FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 8, 2018 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 [email protected] WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate’s proposed two-year budget deal contains important improvements for cotton growers and dairy producers, a vital first step to assistance for struggling farmers in both industries. The legislation brings eligible cotton acres back into Title I of the Farm Bill—National … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 7, 2018 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 [email protected] WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS) today projected net farm income to decrease $4.3 billion from 2017 to $59.5 billion in 2018, a 52 percent drop since 2013. National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson says the projection … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 7, 2018 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 [email protected] WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS) today projected net farm income to decrease $4.3 billion from 2017 to $59.5 billion in 2018, a 52 percent drop since 2013. National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson says the projection … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 7, 2018 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 [email protected] WASHINGTON – American family farmers and ranchers are enduring the worst economic slide in generations, and they need Congress to pass a Farm Bill in 2018 to strengthen the farm safety net. In order to educate the general public and to generate support for … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 7, 2018 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 [email protected] WASHINGTON – American family farmers and ranchers are enduring the worst economic slide in generations, and they need Congress to pass a Farm Bill in 2018 to strengthen the farm safety net. In order to educate the general public and to generate support for … Read More
By Liz Brownlee, Co-Owner & Operator of Nightfall Farm My husband, Nate, knew one thing as a high schooler: he would never, ever work as a farmer. His high school summer job was on a grain farm near Franklin, Indiana, and while his bosses treated him well, the work was not, in his opinion, the … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 2, 2018 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 [email protected] WASHINGTON – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt yesterday repeated his calls for reform to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and signaled his agency would take a more conservative approach to setting RFS volume obligations each year. The comments are a direct … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 2, 2018 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 [email protected] WASHINGTON – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt yesterday repeated his calls for reform to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and signaled his agency would take a more conservative approach to setting RFS volume obligations each year. The comments are a direct … Read More
By Tom Driscoll, Director of NFU Foundation and Conservation Policy Every farm and every farm family is unique. Beginning intergenerational farmers generally do not learn everything they need to be successful in a uniform or linear way. On different farms, the established generation may or may not be willing to share fieldwork responsibility, or be … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 30, 2018 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 [email protected] WASHINGTON – In his first State of the Union address, President Donald Trump continued his promises to turn the page “on decades of unfair trade deals” and to rebuild the nation’s “crumbling infrastructure,” both issues of major concern for American family farmers and ranchers. National … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 30, 2018 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 [email protected] WASHINGTON – In his first State of the Union address, President Donald Trump continued his promises to turn the page “on decades of unfair trade deals” and to rebuild the nation’s “crumbling infrastructure,” both issues of major concern for American family farmers and ranchers. National … Read More
By Janan Lenzy, NFU Intern Last week on the Climate Column, we discussed the risks of drought to agriculture, and proposed methods to help farmers prepare for and mitigate those risks. As drought increases in frequency, length, and severity and as temperatures rise globally, both of which are expected to occur as the climate continues to … Read More
By Tom Driscoll, Director of NFU Foundation and Conservation Policy No volume restrictions, no need for brick and mortar investments, and the chance to learn about customers want directly. Participating in a farmers market is often the most immediate access to market available to beginning farmers. But for as quickly and easily as beginning farmers … Read More
By Alexis Dunnum, NFU Executive Assistant As mentioned previously on the Climate Column, we have noted that drought is expected to become more frequent, severe, and damaging to farmers as climates continue to change around the world. Drought affects farming operations of all sizes and if farmers are not prepared, drought can lead to production … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 22, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 [email protected] WASHINGTON – Given the persistent and ongoing economic challenges in farming and rural economies, National Farmers Union (NFU) is calling on Congress to increase funding for farm programs in the farm bill and pass the legislation as soon as possible. The NFU Board of … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 22, 2018 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 [email protected] WASHINGTON – Given the persistent and ongoing economic challenges in farming and rural economies, National Farmers Union (NFU) is calling on Congress to increase funding for farm programs in the farm bill and pass the legislation as soon as possible. The NFU Board of … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 17, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 [email protected] WASHINGTON – While bad actors in private industry pose consistent threats to the integrity of the organic food label, the federal government should not. Yet a recent decision by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to withdraw the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices (OLPP) … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 17, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 [email protected] WASHINGTON – While bad actors in private industry pose consistent threats to the integrity of the organic food label, the federal government should not. Yet a recent decision by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to withdraw the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices (OLPP) … Read More
By Craig Ficenec, Volunteer with Citizens’ Climate Lobby Agriculture is getting more and more attention these days for its potential to sequester carbon in the soil. Many farmers and ranchers manage their land in ways that sustain production while offsetting greenhouse gas emissions from elsewhere. But how can we stimulate all sectors of the economy … Read More
By Craig Ficenec, Volunteer with Citizens’ Climate Lobby Agriculture is getting more and more attention these days for its potential to sequester carbon in the soil. Many farmers and ranchers manage their land in ways that sustain production while offsetting greenhouse gas emissions from elsewhere. But how can we stimulate all sectors of the economy … Read More
By Tom Driscoll, Director of NFU Foundation and Conservation Policy Over the past few weeks, we have discussed the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) at length here on the Beginning Farmer Forum (BFF). CSP provides technical assistance and incentive payments to help beginning farmers establish installations or enhance practices that can reduce input costs or provide a … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 8, 2018 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202-554-1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – The Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity, a government-wide group including more than 22 federal agencies and led by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, today released a report to President Trump. The 23-page document identifies the many needs and … Read More
By Tom Driscoll, Director of NFU Foundation and Conservation Policy Climate change is likely to impact or exacerbate extreme weather events related to El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO). According to The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), “ENSO is a periodic fluctuation in sea surface temperature (El Niño) and the air pressure of the overlying atmosphere … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 8, 2018 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202-554-1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – The Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity, a government-wide group including more than 22 federal agencies and led by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, today released a report to President Trump. The 23-page document identifies the many needs and … Read More
By Lisa Kivirist Just as we farmers care for our soil, we also need to nurture our minds and plant new idea seeds to shape a healthy business vision. That’s exactly what’s on the menu for women farmers at this year’s National Farmers Union Women’s Conference, January 15-18, 2018, at the Catamaran Report in San … Read More