A New York bill would change food procurement laws for municipal institutions.
The Good Food New York Act would allow municipal institutions to use value-based standards when awarding food contracts. Typically, food-purchasing contracts are given to the lowest bidder. The measure would permit contracts to be awarded based on a company's handling of workers' rights, climate resiliency and other issues.
Ryan Healy, advocacy manager for the nonprofit Feeding New York State, said the bill opens up opportunities for local growers and farmers.
"What this bill would do in the short term, however, is enable municipalities -- some across the state have really significant purchasing power -- to better support our own farmers and producers here in New York state," Healy explained.
New York City purchases more than $300 million in food each year. Under the bill, the city would have more options to evaluate who's awarded contracts beyond being the lowest bidder. While the bill passed with bipartisan support, some conservative farmers and farming groups opposed it based on politics more than its central elements. The bill awaits Gov. Kathy Hochul's signature.
Another element of the bill is a transparency measure, in which all bidders must include certain supply-chain information about distributors, and others involved with producing the bidder's supplies.
Ribka Getachew, campaign director of the New York Good Food purchasing program for Community Food Advocates, said although New York-based growers and farmers are excited about the opportunities the bill creates, implementing it will take a lot of effort.
"This is going to require a paradigm shift and is going to require a lot of support on the part of many within the food system," Getachew pointed out. "To ensure the supply chain at large is actually ready to meet the demand that will hopefully be coming from municipalities."
A federal good food bill has been introduced in the Senate. It calls for the U.S. Department of Agriculture to procure food for child, senior and community nutrition programs nationwide using a value-based approach. The federal bill also prioritizes food purchases from independent operations rather than large corporate farms.
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Winter in Pennsylvania brings farmers not only snow and freezing temperatures but stricter manure-spreading regulations to minimize water pollution.
Putting manure on farm fields is discouraged during winter months or when the ground is snow-covered or frozen at least four inches deep.
Robert Meinen, assistant research professor and extension specialist at Pennsylvania State University, said manure can provide essential nutrients to crops and reduce fertilizer costs but the nutrients have to stay in the fields to maximize their value and not run off into waterways.
"One of the drawbacks is, and the trade-off is, that we have to be careful because we also have environmental risk -- in particular, nitrogen and phosphorus -- if they get into surface water or groundwater, can cause pollution," Meinen explained.
Meinen pointed out in Pennsylvania, farms fall into different categories, including concentrated animal feeding operations, which the Environmental Protection Agency defines based on animal numbers and manure output. The large-scale operations face stricter federal oversight but the state's winter manure laws apply to all farms.
Meinen noted farmers applying manure in winter must follow strict guidelines, including Manure Management Plan requirements. He added winter applications require more conservative measures than in warmer weather, from lower application rates to field slope limitations.
"Restrictions on the slope of the field that you can go on, so a steep slope is to be avoided," Meinen emphasized. "Ground cover requirements, meaning that we can't have a bare soil surface that manure's applied to in the wintertime. It must have some kind of cover crop, or thick ground cover from crop residue."
He stressed Pennsylvania and other states have tightened their rules for putting manure on farm fields in the winter. The state defines winter as mid-December through the end of February, although the rules also apply when the ground is frozen or snow-covered.
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Indiana farm leaders are pushing back against a bill that would increase inspections at large livestock farms.
Senate Bill 193, sponsored by Sen. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell, would require the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to double inspections at Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations for permits.
Josh Trenary, executive director of the Indiana Pork Producers Association, said the department said it will not need more staff but a study suggested otherwise.
"The agency's ability to balance inspecting where the needs are, or the risks are, while still making sure they get around to enough operations every year to receive their grant funding from the federal government," Trenary contended.
Supporters said the bill strengthens oversight and protects water quality, while opponents argued it adds costs and unnecessary burdens on farmers. A Senate committee moved the bill to the full chamber despite concerns from industry leaders and no public testimony in favor of it.
Trenary stated livestock farmers carefully manage manure because they use it as fertilizer instead of costly commercial products. He wants the regulatory program to be efficient.
"We want the regulatory program to run well -- it makes our environmental record look good if IDEM is quickly responding and solving problems before they happen -- that's what we want," Trenary emphasized. "We want them to make those discretionary risk based inspections instead of a blanket statutory requirement."
Trenary argued the proposal creates more regulation without addressing a real problem. He wants lawmakers to focus on better environmental solutions.
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North Dakota lawmakers are still sorting out a thorny agricultural issue getting to the heart of local zoning restrictions for animal feedlot operations.
The state is looking to revise standards capping setbacks a county or township puts in place when figuring out how close feedlots can sit near a community.
State agricultural leaders want more livestock production in North Dakota. The recommendations call for reducing distance caps involving smaller sites but to extend allowed setbacks for larger ones, known as concentrated animal feeding operations.
Sen. Paul Thomas, R-Velva, at a committee hearing Friday, acknowledged the growing debate.
"There's a lot of communication from constituents, from agriculture organizations on all sides of this," Thomas observed.
Thomas proposed an amendment to do away with the longer setbacks for the larger feedlots. He argued the current limit of one mile is sufficient. It is unclear what a final bill would look like but Thomas' proposal is likely to anger local residents and environmentalists opposed to concentrated animal feeding operations, which are under increased scrutiny in the U.S. over concerns about air and water pollution.
Opponents had already spoken out against elements of the bill during earlier testimony this session, noting the push chips away at local control.
Jeff Kenner, a farmer from the Devils Lake area, was among those who expressed frustration with the broader pressure applied to townships to welcome feedlots with large animal herds.
"Why try to bully your way and get as close to a town, residence, lake or business (as possible) when there are miles and miles of open land to put animal feeding operations on?" Kenner asked.
Opponents of factory farms said not only are air and water quality affected, local road infrastructure is burdened with increased truck traffic. Backers of boosting livestock output in North Dakota said the state is falling behind its neighbors, while arguing the modern large-scale approach to producing food is needed to meet global demand. They said the bill in its original form strikes a balance between community needs and helping farmers. The amendment was tabled, for now.
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