So, I appeared on tv back on May 10th in a story on YNN about the top priorities for the next Farm Bill that Rep. Maloney’s Agriculture Advisory Committee issued in a report.
My fantastic friend Sharon Soons does a fantastic job in the piece!
Well, the Albany Times Union ran a piece of mine in response to an editorial on their part. I believe this is now the 5th or 6th piece I have had run in the Albany Times Union over the years.
http://www.timesunion.com/opinion/article/Farmworkers-are-already-protected-4586821.php
Here is the text in case you can’t get to it:
Farmworkers are already protected
By CHRIS PAWELSKI, Commentary
Updated 5:21 pm, Friday, June 7, 2013
As a fourth-generation family farmer at Pawelski Farms in Orange County, I can tell you the overwhelming majority of farmworkers in New York have nothing to do with the groups lobbying for the passage of the Farm Workers Fair Labor Practices Act or the issues surrounding it.
This is being driven by self-appointed advocates. Further, the act is not needed.
Numerous local, state and federal agencies oversee many laws governing the working and living conditions of farmworkers, making them among the most regulated and protected workforces. Further, a range of government-funded programs like free health care and day-care centers are provided specifically for these workers. Then, when you factor in the free housing provided by farmers, farmworkers compare quite well to other workers on the same wage tier. What evidence exists they are treated inhumanely or are not being treated decently? Farmwork is dirty, hard and entry-level employment. I know, I do it. But it is neither indecent nor inhumane.
This bill would disproportionately hurt smaller farmers. Larger farms that have multiple crews will be better able to juggle their work forces to mitigate the devastating impact of overtime pay, which is proposed in this bill. On my farm, with four employees, I won’t be able to do that. All I can do is severely cut hours during the growing season so I can afford my work force during planting and harvesting time, when I can’t control the number of hours worked.
Neither the proponents of this bill, supporters in the Legislature, nor the media understand basic farming production or marketing realities. New York is not like California; we have one, relatively short growing season. Farmers do not set their prices; our outlets dictate prices to us. No one has explained how I will pass on these increased labor costs.
If someone wants the benefits associated with factory work, they are welcome to work in a factory. No one is forced to work on a farm. To push factory rules on agriculture is foolish and grossly uninformed public policy.
Chris Pawelski is a resident of Goshen
As Tropical Storm Andrea targeted our region I was interviewed by intrepid News 12 reporter Carolyn Rowe regarding the potential impacts of the storm. As I told her, anything under 5 inches we should be okay, but if we go above 5 or 7 inches I sadly expect the Wallkill to flood.
And that river should be able to handle 5 or 6 inches. It is a disgrace that it can’t.
Here is the link for the story on the internet:
http://westchester.news12.com/news/orange-county-farmers-worry-about-flooding-1.5430157
Here it is on YouTube:
Check out the story by Allison Dunne … fantastic!
So, Joey and I are out on a field of onions down Indiana Road going thru the fields doing some cultivating on our AC-G’s with a Buddingh Basket Weeder (http://www.buddinghweeder.com) and I called my dad to pick us up at noon or so.
I see him come down Indiana and stop at the bridge in front of the field. I park the tractor about 25 feet away and I am hit with an overpowering smell of skunk!
Me: “What the hell happened?”
Dad: “I caught a skunk, a baby skunk in a trap by the house … I let it out, put some cardboard over it … it didn’t spray me.”
Me: “You stink … I can smell you 30 feet away … it had to have had sprayed you.”
Dad: “It didn’t … I don’t know.”
At this point Joey pulls up with his tractor. I yell to him that my dad stinks. He yells back “No kidding, I can smell him from here … what the hell did you do?”
He repeats what he told me. Joey takes his shirt and covers it over his face. I have my head sticking out the window. Joey climbs into the back of the jeep from my side and cries for dad to open his window. he can’t … it’s broken.
Me: “Oh my God … this is terrible.”
Dad: “Ahh .. you eventually get used to it.”
Joey: “No you don’t. This is awful.”
Dad: “Maybe it sprayed on the ground and I sort of stepped in it. It could be on my shoes. I don’t know.”
Joey: “Gracie is going to love you. You better stay out of the house. And change your clothes.”
Me: “Pour gas on your shoes.”
Joey: “No, pour diesel fuel. That will take it out.”
Me: “I can’t breathe. I’m going to gag. This is horrible. Don’t touch anything in this truck.”
Dad: “You get used to it.”
As we drove past the Quaker Creek Store (http://www.quakercreekstore.com) my dad says with a smile “hey, you can smell the lunch special at Quaker Creek.” I replied with “Are you crazy? I just smell skunk.”
After I got home I called my mom and asked her if she could smell him.
Mom: “Yes! Are you nuts. He left his clothes outside.”
Me: “What was it on?”
Mom: (laughing) “He thinks now his pants were sprayed.
Just another day on the farm.
Very cool article from HV Biz on the Farm Bill that I am quoted in:
http://westfaironline.com/55039/farm-bill-features-big-stakes-uncertain-future/
Check it out!
So, this is the 4th story I have been interviewed by new, intrepid YNN reporter Meredith Zaritheny (see: http://hudsonvalley.ynn.com/content/663997/congressman-maloney-s-agricultural-advisory-committee-issues-report/ )
It is now the third story she has interviewed me on the farm. And now the 3rd time my dad has gotten a good look at her. After the first story on the farm, which took place during the late winter in early March she was all bundled up and my dad didn’t really get a good look at her. Afterwards he said to me, “she’s too short, I’d throw her back.” I replied with, “what is she, a fish.” And my dad replied with, “yeah, she’s no keeper.”
Well, after the last 2 stories, after he has gotten a good look at her up close, his position has changed. He chatted with her multiple times on Friday, and told some of his basic stories and jokes.
Later, after she left and as he and I were on our way to spray our onions he said:
“That Meredith, she’s something else … if something happens to Gracie (my mom) I’m going to be giving her a call.”
Now, will this eventually translate into something he couldn’t get from her predecessor, Elaina Athans, a hug? Even a “full hug,” with a pat and a sway?
Mucking it up in Muckville 