Jul. 8--MIDDLETOWN -- Members of the state's congressional delegation heard the concerns and criticisms of more than 200 farmers and agricultural businesses at a forum held Monday night at Wesleyan University's Beckham Hall.

The event -- which Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-New Haven, said was the first of its kind in the state -- gave the lawmakers and representatives of the U.S. Department of Agriculture a chance to explain the effect of the 2008 Farm Bill. The bill, which sets the nation's agricultural policy through 2012, was passed last month.

"We want to hear from people, understand the nuances of their issues so that we can carry it back with us (toWashington)," DeLauro said. She was joined by Reps. Chris Murphy, Joe Courtney, John Larson and a staffer from Christopher Shays' office at the event.

And while some of the forum focused on increases in federal funding for schools to buy fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers as well as labeling of produce, the two hot button issues at the meeting were immigration and health care.

Farmers and other agricultural business people urged members of the congressional delegation to work toward a sensible immigration policy that takes into account their need to include immigrants in their workforce.

"There will be no cows milked on Freund farm the day they start enforcing the (current) policy," said Ben Freund, a dairy farmer from East Canaan who has a herd of about 250 cows. "They are going to be chasing me and my brother through the cornfields because we're responsible."

Bob Heffernan, executive secretary of the Monroe-based Connecticut Nursery & Landscape Association, put Freund's sentiments another way.

"The parents of the state of Connecticut don't raise their children to do farm work," Heffernan said.

Courtney said the debate on immigration policy in America "is being driven by the voices on talk radio who are ill-informed."

"I don't think there is a more credible voice (on immigration) than farmers," Courtney said. "America has to decide whether it wants food on the table. We have to move forward from the shouting match that's currently out there."

David Brown, who owns Hay House Farm in Old Saybrook, expressed his concern about the difficulty farmers have in finding and affording health insurance.

While dealing with a recent health problem, Brown looked into whether any financial help might be available from the state. He discovered aid was available, but only if he was willing to have the state put a lien on his farm.

"They (federal lawmakers) ought to consider some kind of health care option focused specifically on farmers," Brown said.

Joe Geremia owns Geremia Farms in Wallingford, which covers about 50 acres and a farmstand on Barnes Road, said that while the forum "covered a lot of good things," it didn't address concerns he had about importation of produce.

"I just don't think that everyone is aware how much of it is coming from outside the country," Geremia said.

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Story Source: New Haven Register