McGoverning Farms

McGoverning Farms
Congressman encourages buy-local efforts

News staff photos by Maggie Walton A sheep enjoys the nice weather on Monday at Greenwood Hill Farm in Hubbardston. The farm is a source of high-quality Merino wool used to make yarn for knitting.

News staff photo by Maggie Walton U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-2nd, makes a point while visiting Greenwood Hill Farm in Hubbardston Monday. He said he hopes to help smaller farms succeed.

“There’s been a real renaissance in small- and medium-sized farms. People buy produce and products created locally.” U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-2nd

Katie Landeck
News Staff Writer

HUBBARDSTON  Taking the time to bottle-feed a lamb, U.S. Congressman Jim McGovern, D-2nd, toured Greenwood Hill Farm in Hub­bardston Monday to learn more about issues impacting small farmers.

“I’m not quite ready to work here, but I appreciate it,” said Mr. McGovern, who sits on House Agriculture Committee. “I grew up in a city so coming here is like coming back to college, coming here helps me to learn.”

Accompanying Mr. McGovern was U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary Edward Avalos. The two men talked with farm owner Tom Coyler about the economy, how tweaks to immigration laws are affecting shepherds, and how regulations impact small farmers following a tour of the 32-acre property.

“It feels pretty good to have them here,” said Mr. Coyler. “I’ve found you can call these people and if you make a cogent argument and offer a true invitation, they will show up.”

Mr. Coyler, who has been synced with national sheep farming organizations for years, has a small flock of sheep he farms for wool and lamb meat. His priority; however, is Merino wool, which is “high quality” and is used for knitting.

The primary focus of the visit was to examine the role small farms play in modern agriculture across the country.

“There’s been a real renaissance in small- and medium-sized farms,” said Mr. McGovern, who has made visits to other local farms. “People buy produce and products created locally.”

Models like Greenwood Hill, where the farmer markets and sells directly to the consumer, are becoming more popular, said Mr. Avalos. It’s a model he would like to see employed by more farmers throughout the country.

“This operation is a good example of a small producer,” Mr. Avalos said. “Small organic and local operations are so important to the future of our country.”

Small farms have been a historic part of the New England landscape where rocky soils made it difficult for large commercial farms to establish themselves. Due to the rise of farmers markets and growing consumer interest in where food comes from, Mr. Avalos said the small farm model is becoming more successful in places such as New Mexico, where large ranches have been the norm.

“It’s very successful to market directly to customer,” he said.

As this becomes the mainstream model, Mr. McGovern said it’s important to support the farmers at a federal level.

“We want to be the wind at Mr. Coyler’s back,” he said.

Mr. Coyler’s main concern on Monday was not for his flock, but for struggles for farmers out West, such as those in his home state of Wyoming. There, new immigration laws calling for permanent housing have created difficulties for sheep farmers who hire shepherds and provide them with portable housing so they can follow the herd through federal lands.

Mr. Coyler said he supports an exemption so farmers can continue to be in compliance with the law and work efficiently.