By Billy Mitchell, NFU Food Safety Training Coordinator, & Tricia Wancko, NFU Food Safety Grant Coordinator “I’m really passionate about helping to make the local food movement in Alabama successful, … Read More
Author: Hannah Packman
NFU, Ag Groups Urge Farm Labor Reform
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 9, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202.554.1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – In a letter sent to Senate leadership, the Agriculture Workforce Coalition (AWC) urged immediate legislative action to reform the … Read More
NFU Applauds USDA Investment in Food Security
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 4, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202.554.1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – As part of its ongoing efforts to address food insecurity, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that … Read More
Spring Brings Another Year of Local Food Safety Collaborative
By Billy Mitchell, NFU Food Safety Training Coordinator Bags of asparagus. Hot pepper jams. Turkey tail mushrooms. Over the past year and half, consumers recommitted to sourcing locally and discovered … Read More
Farmers Deserve the Right to Repair Their Tractors
By Hannah Packman, NFU Communications Director Thanks in large part to the introduction of machinery like tractors and combines, farms today are far more efficient and productive than they were … Read More
Dr. Jewel Bronaugh Confirmed as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 14, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202.554.1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – In a voice vote, the U.S. Senate last night confirmed Dr. Jewel Bronaugh to serve as Deputy … Read More
Food Safety Spotlight: The ABCs in School Gardens
By Billy Mitchell, NFU Food Safety Training Coordinator Farm to school programs continue to grow in popularity, with some schools taking part in hyper-local sourcing by using school gardens and farms to provide students with opportunities … Read More
Alpha Gamma Rho Donates $2,600 to Support Farm Mental Health
By Connor Hultman, previous Noble Ruler of Alpha Gamma Rho chapter at Iowa State University In the Fall of 2020, the men of Alpha Gamma Rho at Iowa State University … Read More
Farmers Union Encouraged that Agriculture is Incorporated into Biden Administration’s Conservation Principles
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 6, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – The Biden administration today released a report providing more details on how it plans to meet its earlier … Read More
During Days of Advocacy, Farmers Union Members Advocate Immediate Climate Action
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 5, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – As climate change poses an increasingly serious threat to farmers’ livelihoods and global food security, a group of National … Read More
FACA Recommends USDA Use Pilot Projects to Build Toward a Carbon Bank
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 3, 2021 WASHINGTON – The Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance (FACA), now more than 70 members strong, has worked over the past three months to develop specific … Read More
USDA Must Prioritize Climate Change Across All Programs, NFU Says
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 29, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – Agriculture is uniquely positioned to mitigate climate change – but farmers need the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) … Read More
Biden Outlines Priorities for Economic Recovery, Immigration Reform, and Climate Action During Congressional Address
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 28, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – During his first joint address to Congress, President Joe Biden tonight highlighted the progress the United States has made … Read More
Food Safety Spotlight: Good Design for Good Practices
By Billy Mitchell, NFU Food Safety Training Coordinator On a recent episode of the Tilth Alliance Farm Walks Podcast, Ryan Lichttenegger of Steel Wheel Farm in Fall City, Washington, and Andy … Read More
Food Safety Spotlight: Take 5 with Michigan Farmers Union
By Billy Mitchell, NFU Food Safety Training Coordinator Over the past year, Mary Mcgraw and Blain Becktold provided outreach and education with the Michigan Farmers Union as part the Local … Read More
Biofuels Coalition Readies for Oral Arguments in Supreme Court
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 26, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – In oral arguments scheduled for Tuesday morning, four agriculture and biofuel organizations will argue that the U.S. Supreme Court … Read More
Agriculture Resilience Act a Thoughtful, Nuanced Approach to Climate Action
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 22, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – On Earth Day, Representative Chellie Pingree and Senator Martin Heinrich introduced the Agriculture Resilience Act (ARA), which sets a … Read More
Chauvin Verdict a Relief, but the Fight for Racial Equity is Far from Over
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 20, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – 330 days after Minnesota resident George Floyd’s death, a jury today found former police officer Derek Chauvin guilty … Read More
Growing Climate Solutions Act Improves Credibility of Carbon Markets, NFU Says
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 20, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – In the midst of Earth Week, Senators Debbie Stabenow, John Boozman, and Mike Braun reintroduced the Growing Climate Solutions … Read More
Diagnose and Discuss: Food Safety Clinic Benefits Growers
By Billy Mitchell, NFU Food Safety Training Coordinator If you have a community-based farm and want to identify ways to strengthen your operation, there’s no better place to go for suggestions and solutions than other farmers— alongside some back up from … Read More
Drought Grips Western U.S.
After a year riddled with pandemic-related challenges, farmers were hoping for an easy, uncomplicated growing season. Unfortunately, for many that dream seems unlikely, as much of the Western half of … Read More
Small Business Loans Extended
A day before the Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was set to expire on March 31, President Joe Biden signed a two-month extension into law. The program, which provides forgivable loans to … Read More
Scaling Good Manufacturing Processes Education to Small-Scale Processors
By Tricia Wancko, Food Safety Grant Coordinator Many small-scale farms and food businesses—whether they are chopping, canning, preserving, aggregating, or dehydrating value-added products—might not know where to begin when navigating the Preventive Controls Rule (PCR) of the Food Safety Modernization … Read More
Farmers Union Encouraged by American Jobs Plan
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 31, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden today unveiled a blueprint to “create millions of good jobs, rebuild our country’s infrastructure, and position … Read More
Biofuels Coalition Welcomes Amicus Briefs in Supreme Court RFS Case
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 31, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – The Renewable Fuels Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Farmers Union, and American Coalition for Ethanol (collectively referred … Read More