Farm futures: Diversity key to success

SALISBURY — Mindful that the tradition of farming is a mainstay of history and culture in the Northwest Corner towns, state Rep. Maria Horn (D-64) convened an expert panel on  the future of farming on Monday, April 11.

Seven panelists described their current role in agriculture, prepared to discuss what needs to be done to be responsive to upcoming challenges, whether from climate change, changing practices, financial concerns both for themselves and in relation to their communities, and efforts toward a greener, more responsible and Earth-friendly future.

“It’s a huge issue,” Horn acknowledged. “It’s part of our cultural fabric, landscape and aesthetic.”

Panel participants focused on land mitigation and adaptation to climate change.

“We favor diversification,” said Amanda Freund, describing how her family farm in North Canaan has progressed to develop, manufacture and market CowPots by processing farm-generated manure into biodegradable, plastic-free  seed-starting pots. Fertilizer prices are seeing a major increase, though. Another pressure point is the cost of seeds, she said.

“Farmers are entrepreneurs,” Horn summarized, saying that successful farmers need to pivot according to conditions.

Allen Cockerline of Whippoorwill Farm, a Salisbury farmer and  a retailer and wholesaler of grass-fed beef, said that he is presently farming about 400 acres, 280 of which are under conservation easement. He owns about 200 acres. He noted that by remaining flexible farmers can change the pressures on their farms, which are very expensive to operate.

Another way to preserve farmland and protect it from development is through deed restrictions or agricultural conservation, said Chelsea Cazillo, Northeast policy manager for the American Farmland Trust.  More than 50,000 acres of the state’s farmland have been protected by state programs.

“I don’t own the land I’m farming,” said Samuel King of Blue Earth Composting, working to maximize transitioning food waste to compost. “Most land is unaffordable for farmers,” he added.

Turning to climate change and sustainable farming, Janna Siller of Adamah Farm in Falls Village, an agriforester and farmer, said, “The more diverse, the more successful.”

She said that rising fuel prices may make it impractical to drive produce into New York City to sell at farmers markets. It may be better to sell it locally in a sort of closed-loop farming pattern.

Innovative farming practices were also brought into the discussion. Dan Carr, Outreach Coordinator for Berkshire Agricultural Ventures and a Falls Village farmer, spoke of diversifying the landscape to enhance resilience, seeing deep tree roots as erosion preventers and introducing riparian buffers to protect waterways. He noted that black locust trees will feed the pollinator bees.

No-till farming is also coming into practice although all agreed that it takes time to configure the system of no-till drilling, disturbing the soil as little as possible.

“It all boils down to soil health and no-till is a way to get there,” Carr said.

Joan Nichols, executive director of the Connecticut Farm Bureau, an advocacy organization representing 2,500 farm families, spoke of year-round indoor farming as an alternative as the region deals with climate change.

Attention turned to discussion of waste management and increased participation in composting of food waste. King estimated that people throw away about 40% of what farmers grow. Horn suggested that there needs to be a way to make transportation to a composting facility more viable and affordable and she asked for suggestions.

Scale is the answer, King replied, calling for capital to be invested. People who build a composting facility need to know that they will receive the volume of food waste materials to make it work. To add a compost facility to a farm, for example, you need demand for the service and the product.

Horn noted that people who have participated in the pilot collection program at the Salisbury /Sharon transfer station have been enthusiastic about it.

Freund’s Farm has been a collection point, Horn said, adding that they have one of the first anaerobic processors in the state. Freund noted that her farm has been using it since 1997 to separate liquid from their manure, essential to making their CowPots.

“Resilience comes from good policy,” Freund told the panel. “I’m optimistic and hopeful,” she said.

Siller observed that land prices and lack of affordable housing prevent many younger would-be farmers from access to farming.

The panel was held on Zoom.