With the need for a decision only days away, the coalition that successfully won a unanimous court decision against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency continued its call for the agency to not appeal the decision by launching a new social media campaign aimed at encouraging policymakers and the EPA to do the right thing. Click … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 13, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202.554.1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – A rule proposed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) would undermine the intent of the Packers and Stockyards Act, according to comments submitted today by National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew. Established in 1921, the Packers and Stockyards Act exists … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 11, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202-554-1600 [email protected] SAVANNAH – As part of the organization’s broader initiative to address a growing farm stress crisis, National Farmers Union (NFU) last week hosted a two-day, in-person session to train community mental health advocates across the country. More than 30 Farmers Union members from 19 … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WASHINGTON – On March 9, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit approved requests by the U.S. Department of Justice, HollyFrontier, and CVR Energy for an extension of the deadline to file motions asking for a rehearing en banc of Renewable Fuels Association et al. v. EPA, in which the Court … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 3, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202-554-1600 [email protected] SAVANNAH – The National Farmers Union (NFU) 118th Anniversary Convention concluded today following the adoption of the organization’s policy book and special orders of business. More than 500 family farmers and ranchers convened in Savannah, Georgia, to set policy positions and priorities that support … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 2, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202-554-1600 [email protected] SAVANNAH – Delegates to the National Farmers Union (NFU) 118th Anniversary Convention today elected Rob Larew to succeed Roger Johnson as the organization’s president. Patty Edelburg, a Wisconsin dairy farmer, was reelected to serve a second term as vice president. Larew and Edelburg’s two-year terms begin … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 2, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202-554-1600 [email protected] SAVANNAH – For her work investigating the effects of consolidation and monopolization in the food and agriculture sectors, National Farmers Union (NFU) today awarded Leah Douglas with its 2020 Milt Hakel Agriculture Communications Award. Douglas, who is currently an associate editor and staff writer … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 1, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202-554-1600 [email protected] SAVANNAH – Family farm agriculture endures as the backbone of a safe and secure national food system because of the tireless advocacy and hard work of men and women across the industry. National Farmers Union (NFU) today presented its highest honor, the Meritorious Service … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 1, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202-554-1600 [email protected] SAVANNAH – National Farmers Union (NFU) officially convened its 118th Anniversary Convention this afternoon in Savannah, Georgia, to celebrate American farm families and to set the organization’s policy positions and priorities for the coming year. More than 500 Farmers Union members from across the … Read More
By Hannah Packman, NFU Communications Director As Black History Month comes to a close, National Farmers Union (NFU) is celebrating its own piece of black history: its first predominantly African American chapter. It’s no secret that American agriculture – and, by extension, general farm organizations like NFU – is disproportionately white. According to the most … Read More
By Charlie Michel, NFU Intern China appears to be moving ahead with implementing some of the commitments it made as part of the so-called “phase one” trade deal with the Trump Administration in mid-January. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Trade Representative announced on Feb. 25 that China has lifted some restrictions on the … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 21, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202-554-1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – Amidst reports that recent trade deals may have a more gradual and modest impact on agricultural exports than initially thought, President Donald Trump today tweeted that “aid will be provided by the federal government” if necessary. Though National Farmers Union (NFU) appreciates … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 20, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202-554-1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – Responding to mounting environmental challenges confronting American food production and security, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced a new, department-wide innovation initiative “to align resources, programs, and research to position American agriculture to better meet future global demands.” In broad … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 19, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202-554-1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON –National Farmers Union (NFU) hosted 75 students in Minneapolis, Minnesota, last weekend for its annual College Conference on Cooperatives (CCOC). The three-day conference provides an interactive learning experience for American agriculture’s next generation on the importance, structure, and operations of various types of … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 18, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202.554.1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – As the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) continues 2018 Farm Bill implementation with the release of its Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Interim Rule, National Farmers Union (NFU) is urging the agency to strengthen the conservation program to better support farmers … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 10, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202-554-1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump today released his proposed spending for fiscal year 2021. The $4.8 trillion budget would cut both mandatory and discretionary funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and other federal agencies while boosting spending on infrastructure and defense initiatives. … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 4, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202-554-1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – Citing stock market gains, recent trade deals, and low unemployment rates, U.S. President Donald J. Trump tonight touted a “great American comeback” in his third State of the Union address. But as rural communities lag behind in many respects, this hardly paints … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 3, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202.554.1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – In an effort to assist farmers and ranchers affected by international trade disputes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that it will issue the third and final tranche of 2019 Market Facilitation Program (MFP) payments. As family farmers face record … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 29, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202.554.1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – During a ceremony held today at the White House, President Donald Trump signed the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) into law. Though the agreement has already been approved by Mexico, it will not be fully implemented until it is ratified by the Canadian government. … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 27, 2020 DENVER –In a decision that is expected to broadly impact the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) approach to granting small refinery exemptions (SREs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit late on Friday struck down three exemptions that were improperly issued by EPA. … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 23, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202.554.1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – In a final rule released today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers revised its definition of “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act. Earlier definitions of WOTUS were considered too vague … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 16, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202.554.1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate today voted 89-10 in favor of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), moving the trilateral deal to President Donald Trump’s desk for final approval. Though National Farmers Union (NFU) initially withheld endorsement when USMCA was introduced over a year ago, the … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 15, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202.554.1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – In an effort to ease tensions between their two countries, President Donald Trump and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He today signed the first phase of a trade agreement. At the time of the signing, the deal’s text had not yet been published. … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 14, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202.554.1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – As the U.S. Department of Agriculture works towards 2018 Farm Bill implementation with the introduction of the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) interim rule, National Farmers Union (NFU) is urging the agency to strengthen the working lands program to better help farmers improve … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 10, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202.554.1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – More than two years after failing to finalize a set of rules to protect American family farmers and ranchers from anticompetitive and abusive business practices from the increasingly consolidated meatpacking and processing industries, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today released a … Read More