ISSUE: Protecting Farmers’ Markets

Rob Johnson, Policy Director, NH Farm Bureau Federation

ISSUE: Protecting Farmers’ Markets

Rob Johnson, Policy Director, NH Farm Bureau Federation

Nicole adding

• Helps prioritize NH farmland for protection
• NH lost 11,600 acres from 2001-2016 (775 ac/year)
• 4,600 acres to urban areas
• 7,000 acres to low density rural areas
• Prime farmland most at risk
• 11,600 acres of farmland generates $5.1M revenue/year
• 5x more producers over 65 than under 35 years of age

American Farmland Trust

FARMS UNDER THREAT

ISSUE: Protecting Farmers’ Markets

Rob Johnson, Policy Director, NH Farm Bureau Federation

Sponsor: Deborah Aylward, Danbury

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Contact:

Rob Johnson

Policy Director

NH Farm Bureau Federation

robertj@nhfarmbureau.org

Background: RSA 21:34-a Farm, Agriculture, Farming.

Current:

V. The term "farmers' market" means an event or series of events at which 2 or more vendors of agricultural commodities gather for purposes of offering for sale such commodities to the public. Commodities offered for sale must include, but are not limited to, products of agriculture, as defined in paragraphs I-IV. "Farmers' market" shall not include any event held upon any premises owned, leased, or otherwise controlled by any individual vendor selling therein.

Proposed in HB 1327:

V. “Farmers' Market” means a temporary event, series of events, or permanent venue that is open to the public, and is where 2 or more vendors of agricultural commodities or by-products offer for sale such commodities as defined in I-IV, and at which there may also be the sale of non-agricultural goods including artisan food products and crafts produced by agricultural or non-agricultural related business operations. No person shall advertise the term "farmers' market” unless such event or venue conforms to the definition in this paragraph.

ISSUE: Protecting Farmers’ Markets

Rob Johnson, Policy Director, NH Farm Bureau Federation

Sponsor: Deborah Aylward, Danbury

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Contact:

Rob Johnson

Policy Director

NH Farm Bureau Federation

robertj@nhfarmbureau.org

Talking Points:

• The integrity of the term, “farmers’ market,” is important to farm businesses and to marketing farm products.

Related Bills:

• HB 1090: repealing the requirement to register "farmers' market" as a trade name
• HB 1327: relative to the definition of farmers' market
• LSR 2438: relative to redefining “homestead foods” as “artisan foods,” etc.

ISSUE: Ability to Use Drones to Apply Pesticides

Rob Johnson, Policy Director, NH Farm Bureau Federation

Sponsor: Judy Aron, South Acworth

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Contact:

Rob Johnson

Policy Director

NH Farm Bureau Federation

robertj@nhfarmbureau.org

Background:

NH farmers, always looking for efficiencies and to the latest in technology, are interested in the ability to enable the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, for the application of pesticides. The state law, written with airplanes in mind, requires a special permit for the aerial application of pesticides. These permits are burdensome to obtain and are often impractical.

Talking Points:

• AUVs offer tremendous efficiency to crop protection, labor savings (related to the challenge of getting labor), and worker safety due to remote application.
• Enables pesticides to be applied more precisely to its target.
• Expertise required— the use of an UAV for commercial purposes requires a Federal Aviation Administration Part 107 certification. The application of any pesticide requires an individual be licensed.
• AUVs are in regular use for pesticide application in other states.
• Helps address an existing problem, burcucumber in corn.

Related LSR:

• LSR 2550: relative to the use of drones for the aerial application of pesticides. Enables the use of an UAV for the application of pesticides within certain parameters.

ISSUE: Farmer Relief Funds

Rob Johnson, Policy Director, NH Farm Bureau Federation

Sponsor: Daniel Innis, Bradford (SB 348)

Donovan Fenton, Keene (LSR 2920)

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Action Needed:

• Make legislators aware that you support emergency financial assistance to New Hampshire farmers for unprecedented crop losses occurring earlier this year.

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Contact:

Rob Johnson

Policy Director

NH Farm Bureau Federation

robertj@nhfarmbureau.org

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Background:

The state’s fruit growers were hit earlier this year by two major disasters – a February deep freeze decimating the state’s stone fruits crop (peaches, sweat cherries, and European plums) and a May 18-19 freeze severely impacting apples, grapes, and other fruit crops. In a survey conducted by UNH Cooperative Extension, the economic impact of the lost crops is valued at $9,982,810 with the apple crop being the biggest value loss at $7,918,946. An unusually wet spring and early summer, resulting in severe flooding in some instances also impacted many vegetable and forage crops. These events were unprecedented and resulted in an extraordinary financial hit to many farmers, particularly to fruit growers.

Talking Points:

• Maintaining the critical infrastructure the state’s farms and the local food supply they provide is important. This has never been highlighted better than with the recent pandemic induced supply chain disruptions.
• Our farms provide all of us with a number of ancillary quality of life benefits.

Related LSRs:

• SB 348-FN-A: relative to emergency crop relief. Provides $8 million for losses in emergency assistance for crop losses in excess of 30% due to weather-related events occurring between 1/1/23 & 7/30/23. Caped at 50% of gross losses or $500,000, whichever is lower.
• LSR 2920: relative to establishing a farmer assistance fund

ISSUE: Current Use + Carbon Credits

Rob Johnson, Policy Director, NH Farm Bureau Federation

Sponsor: Eamon Kelly, Berlin

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Action Needed:

• Support Current Use assessment as an open space law and tell Legislators not to monkey with it for other policy objectives.

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Contact:

Rob Johnson

Policy Director

NH Farm Bureau Federation

robertj@nhfarmbureau.org

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Background:

Current Use assessment, which values land at its current use and not at its highest valued use, is the foundation of New Hampshire's working farm and forest landscape and the cornerstone in maintaining the state's OPEN SPACE lands. It enables farmers and other landowners to hold on to their land and not have to sell it in order to pay property taxes. HB 1484 would make Forest Land that is enrolled in a program receiving “Carbon Credits” ineligible for Current Use assessment.

Talking Points:

• The Current Use program is relatively simple for landowners to understand and for municipalities to administer. Its intent is open space preservation - period! The program should not and was not designed to be used for other public policy objectives.

Related Bill:

• HB 1484: relative to current use taxation for certain forested lands

RSA 79-A:1 Declaration of Public Interest. – It is hereby declared to be in the public interest to encourage the preservation of open space, thus providing a healthful and attractive outdoor environment for work and recreation of the state's citizens, maintaining the character of the state's landscape, and conserving the land, water, forest, agricultural and wildlife resources. It is further declared to be in the public interest to prevent the loss of open space due to property taxation at values incompatible with open space usage. Open space land imposes few if any costs on local government and is therefore an economic benefit to its citizens. The means for encouraging preservation of open space authorized by this chapter is the assessment of land value for property taxation on the basis of current use. It is the intent of this chapter to encourage but not to require management practices on open space lands under current use assessment.

ISSUE: Carbon Markets and Pricing

Julie Davenson, Northeast Organic Farming Association of NH

Sponsors: Eamon Kelly (HB 2613)

Nicholas Germana (HB 2732)

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Fiscal Impact: Unknown at this time.

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Next Steps & Time Frame:

• Sign NOFA NH Action Alert rejecting False Solutions to Climate Change Take action on the 2023 Farm Bill! Support climate, land, and food justice for all.

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• Advocate for Real Solutions: Protect IRA Funds https://kisstheground.com/contact-congress/#/12/

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Action Needed:

• Join NOFA NH Policy Working Group
• Watch NOFA NH and Seacoast Permaculture’s Webinar Series on Carbon Markets https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIplYVefzZbef1roeKnUqAA

Contact: Nikki Kolb, NOFA-NH Operations Director

nikki@nofanh.org

Background: The effectiveness and fairness of carbon markets depend on the specific design of the market mechanisms, regulatory frameworks, and the inclusion of safeguards for the interests of small-scale farmers and local communities. Policymakers and market designers need to consider these factors to ensure that carbon markets contribute to both environmental sustainability and social equity.

Talking Points:

• Land use changes: The focus on specific land-based carbon offset projects, such as afforestation or reforestation, may lead to changes in land use that could have unintended consequences for local communities, biodiversity, and food production. (140,000 acres CT Lakes Headwaters Working Forest purchase by Bluesource for carbon credits displacing NH Foresters)
• Offsets delay the real work of tackling the climate crisis Carbon markets, if not carefully designed, may allow emitters to continue with business-as-usual practices by purchasing offsets rather than making substantial efforts to reduce their own emissions.
• The offset industry’s self-set standards and certification processes encourage and enable abuse.

Related LSRs:

• HB 2613: establishing a tax on land use for carbon credits
• HB 2732: relative to proxy carbon pricing in state procurement

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ISSUE: Farmers’ Relief Aid

Julie Davenson, Northeast Organic Farming Association of NH

Sponsors: Donovan Fenton, HB 2920

Daniel Innis, HB 2851

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Fiscal Impact: Unknown at this time.

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Next Steps & Time Frame:

• Monitor status
• Provide testimony

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Action Needed:

• Establish permanent grant programs to support farmers in building climate resilience investing in organic and healthy soil programs like the NHACD Climate Resilience grants.

Contact: Nikki Kolb, NOFA-NH Operations Director

nikki@nofanh.org

Background: NOFA-NH created a relief fund and will disperse $30k in funds. The needs of farmers ranged from $1,400 to $150,000 in uncompensated losses. Every other state in New England has already established disaster relief programs for their farmers due to climate events during the 2023 growing season.

Talking Points:

• NH farmers are on the frontlines of impacts of climate change.
• NH farmers were essential in feeding local communities during COVID supply chain disruptions - investing in their business ensures our food security.
• Regional food systems goals require growth in local production but without support in facing disasters production may decline rather than increase.�

Related LSRs:

• LSR 2851: relative to emergency crop relief
• LSR 2920: relative to establishing a farmer assistance fund

ISSUE: Protecting Organic Certification

Julie Davenson, Northeast Organic Farming Association of NH

Sponsors: Rep. Peter Bixby, HB 2106

Glenn Bailey, HB 2167

Dan Wolf, HB 2473

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Fiscal Impact: Unknown at this time.

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Next Steps & Time Frame:

• Join NOFA Farmer Working group

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Action Needed:

• Expanded opportunities for supporting organic producers in the state, especially in marketing, food hub collaboratives, access to processing, and adequate labor.
• Ensure the continued and uninterrupted certification services for NH producers.
• Create a grant program for NH certified organic and transitioning farmers.

Sources: https://ota.com/news/press-releases/22820

https://organicfarmpartners.com/reasons-to-transition-to-organic

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Background: In 2021, NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food (NHDAMF) discontinued certification services for livestock and processing scopes. In 2025, NHDAMF needs to increase fees for the remaining scope, crops certification, and to continue administering the service.

Talking Points:

• It is essential to maintain a New Hampshire Certified Organic Seal for farmers
• Organic farming increases land values, boosts climate resilience, improves soil health, and reduces input costs.
• Organic presents robust market growth opportunities for all New Hampshire farmers. In 2022, U.S. organic food sales broke through $60 billion for the first time. Total organic sales – including organic non-food products – were a record $67.6 billion*

Related LSRs:

• HB 2106: relative to making an appropriation to the organic certification program.
• HB 2473: mandating a cooperative agreement w USDA for "organic" certification
• HB 2167: relative to organic food certification and labeling.

Contact: Nikki Kolb, NOFA NH Operations Director

nikki@nofanh.org

ISSUE: PFAS

Julie Davenson, Northeast Organic Farming Association of NH

Sponsors: Suzanne Vail, HB 2434

David Meuse, HB 2417

Nancy Murphy, HB 2603

Nancy Murphy, HB 2700

Karen Ebel, HB 2805

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Fiscal Impact: Unknown at this time

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Next Steps & Time Frame:

• Monitoring status

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Action Needed:

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• Join NOFA NH Policy Working Group

Background: Risk of PFAS to humans include changes in cholesterol and liver enzyme levels, small changes in infant birth weight, changes in the immune system and response to certain vaccines, increased risk of preeclampsia or high blood pressure in pregnant women, and increased risk of certain cancers (i.e., kidney and testicular), as well as farmland and food supply contamination.

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Talking Points:

• Soil: PFAS can get into soil through land application of biosolids, which is sludge from wastewater treatment. If contaminated biosolids are applied to farm fields as fertilizer, PFAS can get into water and into crops and vegetables.
• Groundwater: PFAS can leach out from landfills.
• PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) can accumulate in ecosystems, including in grass-fed and foraging livestock. This can pose significant health and economic impacts.

Related LSRs:

• HB 2434: relative to the statute of limitations on civil actions involving PFAS
• HB 2417: establishing a trust fund from soil and water environmental contamination court settlements
• HB 2603: relative to the liability for the cost of PFAS blood testing
• HB 2700: relative to PFAS liability
• HB 2805: relative to prohibiting certain products with intentionally added PFAS

Source: https://www.pfas.des.nh.gov/drinking-water

Contact: Nikki Kolb, NOFA-NH Operations Director

nikki@nofanh.org

LSR 2697: Local Food for Local Schools Reimbursement Pilot Program

Stacey Purslow, NH Farm to School

Sponsor: Alexis Simpson (Rockingham 33)

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Fiscal Impact: $241,000

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Next Steps & Time Frame:

• Heard in committee-likely in January
• Committee vote-likely in February

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Action Needed:

• Sign onto a support letter
• Attend the bill hearing and provide testimony
• Ask your local legislator to support the bill
• Find all information here:

https://www.nofanh.org/farm-to-school

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Contact:

Stacey Purslow, NH Farm to School

UNH Sustainability Institute

stacey.purslow@unh.edu

Background:

This reconfigured bill will support a two-year pilot incentive program that a school or school district from each county in NH will be able to participate in. Schools will be eligible to receive up to $10 in reimbursement per student to use to purchase foods grown or harvested in NH and New England.

Talking Points:

• The program will be hosted by the NH Department of Agriculture.
• Requested funds support a part-time program coordinator, the reimbursement and professional development for school food service-specifically culinary training.
• Schools will be selected to participate through an RFP process and by a committee.
• Eligible foods for reimbursement include dairy, fish, pork, beef, poultry, eggs, fruits, vegetables, cider, and maple syrup. Processed dairy, minimally processed proteins, and minimally processed produce are included. Fluid milk is excluded from the program.
• Has bi-partisan support/14 sponsors in both House and Senate.

Hunger Free NH Act

Brodie Deshaies, NH Hunger Solutions

Prime Sponsor: Senator Becky Whitley

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Fiscal Impact: Unknown at this time

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Next Steps & Time Frame:

• Language and cosponsors being finalized
• Earning legislators' support prior to introduction
• Awaiting formal introduction by Sen. Whitley

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Action Needed:

• Join coalition calls and email lists to receive regular updates
• Participate in advocacy opportunities (Action Alerts, emails, LTEs, call state legislators, testify in Concord)

Contact:

Brodie Deshaies

Communications & Policy Manager

NH Hunger Solutions bdeshaies@nhhungersolutions.org

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Background: Comprehensive omnibus legislation for increasing Granite Staters’ access to food and improving the state's role in the food system. Addressing root causes of hunger. Increasing access to programs like SNAP, summer meals, and school meals (lunch and breakfast). NH has very low participation in school breakfast and elderly usage of SNAP benefits.

Specific Parts of the Hunger Free NH Act:

• Require schools with more than 10% of their students using free or reduced price meals to serve breakfast
• Incentivise “Breakfast after the Bell” with state funding for start-up costs
• Incentivize schools eligible to participate in the USDA Community Eligibility provision (CEP)
• Ensuring that all children up to 185% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) can eat free lunch at school
• Require the NH Department of Education to identify and approve summer meal sponsors and publicize summer meal sites
• Require the option of online school meals applications
• Require the state to participate in Summer EBT
• Implementing the SNAP Elderly (and Disabled) Simplified Application Project (ESAP)

LSR 24-3077-1: Establishing the State Environmental, Adaptation, Resilience, and Innovation Council

Rob Werner, NH State Director, League of Conservation Voters

Sponsors: Sen. David Watters

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Fiscal Impact: Unknown at this time

Next Steps & Time Frame:

• Additional co-sponsors to support bill
• Hearing in January, 2024

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Action Needed:

• Provide testimony and contact state senators to support the council.

Contact:

Rob Werner

NH State Director

League of Conservation Voters

rob_werner@lcv.org

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Background:

We all rely on our food system. Climate impacts increasingly affect ag and food systems. We should be aspirational in how we define our needs and how we center ag, climate, and food systems into our thoughts and policy-making. The state is updating the Climate Action Plan and needs to be more ambitious; this is an opportunity to remind people we don’t have a comprehensive plan around climate resilience, particularly as it relates to food and ag.

Talking Points:

• Based on events in recent years, as well as future projections of environmental changes in New Hampshire, adaptation, resilience, and innovation leadership at the state level can help residents, communities, businesses, institutions, and state government itself become more resilient and ready to adapt to these changes. Analyzing, assessing, and promoting agricultural resilience would be included in the work of the proposed council.
• Share examples of what other states are doing.
• Concurrent use as a policy priority for the future, connected to policy work.

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LSR 2757: Establishing a Committee to Study the Civilian Clean Energy, Community Resilience, and Conservation Corps.

Rob Werner, NH State Director, League of Conservation Voters

Sponsors: Sen. Matt Wilhelm

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Fiscal Impact: Unknown at this time

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Next Steps & Time Frame:

Additional co-sponsors to support bill

Hearing date TBD

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Action Needed:

Provide testimony at hearing

Background:

Establishment of a Climate Corps Program for New Hampshire. Climate Corps members could assist with agricultural resilience projects that engage the community and add value to agricultural production,

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Talking Points:

Climate Corps programs train young people in clean energy, conservation and climate resilience related skills and are a new initiative that will provide the next generation of Americans with job training and service opportunities to work on a wide range of projects that tackle climate change – including restoring coastal wetlands to protect communities from storm surges and flooding, deploying clean energy, managing forests to improve health and prevent catastrophic wildfires, implementing energy efficient solutions to cut energy bills for hardworking families, and more.

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Contact:

Rob Werner

NH State Director

League of Conservation Voters

rob_werner@lcv.org

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Thank you + Follow up

Reach out to our speakers:

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Jeremy Lougee, Southeast Land Trust of NH

jlougee@seltnh.org

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Rob Johnson, NH Farm Bureau Federation

robertj@nhfarmbureau.org

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Julie Davenson, NOFA-NH

osgoodridgefarm@gmail.com

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Stacey Purslow, NH Farm to School

stacey.purslow@unh.edu

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Brodie Deshaies, NH Hunger Solutions

bdeshaies@nhhungersolutions.org

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Rob Werner, League of Conservation Voters

rob_werner@lcv.org

Reach out to our hosts:

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Roe-Ann Tasoulas, Monadnock Farm & Community Coalition

coordinator@mfccoalition.org

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Yusi Turell, UNH Carsey School of Public Policy

yusi.turell@unh.edu

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Colleen Stewart, NH Food Alliance

colleen.stewart@unh.edu

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Look out for a follow-up email with the slide deck, recording, and resources about the upcoming Farm Bill.