Loading...
March 26, 1992 - Farms and Food Chains: Hands OffMarch 26, 1992 • The Suffolk Times • 5A Farms and Food Chains: Hands Off By Paul Stoutenburgh Spring is officially here but you wouldn't know it from looking out the window. Out there everything is white from our last snow. We've had two of these last- minute snowfalls and practi- cally none all winter long when FOCUS you'd normally expect them,. en Mature What with the mild winter preceding the snow, everyone thought spring was just around the comer. I had gone to the annual farm machinery auction in Riverhead where farmers from all over the island gathered to try their luck at bidding for what they consider a choice piece of equipment. There was everything from piglets to pumps, from tractors to trucks, from sprayers to spark plugs, and a great col- lection of just plain junk. Yet all seemed to have an anxious bidder who thought his particular needs would be fulfilled by a wave of a hand or a nod of the head. If one knows farm equipment some good buys can be had, but like all auctions the old adage "Buyer Beware" was never more true. Years ago I bought a Cub Interna- tional tractor there that has served me well in the little operations I need around the place. Having worked for a farm equipment dealer for five years in my early days I knew many of the farmers and it was refreshing to chat with this one and that one. Some had retired and their farm was sold. Other farms had been passed on to the younger generation. All agreed that farming as we once knew it had changed rapidly. Attn: Gardeners SOUTHOLD —All interested garden- ers are invited to a meeting of the Southold Town Garden Club, formerly known as the Southold Garden Club, on Wednesday, April 1, at 1:30 p.m. in the Southold Free Library conference room. Kay Arronson, chairman of the New York State Flower School, is the guest speaker. Her topic is "Flower Design for the Home." Many spoke of the crazy weather with its mild winter days along with occasional plunging temperatures and everyone looked forward to spring. Time to Plant Many were waiting for a change so they could get their peas and onions in. Others were itching to get the plows out. All were primed for the vital role they'd play in keeping our East End in farming whether it be the old standby of potatoes or some of the new ventures of grapes, fruit trees, nursery stock, vegetable farming or some other exotic type of growing that would provide a place for them so they could keep in agriculture. It reinforced my feeling that land should be used for its best purpose and that is farming on Long Island. After all, Long Island has some of the finest farm land in the country and when food is such a vital link to all it almost seems criminal to put houses on the land. Yet what's a farmer to do if his crops don't pay or there's no one to carry on the farm work? Suffolk County and many of the towns have tried to stem the tide of farm lands being sold to development by offering the farmer a choice. If he is sincere and wants to continue farming he can sell the development rights to the county or town, which would mean he would still own the land but he would be restricted from ever developing it. These development rights bring a fair amount of dollars to the fanner and have proven attractive to many. Much acreage has been saved but it's only a fraction of what's out there. The problem is there just isn't enough money in the tills in the county and towns to do the job correctly. Yet, when you think of the billions of dollars squandered in the S &L scandals and to think none of that became available for the purchasing of development rights, one has to wonder if the system's out of control. You'll have to excuse me for getting off the nature of things but farm land and farm people are vital to our East End if we want to retain the way of life we cherish so dearly. But let's get back to the coming of spring where things are more reliable and predictable. Net's book Back 78 Years Ago March 28, 1914 Anonymous Donor: The Eastern Long Island Hospital Association has received $50 from an anony- mous donor signing himself "Silent Jim," which is much appreciated, but not knowing to whom to send a receipt, we can acknowledge the donation only through the press. To Spend $750,000,000: Albert C. Burrage of Boston, owner of the big steam yacht Aztec, which is at the Greenport Basin & Construction Co. yards, has entered into a partnership with the Guggenheims to develop a copper mining proposition in Chile. A new city will be erected on the site, including a high school, theatre, hospital and business houses. A steam railroad will be built and a fleet of steamers constructed to carry the ore through the Panama Canal. The company expects to spend over three quarters of a billion dollars to get the ore. 50 Years Ago March 26, 1942 Defense Units Need Supplies: A demonstration of the Civilian Defense units of Southold Township will be held on Sunday, March 29. The efficiency of defense units and their equipment will be judged by the county Defense Council. In Greenport the two first aid stations will be open for actual work and after the trial for inspections. There is Photo by Paul 5toutenburgh OSPREY — Although hard to see in the camouflage of black and white in the snow, this osprey returned a bit ahead of schedule on March 19. Around the 21st of March many who live around our Sound, bays and creeks keep a sharp eye out for the first osprey. I had some help this year from the sharp eyes of Mr. Petersen who saw one on a platform we'd put up some time ago. So naturally both Barbara and I jumped in the car to check it out. This was on the 19th of March and, if you recall, it was our first heavy snow of the year. We parked the car and walked up the wooded path, the snow gently falling about us in the protection of the woods. As we came out into the big salt marsh that housed the platform we heard that wonderful, wild, high - pitched alarm call of the osprey. We had entered his terri- tory. He was back. With a little scanning through the snow with our binoculars we finally found him crouched down, snowy and wet, and I presume miserable sitting on a limb of a nearby tree. It was good to find that the natural world had kept its appointments. His still much equipment needed. We must have lanterns and flashlights. We must have additional cots and more blan- kets. The Red Cross has donated a considerable sum of money with which to purchase medical and surgical sup- plies. 25 Years Ago March 31, 1967 Easter Excursionists: Favored by ideal weather on Easter Sunday after the untimely blizzard on Wednes- day of last week, over 150 excursionists took advantage of the annual Eastertime excursion to eastern Long Island sponsored by the Long Island Rail Road. The visi- tors were served a beautiful dinner at Mitchell's Restau- rant with a souvenir menu of their visit to Greenport. Dennison To Speak: On April 7 H. Lee Denni- son, Suffolk County Executive, will appear at an open meeting in St. Agnes School Hall, Greenport, to speak on the subject of "splitting" Suffolk County. The ques- tion is of vital interest, particularly to those residing in eastern Suffolk. The meeting begins at 8 p.m. The Reeds On Stage: Jack and Betty Jeanne Reed will star in the Orient Players production of "The Gazebo" May 5 and 6, at Poquatuck Hall in Orient. The Reeds, who have starred before in Orient plays, "The Mouse That Roared" and "Third Best Sport," will act the parts of Elliott and Neil Nash in the modern comedy - mystery. presence told us that even with the snow and cold things were on schedule. Below in the mud eels and flounders were awakening from their long winter's sleep. Some would become a meal for the osprey as part of the food chain that he will share with man. Let's hope the food chain will continue forever for without it both man and osprey will suffer. ' F ' New Location `�f; ,t� ¶¶I' nnI�,, ,[ CAlileUyraIt ion Main Road (Near Fisherman's Rest.) Cutchogue 10% Discount Saturday and Sunday March 28 and 29, at Cutchogue store. Refreshments In -house specials THE q1R LC DECORATING CENTER 734 -6099 Also Route 25A, Wading River 4k919-6161