Guest view: Farmers need fair prices, freedom from conglomerates
Biofuel and Ag Leaders Call for Accountable Life Cycle Analysis for SAF Tax Credits
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 9, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303.819.8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – On Friday, Growth Energy, American Farm Bureau Federation, National Biodiesel Board, National Corn Growers Association, National Farmers Union, and the Renewable Fuels Association sent a letter to the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance and the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and … Read More
Omission of High Octane Fuels from Fuel Emissions Standards is a Missed Opportunity, Per Farmers Union
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 6, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303.819.8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – In its proposed its greenhouse gas emissions standards for passenger cars and light duty trucks, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) neglected to create a pathway to high octane, low carbon fuel, as National Farmers Union (NFU) and more two dozen other farm, … Read More
Should Corporations Control What You Eat?
Food Safety Spotlight: A Food Safety Community Grows in the Northeast
By Billy Mitchell, NFU Food Safety Training Coordinator Lowering produce safety risks. Growing great food. Building community. Growers and service providers have a long list of top priorities. The voluntary Community Accreditation for Produce Safety (CAPS) program of the Vermont Vegetable and Berry Growers’ Association—with operation coordinated by University of Vermont (UVM) Extension—aims to help growers adopt … Read More
Farmers Are Worse Off Due to Unchecked Corporate Power, NFU’s Larew Tells Senate Judiciary Committee
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 28, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303.819.8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – Family farmers and ranchers have suffered fewer choices, less innovation, lower prices, and poorer treatment due to “domination and market manipulation of multinational meat companies,” National Farmers Union (NFU) President today told the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. In verbal testimony presented … Read More
President Larew’s testimony at Senate Judiciary
NFU Welcomes Effort to Broaden Disaster Assistance for Farmers and Ranchers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 27, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303.819.8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – The House Agriculture Committee today approved a disaster bill that would broaden the assistance available to farmers and ranchers affected by extreme weather events. In addition to extending the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+), the WHIP+ Milk Loss Program, and the … Read More
Food Safety Spotlight: Meaningful Collaboration at IAFP
By Billy Mitchell, NFU Food Safety Training Coordinator “Representation matters.” “Meaningful collaboration.” These simple yet powerful sentiments were shared by Armitra Jackson-Davis (Alabama A&M University) and Kranti Yemmireddy (University of Texas Rio Grande Valley) during the International Association for Food Protection’s conference session, “If You Want to Go Fast, Go Alone; But If You Want … Read More
What Biden’s Executive Order on Promoting Competition Means for Agriculture
By Hannah Packman, NFU Communications Director To address corporate consolidation in nearly every sector, President Joe Biden last week signed a sweeping executive order aimed at promoting competition and fairness throughout the economy. The order includes 72 directives that will be carried out by 12 federal agencies, many of which target the agricultural sector: It will offer … Read More
Higher Octane Fuel Standard Would Benefit Drivers, Farmers, Rural Communities, and the Environment
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 12, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303.819.8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – As the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) updates its greenhouse gas emissions standards for passenger vehicles and light duty trucks, a coalition of farm, biofuels, and environmental organizations is urging the administration to propose a higher octane fuel standard. In a letter sent today … Read More
Executive Order a “Monumental Step” Towards Fairer Economy, According to Farmers Union
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 9, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303.819.8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – With nearly every industry enduring crushing levels of corporate power, President Joe Biden today signed an executive order aimed at promoting competition and fairness throughout the economy. The order includes 72 directives that will be carried out by 12 federal agencies, many of … Read More
Food Safety Spotlight: Preparing to Lead
By Billy Mitchell, NFU Food Safety Training Coordinator, & Tricia Wancko, NFU Food Safety Grant Coordinator The Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training provides an excellent opportunity both for growers to learn about the Food Safety Modernization Act’s (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR) and for trainers to build community as they enhance their skills teaching food … Read More
Don’t Be Duped by Deceptive Labeling
By Danielle Endvick As we head into the holiday weekend, many families will be firing up the grill and celebrating with burgers and steaks cooked to sizzling perfection. Or, in sadder cases, charred to an unrecognizable blackened blob. Whether you’re one of the lucky folks feasting on a grillmaster’s handiwork or instead find yourself chomping … Read More
Reversal of Year-Round E15 a Blow for Farmers, Rural Communities, and the Environment
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 2, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202.554.1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – Ruling in favor of American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit today overturned part of a 2019 rule that permitted the year-round sale of gasoline blended with 15 percent ethanol. The decision comes as a blow to … Read More
Blistering Temperatures Scorch Crops, Threaten Farmers and Workers
This week, the Northwestern U.S. has experienced some of its hottest temperatures ever, with some cities and towns surpassing previous record highs by double digits. The heat wave, which is unquestionably related to anthropomorphic climate change, is deeply concerning for a number of reasons. For one, heat can be extremely deadly, especially in regions that don’t experience it often … Read More
USDA’s Reassessment of “Product of USA” Label is Encouraging, Farmers Union Says
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 1, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202.554.1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – To complement the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) efforts to strengthen the enforcement of “Made in the USA” standard, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that it would conduct a “top-to-bottom review” of the voluntary “Product of the USA” label. National Farmers … Read More
Biofuels Coalition Disappointed in Supreme Court Decision to Overturn Tenth Circuit’s RFS Refinery Exemption Ruling
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 25, 2021 WASHINGTON – A coalition of renewable fuel and farm groups expressed “extreme disappointment” in today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning a 2020 appellate court ruling that struck down three improper small refinery exemptions granted by previous EPA administrators. However, because certain elements of the appellate court ruling were left unchallenged … Read More
Growing Climate Solutions Act Will Help Farmers Mitigate Climate Crisis
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 24, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202.554.1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate today overwhelmingly passed the Growing Climate Solutions Act, which aims to help farmers and ranchers participate in carbon markets. To achieve that, the bipartisan legislation would establish a certification program for third-party technical service providers as well as create … Read More
Gullah Geechee Cooperative Builds with Food Safety Focus
By Billy Mitchell, NFU Food Safety Training Coordinator, & Tricia Wancko, NFU Food Safety Grant Coordinator A visit to the Gullah Farmers Cooperative processing, packing, and distribution facility on St. Helena Island, South Carolina, fills you with the same sense of promise as a freshly tilled field in spring—all the pieces are in place and … Read More
Farmers Union Opposes Longer Mail Delivery Times
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 22, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202.554.1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – A proposal to permanently slow down First-Class Mail delivery would be “catastrophic” for family farmers, National Farmers Union (NFU) indicated in comments submitted today to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). Because rural areas often lack both services like banks, pharmacies, polling places, … Read More
Beekeepers Work to Protect Hives By Keeping Them Local
By Jeanne Janson, NFU Journalism Fellow With honey bee populations declining at rapid rates, beekeepers, farmers and consumers alike are grasping for solutions that will tackle the big picture problems like climate change. Ang Roell, however, believes change starts on a much smaller scale – one the size of a thumbnail. Ang is the author of … Read More
NFU Recommends Steps to Strengthen Resilience in Food Supply Chain
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 21, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202.554.1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – Over the last year and a half, the pandemic, natural disasters, and cybersecurity breaches have revealed deep weaknesses in our food and farm systems, according to National Farmers Union (NFU). In comments submitted today to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the organization’s … Read More
Celebrate Juneteenth By Keeping Our Promises to Black Farmers
By Hannah Packman, NFU Communications Director Until recently, Juneteenth has been celebrated only in certain Black communities, with barbecues, parades, rodeos, and other festivities. A portmanteau of “June” and “nineteenth,” the holiday marks the day that the final enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, were freed following the Emancipation Proclamation – undoubtedly an event worth remembering. … Read More
Additional Aid Will Help Farmers Cope with Lingering Effects of Pandemic, Farmers Union Says
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 15, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202.554.1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – In its latest move to facilitate pandemic recovery, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced additional aid for agricultural producers and businesses, including timber harvesters, biofuels producers, dairy farmers and processors, and livestock farmers and contract poultry growers. The initiative also includes … Read More