National President, Ed Luttrell, wishes a very Merry Christmas to all Grange members and encourages fellowship and focus on family during this holiday season.
Proposed Regulations Against Teen Farm Labor Could be Detrimental to Agriculture, Grange says
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Grange recently took a stand against proposed regulations by the U.S. Dept. of Labor that would limit the ability of teenagers to assist in farming operations across the country, calling the proposal “destructive” to the agriculture industry.
National Grange Legislative Director Nicole Palya Wood said the regulations take aim at many of the daily chores of rural youth and seek to drastically narrow the exemptions provided to these family farms by redefining farm ownership.
“With farming operations becoming more and more efficient and complex, this new language could leave many of our rural youth prohibited from the farms that are their heritage,” Wood said Tuesday.
Ed Luttrell, president of the National Grange, America’s oldest agriculture and rural America advocacy organization, said the proposed regulation goes against the grain of the American values many Grange members hold dear.
“So many of us grew up on farms, and our parents and neighbors helped us learn work ethic by giving us the opportunity, when we proved ourselves ready, to have more and more responsibility,” Luttrell said. “This proposed regulation is big government stepping in to tell us when a child is ready to learn the value of work and become a contributing member of their community based on age, not on maturity. American values and a good work ethic, start at a young age, and the lessons these kids learn even doing small chores are invaluable.”
The regulation, Luttrell said, “will have a direct and detrimental impact to agriculture, and would further exacerbate one of the most serious problems we as a nation face: the failure to see value in hard work.”
“In our organization, many, if not most, of our leaders learned our work ethic on the farm. Even though many of us chose not to become farmers directly, we learned everything about what it is to put in a full and hard day’s work, to have accountability and to do a job with pride from our time on the farm,” Luttrell said. “The idea to limit on farm employment for teens is destructive to not just the agriculture industry, not just specific farm families, but to their entire generation.”
Many groups have argued against the proposed regulations, citing an even more removed view of the agriculture industry for the American public.
Luttrell said the proposed regulation would “limit the exposure young people have to farming and could have a lasting impact on agriculture.”
“Most children and teens have never been on a farm. Those who have, and who wish to work on one, are more than likely going to be the producers for the next generation,” Luttrell said. “If we don’t engage young adults in farming practices and encourage their interest in agriculture, we may threaten our very supply of food and fiber. Consider that a majority of current farmers are 55-years-old or older. Without training and encouraging youth to farm, we are soon going to run out of knowledgeable and motivated agriculturalists. This proposal makes that an even greater likelihood.”
Wood also cited recent predictions that show U.S. farmers and ranchers must double production by 2050 to fulfill global food needs.
“We must commit to a safe but vibrant and expanding legacy of future growers, farmers, and ranchers rather than restrict their access, education, and involvement in family farms,” Wood said.
Luttrell said the U.S. Dept. of Labor’s citation of safety concerns regarding teenage farm labor are valiant but the proposed regulation as a whole is more hurtful than helpful.
“As a family organization, the safety and well being of our youth is a top priority for the Grange, because we know that we are training tomorrow’s farmers and ranchers. Bestowed with that responsibility, we also understand that it is necessary to provide a safe and secure setting where our youth can develop their interests in agriculture and carry that knowledge into the future,” Luttrell said.
Luttrell also said the proposed regulation would make farming and ranching an even more expensive endeavor, and said burdensome and unnecessary regulations are something the Grange actively lobbies against.
“I think this regulation is unnecessary and is going to add to the cost of doing business in America,” Luttrell said.
National Grange Donates Quilt to National Foster Parents Association for Fundraiser
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Grange was pleased to make its annual quilt
donation to the National Foster Parent Association in November.
The Grange, which has donated a quilt each year to the NFPA so that it may be auctioned at the association’s annual conference, has been a partner of NFPA for several years.
NFPA President Irene Clements said she believes the quilt will be wildly popular at the Association’s annual conference, to be held in Chicago, Ill., June 15 through 18, 2012.
“It is beautiful. The colors are incredible,” Clements said about the oversized quilt.
This year’s quilt came from the Grange’s Eastern Region, made up of Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, West Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina and the District of Columbia.
The quilt was put together by Barbara Gross of Pennsylvania.
“The National Foster Parent Association, like the Grange, looks to better the quality of life of individuals,” National Grange President Ed Luttrell said.
Local Granges throughout the United States are active in participating with foster agencies, gathering supplies for children at the beginning of the school year, hosting Christmas festivities, serving as foster parents themselves, and in many other ways.
“Granges in hometowns across America do wonderful work for foster children and with the National Foster Parent Association,” Luttrell said. “On the National level, we are proud to support the association in many ways, including through the quilt donation.”
The quilt was on display during the Celebration Banquet at the National Grange’s 145th Annual Convention, held Nov. 8 through 11 in Tulsa, Okla.
Grange Spreads Holiday Cheer by Donating Christmas Trees
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Six Christmas trees that were decorated and will be donated to those in need were on display at the 145th Annual National Grange Convention in early November.
“Each year, there are many of our older members who can no longer put up and decorate their own trees. There are also those families that have fallen on hard times and cannot afford a tree. We’re a community organization and we hope to bring the Christmas spirit to these people by donating a tree that was lovingly decorated,” National Grange President Ed Luttrell said.
The trees represented each of the hosting states – Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas – as well as the National Grange.
The Christmas tree donated and decorated by the Kansas State Grange will be given to assisted living center “The Legends” at Capital Ridge in Topeka, Kan., where Morning Grange member Lola Mae Bostwick is a resident.
The tree donated by Texas State Grange will also go to an assisted living center. Flo Carter, a member of David Crockett Grange, lives in a center in San Antonio, Texas, and will be a recipient of the tree.
Blue House in Langly, Okla., will be the recipient of the Oklahoma State Grange Christmas tree. Blue House provides items for people in need.
The Colorado State Grange will donate its Christmas tree to the women’s shelter in El Reno, Okla., and the National Grange Christmas tree was donated to the women’s shelter in Tulsa, Okla.
The Christmas Tree donated and decorated by Nebraska State Grange was also donated.
This annual effort has provided more than a hundred trees to those in need.
Rural Americans lose again as FCC staff analysis causes AT&T/T-Mobile to withdraw merger applications
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The recent FCC application withdrawal for the proposed AT&T/T-Mobile merger will significantly delay the build-out of rural broadband, the National Grange said Friday, and further put rural Americans behind their urban and suburban counterparts.
The withdrawal came after the FCC circulated a staff analysis on November 23, that expressed a severely negative response to almost every argument AT&T made as to why this merger was a positive move for the public.
The FCC staff analysis claimed that the arguments which AT&T put forth regarding to expanding coverage from 80 percent to 97 percent, without government subsidies, would occur anyway due to carrier competition.
National Grange Legislative Director Nicole Palya Wood said she, like many members of the 145-year-old nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, is extremely frustrated by the news.
“The assumption made by FCC staff that market competition in these high-cost rural areas will drive private entities to make these investments on their own is incredibly unsubstantiated,” Wood said Friday. “Our members suffer greatly from a digital divide that leaves them without affordable high-speed internet access, let alone competition which provides them a choice of providers in their areas.”
National Grange President Ed Luttrell said Friday, “Grange members have for nearly a decade supported rural broadband expansion as a way to enhance business, educational and health options in rural areas. Many of the Grange’s more than 160,000 members face inadequate or no access to high-speed internet.”
“The rationale that build-out will happen anyway, stands in direct conflict with every statement the FCC has put forth in the National Broadband Plan, and its press releases over the last two years, not to mention that it ignores a commitment made President Obama to make broadband build-out a top priority. Rural Americans lost big with the withdrawal of this merger application,” Wood said.
Wood said she hopes the agency will take a closer look at future proposals and assumptions made in the staff analysis.
“I would highly encourage FCC staff to explore this argument when looking into further applications,” Wood said.
Established in 1867, The National Grange, a nonpartisan, nonprofit fraternal organization, is the oldest agricultural and rural community service organization. With about 2,200 local chapters, the Grange has evolved into the nationʼs leading rural advocacy organization and a major benefactor to local communities. There are more than 160,000 members across the United States.
National Grange Welcomes 3 New Officers
WASHINGTON, D.C. — During the 145th Annual National Grange Convention in Tulsa, Okla., in November, delegates elected three new officers and re-elected 12 officers.
Barbara Borderieux, of Palmetto, Fla., was elected National Grange Chaplain. Christopher Johnston, of Durand, Mich., was elected National Grange Gatekeeper. Christine Hamp, of Nine Mile Falls, Wash., was elected as National Grange Pomona.
“We were so fortunate to have Phyllis Wilson, Linda Lewis and Scott Sherman as part of the National Officer ranks. We are deeply appreciative of their service,” National Grange President Ed Luttrell, who was reelected for his third term, said. Wilson served as Chaplain, Lewis as Pomona and Sherman as Gatekeeper. “We are all excited to work with Barbara, Chris and Christine in their new roles.”
Only two offices, both executive committee positions, were not up for re-election. These seats are held by Betsy Huber, who was re-elected as Executive Committee Chairwoman, and Duane Scott.
Other officers who were reelected include Jimmy Gentry as Overseer, Phil Prelli as Executive Committee Secretary, Joe Fryman as an Executive Committee member, Franklin “Pete” Pompper as Lecturer, Judy Sherrod as Secretary, William “Chip” Narvel as Steward, Roger Bostwick as Assistant Steward, Beth Merrill as Lady Assistant Steward, Dwight Baldwin as Treasurer, Patti Lee as Flora, and Linda Chase as Ceres.
Delegates Create, Revise more than 50 Policies at Convention
TULSA, Okla. — More than 50 delegates debated and weighed in on about 160
resolutions from Granges throughout the nation during the 145th Annual National Grange Convention held in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Of the initial resolutions submitted ranging from internal definitions for membership to large-scale agriculture and rural access issues, more than 50 became National Grange policy through delegate action from Nov. 6 through 10.
Dairy pricing, postal reform and expansion of rural broadband were just three areas in which new policy was adopted.
During the legislating process the delegates worked intensely on updating National Grange policy on several controversial issues such as U.S. Postal Service Reform, the build-out of broadband in rural areas and dairy pricing issues whose regional diversities can prove difficult to reach consensus on.
As the U.S. Postal Service continues to press for Congressional action on needed reforms, National Grange delegates reinforced their support for six-day mail delivery but committed to actively supporting necessary reforms and business model flexibility to preserve the 200-year-old agency that is so vital to rural Americans.
Grange delegates also collaborated to produce a state-of-the-art policy supporting America’s Broadband Connectivity Plan and a new funding mechanism that will help provide the universal service of high-speed internet to all Americans regardless of where they chose to live.
National Grange President Ed Luttrell said the convention was successful, both in terms of policy creation and fraternal spirit.
“The members of our Order were able to come together and express their views on issues important to themselves and their neighbors in a very poignant manner, work with each other to create policy for which we’ll advocate on the national level, and do so with a mutual respect and in a dignified manner,” Luttrell said.
National Grange Legislative Director Nicole Palya Wood said the actions of the
delegates reflects a true focus on the betterment of rural America and quality of life for those in the field of agriculture.
“I am incredibly proud of the diligence of our members to address controversial and regional issues in such a cohesive manor. Congress could learn something from National Grange delegates and how we establish policy on such a wide ranges of issues,” Wood said. “This year we have seen some great movement in the areas of rural broadband build-out, and the preservation of the U.S. Postal Service remains a top priority for the Grange.”
Established in 1867, The National Grange, a nonpartisan, nonprofit fraternal
organization, is the oldest agricultural and rural community service organization. With more than 2,700 local chapters, the Grange has evolved into the nation’s leading rural advocacy organization and a major benefactor to local communities. There are more than 200,000 members across 37 states.
Luttrell calls for ‘common sense’ decision-making during speech
TULSA, Okla. – During his annual address Tuesday, Nov. 8, National Grange President Edward Luttrell said the organization must be a leader in advocating for rural America, American values and common sense decision-making.
Luttrell began his address by stressing the need for continued advocacy by the organization for rural broadband build out and a viable U.S. Postal Service for rural residents in front of an audience gathered for the 145th Annual National Grange Convention.
Saying local post offices are “at the heart of our hometowns,” Luttrell called for any changes to the USPS be done with the impact to rural America in mind.
In the light of proposed closures of post offices and the USPS request to change service schedules, Luttrell said the Grange “believes that all reforms should be fully debated while keeping in mind that the rural mail customer is much more likely to rely on USPS services in light of the current digital divide.”
“We suggest that Congress allow the USPS to be innovative in the modern business world and develop a competitive culture within their employees,” Luttrell said.
Regarding the digital divide, Luttrell said it is necessary for rural America to have access to broadband services in order to “shorten the distance between rural America and state-of-the-art learning and healthcare.”
“Doing more with less is something that rural Americans know very well. Broadband allows its users to do many things, but most importantly it makes us more efficient at home and at work,” Luttrell said. “Living on a back road should no longer translate to being denied access to cutting edge communication.”
During the speech, Luttrell also outlined the Grange’s position on energy, saying it is “the lifeblood of our economy and it is a major factor in the quality of our life.”
Luttrell said the Grange would like to see the immediate removal of “legislative and regulatory roadblocks to allow clean energy production to be brought on lie within the next ten years.”
Further, Luttrell said the organization “is not opposed to common sense regulations,” but wishes for President Barack Obama to “halt the growth of onerous federal regulations during this time of economic uncertainty.”
“Common sense spending” is equally necessary, Luttrell said, in order to “bring fiscal responsibility back to our nation.
“The Grange asks each elected official to lay aside their partisan politics and work together to ensure that a balanced budget is achieved,” Luttrell said.
Sometimes more than regulation, the perception of the agricultural industries by the public will shape those industries, Luttrell said, stressing that those working in agriculture must “become educators and creators of public opinion.”
Luttrell said it is imperative for producers to “communicate through all the mediums used by the consumers to ensure that agriculture is judged on facts, not myths.
For all of these things, Luttrell said the Grange is “ready to work with thousands of communities, to advocate in State Capitols around our nation and to stand firm in Washington, D.C., on the common sense principles of American values.”
Read the full text of the National Grange President Ed Luttrell’s speech:
Introduction
For the first time the National Grange meets in Annual Session in the great state of Oklahoma. The inspiration of Oklahoma’s rich Native American ancestry and the indomitable spirit of the pioneers of the great American prairie remain a defining part of our American and Grange values.
There is a reason that the Grange has prospered for the past 144 years. That reason is we have never forgotten is that we are founded on American values and our strength is in our hometown roots. The principles and values of our great nation are under constant attack in the name of political correctness and the Grange stands firm in our belief that the principles and values of America remain relevant and important to each citizen and to the future of our nation.
The foundation of America is in our hometown community. The diversity of faiths are shown by the myriad steeples that point toward the heavens in each community. Countless organizations seek to give each citizen the opportunity to learn and grow into the person that they dream to be. The strength of our great country is based not upon the size of the federal government, but upon the health of each community we call home. The roots of America which nourish our nation are the hometowns of each citizen.
Postal Service
At the heart of our hometowns is our local post office. The Grange has been one of the greatest advocates of the United States Postal Service (USPS) since our earliest days. We’ve always been willing to suggest improvements, but our goal has been to improve the USPS so that rural America receives the service so desperately needed.
We currently see the USPS attempting to evolve and living through the growing pains of a transition off federal funding and into fiscal independence. In that effort, they have asked Congress for the right to change their service schedule, which includes eliminating Saturday delivery. The USPS has included in their proposal the right to further reduce days of service, have the flexibility to make business model alterations, and change postal rates to stay competitive in their market, without the need for Congressional approval. The USPS is also studying the possibility of closing over 10% or approximately 3,700 of their post offices to save money.
The National Grange remains a supporter of the USPS due to the critical service it provides to rural America. We do oppose the reduction of service to rural America as there are still no alternatives for many of its citizens and businesses. However, in light of the fiscal condition of the USPS and our nation, the Grange will work with the USPS and Congress to ensure that postal service to every home and business remains a reality. We call upon Congress to find solutions to the problems they have created. USPS cannot be innovative and responsive to a rapidly changing world when they are saddled with laws and rules which restrict or prohibit many common business options. If a measure is not passed to either federally fund the USPS, or allow it to operate as an autonomous organization, mail delivery will be drastically affected as early as August of 2012.
The National Grange also has an economic incentive to keep the USPS alive. Should we let the USPS fail, as the 2nd largest non-government employer in the United States we will lose over half a million jobs.
The Grange believes that all reforms should be fully debated while keeping in mind that the rural mail customer is much more likely to rely on USPS services in light of the current digital divide. We suggest that Congress allow the USPS to be innovative in the modern business world and develop a competitive culture within their employees.
Broadband Build Out
From mail to email, the National Grange has advocated for the creation and improvement of communication infrastructure in rural America since our earliest days: first for railroads, telegraph, and postal service, then telephone service, the Interstate highway system, and more recently broadband service. The internet and connections brought by broadband is truly the bridge that will shorten the distance between rural America and state-of-the-art learning and healthcare. Living on a back road should no longer translate to being denied access to cutting edge communication.
Accessibility and affordability of broadband service is critical to rural America. Education, medical care, business, as well as instant communication and updates between family members are now common uses of high speed internet. The health of our rural communities depends upon being a part of the modern world.
Recently the National Grange briefed the Congressional Rural Caucus on the need for Rural Broadband. We partnered with large carriers such as Verizon and AT&T as well as the National Telecom Cooperatives Association, and smaller telecom and cellular providers like Windstream and CenturyLink to advocate for a collaborative proposal called America’s Broadband Connectivity (ABC) Plan. ABC was brought to the Federal Communications Commission.
Two weeks ago the FCC ruled to endorse a good portion of the ABC plan and reallocated money in the Universal Service Fund to allow rural Americans the same affordable access to broadband that the Universal Service Fund brought them with copper wires 30 years ago. Due to the collaborative nature of these organizations, and the support of advocacy groups like the National Grange, $4.5 billion will be invested in building out Rural Broadband, and even better this investment will come from a fund already established. The Connectivity plan will redirect monies already collected.
Doing more with less is something than rural Americans know very well. Broadband allows its users to do many things, but most importantly it makes us more efficient at home and at work. Just as broadband helps us do more with less, the cost of energy requires us to do the same.
Energy
Our lives are powered by the energy created when our bodies burn calories. Our God-given ingenuity and intelligence has allowed us to harness a wide variety of other forms of energy to improve the lives of every person in America. The very strength and future of our country is dependent upon the availability and affordability of energy.
Energy is the lifeblood of our economy and it is a major factor in the quality of our life. We depend upon energy in the form of electricity which powers much of the telecommunications and personal technology revolution sweeping the world and oil which provides the bulk of the energy required for transportation. Even with conservation, refinements, and improvements in our energy usage, we know we will need even more energy in the future to maintain, if not improve our lives. It is doubtful that many Americans will voluntarily reduce their standard of living and it is not possible to go back to a simpler time before the electrification of America without massive negative environmental impact.
Coal provides approximately 45% of our needed electricity, natural gas 23%, nuclear 20%, hydro-electric 7%, and all other renewable sources provide less than 4%. Nations such as France have demonstrated that the majority of their electricity can be provided with clean nuclear generation.
The reality of our use of fossil fuels is that many nations, including ours, are adding massive qualities of greenhouse gasses to our atmosphere. Science agrees that the climate always changes and that we may have impact on those changes.
Executive orders from the President, thousands of pages of complex laws from Congress, and mountains of regulations from various federal agencies have done virtually nothing to address our nation’s energy security needs. Dams generating clean power are being removed to return streams and rivers to their “natural state” and nuclear electrical generation facilities are shut down due to age, yet neither are being replaced to ensure that we have clean, renewable power in the quantities our society needs.
Since the birth of the Grange in 1867, our organization has advocated and taught that we are the stewards of the land and we should leave the Earth in better condition than we found it. We know that the best practices in raising crops or caring for livestock and the best methods of protecting soil and water are learned through study, observation, and vigorous discussion of those findings. In addition we know those practices and methods must always be updated as new information is discovered.
The National Grange calls upon the President and Congress to immediately begin to remove legislative and regulatory roadblocks to allow clean energy production to be brought on line within the next ten years. We further call on the President to direct all Federal agencies that manage our natural resources to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the land and water resources under their jurisdiction that could be used effectively to generate or transport clean electricity within the next ten years, regardless of the previous political designation given to those land and water resources. America needs direction from our leaders, not dictates. Just as we overcame the challenges of putting a man on the moon within ten years, it is within our power to change the electrical energy supply system of America.
When America has a direction it will empower the private and public sector to follow promising research, adapt to new information, and form partnerships that allow quicker implementation to accomplish this goal. This process is proven to be far more effective than government mandates which lock all into a decision that is often more political than practical.
New designs of nuclear facilities, which are safer and may have much smaller footprints, need to be tested and approved. New hydro-electric projects need to be explored. While geo-thermal, tidal, solar, biomass, and wind power electricity generation are not substantial producers now, they serve an important niche and as technology improves may serve a larger role in electrical generation. All of these electricity generation technologies would benefit from greater access to appropriate land and water resources now managed by the federal government.
This approach doesn’t begin to solve all the problems, but it moves us in the right direction and doesn’t require brand new technologies, which may or may not be economically viable. It also frees up natural gas and coal for other valuable uses beyond burning for electrical generation.
Agriculture
2011 has been a mixed year for much of agriculture with prices generally up. It has also been a rough year for many farmers with weather challenges, a struggling economy, and uncertainty with government over-regulation.
The next farm bill is due to be renewed in 2012. More than 70 percent of all money in the last farm bill was directed to non-farm programs such as food assistance and school lunch programs. If a farm bill is passed in the next year, it may be the first to contain almost zero farm subsidies. Under the deficit reduction deal, a supercommittee of 12 members of the House and Senate will decide the fate of the 2012 Farm Bill and most likely the programs and monies funded by it. This supercommittee called the Joint Deficit Reduction Committee has told the House and Senate Ag Committees that they must cut at least 23 billion from the current or 2008 Farm Bill program baselines.
Regardless of the outcome from this supercommittee, seven billion citizens of Earth now expect access to basic needs like food, fiber and fuel. In my lifetime, our population is expected to top 9 billion, yet we continue to see a migration away from agriculture to urban centers even in underdeveloped nations that can scarcely feed themselves. As a majority of the Earth’s citizens have migrated to cities, the remaining farmers must work harder and smarter to assure that urban consumers have access to the food and fiber they need and desire. With the growing global population shifts, a new generation of agriculturalists will utilize a wide variety of business plans and will expect market forces and not government assistance to shape and dictate the success of their businesses. For this reason, those in Washington D.C. must resist setting a new course in agriculture policy and allow the market to guide our American farmers.
It is apparent that direct payments and commodity specific production subsidies to farmers are not only on the table, but will likely be ended. The Grange believes that programs such as crop insurance, research, and marketing partnerships are essential to give farmers more of a level playing field in both a local and a global market.
Investments in research and education through a variety of means including the Extension Service, 4-H, and the through our Land Grant Colleges benefit both large and small farmers. Improved and more efficient practices, disease research, and leadership development are essential to help farmers improve production, and to strengthen America’s rural communities. In addition, billions of our fellow beings around the world are alive due to improvements and discoveries by American agricultural research.
Crop Insurance, disaster payments, and marketing programs and partnerships are important keys to helping farmers and ranchers deal with volatile and unpredictable weather and markets. To ensure the health of farm communities we need systems in place to help farmers and rural communities survive the bad years and make it to the profitable years.
Long term success for agriculture is only partially dependent upon weather and markets. It is becoming apparent that the marketing of every product of agriculture will be dependent upon the perception that the public has toward each commodity. Agricultural production for the farmer and rancher has always been as much about the lifestyle and love of the land as about a profit. We must remember that while a profit is necessary, the perception of our production methods have great impact on the views and opinions of the consumer.
The terms “factory farm” or “industrial agriculture” creates an incredibly negative view of agriculture. There is research being conducted that may someday create a factory farm, such as the research funded by PETA to raise meat in a lab setting without animals, but that world does not exist today. As I have said on many occasions, the average American below the age of 50 is at least two generations removed from living on an active family farm. They do not form their opinions about the role and benefits of agricultural production based on personal experiences. The average consumer creates their opinion based upon the information that they are given through many forms of media rather than the facts as presented by agricultural groups who by their nature are workers, not talkers.
We often don’t create our own messages – messages that could improve the image of our industry. Instead, we allow the message to be created by people who know little or nothing about the day-to-day operations, needs and stewardship of those involved in agriculture. As an increasing number of consumers have little or no understanding of the farm, the need grows for everyone who cares about agriculture to become educators and creators of public opinion. We need to communicate through the all the mediums used by the consumer to ensure that agriculture is judged on facts, not myths.
How we grow our crops, harvest our crops, raise our livestock, and how we treat the land and animals impacts how the public views agriculture. We need to educate children and adults about why people choose to be farmers, ranchers, or foresters and the fact that those people cherish the land and livestock they care for. Small producers and large producers alike, share in the need to present agriculture in a positive light. If we fail to take the leadership in the arena of public opinion, those organizations that stand in opposition to agricultural interests will do so, and will win the war they have waged on the livelihood and passion of so many who live and work in agriculture.
The health of agriculture in America is dependent upon our fellow citizens viewing producers as good stewards of the earth and ethical people who care for the livestock they raise. Both small local producers and large production farmers are necessary to meet the needs of the coming decades. American consumers are demanding more locally grown products as well as many specialty products. At the same time, the population of the world continues to grow and the need for American ingenuity and skill in feeding the worlds’ hungry grows. The Grange believes that both small and large producers are filling important roles, one in meeting local demand, and the other feeding the starving around the world. Both are to be commended and we encourage producers in both groups to acknowledge the vital role that all play in feeding and clothing their fellow beings.
Regulation
This year we’ve seen regulations proposed from nearly every federal regulating agency. The Department of Transportation, Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Agriculture have all considered, proposed, or adopted regulations affecting nearly every aspect of feeding and clothing America and the world.
The Grange believes that there are too many regulations already impacting farmers, ranchers, foresters, and small business. According to the Government Accountability Office, 1,827 rulemaking proceedings were completed between October 1, 2010 and March 31, 2011. Of these, 37 were identified as having an expected economic impact of at least $100 million a year to business. No major rules were adopted that decreased regulatory burdens during the same period.
Nearly every aspect of daily life is under scrutiny from federal regulators. The Spring 2011 Unified Agenda lists 2,785 rules with 144 being major. This is an increase of over 15% in the number of major rules from the spring of 2010 to 2011. The 144 major rules alone would cost American business a minimum of $14 billion in new burdens each year.
In addition, the cost to the American people continues to rise to enforce these rules. The cost of developing, implementing, and enforcing rules continues to consume additional tax dollars and is projected to grow by at least 4% this year alone. The federal regulatory octopus is expanding its scope and reach at a rate that is faster than the growth of our economy, faster than the growth of our population, faster that the general rate of inflation, and even faster than the specific rate of inflation for our health care over the past decade.
The more regulators strangle business and innovation, the higher the cost will be to consumers. Consumers pay more for American products as the cost of doing business in our country increases. We also pay with jobs lost when American companies cannot compete against foreign business or when companies chose to relocate to other nations with fewer regulations in order to remain competitive.
The Grange is not opposed to common sense regulations, but we call upon the President to halt the growth of onerous federal regulations during this time of economic uncertainty. We also ask Congress to exercise their authority to oversee the federal agencies and remove the funding of additional major rules.
Fiscal Responsibility
The economic problems our nation has experienced over the past three years has impacted millions of Americans and will continue to impact many citizens for years to come regardless of when or how quickly the economy recovers. Many have had their retirement plans changed by the loss of their career during the time they expected to be their peak earning years. Others have lost homes or savings and it may take years or even decades to rebuild the financial security that has vanished. Many retirees have cut their lifestyles due to reductions from their investments.
Government involvement in our economy appears to have worsened and lengthened the problems from a common sense viewpoint. Unrestrained spending by our elected officials has resulted in a reduction by Standard and Poor’s of our nations bond rating for the first time in history and created doubt with foreign investors that will affect our market for years to come. Uncertainty created by regulations and massive laws have negatively affected both large and small business. Government selection of winners and losers through stimulus spending, grants, and loans has not greatly benefited the economy even as it has apparently benefitted selective campaign contributors. In addition there have been several large and public failures in these programs.
The Grange advocates for common sense actions to bring fiscal responsibility back to our nation. Congress and the President should start with balancing the budget. If deficit spending is required to meet our nation’s needs, such as in the case of war or natural disaster, then the American people will know that debt is created for a specific purpose and can hold their elected officials accountable. Until the budget is balanced it will not be possible to pay down the national debt that has already been created and continues to grow at an unacceptable rate.
The Grange asks each elected official to lay aside their partisan politics and work together to ensure that a balanced budget is achieved. We also believe that Congress should seek to implement their laws and financial solutions in a timely fashion rather than passing them to future Congresses which must act in order for those solutions to be implemented.
The American tax code has become extremely complicated. Tax rates, tax credits, and tax deductions create confusion for the average American. Businesses and individuals are required to hire tax experts in fear of IRS audits and to take advantage of a multitude of tax credits and deductions.
The National Grange calls for a simplification of the tax code. This simplification should follow some basic philosophies. It should be based upon the ability to pay and we firmly reject the idea that success in America should be punished with a heavier tax burden. Each working American should pay something to their nation. The purpose of the tax code should be raising the necessary revenue needed by a frugal government, not social engineering.
We recommend that all tax credits be reviewed by Congress with the goal that only those shown to have a positive impact on the economy be kept. Americans should be making financial decisions based on what is right for themselves and their businesses rather than how to avoid paying taxes.
Conclusion
The Grange stands ready to work in thousands of communities, to advocate in State Capitols around our nation, and to stand firm in Washington, D.C. on the common sense principles of American values. We understand that our hometown roots are what give strength to America.
2012 will be an interesting year. It is shaping up to be a year of intense partisanship due to the presidential and congressional elections. The challenges in urban, suburban, and rural America are many, but solutions will be found, issues will be addressed, and at the end of the year, we will be Americans working together.
Grange members understand, American Values, Hometown Roots!
Grange, Yankee Candle Partner for Fundraising Program
As the holiday season gets into full swing, some Grange members across the country are using the time to offer unique gifts and the opportunity for buyers to give back to their hometowns through a newly announced fundraising program.
The National Grange has worked with Yankee Candle to create a fundraising program for all levels of the Grange.
Granges can sell specific Yankee Candle products, complete with the Grange logo and tagline, “American Values. Hometown Roots.” printed on the label, for the same price as these items are sold in stores, and will benefit directly from the sale.
“This is a wonderful way for our members to raise money, especially during the holiday season when candles are on the top of many gift lists,” National Grange President Ed Luttrell said. “It also helps remind people about the Grange in their community and the great things we do for America’s hometowns year-round.”
For those living in communities with no Grange or where the local or state Grange is not participating in the fundraiser, candles may be purchased through the National Grange for the same price. All proceeds from these candle sales will go to the Oliver H. Kelley Farm, the original farm of one of the Grange’s seven founders, Oliver H. Kelley. The Kelley Farm is preserved as an 1860s working farm and serves as an educational space for adults and children alike.
Grange candles come in three sizes – large jar, small tumbler and votive – and in five different scents chosen specifically because of their appeal and nod toward Grange values: Farmhouse Apple, Home Sweet Home, Kitchen Spice, Mountain Lodge and Farmer’s Market.
To purchase Grange candles from the National Grange, contact Programs, Benefits and Sales Director Samantha Johnson at sjohnson@nationalgrange.org or by phone at 888-4-GRANGE, ext. 109.
Any Grange can become involved. There is no limit to the number of candles a Grange may sell and no limit to the amount of times a Grange may run this fundraiser. There is no timeframe in which the fundraiser must be completed, however, Yankee Candle and the Grange recommend a short sale period.
Grange members who would like to take part in this fundraiser can contact Johnson for more information.
National Grange Commits to Support USPS in Reforms
TULSA, Okla. — The National Grange hosted a luncheon panel focused on the United States Postal Service on Nov. 7 during its 145th Annual Convention in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The U.S. Postal Service was represented by 30-year veteran and Regional Vice President of Operations Linda Welch, who provided a clear picture of the legislative changes necessary for the second largest non-government employer in the United States to evolve, survive and compete.
“We have a universal responsibility to provide universal service to every American citizen, and we want to continue doing that in the most cost-effective way,” Welch said. “Like the Grange, we’ve been around for a long time and, with the help of these legislative changes and our continued commitment internally, we look forward to continuing to serve your needs no matter what they are and no matter where they are for another 200 years.”
National Grange Legislative Director Nicole Palya Wood responded to Welch’s comments by highlighting the National Grange’s role early on in the battle for Rural Free Delivery and recognized that the preservation of the U.S. Postal Service is a top priority.
“The National Grange is committed to working with and advocating for the USPS as they pursue legislative reforms to become more financially autonomous and competitive in an evolving marketplace,” Wood said. “In areas where high-speed internet is not available, too many of our rural neighbors depend solely on the USPS for their connection to retailers, prescription services and family to let this establishment fail. Not to mention the disastrous economic ramifications of letting the second largest employer in the U.S. close its doors.”
Established in 1867, The National Grange, a nonpartisan, nonprofit fraternal organization, is the oldest agricultural and rural community service organization. With more than 2,700 local chapters, the Grange has evolved into the nation’s leading rural advocacy organization and a major benefactor to local communities. There are more than 200,000 members across 37 states.