|
|
|
NFU Expresses Climate Change Priorities
 National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson outlined in a letter to House Energy and Commerce
Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., May 7 the necessary
components of a meaningful cap and trade system. Johnson urged Waxman to
support legislation that would enable America's farmers and ranchers to
be key actors in combating climate change.
"Even before climate change legislation was introduced in Congress,
NFU emerged as the leading voice for how agriculture can play a
significant role in combating global climate change and supported a
mandatory cap and trade program," Johnson said.
Johnson called on Waxman to ensure several provisions are addressed as
Congress moves forward with the legislation:
- The U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) is granted control and administration of the
agriculture offset program;
- Early
actors are recognized;
- No
artificial cap is placed on domestic offsets;
- Carbon
sequestration rates are based on science; and
- Producers
are permitted to stack environmental benefit credits.
|
|
NFU Poll of the Week
We are extending our poll
question for another week. Have you taken action on climate change
yet?
Here
are the totals so far:
_______________________________________________
Thank
you for your participation!
|
|
Help Stop Spread of Flu
In coordination with the Center for Disease Control
(CDC) Emergency Operations Center, National Farmers Union is encouraging
all of its members to help stop the spread of flu by making some simple
steps everday habits:
- Wash your
hands thoroughly and often with either soap and water or hand
sanitizer; the flu virus can live for 2 to 8 hours after you sneeze.
- Cover
your nose and mouth when you sneeze.
- Stay home
or isolate yourself when you feel flu-like symptoms.
Although these are obvious and routine activities, it is
important that you take these steps and that you encourage others to do
so. With the recent outbreak of the H1N1 virus, it is now more important
than ever.
|
|
NFU Participates
in Health Care Roundtable
 National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson participated May 4 in a White House roundtable
discussion on rural health care. Johnson
highlighted the challenges farmers, ranchers and rural communities face
in affording health care coverage and accessing quality care.
"Rural communities are on the front lines of today's health care
crisis," Johnson said. "President Obama's commitment to address
this challenge is welcome news to our members. Today's economic
conditions do not provide the leisure of waiting any longer."
The roundtable was the fourth in a series of White House health care
stakeholder discussions. A new report from the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS) entitled, "Hard Times in the Heartland:
Health Care in Rural America," was shared with participants. The
report highlights reasons why rural communities especially must address
health care this year.
In addition to Johnson, Ohio Farmers Union lifetime
member Sibyl Miller, Oxford, Ohio, and Rocky Mountain Farmers Union
member Armando Valdez, La Jara, Colo., participated in the meeting,
providing a real-world perspective.
|
|
NFU Applauds Creation of
Biofuels Interagency Working Group
 National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson applauded May 5 the creation
of a Biofuels Interagency Working Group by President Obama. The purpose
of the Working Group is to continue to analyze contentious issues such as
indirect land use effects while the administration moves forward with
other components of the proposed rule implementing the Renewable Fuels
Standard (RFS2).
"There is currently no scientific agreement or certainty to quantify
domestically produced ethanol impacts on land use change," Johnson
said. "I commend the President's plan to have the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency
work together in a comprehensive manner to guide the continuation and
growth of the biofuels industry."
EPA's proposed rulemaking on the RFS2 showed
that when considering domestic impacts, corn ethanol actually reduces
greenhouse gas emissions beyond what had been previously estimated. EPA
found that corn ethanol reduced greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50
percent compared to conventional gasoline.
|
|
APHIS to Hold NAIS
Stakeholders Meetings
 The Animal Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS) is organizing seven upcoming meetings to discuss
stakeholder concerns related to the implementation of the National Animal
Identification System (NAIS). The U.S. Department of Agriculture is
seeking to engage stakeholders and producers to hear not only their
concerns about the NAIS system, but also potential or feasible solutions
to those concerns. The information and ideas gathered will assist Sec.
Vilsack in making decisions about the future direction of animal
traceability in the United States.
The public meetings will be held in Harrisburg, Pa. (May 14), Pasco,
Wash. (May 18), Austin, Texas (May 20), Birmingham, Ala. (May 21),
Louisville, Ky. (May 22), Storrs, Conn. (May 27) and Greeley, Colo. (June
1) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. You can find specific locations here.
|
|
Member Profile: Katrina
Becker and Tony Schultz, Wisconsin Farmers Union
 Katrina (Kat) Becker and Tony Schultz of Athens, Wis., are a
unique couple in the agricultural world. They are small-scale farmers
with a diversified operation of 172 different varieties of fruits and
vegetables and they raise various livestock on 120 acres.
The two also have unique backgrounds from one another. Kat is originally
from New York City while Tony grew up on the farm they now own, Stoney Acres Farm.
Stoney Acres is a third generation family farm in Marathon County. It had
been a dairy farm ever since the 1950's until the family sold the cows in
1998. Even though they had to sell the cattle, the operation continued
and was eventually passed down to Tony.
Continue reading Jill and Bill's
story.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Read our previous profiles here.
Do you know someone you would like to feature from your state?
Contact Josh Tonsager.
|
|
ACE Calls for E15 Blend
 To show widespread grassroots support
for ethanol and the move to increase the base blend in gasoline up to 15
percent rather than the current 10 percent, the America Coalition for Ethanol
(ACE) has launched a comprehensive E15 Grassroots Campaign, incorporating
many tactics to help the industry overcome the E10 blend wall. As part of
the announcement, ACE unveiled April 15 an online petition.
As part of its campaign, ACE has created an E15 Action Center on its
website with information about E15 and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
waiver.
|
|
State News
Minnesota: The state's diesel fuel
supply will now contain five percent biodiesel
(B5), where it previously used two percent and currently has the goal of
hitting twenty percent by 2015.
"The state of Minnesota moving to a 5 percent biodiesel blend moves
us to a cleaner burning renewable fuel that supports the Minnesota
economy, reduces vehicle emissions and moves us toward less dependence on
foreign oil. With the amount of biodiesel increasing to five
percent, that decreases our carbon footprint by 644 million pounds
annually - what could be better than that! A green fuel for a green
economy."
North Dakota:
The 2009 NDFU Summer Staff met with member education
coordinator Josh Norby April 17-19 at the NDFU state office for "Get
Acquainted Weekend." The objectives of the weekend included building
group dynamics, gaining a solid understanding of the summer staff's role
at camp, planning camp projects, theme nights, and camp promotion and
creating an understanding of summer staff responsibilities and attitude.
While in Jamestown, the group was also recruited to make sandwiches for
the Red Cross who is helping feed
volunteers fighting the flood waters of the James River, which threatens
the city of Jamestown and surrounding areas.
North Dakota:
A just-off-the-assembly-line 2009 MCI touring coach arrived at the NDFU state office earlier this
month. It wasn't parked in the garage for long. The bus was immediately
put to use carrying members to attend various events including the
North Dakota legislative session. The NDFU board of directors approved
the investment to reflect the changing needs of the organization's
members. This action included approval to sell the two buses NDFU had owned.
One has already been sold, the other remains for sale.
Rocky Mountain:
RMFU Service Association
(FUSA) is putting money back into local
communities. FUSA is the network of agents who sell Farmers Union
Insurance in Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming. The organization recently
launched a Community Builder program to distribute a total of $12,000 to
worthy causes in their communities. "Our goal is to build stronger
communities so our region can pull through these tough times," FUSA
General Manager Gary Wilmoth said.
Rocky Mountain:
The RMFU Educational and
Charitable Fund announced May 1 the recipients
of nine scholarships. The scholarships are funded by RMFU, Farmers Union Service Association
(FUSA) and memorials to historic members of Farmers Union. They are given
to students with outstanding scholastic achievements and community
service, to recognize their gifts and assist them in pursuing their
education.
"These recipients are bright young people who are the future leaders
of our communities. The RMFU Foundation is proud to
present scholarships to nine outstanding youth, to help them achieve
their career goals," said RMFU Education Director Jennifer Luitjens
Bahr.
Wisconsin:
WFU President Sue Beitlich commended Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., for
introducing an amendment to the Helping Families Save their Homes Act
that calls for a study on the state of commercial farm credit markets and
alternatives to farm foreclosures. The amendment was included in the
Senate-passed bill.
The study, conducted by the Congressional Oversight Panel for the
Troubled Asset Relief Program, would examine whether lenders that have
taken bailout funds should help farmers and ranchers restructure their
loans.
|
|
Upcoming
Events
Farmers
Union Events for May 12-18
National
Animal Identification System (NAID) Public Stakeholders Meetings
Harrisburg, Pa.
May
14 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. PA Farm Show Complex and Expo
Center
Pasco, Wash.
May
18 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Trac Center
|
|
|
|
Farm Price Barometer
May 2009
Taken from "Agricultural Prices,"
USDA/NASS.
|
|
|
|
