2007.05.16: May 16, 2007: Headlines: Figures: COS - Cameroon: Journalism: Speaking Out: Agriculture: The Capital Times: Margaret Krome writes: City folks in Wisconsin and across the nation are recognizing their stake in whether rural communities prosper
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2007.05.16: May 16, 2007: Headlines: Figures: COS - Cameroon: Journalism: Speaking Out: Agriculture: The Capital Times: Margaret Krome writes: City folks in Wisconsin and across the nation are recognizing their stake in whether rural communities prosper
Margaret Krome writes: City folks in Wisconsin and across the nation are recognizing their stake in whether rural communities prosper
There are many reasons to care. If you sip a fresh glass of lemonade in New York City, you can thank farmers in upstate New York for their stewardship practices that protect the aquifer on which the city's water supply depends. Nationwide, city and rural dwellers who care about environmental protection and wildlife began pressing their environmental groups 20 years ago to become active in crafting federal agricultural policies to support soil and water conservation and protect wildlife habitat. Been stuck in traffic lately? With urban sprawl come traffic headaches and bigger tax bills to pay for extending city services to new subdivisions. So it's no surprise that, for reasons beyond just the undeniable appeal of Wisconsin's beautiful farm country, urban dwellers increasingly support farmland preservation. And city planners realize that economically healthy rural communities not only constitute a breeding ground for that famous Midwestern work ethic, but also reduce the migration burden into their congested cities. Journalist Margaret Krome served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cameroon.
Margaret Krome writes: City folks in Wisconsin and across the nation are recognizing their stake in whether rural communities prosper
Farm future affects urban economy, too
Margaret Krome — 5/16/2007 8:34 am
It was refreshing to gather at Madison's Monona Terrace Convention Center Monday and Tuesday of this week for the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters' conference on the Future of Farming and Rural Life in Wisconsin.
Farmers might seem to have a natural motivation to drive to the city for these conversations. But equally interesting was the number of city folks gathering in sessions about agriculture and rural prosperity.
City folks in Wisconsin and across the nation are recognizing their stake in whether rural communities prosper and what form that prosperity takes.
There are many reasons to care. If you sip a fresh glass of lemonade in New York City, you can thank farmers in upstate New York for their stewardship practices that protect the aquifer on which the city's water supply depends. Nationwide, city and rural dwellers who care about environmental protection and wildlife began pressing their environmental groups 20 years ago to become active in crafting federal agricultural policies to support soil and water conservation and protect wildlife habitat.
Been stuck in traffic lately? With urban sprawl come traffic headaches and bigger tax bills to pay for extending city services to new subdivisions. So it's no surprise that, for reasons beyond just the undeniable appeal of Wisconsin's beautiful farm country, urban dwellers increasingly support farmland preservation. And city planners realize that economically healthy rural communities not only constitute a breeding ground for that famous Midwestern work ethic, but also reduce the migration burden into their congested cities.
There's another growing and powerful reason for the upsurge in interest in agriculture among city folks. It's what most of us do three times every day, with a snack or two snuck in here and there. Food. We need it and love it, and eaters seek more involvement with its production and distribution.
Not everyone wants to know the farmer personally, although the nationwide mushrooming of farmers' markets from 1,755 in 1994 to 4,385 in 2006 suggests a strong trend. But a growing group of consumers does care how their food is grown, as evidenced by estimates that more than 60 percent of consumers use organic food at least some of the time. And a growing number of nutritionists, educators, doctors and politicians who care about the growing obesity epidemic want to increase consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables.
At the state level, some of this excitement is reflected in a bill before the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee called the Buy Local Buy Wisconsin bill, which aims to support local markets, institutional purchasing of local foods, an agri-tourism trail and other initiatives. When the bill came before a Senate committee in March, the hearing was remarkable for the passion among senators.
"Exciting," "long overdue" and "obviously important" were some of the comments from around the senators' table that day. And some of the most articulate supporters were from Milwaukee and other urban districts.
At the federal level, the trend is similar. In agricultural circles, 2007 is known as a farm bill year, when federal legislation governing agricultural policy gets revamped. This year, agriculture committees have some new players, including Wisconsin's first term Rep. Steve Kagen.
This week, he signed on to co-sponsor a bill called the "Local Food and Farm Support Act," which includes a grants program for "value-added" initiatives, whereby farmers can process or add value to the crop or livestock they raise and increase their profits. Another provision would support new farmers' markets and other farmer-to-consumer purchasing; others would help schools and other institutions buy food from local sources; and several provisions would help low-income consumers purchase affordable local fruits and vegetables.
It's clear: In the farm bill and in state legislation and at the Wisconsin Academy event, consumers care about farming. After decades of not knowing where their food comes from, it's exciting to see city folks as well as rural folks recognizing a crucial truth: To enjoy the fruits of the land, we must support healthy agricultural systems and rural prosperity.
Margaret Krome is a Madison resident who writes this column every other week. She is a member of the state Board of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
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Story Source: The Capital Times
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Figures; COS - Cameroon; Journalism; Speaking Out; Agriculture
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