FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 20, 2018 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202-554-1600 hpackman@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump today signed the 2018 Farm Bill into law, authorizing and funding America’s farm and food programs through fiscal year 2023. National Farmers Union (NFU), on behalf of its nearly 200,000 farm family members, supported passage of the bill, as it provides some … Read More
EPA Continues to Undermine RFS with Hardship Waivers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 20, 2018 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202-554-1600 hpackman@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – According to recent reports, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a “financial hardship waiver” to a refinery owned by Exxon Mobil Corp, exempting it from requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Exxon Mobil is the largest American oil and gas … Read More
Farmers Union Applauds 2018 Farm Bill Approval
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 20, 2018 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202-554-1600 hpackman@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump today signed the 2018 Farm Bill into law, authorizing and funding America’s farm and food programs through fiscal year 2023. National Farmers Union (NFU), on behalf of its nearly 200,000 farm family members, supported passage of the bill, as it provides some … Read More
What Do Farmers Need to Know About Climate Change? Noble Research Institute’s Environmental Services Markets Plan
By Tom Driscoll, Director of NFU Foundation and Conservation Policy While farmers have profound respect for the land and natural resources, the farm economy does not always adequately align profitability and stewardship. However, we are growing in our understanding of farmers’ ability to help address climate change and other environmental challenges through production and conservation practices. Noble Research Institute (NRI) is currently working to advance ecosystem service markets (ESM) specifically … Read More
NFU Backs USDA-FDA Joint Oversight of Cell Culture Technology
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 19, 2018 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – The nation’s second largest general farm organization today backed efforts by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to establish a joint regulatory framework overseeing production and sale of animal cell culture technology. National Farmers Union … Read More
NFU Backs USDA-FDA Joint Oversight of Cell Culture Technology
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 19, 2018 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – The nation’s second largest general farm organization today backed efforts by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to establish a joint regulatory framework overseeing production and sale of animal cell culture technology. National Farmers Union … Read More
USDA Trade Aid Falls “Woefully Short” of Meaningful Support
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 18, 2018 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it will move ahead with the second and final round of Market Facilitation Program (MFP) payments, which were developed this past summer to provide relief to farmers and ranchers struggling with low farm prices due … Read More
USDA Trade Aid Falls “Woefully Short” of Meaningful Support
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 18, 2018 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it will move ahead with the second and final round of Market Facilitation Program (MFP) payments, which were developed this past summer to provide relief to farmers and ranchers struggling with low farm prices due … Read More
What Do Farmers Need to Know About Climate Change? Transportation and Climate Initiative
By Tom Driscoll, Director of NFU Foundation and Conservation Policy The Georgetown Climate Center, as the facilitator of the Transportation and Climate Initiative on behalf of participating state agencies, has secured a formal commitment among the District of Columbia and nine states in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic to significantly decrease greenhouse gas emissions in their … Read More
NFU Women’s Conference: Ten Reasons to Attend in 2019
By Lisa Kivirist, author, co-owner and operator of Inn Serendipity Farm and B&B The winter season ushers in space for reflection and big picture thinking on where we see our farm businesses, communities and lives overall heading into 2019. That’s exactly what’s on the menu for women farmers at this year’s National Farmers Union Women’s Conference, … Read More
Farmers Union Insists Trade Payments Happen Immediately
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 13, 2018 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – Amidst reports that the White House is delaying the second round of Market Facilitation Program (MFP) payments, National Farmers Union (NFU) is insisting the administration move forward with the payments and develop a long-term solution to mitigate substantial market loss for U.S. … Read More
Farmers Union Insists Trade Payments Happen Immediately
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 13, 2018 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – Amidst reports that the White House is delaying the second round of Market Facilitation Program (MFP) payments, National Farmers Union (NFU) is insisting the administration move forward with the payments and develop a long-term solution to mitigate substantial market loss for U.S. … Read More
NFU Statement on 2018 Farm Bill Compromise
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 11, 2018 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – The Farm Bill conference committee conferees today released the text of a compromise Farm Bill, largely the effort of House and Senate Agriculture Committee leadership resolving differences between the House and Senate versions of the 2018 Farm Bill. If approved by both … Read More
Mid-Level Ethanol Blends Are the Transportation Fuel of the 21st Century, NFU Says
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 11, 2018 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – As Congress looks to revamp and coordinate federal-level policies that govern the transportation fuels and vehicles sectors, National Farmers Union (NFU) is urging legislators to expand use of high-octane, mid-level blends of ethanol in the transportation fuel supply. In doing so, policymakers … Read More
NFU Statement on 2018 Farm Bill Compromise
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 11, 2018 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – The Farm Bill conference committee conferees today released the text of a compromise Farm Bill, largely the effort of House and Senate Agriculture Committee leadership resolving differences between the House and Senate versions of the 2018 Farm Bill. If approved by both … Read More
Mid-Level Ethanol Blends Are the Transportation Fuel of the 21st Century, NFU Says
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 11, 2018 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – As Congress looks to revamp and coordinate federal-level policies that govern the transportation fuels and vehicles sectors, National Farmers Union (NFU) is urging legislators to expand use of high-octane, mid-level blends of ethanol in the transportation fuel supply. In doing so, policymakers … Read More
GIPSA Agency Elimination a Blow to Competitive Markets for Family Farmers, NFU Says
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 30, 2018 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that it will be eliminating the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) as a standalone agency and consolidate its functions into the work of the Agricultural Marketing Service. National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson … Read More
USMCA Deal Falls Short of Fair Trade Framework for Family Farmers, NFU Says
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 30, 2018 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – Officials from the United States, Canada and Mexico today signed the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the renegotiated trade deal formerly known as the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The agreement will not have binding force in the United States until it is … Read More
NFU Deeply Disappointed in EPA Decision to Ignore Waivers, Intent of Law in New RFS Obligations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 30, 2018 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – The Trump Administration today finalized 2019 renewable volume obligations (RVOs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), setting the amount of renewable fuels that need to be blended in the transportation fuel supply at 19.92 billion gallons. The rule maintains the current 15-million-gallon … Read More
GIPSA Agency Elimination a Blow to Competitive Markets for Family Farmers, NFU Says
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 30, 2018 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that it will be eliminating the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) as a standalone agency and consolidate its functions into the work of the Agricultural Marketing Service. National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson … Read More
USMCA Deal Falls Short of Fair Trade Framework for Family Farmers, NFU Says
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 30, 2018 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – Officials from the United States, Canada and Mexico today signed the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the renegotiated trade deal formerly known as the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The agreement will not have binding force in the United States until it is … Read More
NFU Encouraged by Farm Bill Deal, Urges Swift Passage
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 29, 2018 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – Agriculture committee leadership today announced that they have reached an agreement in principle on the farm bill. While the final details of the bill have yet to be released and negotiators wait on cost estimates from the Congressional Budget Office, National Farmers … Read More
What Do Farmers Need To Know About Climate Change? National Climate Assessment
By Tom Driscoll, Director of NFU Foundation and Conservation Policy Last week, the U.S. Global Change Research Program released the Fourth National Climate Assessment Volume II: Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States (NCA4) detailing the existing and incoming impacts of climate change. Chapter 10 of the report, titled Agriculture and Rural Communities, covers the … Read More
NFU Encouraged by Farm Bill Deal, Urges Swift Passage
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 29, 2018 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – Agriculture committee leadership today announced that they have reached an agreement in principle on the farm bill. While the final details of the bill have yet to be released and negotiators wait on cost estimates from the Congressional Budget Office, National Farmers … Read More
A Deeper Look at the CDC Findings on Farm Suicides
By Matt Perdue, NFU Government Relations Representative Those of us who work with farmers on a daily basis know that mental and behavioral health is a major concern in farming communities. Over the past couple years, as family farmers’ and ranchers’ typical stresses have been compounded by the state of the farm economy, the issue … Read More