CAMP HILL — Pennsylvania Farm Bureau is proud to recognize former state board and executive committee member Dave Graybill for his re-appointment to the Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee (FRRCC). The FFRCC provides independent policy advice, information, and recommendations to the EPA Administrator on a range of environmental issues of importance to agriculture and rural communities. Graybill is one of 20 newly or re-appointed members serving on the 37-member panel, whose appointments were officially announced in November 2022.
“I am proud to represent the views of Pennsylvania’s farmers and rural communities on this important federal advisory body,” said Graybill. “Pennsylvania’s agricultural producers are committed to their crops, their animals, and the air, land, and water that sustain them and the communities we serve each day. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to tell their story and influence federal policy in ways that support and enhance their efforts.”
Graybill operates Red Sunset Farm, a dairy/crop/honeybee farm in Juniata County. In addition to his main feed crops of corn, soybeans, hay, and small grains, he grows sunflowers, wheat and buckwheat as cover crops, and his cropland is all no-till. He has a small apiary of more than 40 hives and sells nucs, queens and raw honey. He is passionate about conservation efforts, utilizing buffer strips along waterways; implementing contour farming; and maintaining 15 acres of trees as wildlife habitat. Over the years, he has made numerous additional improvements to the farm—all designed to keep water clean and protect the environment—which won Red Sunset Farm the 2021 Outstanding Dairy Farm Sustainability Award as part of the U.S. Dairy Sustainability Awards presented by the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy.
Earlier this year, EPA Administrator Michael Regan issued a new charge topic for the FRRCC: to evaluate the Agency’s policies and programs at the intersection of agriculture and climate change. In announcing the appointment of Graybill and his fellow FRRCC members, Administrator Regan was quoted as saying:
“As EPA Administrator, I am deeply committed to ensuring that agricultural and rural communities have a seat at the table as we work together to identify practical, science-based solutions that protect the environment and ensure a vibrant and productive food system. The appointees announced today and our existing FRRCC members will provide invaluable insight and feedback on EPA’s programs as we partner with farmers and ranchers to address the impacts of the climate crisis.”
Graybill and the other FRRCC members were selected from a pool of more than 85 applications received in response to a spring 2022 request. According to the release announcing the appointments, “EPA selected new and returning members from a pool of highly qualified candidates to represent a variety of agricultural sectors, rural stakeholders, diverse geographies and whose backgrounds include extensive experience with EPA priority issues, including climate change. FRRCC members represent all 10 EPA regions and hail from 24 states.”