Henry Bierlink, WFF Executive Director

Time for Thanks, 

Re-commitment to Our Mission

Everyone seems to support agriculture in Whatcom County. It is heartening to hear that our goal of creating a public discourse over our farms' future has been accomplished. Without our community's desire to see a long term farm future we would face even more challenges than we do now.

We are thankful that there is an increasing amount of logic being applied to what needs to be done to ensure we have successful farms here. Farm Friends has developed a strategy to:

1. Foster fair and fact-based public policies for the agricultural industry with respect to land, water, and labor
2. Improve the economics of farm operations to assure sustainability and prosperity
3. Build county-wide communities of support for agriculture

We are proud to note numerous accomplishments towards each of these goals. Our work is far from done however. Our Board is constantly evaluating what we do to ensure the highest priorities are being addressed. We welcome farmers' ideas and advice as we set 2012 priorities in the coming months.

High priority concerns that are likely to be in our workplan include implementing portions of the County Ag Strategic Plan, including:  

• Strengthening the Right to Farm Ordinance
• Demonstrating the value of reconfiguring parcel boundaries to maximize farmland protection while protecting property rights
• Developing a positive Mitigation strategy that addresses protection of resource land and critical areas and helps farmers with water management and farmland protection.
• Representing farm concerns in critical water resource discussions between Cities, Tribes, and state and local agencies.

We welcome your comments and questions on these priorities and suggestions for other activities that would benefit your farm. We enjoy being a resource for you.

Farm Friends has mapped out an effective response to many of the challenges threatening the future of our farms and counts on the support of farmers, farm businesses, and partnering organizations to see it accomplished. Check out what we've been doing. 

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving season enjoying the blessings of a rather odd yet satisfying production year. Farm Friends looks forward to your continued support.

Henry Bierlink 

The U.S. Department of Labor wants to revise child labor laws to put stricter safety requirements on young workers employed in agriculture and related fields. The department is accepting public comments until Nov. 1.

Since the current federal agricultural child labor rules were issued more than 40 years ago, the DOL and other farm safety groups believe it is time for updates. The current exemption for youth workers employed on farms owned or operated by their parents still applies. According to the DOL, the parental exemption exists because parents are more attuned to protect their own children and safeguard them from hazardous situations.

The public is invited to provide comments on this important proposal. The document describing the proposed agricultural labor changes can be viewed here.

Among other changes, the DOL is proposing rules prohibiting hired workers under the age of 16 from working with breeding stock, herding animals on horseback, handling pesticides, working in timber operations and working in or around manure pits and storage bins. Further, the new rules would prohibit farm workers under the age of 16 from participation in the cultivation, harvesting and curing of tobacco and from using electronic devices while operating power-driven equipment.  

Significant questions and issues arise with respect to changes to the youth farm labor rules. The proposed rules do not address the question of whether children of parents operating farms owned by a legal entity can qualify for the parental exemption. Many family farm entities have several shareholders or members and the younger members may not have a majority interest.

Submit comments electronically to the Department of Labor by November 1, 2011. Senators from several states and the American Farm Bureau Federation have submitted letters to the DOL requesting an extension on the comment period until after the 1st of the year to allow farmers adequate time to consider how these proposed changes will affect their operations and contribute their perspective.   

Follow updates on this issue from ISU professor Roger McEowen at www.calt.iastate.edu. 

The WA Red Raspberry and WA Blueberry Commissions in partnership with WSU Extension will convene the WA Small Fruit Conference & Lynden Ag Show on December 8-9 to communicate the latest information in berry production, pest management, innovative equipment, and marketing to over 200 berry growers from around the Northwest.

Space for additional vendors is still available.  Businesses are invited to make use of this opportunity to be included in the event. Go to www.lyndenagshow.com to learn more about the conference and trade show. Registration for vendors can be found on the Vendor/Sponsor page. 

The event will be held at the Northwest WA Fairgrounds in Lynden. The conference schedule is planned for a two-day program of presentations and events, dinners, annual meetings of the Commissions, and fun local activities for the whole family over the weekend!   Speakers include well known international berry marketing expert John Shelford, amateur meteorologist Rufus La Lone, and US Congressman Rick Larsen. 

Learn more about the WA Small Fruit Conference & Lynden Ag Show at www.lyndenagshow.com.