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We must have a future for Agriculture if we want to preserve
the heart and soul of our state. Family farms are vital
to maintaining the character of Vermont, yet every day there
is a human tragedy being played out on our family farms.
I know because I have lived it. My husband, Richard, and
I worried together about buying feed for the cows, about
having enough money to plant crops in the spring, and we
experienced the heartbreak of selling off a herd of cows
and selling a farm. No matter how hard our family dairy
farmers work today, their future is in grave danger. Farmers
need more than lip service. We need to build upon Vermont’s
strong reputation for purity, not embrace policies which
threaten it.
Wholesome healthy food is an asset we must develop, not
squander. If we want a future for agriculture in our state,
we must show our young people that it is possible to live
on the land and earn a decent living.
We’ve seen the results of the same failed policies.
We need new ideas and a new approach that moves us forward
and saves our family farms from extinction. |
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