The Pilgrim RC&Dl is pleased to announce that the Massachusetts Agricultural Commission Website, www.massagcom.org, will launch on May 1st 2007.

This website was planned and designed by Massachusetts AgCom members
for MA AgComs, AgCom steering committees, farmers, town and city elected
and appointed officials, and interested public.

The AgCom Website will:
* Serve as a central point, clearinghouse, for all AgCom's to refer to for
information, and to see what other AgComs have accomplished.
* Provide AgComs with the tools they need to pursue their work.
* Highlight what AgComs are doing.
* Inform AgComs of special events, action needed, and what's coming.
* Be a resource for farmers, cities and towns needing information about
AgComs (from how to organize to what they do).
* See that new AgCom members feel supported and confident.
* Connect AgComs and farmers to needed programs and services.
* Celebrate local agriculture!

This site is intended to evolve and improve with your input. After viewing the
site, we invite comments and contributions of information that you would like to
see posted. You may contact us by emailing to [email protected].

This site has been made available through generous funding by the Island Foundation, The Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture, and the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources

The 2007 farm bill proposal unveiled by the American Farm Bureau Federation makes particular sense for agricultural producers in the Northeast. Not only
does it offer a better financial safety net than current policy, but it also focuses
benefits on several key areas vital to northeast agriculture, according to Massachusetts Farm Bureau President Alex Dowse.

“For starters, the Farm Bureau farm bill proposal expands key conservation programs and earmarks benefits specifically for fruit and vegetable producers. Funding for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program is boosted by $250 million per year. This new EQIP funding is earmarked for fruit and vegetable
producers. The proposal also calls for new research, school food programs, catastrophic assistance measures, international market development and
outreach programs geared specifically to the fruit and vegetable sector.”

Northeast dairy producers are also going to find several provisions appealing, according to MFBF President Alex Dowse.

“We want to continue the Milk Income Loss Contract program or another form
of counter-cyclical payments to provide a safety net for dairy producers and
we will oppose reductions in the program payments. And, to put domestic dairy products on a more level playing field with imports, we support implementation
of the dairy promotion assessment on imports.”

Because AFBF is a nationwide, general farm organization, the proposal is
structured to benefit all sectors and regions of agricultural production.

“This is a fiscally responsible program that follows the Congressional Budget
Office baseline for ag spending,” President Dowse said. “Farm Bureau
members support the general concepts of the 2002 Farm Bill because they
work. Our 2007 proposal calls for the same kind of structure – one that works
for farmers, rural communities, taxpayers and the environment.”

Essex County Farm Bureau President Glen Cook and his wife Karen testified
last week on the importance of allowing agricultural businesses to annualize net metering on farms. The Cooks own Ciderhill Orchards in Amesbury and have recently installed 2 wind turbines with a third on the way. The on-farm
generation is expected to meet 25% of the farms energy needs.  Allowing
annual net metering on their farm would make the renewable energy source far
more efficient and economical.  MFBF submitted written testimony on
HB 3296 in support of the proposed legislation.

To view MFBF's written testimony on Agricultural Net Metering 'Click' here