Latest news with #AnneDiemandBucci
Boston Globe
08-04-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
USDA solar program restarts with new rule for farmers: No DEI or climate focus
Anne Diemand Bucci, of Diemand Farm in Wendell, roughly 20 miles north of Amherst, suddenly found herself making payments on a $250,000 bank loan for a solar project that might never get built. At the Diemand Farm, Anne Diemand Bucci brought egg containers to her farmstand. Already $40,000 in the hole, she is now paying interest on a $250,000 loan for a solar project. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff Thirty miles south, at Red Fire Farm in Granby, Ryan Voiland watched as the window to use a $50,000 grant in state matching funds closed, making it even less likely he'd be able to add a solar canopy to his farm. And Bill Jordan, a solar developer in New York State who has spent decades helping farmers install solar panels, saw $18 million in work freeze up. Advertisement Then, in late March, as quickly as the taps had turned off — they reopened, albeit with a stipulation that applicants remove 'harmful' diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility references, and any 'far-left climate features' from their proposals, according to a As farmers circulated the press release and found similar language in email messages they received as grantees, they were, in a word, perplexed. Advertisement 'I didn't understand it,' said Bucci, whose 175-acre operation specializes in chickens for eggs and meat, turkeys and grass-fed beef, trees for lumber, and various foods like soup and turkey pot pies, which she sells in her farm store and locally. With Massachusetts' Her grant doesn't mention diversity or inclusion — nor does it explicitly mention climate change, though the generation of clean energy from solar panels will certainly help combat global warming. Not to mention, it's not even clear how the USDA would measure the extent to which climate or DEI is a part of the grant. The USDA did not respond to a request for comment. Eventually, she heard from Jordan Energy — the contractor on her project — that her plan should be safe. She's moving ahead, but that doesn't mean it sits well for Bucci, who did not vote for Trump. 'What is the point they're trying to make?' she asked, as chicks peeped loudly in the background. 'If somebody is doing something for climate change, or for DEI like, really? What is so wrong with that?' As of March 24, the USDA's solar grants — part of the so-called Rural Energy For America Program — appear to be safe. But other programs, including two that provided more than $1 billion nationally for schools and food banks to purchase food from local farmers, have been eliminated. Related : These changes come as part of the Trump administration's cost-cutting effort across the federal government. Ashley Randle, commissioner of the state Department of Agricultural Resources, said the USDA cancellations have been disappointing because these programs 'empower farmers to be able to grow more food and to be able to distribute local, fresh, nutritious food into schools, food banks, and food pantries.' Advertisement The Rural Energy For America Program program aims to help farmers become energy-independent and save money on their electricity bills, by producing renewable energy or through energy-efficiency upgrades. It's been around The program can cover up to half of the costs of a solar installation, with the farmer or rural business owner responsible for the rest. Once a grant is issued, the farmer has to secure funding, get the solar installed and then have it up and operating before the USDA will issue a reimbursement. It's that arrangement that proved so tricky for farmers, who already operate on tight margins. Many had already spent funds for projects, and were shocked to learn they may not get reimbursed despite their signed contracts. 'When you put a pause on a contract that's already been started and a farmer has incurred those expenses, it really does create more challenges, more anxiety and more pressure on top of what farms are already facing,' said Randle. Bucci, for example, had already spent $40,000 to upgrade a roof to make it ready for solar panels and had started making payments on a loan that would cover the rest of the project. A view of the Diemand Farm, where solar panels would help mitigate expensive electricity bills. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff Even now that it's back on, she said it's hard to feel secure. Advertisement 'I will trust that we're going to get it after the money is deposited in the bank and I've paid down my loan,' she said. As a result of the delays, Voiland, of Red Fire Farm, said he'll have to rethink his approach entirely. The plan had been to use $125,000 from the USDA and $50,000 from a state grant to build a solar canopy to generate energy needed to run coolers for produce, while offering a sheltered place to park tractors. But the state funds had an expiration date. To Voiland's relief, the state allowed him to use that money for a different project on his farm, rather than lose it entirely. But now he's short on funds for the solar project. Next, he'll be talking with his bank and re-thinking the scope of his solar installation to see what's possible. But he remains nervous. 'Whether the future support is there for anything that has to do with more sustainable farming practices, seems like it's in question right now,' he said. Then there's the bigger picture. Voiland's focus is on sustainable farming and organic food. 'I think it's important that government is a partner in that process, because food is so important — people need to eat,' he said. 'There's only so much a farmer can do to really make it happen without some policy support for doing it.' Sabrina Shankman can be reached at
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Wendell egg farm takes precautions amid bird flu spike
WENDELL, Mass. (WWLP) – As bird flu infections continue to rise, local farms in Massachusetts have to take extreme measures to protect their flocks. Rising bird flu cases could threaten local farms in the Pioneer Valley. That's why Diemand Farm has implemented new measures to prevent avian influenza from affecting their flock. We spoke with Diemand Farm Co-Owner Anne Diemand Bucci. Despite having dealt with bird flu before, she says this time is different. 'I am a little nervous. I feel like we're doing everything we can. It's very disconcerting having it be so close, we have protocols to implement which we have done,' said Diemand Bucci. Those protocols include having limited customers visit the farm. Those who do won't be allowed to tour and must wipe their feet off with disinfectant at the door. Even with the added cost of making sure everything stays clean egg prices at Diemand Farm have remained mostly the same, only increasing by fifty cents. Egg prices across the country have not been as fortunate, with large shell eggs in California averaging nine dollars and eleven cents per dozen according to a report from the USDA. Another recent added cost for Diemand Farm is a new disinfectant recommended by MDAR. Tessa White-Diemand said these added costs are ultimately worth it. 'It's definitely been more of a strain and a stressor for us. However, it's something that we're all willing to do because if we want this farm to continue and all of our birds and whatnot to be healthy, we need to take these steps. Even though it takes more time and it's kind of pain in the butt, it's worth it,' said White-Diemand. While bird flu cases have been mostly stagnant in Massachusetts, another human case was confirmed in Nevada on Monday. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Boston Globe
26-01-2025
- Health
- Boston Globe
Local chicken farms are on high alert as bird flu is feared to have entered Massachusetts
'It makes me sick thinking about it,' said Anne Diemand Bucci, co-owner of Diemand Farm in Wendell, in north-central Massachusetts, where she has as many as 2,000 egg-laying hens. 'It would be devastating.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Enter Email Sign Up As cases continue to rise nationally, the disease is suspected to have recently killed more than in Boston and on the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Advertisement State health officials say the H5N1 strain of 'highly pathogenic avian influenza' rarely infects humans. The strain has so far killed one person — announced earlier this month — and infected 66 people nationwide since 2024, according to the That's little consolation to Diemand-Bucci, who said she would likely have to lay off employees if her farm experienced an outbreak. She, along with other chicken farmers in Massachusetts, are stepping up precautions to avoid infections. Her farm's staff has placed trays filled with a bleach solution at all entrances to the chicken coop to keep workers' boots clean, preventing the virus from being brought inside to the animals. Workers also spray the tires of all trucks entering the farm. And she has stopped allowing visitors to see the animals. Advertisement The virus thrives in cold, wet environments, making outbreaks more likely in the winter and in water birds such as geese and swans, said Andrew Vitz, the state ornithologist at MassWildlife, a state agency. The recent series of particularly frigid days also complicated officials' efforts to collect deceased birds, said Vitz, with some stuck in frozen lakes or ponds. Chickens at the Natick Community Organic Farm. Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff 'There's more ice out there and less open water, and the birds are really congregating where there is open water in higher densities,' said Vitz. 'So that could facilitate the spread of this virus.' The bird flu is primarily spread through the feces from infected birds, said Vitz, and the virus tends to change over time, adding challenges of new symptoms. Researchers at the National Veterinary Services lab in Iowa are studying the suspected cases from Plymouth and Amherst to confirm they're H5N1 and learn more about the current strain. Experts expect cases to decrease once the spring brings warmer temperatures, said Vitz. The Wright-Locke Farm in Winchester is also taking more preventative measures with its roughly 20 chickens. Usually, children in the farm's nature-based preschool tend to the birds, but now the farm has suspended that practice. The farm is also educating its volunteers on infection-control protocols, said Tracy Kinsey, communications and outreach coordinator. 'It's all about working together to keep everyone safe,' said Kinsey. At the Natick Community Organic Farm, which has around 200 chickens, staff had already started taking precautions in advance of the recent news, due to the farm's many public events and school programs. Advertisement 'For us, it's more of a rolling-with-the-punches-type thing,' said livestock manager Haley Goulet. 'There's no reason to panic until you have it. In my opinion, the best thing you can do is prepare and maintain cleanliness.' In addition to boot washes and limiting public contact with the animals, the Natick farm is also keeping its chickens inside and is not introducing any new chickens to the flock except for day-old chicks that can be raised inside. The security measures taken by farms around the state are based on guidance from the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture. Haley Goulet, the livestock manager at the Natick Community Organic Farm, stepped into a bleach shoe bath before entering the chicken coop, among the common precautions local chicken farms are taking to prevent the spread of bird flu. Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff 'The education piece around biosecurity is the best prevention against [the flu],' said Ashley Randle, commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture. 'Our animal health team works very closely, and our animal health inspectors, with flock owners to ensure that they're putting these measures into place to mitigate against the risk.' The virus is relatively new, and researchers are studying how the virus behaves and searching for potential treatments and vaccinations. 'We're learning as we go,' said Dr. Jeremy Luban, a professor and virologist at UMass Chan Medical School. Generally, humans who contract the bird flu get it from direct exposure to infected birds or livestock such as cows, said Luban. The Department of Public Health advises to not touch sick or dead animals and to keep pets away from potentially infected wildlife. The department encourages the public to report instances of five or more sick or dead birds to local animal control officers or through the Existing anti-flu medications have shown effectiveness in treating the virus in humans when taken within a few days of exposure, said Luban. Advertisement While human cases of bird flu are rare and there is no evidence of person-to-person spread, said Luban, the danger for humans is a lack of immunity against the virus. Experimental vaccines have shown promise in animals, he said. Farm staff like Goulet hope this research yields solutions to fight the virus. 'I would hope that in the future, it is something that we can vaccinate our chicks against before we even get them from the hatchery,' Goulet said. 'So that it's not something we have to worry about as they're growing up.' Meeghan Kersten, a farm educator, held eggs from the chicken coop at the Natick Community Organic Farm. Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff Maren Halpin can be reached at
