Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., announced on the evening of Thursday, December 6 that an agreement had been reached on the process for amending the farm bill and debate would begin the following day. The cloture vote originally scheduled for Friday was thus postponed to a later time if necessary.

After tough negotiations, the final agreement permits each side of the aisle to offer 20 amendments, 40 total. These must be taken from the list of amendments the Senators have already agreed upon. At this time, we do not have a final list of amendments, but on Friday amendments on payment limits, nutrition programs, energy and conservation were introduced and set aside for further debate and votes this week.

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, made it very clear that the "amendment tree" was no longer full and that there were NO pending amendments on the floor. Harkin said he will continue to work with Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., on time limits for amendment debate.

Thank you to everyone who contacted their Senators! Majority Leader Reid indicated on the Senate floor that America's farmers and ranchers were demanding passage of a farm bill and now we are one step closer.

You can read more about the farm bill on NFU's website.

The House of Representatives passed an energy bill Thursday, December 6 that will create economic opportunities for rural America and allow family farmers and ranchers to continue to play a significant role in our country's energy future. Read NFU Statement.

The bill supports several NFU priorities, including an expanded Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS), a new Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) and extensions of renewable tax incentives such as the production tax credit (PTC) for wind.

"An expanded RFS will continue the success of the current standard by increasing ethanol production and providing more opportunities for farmers, ranchers and the communities in which they live," NFU President Tom Buis said. "The new RES builds upon the success of the RFS and will generate record investments in new clean energy facilities in mostly rural areas."

The House-passed bill was immediately delivered to the Senate. However, because of stiff opposition to the RES and tax title, the Senate could not secure the 60 votes needed to limit debate. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., indicated that he would continue to work with the Republican leadership on a plan to address energy legislation this week.

You can read more about the energy bill on NFU's website.

Photo: NFU Vice President of Government Relations Katy Ziegler participated in a Dec. 5 press conference in support of an expanded RFS. Also pictured are House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson, D-Minn., and Rep. Melissa Bean, D-Ill.

 

 

Iowa Presidential Summit:

                   

 

 

The farm bill unanimously approved Oct. 25 by the Senate Agriculture Committee is a good, fiscally responsible bill that includes record investments in conservation, nutrition, renewable energy development and specialty crop programs. America's family farmers, ranchers, rural residents and consumers stand to benefit.

 

The Senate farm bill also contains a permanent disaster assistance program to aid producers affected by devastating weather conditions out of their control; allows for interstate shipment of state-inspected meat so producers can sell their high-quality products to their neighbors across state lines; and, after repeated delays, includes a means to implement mandatory country-of-origin labeling, giving our nation's consumers the right to know where their food comes from.

 

Continue reading Tom's article.

Visit the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

 

NFU President Tom Buis will be posting a blog every other week in AgWeb's Community Blogs. Visit AgWeb to read Tom's blogs, read other community blogs and keep up to date on current agricultural news.

 

Farm Bill Delayed: Time to Act is Now

 

 

Americans are able to enjoy quality, affordable food over the holidays, thanks to farmers like Jim Zumbrink from Darke County, Ohio. Jim along with his wife Diana, son Scott, son-in-law Bryan and brother John, raise around seven batches of tom turkeys per year.

 

In the 1990s, the Zumbrink family looked to diversify. "The agricultural economy was depressed and we looked for another source of income from our farm," explains Jim. He found the answer by diversifying with poultry. Ohio's turkey industry ranks 11th in the nation, has a production value of more than $510 million and is the fastest growing sector of animal agriculture.

 

For nearly two decades, Jim has raised tukeys for Cooper Farms in his family's 40 x 320 foot barn. Cooper Farms, headquartered in northwest Ohio, is one of the largest family-owned turkey processing companies in the nation.

 

Continue reading Jim's story.

 

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**Each week, our members get to hear about NFU's work on Capitol Hill and around the United States. Now, we are going to show you what our members are doing across the country. This is part of a series of Member Profiles that will appear each week in the e-newsletter. Check back to get to know your fellow Farmers Union members!

 

Read our previous profiles:

 

Do you know someone you would like to feature from your state? Contact Amber Birtcher.

Arthur Douglas was re-elected president of the Utah Farmers Union at the organization's annual convention Nov. 29 - 30 in Salt Lake City.

Other highlights of the meeting included the presentation of awards and NFU President Tom Buis giving the keynote address. Students, parents and FFA advisors attending the UFU Convention also learned about scholarship, internship and other leadership opportunities available to Farmers Union members and were able to participate in a short lesson from the 2007 NFU curriculum on eating fresh and buying local.

Awards presented at the convention include the Friend of the Family Farmer Award given to Jim Gowans who served many years in the Utah Legislature and the National Farmers Union Golden Triangle Award to Utah Rep. Jim Matheson.

Looking for a new stocking stuffer or indoor activities for the kids this winter? The Farmers Union Coloring Book is a fun, interactive way to introduce Farmers Union to your child or grandchild.

 

Targeted toward children ages 5 to 12, the Farmers Union Coloring Book activity pages teach young people about Farmers Union and the family agriculture producers and cooperatives it supports.

 

Coloring books are available for $1 each, plus shipping. To order, contact National Farmers Union Education Director Laura Johnston Monchuk at laura.monchuk@nfu.org or (202) 741-9410.

I would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas, and offer my best wishes for a happy and prosperous New Year.

The strength of Farmers Union is our members.  National Farmers Union, along with our state organizations, offers legislative representation on the national, state, and local levels. In addition, your membership includes educational scholarships, internships, and camp opportunities for Farmers Union youth, among many other member benefits!

You already know that Farmers Union is a wonderful organization, so why not share it with your family, friends, and neighbors by giving the gift of a Farmers Union membership.  Show you care for the future of family agriculture. 

Contact your state farmers union office and let them know you would like to give this wonderful gift. The state office will notify the recipient that you have provided them an opportunity to become an active member in preserving our valued way of life.

Thank you for your generous gift. Your support continues to keep Farmers Union the true voice of family agriculture. 

Happy Holidays and Best Wishes,

 

Chance Getz and Brittany Selman won the contest and will be attending a NFU Legislative Fly-In in Washington, D.C., with all travel expenses paid by UFU.

 

UFU President Art Douglas said he sees the event jump-starting an active Farmers Union youth program in Utah.

 

Wisconsin: Wisconsin Farmers Union is part of Citizen Action, a coalition of labor unions and grass-roots groups, that released data on Dec. 5 indicating that health insurance costs can vary by as much as 26% among different metropolitan areas within the state. The difference works out to as much as $3,800 per year for family coverage.

 

Citizen Action members include the Wisconsin AFL-CIO, Voces de la Frontera, Wisconsin Education Association Council and Wisconsin Farmers Union. The coalition focuses on healthcare, the environment and other important issues in rural America. The coalition was a strong supporter of Healthy Wisconsin, the plan passed by the state Senate to provide health insurance coverage to nearly everyone in Wisconsin.

 

Have NFU news you want to share? Send any info about meetings, conventions, state fairs, individual members' success, state government news, or anything else relevant to NFU and its members to Amber Birtcher.

NFU's 2008 Convention will be held March 2 - 4 at Bally's in Las Vegas. Guaranteed to be an exciting mix of top-notch speakers, policy makers and Farmers Union members from across the country, the 2008 NFU Convention is a can't miss event.

 

Last year we were privileged to have House Speaker Nancy Pelosi provide the keynote address and we are looking forward to another successful event in 2008. See you in Las Vegas!

 

REGISTER ONLINE NOW

 

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Additional Las Vegas Information:

 

Bally's Hotel and Casino Resort - Las Vegas

 

Taken from "Agricultural Prices," USDA/NASS.