Spade & Spoon: Localizing the Way Westerners Eat

Winter Listening Sessions Give Farmers and Ranchers a Voice

By Kisha Lewellyn Schlegel, 1-15-08

Montana’s Senator-Farmer Jon Tester finished up a brief listening tour this week in Billings, where he spoke to the annual meeting of the Mountain States Beet Growers Association of Montana and highlighted the promising points of the Farm Bill. In particular, Tester discussed his provisions to the farm bill, which included assistance to farmers converting to organics. The Senator also worked to keep all Farm Service Agency offices open and called for the implementation of Country of Origin Labeling.

While his listening tour is over for now, (Tester headed back to his farm in Big Sandy this week where he and his family run an 1,800 acre organic farm) winter continues to serve as the talking season for most farmers and ranchers. And during the coldest months, a few agencies will hold similar listening sessions and conferences to hear concerns of those working in agriculture and use those responses to shape farm policy.

In Oregon, Friends of Family Farmers will hold listening sessions throughout the month of January to develop a list of issues and challenges that family farmers face while trying to run socially responsible, economically viable and environmentally friendly businesses. The first meeting will take place on Wednesday, January 16th from 6:30-8:30 pm at the People’s Co-op. Others will be held in Eugene, the Rogue Valley, Pendleton and Bend.

The Helena based nonprofit AERO (Alternative Energy Resource Organization) will hold a joint Agriculture and Energy Task Force meeting this week as well. Discussions will center on Montana’s Food Systems Programs, GMO crops and AERO’s Energy Blueprint. They will meet on Friday, January 18th, at the Missoula’s Public Library from 12:30-4:30 pm.

Some may lament missing Colin Powell’s speech on Monday at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 89th annual convention in New Orleans. Powell addressed over 5,000 farmers because as AFBF President Bob Stallman stated, “General Powell’s far-reaching U.S. foreign policy and military experience gives him an extraordinary perspective from which to address America’s farmers and ranchers.” Others will be sadder to miss the Gatlin Brothers, who sing country music hits like,“The Lady Takes the Cowboy Every Time.”

But those interested in hearing from someone who really knows about farming and ranching should attend the Northern Plains Sustainable Agriculture Society 2008 Winter Conference from February 8-9, in Mandan, North Dakota. At that conference, keynote Fred Kirschenmann of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture will discuss the “Future for Beginning Farmers,” and workshops will include, “Eating Locally Year ‘Round,” and “Livestock, Soil Health and Financial Productivity.”

For a full list of other events around the nation visit the National Center for Appropriate Technology’s website.

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