Wanted: a new generation of farmers

Older Farmers Worried About Farming’s Future

By ecoRI News staff

Source: Library of Congress

Rhode Island’s older farmers, 65 and older, manage 21,700 acres, and the collective $310 billion in land and infrastructure they own is going to change hands in one way or another.

A recent study shows most exiting farmers may have no one to take over the farm. Older farmers throughout southern New England want to see their land remain in farming, yet are worried about their ability to retire and find a younger farmer who can afford to buy the land.

Nearly 30 percent of New England’s farmers are likely to exit farming in the next decade or so, and nine out of 10 of them are farming without a young farmer alongside, according to new analysis of U.S. Census of Agriculture data that was part of a study released in April by the American Farmland Trust and Land For Good.

The yearlong study sheds new light on what will be needed to facilitate the transition of farms and farmland to a next generation of farmers. At no point is a farm’s future more at risk than during this transition.

In Rhode Island, farmers 65 and older operate 29 percent of the farms. Of these 363 older farmers, just 11 percent of them have someone younger than 45 managing the farm with them. The study also found that Rhode Island had a 13 percent increase in younger farm operators (45 or younger) since 2002, the only state in New England with a net growth in young farmers since 2002.

Tanzi named 2016 Earth Day Champion

Local state rep named state’s top environmentalist

Rep. Teresa Tanzi with U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse at Clean Water
Action’s annual Breakfast of Champions, where she was honored
for her sponsorship of successful legislation to phase out cesspools
throughout Rhode Island.

Rep. Teresa Tanzi has been honored by Clean Water Action for her sponsorship of law passed last year to phase out cesspools throughout Rhode Island.

Representative Tanzi (D-Dist. 34, South Kingstown, and Narragansett) received the organization’s Earth Day Champion award last week at its annual Breakfast of Champions.

Representative Tanzi was chosen for the award after many years of sponsoring legislation to amend the Rhode Island Cesspool Act of 2007, which required the phase-out of cesspools located within 200 feet of a shoreline, wetland or drinking water supply. 

The bill (2016-H 5668A), which passed the General Assembly and became law last year, provides for the eventual removal of all cesspools beyond the previously set boundaries. 

Right-wing talking points don’t constitute moral leadership

Bishop Tobin has been a moral failure for RI

By Bob Plain in Rhode Island’s Future

“We need a moral leader of the church who will speak out against war and poverty, not gay marriage and marijuana,” I said about Bishop Thomas Tobin on NBC10 News Conference this weekend.

Tobin was in the news for a blog post he wrote calling on lawmakers to keep cannabis illegal in Rhode Island. “In opening the door to drug use even a little bit, we have so much to lose and absolutely nothing to gain,” he wrote.

But as I responded on TV, “The Bishop is essentially siding with mass incarceration if he wants marijuana to stay illegal, and that’s a far greater sin than indulgence.”

I called him a “moral failure for our state and for the Catholic Church.”

In the online segment I made clear my harsh judgement is not for his position on drug policy. It’s also not for taking a strong position against abortion.

It’s because he has been completely absent from the public discussion on poverty and war – issues that have been central to all Rhode Islanders lives during his tenure as bishop.

Ridiculously hard

High pollen returns tomorrow

From Pollen.com

Continue to see what types of pollen you are inhaling

Learning about the sea

URI Oceanography School researchers and local teachers explore Georges Bank 

Elizabeth Rau

Pictured above: On left, Jim Fontaine, of Exeter, and
Christopher Kincaid, a professor at GSO, prepare to
deploy a drifter floating device off the Endeavor. 
Photo courtesy of Christopher Kincaid.

The University of Rhode Island research vessel Endeavor left on May 19 from Narragansett for a short expedition to Georges Bank to study ocean currents, test a new marine instrument and give local teachers the experience of a lifetime.

The 185-foot ship, owned by the National Science Foundation and managed by URI, will be at sea for five days, returning on May 23. GSO scientists will work alongside four Rhode Island teachers participating in the Rhode Island Teacher-at-Sea program.

The ship is equipped with telepresence technology so the teachers will be able to communicate via satellite with students in their classrooms. If they’re lucky, the students will see their teachers towing plankton nets, collecting water samples and conducting experiments in the “wet lab.’’

GSO scientists will also be on the expedition. 

Dog of the Week

Meet Ward

Animal Rescue Rhode Island

Hello! My name is Ward, and I've got the whole package-smart, fuzzy, four legs, love to learn and live to please.

Go ahead, teach me anything: sit, stay, balance your checkbook. I can do it all!

I'm a strong but sweet pup, and I'm naturally curious to see whatever you are doing!

My caretakers aren't sure how I am with other pets yet, but I'm willing to try if you'll give me the chance.

Must have a great sense of humor and some time to spend with me...I'm on a mission to please you!

Fossil fuel-funded groups delay embrace of plans to speed up job-creating green energy initiatives.

EnergizeRI responds to Heartland Institute attacks

By EnergizeRI in Rhode Island’s Future

EnergizeRI and our carbon pricing proposal have recently come under attack from the Heartland Institute.

We are taking this opportunity to reach out, set the record straight and shed some light on the work and reputation of this group as you consider their comments on carbon pricing legislation here in Rhode Island.

The Heartland Institute claims it was created to “discover, develop, and promote free-market solutions to social and economic problems”.

However, upon review of the organization’s body of work, it is clear they operate on a platform of climate change denial. In fact, the organization is well known as one of the nation’s leading climate change deniers.

They are funded by groups such as the Koch Brothers, Big Tobacco, and Exxon Mobile. The only thing that Heartland seems to promote is misinformation.

EDITOR's NOTE: Here is a table showing a partial list ("A" through "C") of Heartland Institute funders:

"I just need to go"

Helping America lance a boil?

Donald Trump Has Given the United States a Great Gift

By Bill C. Davis in Common Dreams

Poultice.

Not quite a homonym, but close.  Trump is a poultice poised to be Potus.

He is a poultice put on the body politic to draw out the poison. Whether or not that is his intention, it is the fact of his presence on us.

What he has drawn to the surface are various toxins isolated in a boil ready to burst. 

Election day is the lance. 

It would be an encouraging moment if he were to be shunned soundly on that day. 

But however unwittingly, he has done the country a great service by calling these elements to the surface.

Eleven Million

For more cartoons from Ted Rall, CLICK HERE

VIDEO: No one in Charlestown would ever do this

To see this video directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-XlyB_QQYs

Live long and exercise

Regular physical activity is 'magic bullet' for pandemics of obesity, cardiovascular disease

Florida Atlantic University

In an editorial published in the current issue of Cardiology, professors from the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University have evaluated the totality of evidence and conclude that regular physical activity bears the closest resemblance to a "magic bullet" to combat the worldwide epidemic of obesity and cardiovascular disease.

The statistics on regular physical activity in the United States are bleak; only about 20 percent of Americans (23 percent of men and 18 percent of women) engage in recommended levels of regular physical activity and about 64 percent never do any physical activity. 

In Europe, the statistics are not much better with only 33 percent who engage in physical activity with some regularity, while 42 percent never do any physical activity.

How much do YOU love the internet?

Surprising things people would sacrifice to keep the internet

By Richard Zombeck

A survey taken by AT&T shows that most Americans give more value to internet connections than they do to a finger, a human life, a cure for cancer, and love.

We’ve all heard the term, “I’d cut off my left arm,” as way to express how much we want something or love something. Other body parts come to mind, but few of us are serious about actually hacking off a piece of ourselves, are we? 

Last month, AT&T conducted a survey in which they asked over 2,000 people what they’d give up to stay connected to the internet and the answers where pretty disturbing.

It’s important to note that the survey wasn’t necessarily scientific and more for fun. It didn’t account for race, income or location within the country and can’t really represent American’s as a whole. 

That said, the responses were interesting and might make one wonder if we’ve entered a new era of civilization that should concern us.

A third of respondents said they would sacrifice a finger rather than lose access to the internet. Which finger they would be willing lose wasn’t specified; but, considering that 15 percent of respondents said they would give up human interaction rather than lose connectivity, one can assume that the middle finger wouldn’t be of much use. 

Another third said they would be willing to lose their sense of taste, so forget about surfing adult sites, drinking Mountain Dew and eating Cheetos.

One of the more frightening responses was that 20 percent of the people surveyed said that they would give up love. Yes, love. That’s bad news for Tinder, Match.com, and adult entertainment depending on what your definition of love is.

It gets worse.

“Despite hard work, many paid at or near minimum wage remain in poverty for years”

Relieving the suffering of the poor

By Harry Rix in Rhode Island’s Future

“It is criminal to have people working at a full-time job and getting part-time income.”

– Dr. Martin Luther King

Are you poor? Have you ever been poor?

In 1981, I faced significant financial troubles. My bride and I moved to Louisville so I could attend seminary. Our checking account, often near zero, required much attention. With low-wage jobs, my wife and I limited our entertainment to the local dollar theater.

One day, a clerical error led to a bounced check. The seminary charged $20. This was a fortune! With this money, we could have gone to the movies ten times.

We were not alone. So I asked the seminary to reduce its exorbitant fine. Administrators refused. I expected better understanding from an institution teaching God’s love for the poor.

Was I poor? I thought so. Now I consider it a ‘struggle.’ After all, time would improve our circumstances and, if needed, both our parents could help us.

Not so for many who really are impoverished. For them, a bounced check can take food off the family table. The USDA reports in 2014 that 6.9 million American households, many with children, had “very low food security.” At various times, their food intake was reduced and their eating patterns disrupted.