Vision
A sustainable, local agricultural economy is a key part of Peter’s vision for Vermont. As oil prices rise and the effects of climate change become more apparent, eating local foods will become an economic necessity, not just an upper-income fad. This is as an opportunity to grow our economy, create jobs, and nurture our core values. Successfully promoting a locally based farm economy will make Vermont-grown foods more affordable and practical for all. In addition, Vermont is perfectly situated to capitalize on the large markets that are within our reach – New York, Boston and Montreal. Innovative Vermonters are already taking advantage of our proximity to these population centers, and are making a living from their value-added agricultural exports.
Record
Peter has supported the development of a sustainable agricultural system by working with members of the legislature to establish the Farm to Plate program, increase the number and availability of slaughterhouses in Vermont, and allow small farmers raising less than 1,000 chickens to sell to consumers.
Peter has fought hard for working farms by repeatedly blocking Governor Douglas’ attempts to cut funding for land conservation, by updating the Current Use program, and by securing much-needed emergency funds for our struggling dairy farmers.
The Future of Farming in Vermont
As Governor, Peter would direct state agencies to develop a statewide food policy to identify our current farmers, produce, available agricultural land, and infrastructure so we can determine what barriers exist and begin to break them down. He would establish regional food centers where people can preserve and process their food and become better educated on how to feed themselves and their communities.
As Governor, Peter would provide better support to our local farmers. The future of Vermont’s agriculture lies both in traditional dairy and in diversified farming. Peter would continue to work with our federal delegation to establish an over-order milk premium that would help ensure our dairy farmers are getting paid what they deserve for their milk. He would also expand programs that help traditional farmers transition to diversified farming, including increasing farmer technical training for processing and expanding our network of much-needed processing and distribution facilities.
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Many fine words here but “over-order premium” is not among them. The dairy farmers’ chief problem is not low prices but over production, which is why their price is so low. Anyone who suggests that farmers are not getting “the price they deserve for their milk” must explain how that can be accomplished when the national milk supply is consistently 9B lbs in surplus over demand. Paying them an “over order premium” implies that they would receive a premium for the same level of production? Would doing so not drive production still further up? And the money to pay such a premium comes from where or whom exactly? This is a fact: there is no business model that anyone can describe that makes conventional dairy farming profitable in Vermont that does not continue to consolidate our small and medium-sized farms into huge CAFOs or that does not pollute the lake. How about a discussion of the importance to Vermont farming of organic certification.
I have to agree with previous post. Conventional dairy farming practice seems to be ‘unsustainable’, environmentally and economically. Vermont just can’t compete with other regional production efficiencies. Assistance with transition to organic production is a first step, but the real transition, I believe, is away from bovine dairy, with it’s high demand upon resources. Many of our farmers need to ‘downsize’ their structural and land needs and create more compact operations suitable to Vermont’s topography and transportation infrastructure.
I heard Peter today at the VT Affordable Housing Coalition meeting in Randolph and was impressed with his vision of conserving land for future farming opportunities in light of climate change.
I hope he is able to speak about this vision and very realistic assessment of conservation and the economic development opportunity such investments will make in our future.
Makes a lot of sense to me, and think this will resonate with other voters. It merges the competing interests of land conservation and economic development very nicely whilealso recognizing the realities ofclimate change.
Larry