-Franklin County Farm Bureau’s Back 40 Tractor Ride Connects Farmers With Public

July 6, 2017 – Seventeen farmers paraded their tractors in Franklin County Farm Bureau’s Back 40 Tractor Ride on June 24 as part of the Franklin County 4-H Fair in Heath, Massachusetts, to create a conversation with the public about farming. read full release (PDF)…

-Massachusetts Farmers Address Questions About Livestock On Boston Common

June 28, 2017 – Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) members brought their livestock to the Boston Common on June 20 to answer legislators’ and consumers’ questions about the care and management of livestock. read full release (PDF)…

-APR Program Evaluated Through MFBF’s Survey

June 15, 2016 – The Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) has received many complaints and criticism in recent years from land owners who had sold their development rights into the agricultural preservation restriction (APR) program. This voluntary program is intended to offer a non-development alternative to farmers and other owners of “prime” and “state important” agricultural land who are faced with a decision regarding future use and disposition of their farms. read full release (PDF)..

-Think MFBF During Dairy Month, As It Supports Pro-Dairy Farm Policy

June 1, 2017 – While consumers enjoy ice cream, cheese and milk this June as part of Dairy Month, Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) leadership and staff will be working to protect local dairy farms. read full release (PDF)…

-STEM Educators Receive On The Farm Experience From Massachusetts Livestock Farmers

April 10, 2017 – A group of 25 individuals, who train or coach Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematic (STEM) educators, visited Massachusetts this week for a hands-on learning experience about beef production. The goal of this program was to help these STEM coordinators discover new and relevant ways to apply real-world application of STEM to students via agriculture. read full release (PDF)…

-Estate Tax, Livestock Care & Standards Board, APR Topics of Discussion At 2017 Ag Day

April 4, 2017 – Massachusetts farmers and students descended on Beacon Hill today to showcase locally-grown food and farm products and to hold meetings with their local legislators about the issues that matter most to them. This annual event, known as Agriculture Day at the State House, is a collaborative effort between the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) and 35 other agricultural organizations. read full release (PDF)…

-MFBF’s Young Farmers& Ranchers Committee Contributes To National Harvest For All Campaign

April 3, 2017 – The Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation’s (MFBF’s) Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) committee used the seven County Farm Bureau legislative breakfasts held in March as a platform for donations for Farm Bureau’s charitable Harvest For All program. read full release (PDF)…

-Rochdale Farmer Heidi Cooper To Chair MFBF’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee

March 22, 2017 – The Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) Board of Directors has appointed Heidi Cooper, Rochdale farmer, as chair of the Young Farmers & Ranchers
(YF&R) committee. read full release (PDF)…

-MFBF Discusses Agritourism Study Commission Act At New England Marketing Conference

March 9, 2017 – Agritourism is a growing business in Massachusetts, but it continues to run up against conflicts with local zoning, agricultural preservation restrictions and more. To consider methods to overcome these barriers, Representative Stephen Kulik has filed on behalf of the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) HB2715 in the 2017-2018 legislative session, which is an act to establish an agricultural tourism study commission. read full release (PDF)

-Support Your Local Sugarhouse To Celebrate Maple Month

March 2, 2017 – The Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) invites you to celebrate Maple Month this March by visiting your local sugarhouse. read full release (PDF)…

-MFBF Leaders Voice the Impact of National Issues on Local Massachusetts Farms

March 3, 2017 – Two Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) farmer leaders participated in legislative visits this week in Washington, D.C., to discuss the national issues impacting local farmers. These issues include the H2A visa program, the potential North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) renegotiation and how to improve the next Farm Bill. read full release (PDF)…

-Five MFBF Farms Set to Host Camping for a Cure Fundraiser on June 10

Feb. 24, 2017 – The Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) is pleased to announce that five farms across the Commonwealth have agreed to host Camping for a Cure events on June 10 to raise funds for MFBF’s team to ride in the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC). All the funds raised by this team will go to cancer research through the Dana-Faber Cancer Research Institution and the Jimmy Fund. read full release (PDF)…

-MFBF President Ed Davidian Calls for Reform of H2A Temporary Ag Visa Program at Press Conference

Feb. 21, 2017 – The H2A visa program, which allows U.S. farmers to employ foreign nationals in the United States for temporary or seasonal agricultural work, has become increasingly difficult for Massachusetts farmers to navigate, according to Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation President Ed Davidian during a press conference today at his farm in Northborough. He also discussed how to make the H2A program more flexible in order to meet the needs of more farmers. read full release (PDF)…

-Massachusetts Officials Set to Celebrate Agriculture on April 4

Feb. 16, 2017 – State officials, farmers and students are set to celebrate Agricultural Day at the State House on April 4, 2017. This annual event brings together farmers and agricultural organizations to showcase locally-grown food and farm products and to have their voices heard by legislators about issues affecting the agricultural community.
read full release (PDF)…

-MFBF Launches New Version of Website

Feb. 15, 2017 – The Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) has launched an enhanced version of http://mfbf.net/ . The website presents the latest news and updates about MFBF’s programs and activities. read full release (PDF)…

-MFBF Young Farmers Attend National Conference For Learning, Leadership Opportunities

Feb. 14, 2017 – Seven Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) members, who serve on the statewide young farmers & ranchers committee (YF&R). participated in tours, breakout sessions and networking opportunities at American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) FUSION conference this week in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. read full release (PDF)…

-Snow Day in Massachusetts A Step Towards Ending Drought for Massachusetts Crop Farmers

Feb. 10, 2017 – Massachusetts remains in a drought this winter with 98 percent of the state experiencing moderate drought conditions. However, yesterday’s snow fall will help combat the dry summer that farmers across the state experienced in 2016. read full release (PDF)…

-Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation Has Joined the Fight Against Cancer

Feb.2, 2017 – The Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) has joined the fight against cancer by forming a team of cyclists who are going to participate in the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC). The team of five is set to ride more than 750 miles for those who can’t on Aug. 5 & 6, 2017. All the funds raised by this team will go to cancer research through the Dana-Faber Cancer Research Institution and the Jimmy Fund. read full release (PDF)…

-MFBF Farmer Members Head to National Farm Bureau Convention

Jan. 6, 2017 – Eleven Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) members are headed to Phoenix this week to participate in American Farm Bureau’s Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show. These members will have the opportunity to conduct business on the trade show floor, expand their knowledge at educational workshops, vote on up-and-coming businesses trying to achieve the American dream and network with their peers.
read full release (PDF)…

–AFBF Foundation Recognizes Massachusetts Farm Bureau’s Continued Contributions

Dec. 16, 2016 – The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture announced this week that Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) has won the Apex Award and the Scholar Award. These awards show MFBF’s commitment and contributions to the Foundation, which works to rebuild the bonds of trust between American consumers and producer growers through agricultural literacy. read full release (PDF)…

-Massachusetts Farm Bureau Sweeps American Farm Bureau’s Presidents Awards, Awards of Excellence

Dec. 14, 2016 – The Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) made a clean sweep of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s President Awards and Awards of Excellence for states with similar size memberships. These annual awards are given to states that demonstrate excellence in the programs that they implement and complete during the last year. read full release (PDF)…