Washington Corner January/February 2024

February 5, 2024Washington Corner

January/February 2024 The calendar has flipped over following a productive year for competition in agriculture in 2023. The previous year featured major Fairness for Farmers priorities sharing time in the spotlight, including efforts to strengthen the Packers and Stockyards Act, Right to Repair, and legislation resembling a farm bill competition title. NFU intends to carry … Read More

Washington Corner 2024 Preview: Priorities for Farmers Union

December 21, 2023Washington Corner

2024 PREVIEW: PRIORITIES FOR FARMERS UNION The 2023 calendar year is ending without a new farm bill, after being extended until September 30, 2024. Last month’s extension came on the heels of a tumultuous year on Capitol Hill. The main events of the 118th Congress to date have been a historic speaker election that lasted … Read More

Washington Corner November 2023

November 21, 2023Washington Corner

November 2023 November arrived in full force inside the beltway. At this time of year, theatrics in Washington feature sporadic chilly days, fallen orange foliage and empty tree branches, and dark skies by 5 p.m. These were all once again on full display but were relegated to a supporting cast, as this November featured a … Read More

Washington Corner October 2023

October 20, 2023Washington Corner

October 2023 October is sometimes a quiet month on Capitol Hill, as Congress usually leaves town for a 2-3 week district work period. While the Senate conformed to this tradition, the House has remained in DC since early September, and it has been tumultuous time on that side of the Hill. The House has been … Read More

Washington Corner September 2023

September 27, 2023Washington Corner

ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL FARMERS UNION FLY-IN From September 11-13, 300 Farmers Union members from across the country joined together in Washington, DC to advocate for NFU’s farm bill priorities. Since 1909, we have gathered in the Nation’s capital to make our voices heard and lobby for a fairer, more equitable food and agricultural system, and this … Read More

Washington Corner August 2023

August 10, 2023Washington Corner

August 2023 After a busy month of July, Congress has left town for the annual August district work period with the unfinished appropriations process for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) and the farm bill taking center stage. Despite the Senate advancing their respective bills, the House passed only one of the twelve annual appropriations bills, greatly … Read More

Washington Corner July 2023

July 17, 2023Washington Corner

July 2023 Congress has returned to Washington for the month of July following the Independence Day break, with a busy docket before the upcoming district work period in August. Lawmakers have been turning their attention to farm bill reauthorization and the annual appropriations process, with the September 30 deadline for both fast approaching. NFU continues … Read More

Washington Corner June 2023

June 9, 2023Washington Corner

June 2023 There has been a lot of smoke in Washington over the past month – both literally and figuratively. For most of May, Congress was bogged down due to intense and painstaking negotiations over the debt ceiling. Coverage of the negotiations featured a significant amount of “smoke”– with both sides portraying the negotiations as … Read More

Washington Corner May 2023

May 12, 2023Washington Corner

May 2023 The cherry blossoms have bloomed, and the paddleboats are out on the Tidal Basin, as spring is in full swing in Washington, DC. The season’s usual batch of visitors have started to arrive in droves – tourists, middle and high school students on their Washington field trips, and most importantly, quite a few … Read More

Washington Corner April 2023

April 10, 2023Washington Corner

April 2023 Fresh off our 121st Anniversary Convention in San Francisco, NFU returned to Washington with a fresh policy book and a slate of special orders to champion. This year, the appropriations timeline has tightened considerably, as pressure builds on Capitol Hill for spending cuts amidst divided government and the upcoming budgetary and farm bill … Read More

Washington Corner March 2023

March 17, 2023Washington Corner

March 2023 Throughout February and early March, NFU was busy preparing for our annual convention. The convention was a success, with nearly 500 family farmers and ranchers and guests in attendance. Farmers Union delegates and members from across the country gathered to set NFU’s policy priorities for the year and heard from agricultural experts and … Read More

Washington Corner February 2023

February 10, 2023Washington Corner

February 2023 With the new Congress getting down to business and the House and Senate Agriculture Committee rosters recently finalized, NFU is eager to work with lawmakers to pursue our Fairness for Farmers campaign. This effort will carry into the 2023 Farm bill, as NFU continues to fight for legislation that establishes greater fairness and … Read More

Washington Corner January 2023

January 24, 2023Washington Corner

Following a productive two years on Capitol Hill, the 118th Congress was set to be sworn in shortly after noon on January 3. However, disagreement and dissent in Congress resulted in some initial delays. The Senate started business right on time. However, the House had a lengthy holdup due to a drawn-out debate and election … Read More

Washington Corner, December 2022

December 9, 2022Washington Corner

The end of an even-numbered year means it is a busy time on Capitol Hill, as the biennial “lame duck” session of Congress tries to wrap up legislative activities before newly elected lawmakers take office in January. NFU is making a push to get some Fairness for Farmers legislation (Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act … Read More

Washington Corner November 2022

November 10, 2022Washington Corner

Nearing the end of the 117th Congress, voters flocked to the polls to cast their ballots for the midterm elections earlier this month. This included all 435 House seats, 35 Senate seats, as well as a large slate of state and local races.  Throughout the last month, with Congress largely out of town, NFU has … Read More