FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 7, 2018
Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106
[email protected]
WASHINGTON – Amidst an historic decline in net farm income and added disruptions in agricultural trade and biofuel markets, National Farmers Union (NFU) will host 350 family farmers and ranchers in Washington, D.C., next week to meet face-to-face with top Trump administration officials and members of Congress as they decide on a number of legislative and regulatory priorities for farm country.
The advocates will travel from across the country to the nation’s capital to push for passage of a farm bill that supports family agriculture, strong protections from international trade market disruptions, and expansion of the American grown biofuel market. The NFU Fly-In Talking Points package can be found here.
NFU will kick off the Fly-In on the morning of Wednesday, September 12, with a briefing at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), where participants will hear from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and other top officials at USDA and the office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Following that, the Farmers Union members will make their way over to Capitol Hill for a Farm Bill Forum, where they will engage with members of Congress on legislative priorities.
On Thursday and Friday, Fly-In participants will visit all 535 congressional offices to meet with members of Congress and congressional staff to deliver their personal stories as to how federal level policies impact their families and communities. NFU will also honor congressional champions for family agriculture with the organization’s Golden Triangle Award.
Members of the press who are interested in attending the Wednesday events—the USDA Briefing and/or the Farm Bill Forum—must RSVP to Andrew Jerome at [email protected] by 5 p.m. Eastern on Monday, September 10.
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WHAT:
USDA Briefing – NFU Fall Legislative Fly-In
WHERE:
Jefferson Auditorium, USDA 5th Wing
1400 Independence Ave. SW
Washington, DC 20228
WHEN:
8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Eastern
CONFIRMED SPEAKERS (in anticipated speaking order):
- Sonny Perdue, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
- Gregory Ibach, Under Secretary, Marketing and Regulatory Programs, U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Jamie Clover Adams, Chief of Staff, Farm Production and Conservation, U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Gregg Doud, Chief Agriculture Negotiator, U.S. Trade Representative
- Anne Hazlett, Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture
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WHAT:
Farm Bill Forum – NFU Fall Legislative Fly-In
WHERE:
Senate Dirksen Office Building, Room 106
50 Constitution Ave NE
Washington, DC 20002
WHEN:
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Eastern
CONFIRMED SPEAKERS (in anticipated speaking order):
- U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp, North Dakota
- U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly, Indiana
- U.S. Senator Tina Smith, Minnesota
- U.S. Senator John Hoeven, North Dakota
- U.S. Senator Charles Grassley, Iowa
- U.S. Representative Jim McGovern, Massachusetts
- U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, Colorado
- U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree, Maine
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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.
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