Agriculture and Vermont's Future

When we think of Vermont agriculture, we think of green pastures full of grazing cows, with lush cornfields in the background.  That has always been part of our heritage and it will remain part of our future agricultural landscape. 

We know that dairy farmers have had a number of very difficult years and that is caused by the price they receive for their milk.  This price is set by a totally ridiculous pricing system set in Washington. It has nothing to do with the cost of producing mile.  There is little that the state can do to address this issue, but our federal delegation is hard at work to change this system.  As a state Senator I have been active in working with them and as Governor I would remain an active participant in getting the federal government to develop a reasonable reimbursement rate for the milk from our dairy farms. 

There is a great deal more to agriculture in Vermont and here are some of the actions I would take to help in the continuing diversification of our farming economy.  As you will see, the free market is alive and well in the redevelopment of Vermont agriculture.  I believe that the government can lend some assistance in possible access to capitol, but what we really need is a governor who understands that agriculture is alive and well and diversifying rapidly in our state.  This is where a governor can use the office to promote the many wonderful and exciting things that are happening in Vermont.

• There are a number of small beef, lamb and pork producers in our state.  They have said for several years that they could produce 80% of all the beef and pork we consume in Vermont if they had access to the proper processing facilities.  As Governor I would work with private business and the producers to see that this issue is addressed and help these producers more towards their goal of supplying more and more of the meat we consume.  The same issue applies to poultry.
• The success of our Vermont artisan cheeses is well known.  The growth of the program at the University of Vermont and the sale of Vermont cheese all over America is an excellent example of what our future in Vermont agricultural products can become.  As this sector continues to grow, I would listen to their plans and where the state can be of assistance, I would make certain the support was available.
• Vermont wine makers and our breweries continue to grow.  The Agency of Agriculture needs to become knowledgeable about the cultivation of grapes and hops.  These are two crops that can become a very important part of cash crops that will keep agricultural land in farming for years to come.  The demand for the basic supplies of grapes and hops that are grown in Vermont is growing and we should work to meet that demand.
• Many years ago, Vermont was the breadbasket of the East.  There is no reason why we cannot return to that claim.  As farms became larger and larger and all the grain was grown in the mid-west, the strains of wheat and other grains that used to be produced in Vermont have been lost.  The University of Vermont Extension Service has been working with Vermont farmers to redevelop strains of wheat and other grains that grow well in our climate and in our soils.  As governor I would make certain that this work continues and we provide the necessary support to take back the claim of being the breadbasket of New England.  Working with Vermont businesses such as King Arthur’s Flour and the Red Hen Bakery, Vermont agriculture can return to its roots and grow crops that are suited for our climate and do not require heavy fertilizing and do not require high transportation costs for the finished product.  It will be important to make certain that financing is available for these developing agricultural businesses and as governor I would make certain that the Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) has the necessary capitalization to help these agricultural based businesses grow. 
• Throughout Vermont there are some very exciting projects with bio-diesel.  At Roger Rainville’s farm he is successfully producing all the fuel he needs for this farming equipment.  The sunflowers that are grown produce the oil that is processed into bio-diesel and the processed sunflower seeds produce high protein feed for the calves.  The total cost of producing the bio-diesel on the farm is $1.70 a gallon.  The cost of purchasing that bio-diesel is $2.70 a gallon.  This is an excellent example of a win for the farmer with a number of cost savings and a win for the environment.  The transportation costs are reduced and the need to purchase feed from out-of-state is greatly reduced.
• In times gone by it took 20% of a farmers land to produce the feed to take care of the horses and oxen that provide the “work” for the farm.  It turns out that it takes 20% of the farmers land to produce the bio-diesel to run the machines of today.  It seems that farmers are simply relearning the farming practices of their grandfathers.

Buying local and farmer’s markets are helping fruit and vegetable growers all over the state find outlets for their products.  I believe that what is necessary to help producers sell their products not only locally, but regionally is a series of cooperative type organizations.  

There is a business in Lamoille County called Deep Roots, and they have been in business for many years.  They are a cooperative that grows organic vegetables and then sell them in Boston and New York.  This allows the farmers to do what they do best, grow crops. The marketing is taken care of by that part of the business.  Each year every farmer knows what they will grow and that the sale of those crops is taken care of. Deep Roots is in the process of building a storage facility to facilitate year around access to many of its fruits and vegetables.  

A series of these types of businesses around the state would assure that an on-going supply of fruits and vegetables would be available to markets and restaurants throughout the year.

A Moderate Approach to the Budget

"I've balanced the budget for 16 years."

"The thing about being the moderate is you get beaten up by both sides. I'm pretty resoundingly, every year, beaten up by both sides. I think that proves my point that I'm the moderate."

How to help Southern Vermont and the Northeast Kingdom

I do not believe that government creates jobs; I believe that our citizens create jobs. It is the individuals who are already in business or who have an idea that they want to turn into a business that create jobs and prosperity for the entire state. The state can help create an environment and provide infrastructure that helps business grown. As governor I would look at all of the existing programs that give money to businesses and make sure these dollars are really creating jobs. I would make certain that money would go to the new, small businesses that are our future.

As governor I would fund the regional economic development groups properly so they could spend their time helping local business. It is these regional organizations that can best assist local business people. It is also these regional groups working locally that can best develop an economic development plan for their region.

The Northeast Kingdom has suffered higher unemployment rates than most of the state for sometime. The area has been very dependent upon Ethan Allen and the severe negative impacts can be seen when the Beecher Falls plant was closed. The expansion at Jay Peak and the interest in a high tech company building in the area are positive signs that more jobs and opportunity are coming to that part of the state. This part of the state has been the champion of getting funding through a federal program referred to as the EB5 program. This allows foreign investors to make investments into targeted programs that create new jobs. As governor I would work to have other parts of the state take advantage of this source of capital.

I believe that innovation and intellectual property will be the answer for good jobs all over Vermont. The interest in renewable energy poses opportunities for regions of Vermont to become the center of excellence for research and innovation. The rapid growth in bio-diesel and growing our own fuel can provide ways to keep our farmlands all over the state as farmland, not houses. I would form an office of Innovation and Intellectual Property that would train all the regional partners in these areas so local businesses would learn of these opportunities and be helped in getting the patents of their ideas. This office would also work to assist in finding new sources of revenue for businesses.

These ideas apply to our entire state. As I am traveling the state, I find so many pockets of good ideas for job growth. I believe that we are poised to come out of this recession in a way that will ensure slow but steady job growth for all of Vermont.

What to do about job loss at Vermont Yankee

If Vermont Yankee closes how do you replace the jobs lost — in terms of numbers and pay — and blunt the broader economic impact of the lost jobs?

Almost every transition creates some hardships and when Vermont Yankee closes in 2012 there will be changes in jobs and a loss of jobs. On the other hand we know that every transition creates opportunities. We know this transition is coming and as governor I will work between now and 2012 to mitigate the negative impacts.

The current number of jobs at the plant is approximately 900 and upon closing it is estimated there will be a loss of 300 jobs in the first year. We know that moving the plant to SAFSTOR keeps a number of jobs at the plant for many years. If the plant actually moves to decommissioning, literally taking the plant apart, there are a number of jobs created for the process of disassembling the plant. This not only provides the benefit of the total removal of the plant, but also allows for additional time to create new jobs in the energy field.

In the consensus economic and fiscal impact analyses associated with the future of Vermont Yankee, they show an increase in jobs over several years if we as a state make investments in efficiency, conservation and renewables. Using the money in the Clean Energy Fund, money from a fee the state receives from Vermont Yankee for dry cask storage (this will continue as long as the casks are there) we can invest millions of dollars a year into the creation of new energy jobs.

Given the significant transmission infrastructure development surrounding Vermont Yankee, I believe it is important to explore the generation opportunities that could be locally sited. This could be biomass that would create construction jobs and long-term timber production and logging/forestry jobs. I believe it is important to explore the possibility of a natural gas fired plant on the site, which would provide many high paying jobs.

Energy efficiency investments create jobs because energy efficiency improvements are labor intensive and local. Besides creating jobs, the money saved generated by efficiency improvements stays with the consumer, helping all of Vermont’s economy.

Vermont has a long and time-tested spirit of entrepreneurism that has seen us through many tough times. I am confident that we will tap into that spirit and bring forward new ideas and creative businesses models that will power our future. The key to mitigation of the potential negative economic impacts is developing a plan to help the workers who will lose their jobs, research if a new plant on the site is possible, plan for the expansion of efficiency and conservation and invest in renewable energy sources.