Lessons Learned at Market

July 13, 2023Blog, Food Safety

By: Billy Mitchell and Kathryn Kavanagh As spring turns to summer in 2023, we wanted to reflect back on a conversation we had with farmer market farmers on the first day in 2022 at the Wednesday night farmers market at Creature Comforts Brewery in Athens, GA. With psychedelic music wafting through the air – this … Read More

Biofuel, Farm, Fuel Marketer Groups Urge Fairness in Tailpipe Emissions Standards

July 5, 2023Press Releases

America’s farmers, fuel marketers and retailers, and renewable fuel producers today called on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to adopt a market-oriented, technology-neutral approach to transportation decarbonization in its upcoming final tailpipe emissions standards for 2027-2032 light- and medium-duty vehicles. In a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan, seven national associations representing the full spectrum … Read More

NFU Releases 2023 Farmer’s Share of Fourth of July Food Dollar

June 30, 2023Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, National Farmers Union (NFU) released the 2023 numbers of the Farmer’s Share of the food dollar for several items typically served at a Fourth of July cookout.   “Year after year we’re seeing a troubling trend of farmers earning less and less of the dollars that Americans spend at the grocery store,” said … Read More

NFU Foundation Announces 2023 Scholarships to Young Agricultural Leaders

June 22, 2023Press Releases

WASHINGTON – To support the next generation of agricultural professionals, National Farmers Union Foundation (NFUF) today announced the 2023 recipients of its annual scholarship awards.  Every year, the organization presents several scholarships to students in any area of study attending a two- or four-year accredited college, university, or technical school who have demonstrated academic excellence and a … Read More

NFU Statement on EPA Blending Volumes for Renewable Fuels

June 21, 2023Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced biofuel blending volumes for 2023, 2024, and 2025 that included volumes for advanced biofuels like biodiesel, renewable diesel, and corn ethanol.   “Today’s modest increase in advanced volumes is a step in the right direction for family farmers and the biofuels economy, but also a missed opportunity to further incentivize carbon reductions,” said NFU President … Read More

NFU Statement in Support of Landowner Rights and Community Input

June 14, 2023Press Releases

MINNEAPOLIS – Today, the National Farmers Union (NFU) Board issued the following statement in support of landowner rights, expressing the need for community input throughout the process of infrastructure and development projects: The rights of landowners and their communities to make decisions for themselves are a core principle for our organization. Local control is a core … Read More

Washington Corner June 2023

June 9, 2023Washington Corner

June 2023 There has been a lot of smoke in Washington over the past month – both literally and figuratively. For most of May, Congress was bogged down due to intense and painstaking negotiations over the debt ceiling. Coverage of the negotiations featured a significant amount of “smoke”– with both sides portraying the negotiations as … Read More

Community-Focused Aerated Static Composting

June 8, 2023Blog, Food Safety

By: Billy Mitchell and Hayley Wood Maria and Michael of Code of Return (COR) Compost turn food scraps from businesses and homes into compost that feed the soils of the local farms that in turn feed their communities. On a peaceful afternoon out at their operation, Maria looked out over a beautiful pile of composted … Read More

NFU Opposes FY 2024 Agriculture Appropriations Bill as Passed by House Subcommittee

May 18, 2023Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today the U.S. House of Representatives Agriculture Appropriations subcommittee passed its Fiscal Year 2024 agriculture funding bill. The legislation includes harmful provisions that would prevent USDA from completing long-awaited Packers and Stockyards Act rules to protect family farmers and ranchers from abuses of market power by the meat industry. The bill also makes unacceptable … Read More

Washington Corner May 2023

May 12, 2023Washington Corner

May 2023 The cherry blossoms have bloomed, and the paddleboats are out on the Tidal Basin, as spring is in full swing in Washington, DC. The season’s usual batch of visitors have started to arrive in droves – tourists, middle and high school students on their Washington field trips, and most importantly, quite a few … Read More

NFU President Rob Larew Asks EPA to Promote Higher-Level Ethanol Blends

May 10, 2023Press Releases

WASHINGTON – NFU President Rob Larew advocated for ethanol to play a larger role in the transition to low-pollutant vehicles during an Environmental Protection Agency hearing today. “NFU has long urged EPA to support rural America by promoting higher-level blends of ethanol as a cost-effective means of achieving required and improved octane levels, and we ask … Read More

NFU Welcomes Major USDA Funding to Strengthen Food Supply Chain Infrastructure

May 3, 2023Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the creation of 12 new USDA Regional Food Business Centers that, according to a release from USDA, will “provide national coverage coordination, technical assistance, and capacity building to help farmers, ranchers, and other food businesses access new markets and navigate federal, state, and local resources, … Read More

NFU President Rob Larew Highlights Farm Bill Priorities in Senate Ag Hearing

May 2, 2023Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew appeared before the United States Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management, and Trade for a hearing titled “Commodity Programs, Credit, and Crop Insurance – Part 1: Producer Perspectives on the Farm Safety Net”. In his testimony, President Larew highlighted Farmers Union priorities for the 2023 Farm … Read More

NFU Statement on EPA E15 Announcement

April 28, 2023Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew issued the following statement in response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement on E-15 to be sold during the summer driving season: “Today’s announcement from EPA is good news for farmers and consumers heading into the summer travel season. Drivers will see increased choice and competition, farmers will see more … Read More

Colorado Right to Repair Law a Win for Farmers Across the Country

April 25, 2023Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, after months of work from National Farmers Union (NFU), Rocky Mountain Farmers Union (RMFU), PIRG, and Right to Repair advocates around the country, Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed into law the Consumer Right to Repair Agricultural Equipment Act (HB 23-1011). This law will give farmers and ranchers in the state of Colorado the … Read More

NFU Announces 2023-2024 Beginning Farmer Institute Cohort

April 11, 2023Press Releases

WASHINGTON – To support the next generation of American agriculture, National Farmers Union (NFU) today announced the eleven participants selected for its eleventh Beginning Farmer Institute (BFI) cohort. Over the course of nine months, attendees will participate in four sessions focused on technical training, mentorship, and leadership development. Established in 2011, BFI was created to help … Read More

Washington Corner April 2023

April 10, 2023Washington Corner

April 2023 Fresh off our 121st Anniversary Convention in San Francisco, NFU returned to Washington with a fresh policy book and a slate of special orders to champion. This year, the appropriations timeline has tightened considerably, as pressure builds on Capitol Hill for spending cuts amidst divided government and the upcoming budgetary and farm bill … Read More

NFU Supports Reintroduction of Next Generation Fuels Act in the House

March 30, 2023Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks reintroduced the Next Generation Fuels Act in the United States House of Representatives, which increases gasoline octane to a minimum standard through low-carbon, renewable fuels, like ethanol. Farmers and consumers stand to gain from the economic and environmental benefits brought about by this legislation. “When it comes to renewable energy, … Read More

NFU Supports Reintroduction of Next Generation Fuels Act

March 22, 2023Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota reintroduced the Next Generation Fuels Act in the United States Senate, which increases gasoline octane to a minimum standard through low-carbon, renewable fuels, like ethanol. Farmers and consumers stand to gain from the economic and environmental benefits brought about by this legislation. … Read More

Washington Corner March 2023

March 17, 2023Washington Corner

March 2023 Throughout February and early March, NFU was busy preparing for our annual convention. The convention was a success, with nearly 500 family farmers and ranchers and guests in attendance. Farmers Union delegates and members from across the country gathered to set NFU’s policy priorities for the year and heard from agricultural experts and … Read More

NFU Concludes 121st Anniversary Convention, Looks to Have Major Impact on 2023 Farm Bill

March 7, 2023Press Releases

SAN FRANCISCO – Today, National Farmers Union (NFU) concluded their 121st Anniversary Convention held in San Francisco, California. With an agenda that was focused on the ability of NFU and Farmers Union members to create change, delegates and attendees heard from United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, keynote speaker Dr. Glenda Humiston, Speaker Emerita … Read More

NFU Presents Luke Runyon of KUNC with Milt Hakel Award for Excellence in Agricultural Journalism

March 6, 2023Press Releases

SAN FRANCISCO – At the 121st Anniversary Convention of National Farmers Union (NFU), Luke Runyon of Greeley, Colorado was awarded the 2023 Milt Hakel Award for Excellence in Agricultural Journalism. Luke Runyon is a reporter covering the Colorado River Basin for public radio station KUNC. His investigations show how water issues can both unite and divide communities … Read More