SESSION 4: Private-Sector Discussion Notes

Moderator: Nate Leonard

Recorder: Kathy Soder

• Conservation Issues with 2007 Farm Bill
• Support and work with Environmental Defense’s efforts to bring together like-minded groups to effect change in the Farm Bill to favor increases in conservation funding
• Need to develop financial/environmental incentives to recruit new graziers in addition to the current programs to improve existing grazing programs (work with groups like Environmental Defense)
• Stop preaching to the same choir – need to recruit new graziers (social pressure is perhaps biggest obstacle to new graziers)
• Motion: Support Coshocton in Washington (stronger stakeholder input) - Larry Lohr and Leah Miller - Motion passed
• Motion: Endorse the concept of developing a proposal for a future grazing research center at U Mass for the Northeast Region - Larry Shearer and Sue Ellen Johnson – Motion passed
• Motion – Support continued funding of the Pasture-Based Beef Systems for Appalachia at USDA/ARS, Beaver, WV - Martha Holdridge - Motion
• Need to be united - we’re starting to fragment
• Support all new programs (Coshocton, U Mass, UNH and U Maine) as they aren’t the same thing - can conduct unique research at each location
• Start process to develop standards for grass-based products (similar to how organic standards were adopted)
• Need a better understanding of the role of private sector in the consortium - committee formation, action, decision-making process, etc.
• Press conference/release at the end of conference
• Priorities need to narrow in order to take concentrated message to legislators
• Include state Farm Bureau when approaching political issues
• Need to shift funding into ‘gaps’ such as human health benefits of grass-fed products
• Include equine research - large voting body with significant political power - take care of significant nutrient management issues
• Need to link the benefits of grass-fed products to family health benefits to attract the attention of consumers
• Increase number of grazier ‘support groups’
• Remove the wording “and assess their market potential” from stakeholder needs list - concentrate on human health benefits
• Maintain strong connections between public and private sectors