FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 1, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – National Farmers Union (NFU) officially convened the final portion of its 119th Anniversary Convention this morning to celebrate American farm families and to set the organization’s policy positions and priorities for the coming year. More than 500 farmers, ranchers, food advocates, industry professionals, policymakers, and reporters from across the country … Read More
U.S. Farmers Union Stands in Solidarity with Indian Farmers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 25, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – For three months, hundreds of thousands of Indian farmers have been protesting policies that will eliminate commodity price floors and allow corporations to play a more significant role in the food system – issues that are all too familiar to farmers in … Read More
ADVISORY: NFU Announces Featured Speakers for 119th Anniversary Convention
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 25, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – The final two days of National Farmers Union’s (NFU) 119th Anniversary Convention will bring together members, industry professionals, policymakers, and reporters for remarks from Congressional leadership and administration officials, award presentations, and the organization’s signature grassroots policy adoption process. Held on Monday, March 1st and Tuesday, March 2nd, … Read More
Cold Temps, Hot Food Safety Projects
By Tricia Wancko, Food Safety Grant Coordinator Punxsutawney Phil has decreed six more weeks of what has shaped up to be a frigid winter, but there are plenty of food safety projects to catch up on while the fields are frozen and you’re keeping toasty inside your burrow. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety Outreach Program … Read More
Farmers Union Ready to Work with Secretary Vilsack to Strengthen Farm System
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 23, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – In a 92-7 vote, the U.S. Senate today confirmed Tom Vilsack as Secretary of Agriculture, demonstrating strong bipartisan support for President Joe Biden’s pick. Vilsack previously held the position for eight years under President Barack Obama. National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob … Read More
FFA and Farmers Union Make for a Well-Rounded Agricultural Education
By Darrin Williamson, Region V FFA Officer and Chapter Vice President, Minnesota Farmers Union Youth Advisory Council Member Happy FFA Week, an annual celebration of FFA and the impact it has on members like me. I am interested and involved in agriculture – including FFA and Farmers Union – because it’s something we do as … Read More
Farm, Biofuel Leaders Embrace EPA’s New Position on Tenth Circuit’s Small Refinery Waiver Decision
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 22, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that it is supporting the Tenth Circuit Court’s January 2020 decisionin Renewable Fuels Association et al. v. EPA. After careful review of the decision, EPA’s new leadership agrees with both the court and the biofuel litigants … Read More
Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance Expands Membership, Drills Down on Policy Recommendations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 22, 2021 WASHINGTON – The Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance (FACA) today announced expanding membership and new policy working groups focused on developing a set of more specific policy proposals that drill down on the 40+ recommendations released by FACA in November 2020. FACA’s eight founding members — American Farm Bureau Federation (co-chair), Environmental … Read More
New FSMA Recordkeeping Requirements are Coming
By Aaron Shier, NFU Senior Government Relations Representative and Billy Mitchell, Food Safety Training Coordinator The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is opening their virtual doors to everyone, including the farming community, to comment on the proposed food traceability rule. National Farmers Union (NFU), which regularly comments on federal rulemakings important to its members, will certainly … Read More
Farmers Union Applauds Additional Support for Food and Agriculture Industry
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 10, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – In a step towards passing a $1.9 trillion relief package, the House Agriculture Committee voted 25-23 in favor of the bill’s food and nutrition title. If passed, the legislation would set aside a total of $16.1 billion worth of support for farmers, hungry … Read More
OPINION: Don’t Stop at Big Tech—We Need to Bust Big Agriculture, Too
How Biden’s Executive Orders Will Affect Food and Agriculture
By Hannah Packman, NFU Communications Director Following his inauguration last Wednesday, President Joe Biden has wasted no time implementing his agenda. In the last week, he has issued more than three dozen executive orders, proclamations, and memoranda on a wide range of issues. Many of these actions have implications for agriculture. Here’s a brief summary … Read More
Executive Orders Support Farmers’ Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Efforts
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 27, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – In accordance with his campaign promise to aggressively address the climate crisis and create new jobs, President Joe Biden today issued several executive orders outlining actions the administration will take to cut greenhouse gas emissions, conserve natural resources, invest in renewable energy, advance … Read More
Court Seeks Status Report on EPA Compliance with Order on Renewable Volumes
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 27, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit today directed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to submit a status report every 60 days “on its progress in complying with the court’s remand” stemming from the July 2017 ruling in … Read More
USDA Debt Relief Will Help Keep Farmers in Business
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 27, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – To ease mounting financial pressures, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that it will temporarily suspend past-due debt collections and foreclosures for farmers borrowing under the Farm Storage Facility Loan and the Direct Farm Loan programs while also offering flexibilities under … Read More
With Executive Order, Biden Administration Addresses Food Insecurity
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 22, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – To address a dramatic rise in hunger, President Joe Biden today signed an executive order that would increase food assistance for families missing meals due to school closures as well as boost Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for the lowest-income households. Throughout the … Read More
Farm, Biofuels, and Environmental Groups Oppose SAFE Rule
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 22, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – An alliance of farm, biofuels, and environmental organizations last night filed an amicus brief in objection to the Safer Affordable Fuel Efficiency Vehicle (SAFE) Rule on the grounds that it both fails to account for toxic pollution from aromatic-laden fuel as well as … Read More
Biden Begins Presidency With Action on Climate, Immigration
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 20, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – In his first hours as president, Joe Biden issued a flurry of executive orders and policy proposals covering a wide range of issues. Of particular interest to National Farmers Union (NFU) is President Biden’s decision to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement. The organization, … Read More
NFU Stands Ready to Work With Biden-Harris Administration
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 20, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – Following a swearing-in ceremony held at the U.S. Capitol, Joseph R. Biden and Kamala Harris today officially began their four-year terms as president and vice president of the United States. In a statement, National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew extended his congratulations … Read More
Farmers Union Denounces Last Minute RFS Waivers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 19, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – In its final hours under President Donald Trump’s jurisdiction, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today issued three waivers retroactively exempting oil refineries from their 2018 and 2019 obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The decision comes on the heels of the … Read More
Farmers Union Congratulates Dr. Jewel Bronaugh on Deputy Secretary Nomination
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 19, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – President-elect Joe Biden yesterday nominated Dr. Jewel Bronaugh to serve as his Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. If confirmed, she would be the first Black woman to hold the second-in-command position at the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA). Dr. Bronaugh, who has been … Read More
U.S. Farm & Biofuel Leaders Condemn Rumors of Last-Minute RFS Waivers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 13, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – America’s top biofuel and farm advocates called on President Trump to reject last-minute attacks on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and American farmers throughout the country, a plan reported to be under consideration by Andrew Wheeler, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). … Read More
Tenth Circuit Court Plaintiffs Respond to Supreme Court Action
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 11, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – The U.S. Supreme Court has announced it will review the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit’s decision in RFA et al. v. EPA, which overturned three inappropriately granted small refinery exemptions under the Renewable Fuel Standard. The following is a statement … Read More
Farm & Biofuel Coalition Rejects EPA’s Excuses for Failing to Comply with 2017 Court Order
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 7, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – Today, a coalition of the nation’s largest biofuels and agricultural trade groups filed its reply in support of its motion in the U.S. Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia. The motion, originally filed on November 23, 2020, asks the court to … Read More
New Year, New Water Test
By Billy Mitchell, NFU Food Safety Training Coordinator Organize the tools. Clean the barn. Patch the pants. As farmers make their New Year’s resolutions, produce growers have an extra one to add: test the water. Contaminated water is often the culprit of produce-related food borne illnesses – but with proper precautions, it can be avoided. … Read More