/bluebirdfarmnc/home/directions

Nature Flower Farm
When: Monday, Oct. 17th. 9 -11am
What: Tour Wong Victor Her and Ia Vang’s stunningly beautiful flower operation, Asian vegetable varieties, and rice cultivation. TheHer’s will also be discussing their irrigation system.
Where: 3820 Potts Creek Rd Lincolnton, NC 28092

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Workshops and Open Farm Events in the Western Piedmont, Part I

By Francesca Hyatt on October 6th, 2011

As the 2011 RAFI Farmer grant cycle draws to a close, folks are busy finishing their projects and organizing outreach events. One of the commitments that grantees make when receiving a grant is that they will find a way to share best practices and lessons learned with other farmers. Often they create events that are multi-faceted and open to the general public. Here are a few that you may want to attend:

Hardin Farm Day

When: Saturday, October 6th from 10am – 3pm

What: antique tractors, produce for sale, petting zoo, hayrides, molasses making, hot dogs & more!

Hosted by: The Hardin Family

Where: Hardin Farm Store

8201 Millrun Road, Stokesdale, NC 27357-9324

(336) 643-4978

Small Dairy Workshop

When: Saturday, October 6th from 10m – 12pm

What: Learn how to navigate the process and regulations of constructing a farmstead dairy from two new goat dairies in Forsyth County

Hosted by: Harold, Carol and Jessica Penick of Once Upon A Meadow Family Farm & Johnny and Robin Blakley of Buffalo Creek Farm and Creamery

Where: Forsyth Cooperative Extension Office, Auditorium B

1450 Fairchild Drive, Winston-Salem, NC  27105

Catawba Valley Cattlemen’s Association – Open House

When: Sunday, October 15th 2-5pm

What: View the Association’s new cattle scale and load-out facility, and eat some icecream while you are there!

Hosted by: Catawba Valley Cattlemen

Where: Dennis and Tyler Lutz Farm on Rocky Ford Road, Startown Community in Catawba County. Call Jeff Carpenter at the Cooperative Extension Office for directions: (828) 465-8240

Solar Powered Pasture System

When: Saturday, October 22nd at 10am

What: Walking farm tour to view Worth’s solar powered irrigation system and fence for year round grazing of beef cattle as well as woodland managed pastured pork.

Hosted by: Worth Kimmel of Pine Trough Branch Farm

Where: Pine Trough Branch Farm

600 Church St. Ext., Reidsville, NC 27320

And finally, though they don’t currently have any events scheduled, please visit the Sparta / Alleghany Choose & Cut’s facebook page and beautiful new website: http://www.evergreentrailchristmasfarms.com/

Check back soon for more events coming up this fall!

The Penick's with baby goat

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Guest Post: Poultry Growers Need the GIPSA Rule

By Claire Hermann on September 7th, 2011

By Mickey Box, Poultry grower, Arkansas

Last month, the Ukrainian company that bought two North Carolina Townsend plants shut them down, laying off hundreds of workers and terminating the contracts of more than 150 contract poultry growers.  As a poultry grower, I know how devastating a lost contract would be. Poultry growers are often hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt, and if a company cuts you off, there’s no way to pay it. For the cut-off growers, the plant closing is going to ruin lives and destroy the livelihoods of hardworking family farmers.

The USDA has proposed a rule that might have protected these farmers. The rule, known as the GIPSA rule, would give growers the right to recoup 80% of what they invest in their poultry operation, and it would protect them from being forced to make expensive upgrades. If the rule had been in place, cutting off the contracts of 200 of my fellow farmers might not have been such a cost-effective option for the company. The cut-off growers would certainly be in a better financial situation than they are now.

Unfortunately, the rule has been slow in coming, and Congress has put pressure on the USDA to slow it down even further. The House of Representatives even passed language that would kill the rule altogether.

Two years ago, Pilgrim’s Pride made cuts similar to the ones we saw this month, leaving hundreds of farmers saddled with debt. Many of those growers had federally guaranteed loans. When the company walked away and farmers were forced to default on their payments, taxpayers were left holding the bill. The farmers were left facing bankruptcy, a high risk of suicide and stress-related health problems, and the loss of their farms. Last year, many of those farmers asked the USDA to pass the GIPSA rule quickly, so that no other farmer would be put in their situation. Now, for 150 more families, the rule is too late.

We needed this rule a long time ago, and each day we wait is another day that farmers are at risk for losing their farms when the next plant closing comes down the line. I hope Senators Pryor and Boozman will vote against any amendment that will kill or delay the GIPSA rule.   We need them to do what’s right and support the hundreds of family farmers in Arkansas and around the nation who grow chicken under contract.

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Hurricane Irene damage in Eastern NC

By Julius Tillery on September 1st, 2011

RAFI-USA field staff Joe Schroeder and Julius Tillery traveled across eastern NC on Tuesday Aug. 30, to bring water and food to farmers and people in need from Hurricane Irene. Below are some pictures of the damage that affected this area. If you can be of any assistance to anyone of the eastern North Carolina area affected by Hurricane Irene, please don’t be shy to help. There are many people still without electricity in this area, and with days without refrigeration and some water supplies damaged, people of these rural areas will truly appreciate any help.

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RAFI-USA staff participated in Farm Aid’s Advocacy Convening…

By Julius Tillery on September 1st, 2011

From August 11th to August 13th, RAFI-USA co-hosted with Farm Aid a historic farm-advocates gathering. The “National Meeting of Farm Advocates” took place at the National Agricultural Hall of Fame Museum in Bonner Springs, Kansas. This event, led by RAFI-USA’s interim Executive Director Scott Marlow and Farm Aid’s Joel Morton, brought together many of the most well known and hardest working farm advocates across the country. Panel discussions and break-out sessions took place over the three days and RAFI-USA’s own Benny Bunting was an esteemed panelist.

It was the first time in recent history that veteran farm advocates from all over the country came together to tell old stories, brand new ones, and continue  the work of advocating for farmers. The experience in the room was palatable.  Not since the height of our national farm crisis in the mid-eighties has such a group of advocates met to discuss the broad range of issues farmers face, and share their experiences navigating solutions.  In many cases the same folks were continuing the work 30 years later, still making the problems of individual farmers their own.  We here at RAFI get to hear Benny talk about the amazing work he does on a regular basis, but to meet and learn from “Bennys” from all over the country was, well…It was inspirational to say the least. Even old Willy Nelson was excited at his chance to meet Benny. (pictured below)

The event was indeed historic, but there was real work to get done and the crowd quickly recognized the urgency of putting these amazing minds to use. Some workshop topics discussed at this meeting were: lessons learned for the next generation of farm advocates, what discrimination looks like today, and new initiatives in farm finance. In addition to the workshops were a round of breakout sessions where advocates could split up into groups to talk about topics including Farm Bill 2012, young farm initiatives, leveraging federal resources, and land loss prevention.

For those of you who do not know, Farm Aid is a non-profit organization that formed around a benefit concert headlined by famed musicians John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews, Neil Young, and founder Willie Nelson. This particular Farm Aid concert was a special one for Willie Nelson because he was inducted into the National Agricultural Hall of Fame the same weekend.  RAFI-USA staff were present at the press conference with the musician headliners where our own Scott Marlow and Benny Bunting were both mentioned for all of their hard work in agricultural communities. From now on we will think of Farm Aid first, as a forum for great minds in farm advocacy work.  The concert wasn’t half bad either.

Below are some pictures of RAFI-USA staff at the conference, press conference, and concert.

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Townsend Shuts Down NC Plant

By Claire Hermann on August 10th, 2011

A week and a half ago, Ukrainian buyer of Townsend announced that it was closing its two North Carolina processing plants. More than 150 North Carolina poultry farmers learned that their contracts will be terminated in 60 days.

For a contract poultry grower, that is devastating news. Farmers foot the bill for costly chicken houses and equipment. Cooperative Extension estimates that most of these growers still owe $300,000 – $500,000 on those houses.

That means that many of the cut-off growers could stand to lose their farms or their homes.

Right now, we are working with partners, NC State Cooperative Extension, other growers, and other partners to make sure that legal aid, financial services, mental health and emergency resources, and peer support are available for farmers who want them. The stress of a lost contract means cut-off farmers are at high risk of suicide, heart attack, stroke, and other health problems. We have seen these effects many times before. Access to information and support saves farms, houses, and lives.

The frustrating thing is that the proposed USDA GIPSA poultry rule – the one for which farmers have been fighting for more than a year now – might have prevented this situation altogether. One of the rule’s requirements was that contract must be long enough for farmers to recoup 80% of what they invest in their houses and equipment. It would also have prevented the company from requiring farmers to make expensive facilities upgrades. The added financial protection for farmers would have made a big difference for many of the cut-off growers. The extra financial incentive for companies to treat farmers fairly might have led the company to make a different decision.

This is not news. Two years ago, Pilgrim’s Pride’s bankruptcy left more than 40 NC growers without a contract. Many of those growers told the USDA last year that the rule was needed – and needed fast – so that other growers weren’t put in their position. (Watch cut-off grower Kay Doby testify at a USDA hearing.)

And yet Congress continues to try to stall the rule. 13 North Carolina representatives signed a “dear colleague” letter asking the USDA to withdraw the rule. The House passed a measure that would prevent the USDA from using any existing funding to write the rule. Thankfully, the Senate has not passed a similar measure, so there’s still a chance for the USDA to release a strong rule that protects growers in the future.

Meanwhile, here in North Carolina, we’re reminded again that obscure policies have a big impact on families.

As soon as the news broke, we began to get messages in our inboxes and Facebook wall and answering machines from poultry growers, wanting to know how they could help. In the weeks and months to come, there will be plenty to do. As long as farmers want to keep fighting – for their families, their futures, their homes, their farms, and their rights – we’ll be beside them.

Want to help?

Donate: Providing financial and legal information to farmers takes time and resources – and the more we have, the better services we can provide. Your donation helps us provide this and helps work towards policy change that makes sure that this doesn’t happen again.

Growers: We are working on setting up peer support networks for cut-off growers. If you are interested, please contact Becky Ceartas at becky@rafiusa.org

Volunteer: We always welcome volunteers, especially those who can help out regularly over a few months or more. Contact Regina Bridgman at regina@rafiusa.org to find out about current needs.

Stay tuned: Follow us on facebook and twitter and subscribe to our email list for up-to-date information.

Resources for Growers
  • The NCDA has set up a Web site to assist poultry growers. The Growers Assistance and Information Network, or GAIN, contains information and listings of resources that could assist growers with financial planning, alternative markets and other topics relevant to your situation. The site includes contact information for resources at state and federal agencies, universities and nonprofit organizations. It also offers a list of steps that growers can take if they find themselves without a contract.
  • Chatham County NCSU Extension Agent Dan Campeau is setting up grower meetings.
  • Download the a fact sheet on what to do if your contract is terminated from Farmer’s Legal Action Group. (It’s from 2003, so please seek up-to-date legal advice as well, and stay posted for updated information.)
  • Please stay in touch. We hope to have more assistance and resources available soon.