Delaware family farmers will share the history of their farms, concerns about the future of agriculture and optimism to successfully meet the challenges of 21st century farming.

Students, faculty, staff, alumni and the general public are all invited to participate in this important panel discussion. A UDairy Creamery ice cream reception will follow.

The Focus

Delaware’s farmers face many challenges as they work to serve society by producing food while earning a secure and profitable living for their family. These challenges include the unprecedented increase in land prices, the rapid expansion of land development for housing and other uses, increasing regulatory pressures and expense, higher input costs, volatile markets, climate change impacts and determining the true value and benefit of carbon credit programs.

Three Delaware farmers, each with different backgrounds and farm enterprises, will share their perspectives on the current health of Delaware agriculture and the outlook for the future.  Their insights will inform the audience of their needs to better compete in a changing world and the role of the University and its College of Agriculture and Natural Resources must play in providing the tools to enhance the profitability and sustainability of our state's family farm system.

Panelists

Charlie Postles of Milford is a UD alumnus with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. Charles grew up in a farm and ag-business family. After graduation, Postles worked in the farm finance industry and the vegetable processing industry, but soon became a full-time grain and processing vegetables grower. He has raised broilers for the Delmarva chicken industry since the 1970s; today, his single farm enterprise focuses on raising nearly 500,000 chickens each year. Charlie and his wife, Janet, also a UD graduate, have three grown children. Postles serves as the State Representative for the 33^rd District in the Delaware General Assembly.

Brandon Bonk of Dover, is a Delaware native with a degree in Agriculture Systems Technology from Iowa State University. Upon graduation, he and his wife Ashley, faced with the discontinuation of the family farm, had to start from the ground up. They now grow corn, soybeans, small grains, potatoes and sweet potatoes on over 5,700 acres in Central Delaware. Ashley, a UD graduate, is on the farm every day with Brandon. Brandon and Ashley each come from families with a long background in Delaware farming. They have four young children, all of whom help on the farm as their age and experience allow.

Dennis Clay of Middletown farms with his brother Morgan and his two sons, Mike and Chris. Dennis and Morgan’s father, George, was a tenant farmer north of Middletown, running a general farm and dairy. In 1960, George was able to purchase 125 acres for $50,000 and move to the new farm west of Middletown, still raising crops and milking cows. Today, Morgan, Dennis, Mike and Chris farm 2,000 acres of corn, soybeans, and small grains.  They have also grown spinach, sweet corn, peas and lima beans for freezing. Dennis and his wife, Cindy, an educator in Delaware’s public schools, also have a daughter who may come back to the farm in the future.