New Jersey Farm Bureau Focus 01/30/10

[EditorBob]

New Jersey Farm Bureau Focus
Week Ending January 30, 2010

CHRISTIE SUPPORTS FISHER: In a sudden burst of consultations and decision-making, Gov. Chris Christie this week endorsed the continued service of Agriculture Secretary Douglas Fisher and welcomed him to a seat in his cabinet. A statement was issued Tuesday afternoon which carried the news: “. . . Fisher has proven to have a deep appreciation for New Jersey’s agriculture that will be a valued addition to the Christie administration. I support his position as Secretary . . . and look forward to working with him to promote and protect our state’s natural assets.” Secretary Fisher was very pleased to receive the governor’s support and expressed his appreciation at the start of Wednesday’s State Board of Agriculture meeting. Also in the mix with the consideration for the secretary’s renewed term of office was the release last Friday of the governor’s agriculture transition team report. A special meeting of the State Board of Agriculture was held last Friday afternoon at the Rutgers EcoComplex in Columbus, NJ with members of that transition team to review the recommendations in the report. It was presented by the transition team chairman, George Gilmore, an attorney from Toms River, in front of an audience of more than 50 farmers and NJDA staff. NJFB’s Rich Nieuwenhuis was pleased with the decision, complimenting the state board for its handling of the matter in remarks made at the board’s Wednesday meeting.

TRANSITION REPORTS: Last Friday, the Governor’s Office released via the internet copies of every transition team report for all the major departments of state government. The agriculture report is a welcome call to restore programs and funding slashed during the Corzine years. The environmental protection report, authored under the leadership of chairperson Marcia Karrow, is a well-documented and withering critique of the operations at the DEP. The Authorities report minces no words about the Highlands Council, calling the program “a disaster on every level” and recommends either drastically reducing its powers or eliminating it altogether. It said the program adds unnecessary layers of added environmental regulation throughout the region, which duplicate pre-existing water quality regulations of the DEP that have statewide coverage. The NJFB directors, at their meeting Tuesday this week, adopted a motion “to diligently support the recommendations of the Authorities report, which suggests elimination of the Highlands Council.” Go to the NJFB website to find a link for a full copy of the Agriculture, DEP or Authorities transition reports of the Christie administration.

USDA-FSA: The Obama administration last week announced the appointment of the Farm Service Agency State Committee that will help govern the state FSA office. The committee is a longstanding advisory group whose members are subject to reappointment with the election of a new administration. Its role is to resolve appeals of farms about FSA programs, helping to keep farmers informed about the programs and helping carry out conservation programs. Those appointed are: Russell Marino (chair), vegetable farmer from Gloucester Co.; Jim Etsch, grain grower from Middlesex Co.; Mary Jo Herbert, horse farm operator from Mercer Co.; Robyn Martinez, owner of Oak Hill Farms in Sussex Co.; and Torrey Reade, partner in Neptune Farm in Salem County. Paul Hlubik is state director of the FSA office in New Jersey. For more details on FSA program, contact the state office at 609-298-3446.

HIGHLANDS LITIGATION: NJFB was informed this week that its legal challenge to the Highlands septic density rule is moving ahead. Oral arguments before the Appellate Division are scheduled for March 9 in Trenton. Farm Bureau is contesting the legal and scientific basis of 25-acre (farm) and 88-acre (wooded lots) minimum building lot sizes in the Preservation Area of the Highlands, regulations imposed and enforced by the DEP. As but one indicator of the drastic impact of these and other Highlands rules, the Warren County Planning Board reports a steep decline in the number of site plans and subdivision applications it has reviewed. The total numbers for both in recent years: 2004-169; 2005-145; 2006-135; 2007-103; 2008-91; 2009-55. The Planning Board cites “additional environmental regulations enacted by state agencies” as a contributing factor to this 70% decline in economic activity.

INVASIVE SPECIES: In addition to the four “listening sessions” at the upcoming State Ag Convention (Feb. 9 & 10 at the East Brunswick Hilton), there will be a special meeting held within the convention on the status of DEP’s plan for invasive species regulations. Starts at 8:15 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 10 .

For further information, contact the New Jersey Farm Bureau, at The Farmhouse, 168 West State Street, Trenton, NJ 08608. Phone 609-393-7163; fax 609-393-7072; email mail@njfb.org; website www.njfb.org

The New Jersey Farm Bureau is a non-profit member organization of 13,000+ farmers and farm-related individuals within the Garden State. It is the only organization solely dedicated to representing the grass- roots interests and directives of its members in educating all levels of government and the public on the farm community’s policies and positions. The Farm Bureau also takes a lead in seeking out initiatives, activities and ventures to enhance the profitability of producer members and ensure the viability of agriculture in New Jersey -- the Garden State for Good Reason -- our farms.