FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 6, 2017
Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106
[email protected]
SAN DIEGO – National Farmers Union (NFU) officially convened its 115th Anniversary Convention this morning in San Diego, California. More than 450 Farmers Union members from across the country are gathered for the annual event, which runs through March 8.
“As a farmer-driven organization, NFU’s convention is the organization’s most important event of the year. Attendees learn and collaborate through breakout sessions, thought provoking panel discussions and a local farms tour, and delegates from each of our state divisions will set the stage for NFU’s policies and priorities in the year ahead,” said NFU President Roger Johnson.
Over the next several days, attendees will hear from two high-level panels on the upcoming Farm Bill and conservation in agriculture, and industry experts focusing on consolidation in the agricultural sector, renewable fuels, and sustainable food production.
The information learned will provide context for the policy discussions and line-by-line policy review by Farmers Union delegates in the final days of the convention.
“The policy adoption process truly embodies NFU’s strong grassroots network, and is very important to deciding the policy we bring to the table in Washington, D.C.,” Johnson explained.
“This year’s deliberations will be especially important, as family farmers and ranchers face a depressed farm economy, waves of consolidation, a new administration, and upcoming farm bill negotiation,” Johnson added. “We look forward to our members setting positions that are representative of policy solutions that work for family agriculture and rural communities.”
The convention will also feature a local farms tour, award ceremonies, and a number of NFU education programming events.
“We’ll host breakout sessions on soil health, dairy marketing programs, and NFU history, as well as a local farms tour that showcases organic production and small-plot urban farming in San Diego,” said Johnson. “We’re proud to be an organization representative of the diversity in American family agriculture and bring together folks of all different backgrounds and operation types to drive the future of agriculture.”
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To learn more about the scheduled events at the NFU 114th Anniversary Convention, visit the NFU website at: nfu.org/convention.
To download an audio file of Roger Johnson’s quotes, visit the NFU website at nfu.org/audio.
Stay Connected
Follow along with NFU’s 115th Anniversary Convention using the hashtag #NFU2017, and follow NFU on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also download the NFU Convention app here.
About NFU
National Farmers Union has been working since 1902 to protect and enhance the economic well-being and quality of life for family farmers, ranchers and rural communities through advocating grassroots-driven policy positions adopted by its membership.
Look for us online at NFU.org and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.