Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – I was on Route 63 around 8:30 tonight in Medina. I took these pictures of a farm across from Boxwood Cemetery on North Gravel Road. I couldn’t pick which one was best so I’m putting them both on the site.

Photo by Tom Rivers – Elba put up new welcome signs today that claim the community is the “Onion Capitol of the World.”

ELBA – The village has put up a much-improved welcome sign that celebrates its muck roots as the “Onion Capitol of the World.”

For years Elba had signs that said, “Population: Just Right.” That was a cute slogan, but I also thought it sent a message that the community didn’t want any newcomers.

The new sign shows pride in Elba’s onion heritage and productivity. Another NY onion-growing region, the Black Dirt Region in Orange County, also claims to be the world’s onion capitol.

Elba became an onion powerhouse after a swamp was cleared almost a century ago. I used to be the agriculture reporter for The Daily News in Batavia, and I covered the muck. Most of the best 5,000 acres are in Orleans County, and few onions today are grown in Elba. That crop needs deep soil and the deeper muck is in the towns of Barre and Clarendon.

But most of the packing houses and farmers have Elba addresses. Panek Farms and Triple G Farms are both Albion operations and they grow onions on the muck.

I don’t fault Elba for making such a bold claim. It’s good to see them show pride in their roots.

Democrats decry passage without nutrition programs

WASHINGTON – A Farm Bill narrowly passed the House of Representatives today with the backing of Rep. Chris Collins, R-Clarence.

The legislation was criticized by another area Congressional representative. Louise Slaughter, D-Fairport, noted the Farm Bill didn’t include funding for nutrition programs for the first time since 1973.

She rebuked the Republican-majority on the House floor and continued to criticize them on Twitter, saying the Republican-led approval of the Farm Bill today was “shameful and a new low for the GOP.”

Collins, in a statement, said the nutrition programs will be taken up on a later date. He serves on the House Agriculture Committee.

“Today’s passage of a House Farm Bill is a critical step forward for the hardworking men and women of our agricultural community,” he said in a statement this afternoon. “This legislation provides farmers with needed regulatory reform and cost-effective programs while saving taxpayers money by ending duplicative and overlapping programs.”

Collins said the legislation will direct more research funding to land-grant universities, including Cornell, “which provide critical support to our local farms and growers.”

The food stamp program accounted for 80 percent of a Senate version of the Farm Bill.

Dean Norton of Elba, president of New York Farm Bureau, said the legislation should have been a great victory for the farm community, but it continues the uncertainty over the country’s ag policy.

“While many of the provisions in this House Farm bill are good for New York and we fought hard for their inclusion, we opposed splitting the agriculture and nutrition portions into separate bills that break apart the urban-rural collaboration that has been critical for decades in advancing farm and food policy in this country,” Norton said in a statement.

The House vote brings “unknown long-term ramifications,” Norton said.

“New York Farm Bureau will continue to work with the entire Congressional delegation for successful completion of a Farm Bill that serves the needs of farmers, our communities and our neighbors in need,” he said.

Abby Wambach

Press release, NY Apple Association

FISHERS – Proof that the apple really doesn’t fall far from the tree: U.S. soccer star and Rochester native Abby Wambach has signed on as celebrity ambassador for New York state apples.

Wambach has deep New York roots. She grew up in Rochester, where her family owns a farm market and garden center, Wambach Farms.

Wambach will appear in television, radio, print and online advertisements promoting New York state apples and apple products for the New York Apple Association. She will also be featured on point-of-sale signs for grocery, farm and green markets, on NYAA’s website and in social media.

“Growing up around a family-owned farm and garden store, Wambach Farms, fresh produce was a huge part of my childhood. Whether it was selling homegrown New York apples, or eating them, I learned how important it is to sustain a healthy diet – and as they say, ‘an apple a day, keeps the doctor away’,” said Wambach. “Being a New York native, I am excited to join the New York Apple Association to create more awareness that the best apples in the world come from New York orchards.”

Apples are a $30 million annual business in New York. Orleans County is the state’s second-leading apple producer, following Wayne County.

Known for her trademark header goals, Wambach may well be the most decorated U.S. woman soccer player in history. She earned her latest accolade on June 21 when she scored her 160^th goal to become the world’s all-time top women’s scorer, surpassing former teammate Mia Hamm’s previous record.

“New York soccer moms and players love Abby, and with her local roots and healthy, active lifestyle she is a fantastic apple ambassador for us,” said NYAA President Jim Allen. “New York state apples, Abby and soccer, that’s just using our heads.”

Wambach is certainly well known in her home state. While attending Our Lady of Mercy High School in Rochester, she captained the elite regional Rochester Spirit club team. In college, the three-time all American helped her University of Florida Gators earn an NCAA national championship and four conference championships.

To date, her pro career highlights include Rookie of the year in 2002, two Olympic gold medals (she scored the header goal that clinched U.S. gold in 2004), five-time U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year, three FIFA Women’s World Cup competitions and FIFA World Player of the Year in 2012. She has played on the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team since 2003.

She played for the Washington (D.C.) Freedom/Boca Raton magicJack from 2002-2011. She recently returned home to New York state to play forward for the Western New York Flash.

“Abby for Apples” will unveil this fall, to promote the 2013 New York apple crop.

Photo by Tom Rivers

KNOWLESVILLE – The field next to the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds is dotted with bales of hay today. The fair makes its annual run on July 22-27 in Knowlesville.

Farmers looking for direction from Washington about the country’s agriculture agenda will have to keep waiting.

The House of Representatives rejected a five-year Farm Bill today that totaled nearly a trillion dollars for nutrition and farm programs, including subsidies, conservation programs and crop insurance as well as other safety nets for the industry.

The bill would have cut funding for food stamps, which prompted U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand to work against the bill’s passage. She said the bill would have cut $20.5 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program over five years.

She issued this statement this afternoon: “Just as important as the health of our

agriculture industry, is the health and nutrition of our children and families. I am proud to see House Democrats stand strong and reject this draconian cut that would literally take food away from millions of those who desperately need it – from veterans and military families, to seniors living on fixed incomes, hungry children and struggling families who rely on SNAP to make ends meet.

“Families who are living in poverty – hungry children, seniors, troops and veteranswho are just trying to figure out how to keep the lights on and put food on the table – they did not spend this nation into debt, and we should not be trying to balance the budget on their backs.They deserve better from this Congress.”

Congressman Chris Collins, R-Clarence, is a member of the House Agriculture Committee. He supported the Farm Bill legislation.

He issued this statement: “Today’s unfortunate defeat of the House Farm Bill speaks to the dysfunction in Washington that continues to stand in the way of solving real problems for real Americans.

“Agriculture is a critical industry in New York’s 27th Congressional District, impacting our local residents far beyond those directly doing the hard work of farming.Our farmers and growers deserve a Congress that can come together and pass a long-term Farm Bill. It is essential to help our agricultural industry plan and prepare.

“As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, I remain committed to the work ahead to see a Farm Bill become law.”

New York Farm Bureau wanted the proposal to pass. The organization released this statement: “It is with great disappointment that we watched House lawmakers defeat the 2013 Farm Bill. The farmers in this state deserve a reasonable farm policy that has been delayed for far too long.

“While there were concerns over certain provisions of the bill, we were hoping its passage and a vigorous debate in conference would reach an appropriate compromise that would provide a fair safety net for the people who produce healthy, local food and the consumers who need help putting it on their dinner tables. New York Farm Bureau will continue to work hard with the state’s Congressional delegation to do what is right for our farm families.”

ALBANY – The State Legislature today approved an expansion of the Niagara Wine Trail, running from Niagara County through Orleans and ending in Western Monroe County. The Trail will also run south from Niagara County to Buffalo.

The vote was years in the making, and is expected to have a big impact for wineries and other tourism-related businesses in Orleans.

“It will be the longest wine trail in New York State,” said Wendy Wilson, president of the Leonard Oakes Estate Winery in Medina. “It will connect three metro areas – Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Rochester. We’re right in the middle of it. It’s going to be huge.”

The State Senate backed the expansion in recent years, but the legislation failed to pass in the Assembly – until today.

“I have fought hard over the last couple years to make sure our wine trail system keeps up with the rapid growth we are seeing in local wineries,” said State Sen. George Maziarz. “This new configuration will make it easier for tourists and visitors to find our wineries.Signage, literature, and other tourism promotion materials need to be updated to reflect the wineries in existence now and new wineries that are springing up almost every year.”

The wine trail will be renamed the Niagara Wine Trail system.The new configuration includes all of Route 104 between the Ferry Avenue/Route 62 intersection in Niagara Falls and Route 390 in Monroe County. It will be known as “Niagara Wine Trail Ridge.”

The complement to the ‘Ridge’ route will be the “Niagara Wine Trail Lake,” which would follow Route 269 north from its intersection with Route 104 at the Niagara-Orleans County Line, then west to Route 425, then south to Route 62 and along that route until its intersection with I-290 in Amherst.

Seventeen wineries are on the trail now and more are under development.Leonard Oakes is currently at the end of the Niagara Wine Trail. The extended trail will reach Schwenk Wine Cellars in Kent. Wilson said other wineries in the county and in Monroe are in development.

The money to pay for additional signage on an expanded trail system was earmarked through a 2011 Regional Economic Development Council Award.

“This configuration shows the public sector can work with the private sector to expand the economy, capitalize on our assets, and create jobs,” Maziarz said.

The bill will be sent to Gov. Cuomo, who is expected to pass it without any issues.

Wilson said other “trails” could piggyback off the wine trail, including routes branded for cobblestones and sandstone.

“It’s going to be a way to promote our businesses,” she said.

Press release, Orleans County Planning Department

ALBION – Orleans County is accepting enrollment of additional parcels in certified agricultural districts during the month of June, pursuant to New York State Agricultural and Markets Law.

This annual 30-day window is for inclusion of property which is predominantly viable agricultural land. During this time period, land may only be added and not removed from an agricultural district.

This opportunity does not replace enrollment in an existing agricultural district during the eight-year, formal review process, but allows a once-a-year opportunity for a property owner to request that the County Legislature add parcels to one of Orleans County’s agricultural districts.

The agricultural districting program provides eligible operations right-to-farm protection, among other benefits. Please note that requesting enrollment during this 30-day time period is not a guarantee that property will be added to an existing agricultural district. Moreover, it will not automatically qualify property for a reduced agricultural property tax assessment. For information on obtaining a reduced agricultural property tax assessment, please contact a local assessor.

The eight-year, in-depth reviews are expected to continue for each agricultural district as scheduled.

At the conclusion of June, requests for inclusion in agricultural districts will be reviewed, in order, by the Orleans County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board, the Orleans County Legislature, and the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.

Enrollment forms are available from the Orleans County Department of Planning and Development. Completed forms should be sent by June 30 to: James Bensley, Orleans County Department of Planning and Development, 14016 Route 31 West, Albion, NY 14411.

Photo courtesy of Adam Krenning, FFA advisor

ALBION – The new team of officers for Albion FFA was installed during the FFA’s annual banquet on Tuesday. The group includes, from left: Kyle Smith, Parliamentarian; Miriah Pepe, Student Advisor; Logan London, Treasurer; Megan Rosato, Reporter; Sara Millspaugh, President; Kellie O’Hearn, Vice President; Riley Kelly, Sentinel; Aaron Burnside, Historian; and Abigial Maines, Secretary.