The Maine State Grange hosted its annual Legislative Luncheon last spring. Members of the Legislative and Agriculture Committees plus several Deputies and State Officers served more than 200 legislators and their guests, making the event a huge success. Gov. John Baldacci and Commissioner of Agriculture Seth Bradstreet were in attendance.

The New Hampshire State Grange has been working with the New Hampshire Farm Bureau to save the NH Department of Agriculture. The governor proposed combining the department with several others. At a recent hearing attended by over 200 people, the Grange was able to tell members of the New Hampshire General Assembly about the importance of a state Department of Agriculture.

The Ohio State Grange Master and Overseer spoke at a Columbus International Program (CIP) in conjunction with the Columbus Kiwanis Club, to share information about the Grange to a visiting Serbian Agricultural Cooperative delegation. For over 38 years CIP has provided opportunities for professionals from around the world to gain valuable insight and experience through their professional exchange programs throughout central Ohio. The Serbians spent twenty-two days in Ohio meeting with professional counterparts in the United States. Upon returning home they will build on the relationships created to make changes in their own country.

Espenshade told the PMMB, "During the past 142 years, our farm has weathered many storms...the Great Depression, a failed attempt at 'going organic,' threats of eminent domain seizure for development.  However, at no time have we been as close to a breaking point as we are now."  He continued, "In many ways, my farm's current situation is representative of many farms in Lancaster County, and across Pennsylvania."

The list of items that can be fed into anaerobic digesters grew slightly more palatable when the Washington governor signed Senate Bill 5797 into law, allowing Washington farmers and ranchers to mix food byproducts into their biodigesters along with its primary fuel – cow manure. “Anaerobic digesters are great at changing waste products such as manure into energy, but they’re even more efficient when you toss in some food waste,” Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen ( D-Camano Island) said on Earth Day while explaining her motivation for sponsoring the bill to broaden the variety of biomass that can be used in the machines. SB 5797 exempts anaerobic digesters from solid waste permitting requirements under specific conditions and guidelines. Haugen is hopeful that eliminating regulatory red tape will encourage farmers and ranchers to use otherwise wasted organic material to produce heat and electricity.