The Senate spent most of last week debating farm bill amendments, and Friday afternoon passed the bill with a 79-14 vote.

 

"The Senate farm bill includes record investments in nutrition, conservation, renewable energy and specialty crop programs while maintaining a strong safety net for producers when prices fall," NFU President Tom Buis said. "A strong safety net is vital to a successful farm bill. Past experience has taught us that any farm bill will work during good price years but is really needed during times of low prices. The Senate farm bill will see farmers through the good and the bad."

 

Many of NFU's priorities were included in the bill: a livestock competition title, including a ban on packer ownership, establishment of an Office of Special Council and voluntary arbitration, along with the implementation of country-of-origin labeling and a permanent disaster assistance program. 

 

Buis commended the Senate for moving the farm bill forward in the legislative process. However, a House-Senate conference still needs to meet and work out the two bills' differences before a farm bill can be signed into law.

 

Read NFU's Release.
Read Senate Farm Bill Highlights.
You can read more about the farm bill on NFU's website.

As the Senate debated the farm bill on Dec. 13, it took a break to vote on energy legislation. The Senate version of the energy bill, revised from the bill the House passed the previous week, passed with a vote of 86-8.

 

The Senate-passed bill expands the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS), a top priority for NFU, to 36 billion gallons by 2022. The Senate eliminated a Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) that the House had approved, as well as a tax title. The bill still includes, however, increased CAFE standards, new energy efficiency standards and research and development funding.

 

"Fuels from the farm is a bright spot for rural America," NFU President Tom Buis said. "Renewable fuels have revitalized once-struggling rural communities by creating economic opportunities for family farmers, ranchers and rural Americans. I commend the Senate for their support, urge the House to follow suit and the President to sign before the end of the year."

 

After passing its bill, the Senate received assurances from Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi that the bill was acceptable to her, which will clear the way for House passage. The House is expected to vote on Tuesday, then the bill will be sent to the President for his signature.

 

"While I am disappointed an extension of renewable tax incentives such as the production tax credit (PTC) for wind and a national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) were not part of the final energy bill, I remain hopeful that Congress will address these provisions in 2008," Buis said.

 

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

 

12-14-07 NFU President Tom Buis applauds the Senate for passing the 2007 Farm Bill before Congress adjourns for the year. The bill includes record investments in nutrition, conservation, renewable energy and specialty crop programs. 

12-13-07 NFU President Tom Buis reacts to this evening's passage of the energy bill in the Senate. The 86-8 vote approved a bill that expands the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

Hear more audio in our audio gallery.

 

If there is a group or organization that represents local agriculture, Gretel Norgeot is probably a member. Gretel and her family live in Orleans, Cape Cod, Mass., and are deeply involved in promoting local agriculture every single day, either through farmers' markets, local garden clubs, school groups or community gardens.

 

Gretel and her husband, Jeff, became members of the New England Farmers Union chapter when it joined the Farmers Union family last December. For several years before NEFU was formed, NFU was working closely with the Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen's Association (CCCHFA). The Norgeots became involved with the new chapter because Jeff was on the Policy Committee of CCCHFA last year when NEFU formed.

 

Continue reading Gretel'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:

Jim Zumbrink, Ohio

 

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

The Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen's Association (CCCHFA), a NFU affiliate organization, has long advocated for reform in the Atlantic herring fishery, recognizing the importance the small fish plays in New England's marine ecosystem. CCCHFA recently achieved a great victory when the New England Fisheries Management Council, the governing body for commercial fisheries off the coast of Massachusetts, voted to make the herring fishery a priority issue in 2008. NFU was proud to join CCCHFA's efforts to highlight the need for greater oversight of industrial size herring vessels and protection of other commercial species that rely on a healthy herring stock for forage.

 

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,

South Dakota Farmers Union president Doug Sombke says he is thrilled with consumers' response to the blender pumps. "SDFU has been advocating for blender pumps for years, but even if you don't want to listen to what we have to say, the numbers simply don't lie. Consumers want to use higher blends of ethanol. E30 saves money and gets better gas mileage. What more could we ask for?" said Sombke. Sombke has been blending ethanol with gasoline on his farm for several years, using a 30 percent blend in all his vehicles.

 

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!

 

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Additional Las Vegas Information:

 

Bally's Hotel and Casino Resort - Las Vegas

 

Taken from "Agricultural Prices," USDA/NASS.