Bill Text: NJ AR290 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Encourages Dept. of Agriculture to initiate creation of interstate organization to coordinate donations to farmers impacted by agricultural natural disasters.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-08-24 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee [AR290 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-AR290-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman BOB ANDRZEJCZAK
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
Assemblyman PARKER SPACE
District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)
Assemblyman RONALD S. DANCER
District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Encourages Dept. of Agriculture to initiate creation of interstate organization to coordinate donations to farmers impacted by agricultural natural disasters.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution encouraging the Department of Agriculture to initiate the creation of an interstate organization to coordinate donations to farmers impacted by agricultural natural disasters.
Whereas, Few businesses are as vulnerable to natural disasters as farms, and extreme weather events such as drought, flooding, and fire can cause crop, livestock, and equipment losses that can impact farm profitability for years to come; and
Whereas, Small family-owned farms are particularly vulnerable to the financial strains of agricultural natural disasters, and in extreme cases, these events may force farmers off of their land; and
Whereas, These losses of family farms not only take a devastating toll on the individual farmers, but also decrease the total amount of family farmland which is vital for building local and sustainable food systems; and
Whereas, Although the United States Department of Agriculture provides grants and loans to distressed farmers and facilitates programs to financially aid farmers during agricultural natural disasters, many farmers are frequently unable to fully recoup their losses; and
Whereas, During recent natural disasters, farmers across state lines have coordinated with one another to send excess supplies, equipment, and funds to other farmers in need; and
Whereas, This altruism is not only inspiring, but provides an important resource to farmers who may face financial shortfalls due to natural disasters; and
Whereas, State governments should work to encourage this type of generosity as another means to protect and preserve farming operations and ensure that any farmer facing an agricultural natural disaster may have a deep well of support to draw from; and
Whereas, Even though the New Jersey Department of Agriculture provides a list of resources on its website for farmers experiencing disasters, the website provides no information on how to donate to farmers in need; and
Whereas, Furthermore, there is no coordination between states to facilitate and organize the donation of supplies to farmers facing agricultural natural disasters; and
Whereas, Without an established network through which to donate, individuals and business must research each agricultural natural disaster separately, attempt to find an organization coordinating donations, and then determine if any of their excess supplies or equipment may be useful to the distressed farmers; and
Whereas, A centralized, consistent system would better allow individuals to match their excess supplies and equipment with farmers in need, and would create a network allowing more donations to reach more farmers in an efficient manner; and
Whereas, New Jersey should set a positive example for other states by creating such a program, and should encourage other states to join a network of shared farming resources across state lines; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House encourages the New Jersey Department of Agriculture to initiate the creation of an interstate cooperative that would coordinate donations of agricultural supplies, agricultural equipment, and other needed assistance to farmers facing agricultural natural disasters across the United States.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the Secretary of the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture, and the President of the New Jersey Farm Bureau.
STATEMENT
This resolution encourages the New Jersey Department of Agriculture to initiate the creation of an interstate cooperative to coordinate donations to farmers across the country facing agricultural natural disasters.
Few businesses are as vulnerable as farms are to natural disasters such as drought, flooding, fire, and similar events. Weather and other disasters cause crop, livestock, and equipment losses that can impact farms for years to come and force families off their land. This not only takes a devastating toll on individual farmers, but also decreases the total amount of family-owned farmland. These smaller-scale farms are at particular financial risk from natural disasters, and are crucial for building local and sustainable food systems.
Even though the Department of Agriculture provides a list of resources on its website for farmers experiencing disasters, including access to federal grants and assistance programs, there is no space for individuals and businesses to learn how to donate to needy farmers. By initiating the creation of an interstate cooperative that coordinates donations to farmers facing agricultural natural disasters, the State would better allow individuals to match their excess supplies and equipment with farmers in need, and would create a network whereby more donations may reach more farmers in an efficient manner.
