By Tom Driscoll, Director of NFU Foundation and Conservation Policy In NFU’s Climate Column, we’ve discussed a number of practices, including cover crops and no-till, that can build soil fertility with fewer inputs, thus saving producers money. Conservation planning with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) can be an important first step … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 25, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 [email protected] WASHINGTON – Family farmers and ranchers are enduring a severely depressed farm economy, with projections pointing to a prolonged period of depressed commodity prices. To ensure the growth and success of family farm agriculture, Congress must strengthen the overall farm safety net, National Farmers … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 25, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 [email protected] WASHINGTON – Family farmers and ranchers are enduring a severely depressed farm economy, with projections pointing to a prolonged period of depressed commodity prices. To ensure the growth and success of family farm agriculture, Congress must strengthen the overall farm safety net, National Farmers … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 24, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 [email protected] WASHINGTON – In advance of an imminent vote in the U.S. Senate on legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the nation’s second largest general farm organization is urging members of the Senate to vote against the failed legislation. National Farmers Union (NFU) … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 24, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 [email protected] WASHINGTON – In advance of an imminent vote in the U.S. Senate on legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the nation’s second largest general farm organization is urging members of the Senate to vote against the failed legislation. National Farmers Union (NFU) … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 21, 2017 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202-554-1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – The Senate Appropriations Committee yesterday approved its fiscal year (FY) 2018 Agriculture Appropriations Bill, which will guide funding for programs that support American agriculture, conservation, and nutrition programs. The bill allocates $145.4 billion in discretionary and mandatory funding and includes provisions for … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 21, 2017 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202-554-1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – The Senate Appropriations Committee yesterday approved its fiscal year (FY) 2018 Agriculture Appropriations Bill, which will guide funding for programs that support American agriculture, conservation, and nutrition programs. The bill allocates $145.4 billion in discretionary and mandatory funding and includes provisions for … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 20, 2017 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202-554-1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is authorizing the release of additional Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land in Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota for emergency haying and grazing. The decision will allow … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 20, 2017 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202-554-1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is authorizing the release of additional Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land in Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota for emergency haying and grazing. The decision will allow … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 19, 2017 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202-554-1654 [email protected] WASHINGTON – National Farmers Union (NFU) joined a number of other manufacturing and agricultural organizations to support the U.S. Department of Commerce’s decision to investigate aluminum and steel imports under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. Should the investigation determine that … Read More
By Adam Pauley, NFU Intern According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) report Climate Change and Agriculture in the United States: Effects and Adaptation, temperatures in the next 40 years are expected to rise 1-2 degrees Celsius. This will increase pest pressure because insects that are frost sensitive will be able to survive milder winters. … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 19, 2017 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202-554-1654 [email protected] WASHINGTON – National Farmers Union (NFU) joined a number of other manufacturing and agricultural organizations to support the U.S. Department of Commerce’s decision to investigate aluminum and steel imports under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. Should the investigation determine that … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 18, 2017 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202-554-1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) this week released its Summary of Objectives for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Renegotiation, a document that will guide talks with Canada and Mexico expected to begin in mid-August. In response to the objectives, National … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 18, 2017 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202-554-1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) this week released its Summary of Objectives for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Renegotiation, a document that will guide talks with Canada and Mexico expected to begin in mid-August. In response to the objectives, National … Read More
By James Tillman, Acting Associate Chief for Conservation, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service Are you interested in protecting the soil, water, plants, and air and achieving economic sustainability on your newly acquired farm, ranch, or forest? Would you like to increase your marketing and income potential while focusing on increasing wildlife habitat on some of … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 13, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 [email protected] WASHINGTON – As American family farmers and ranchers navigate the most severe economic downturn since the 1980s farm crisis, the National Farmers Union (NFU) Board of Directors is urging the U.S. Congress to allocate more money to the farm safety net to make it … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 13, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 [email protected] WASHINGTON – As American family farmers and ranchers navigate the most severe economic downturn since the 1980s farm crisis, the National Farmers Union (NFU) Board of Directors is urging the U.S. Congress to allocate more money to the farm safety net to make it … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 12, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 [email protected] WASHINGTON – Today the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations advanced its Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Agricultural Appropriations Bill, restoring $190 million to the Guaranteed Operating Loan account through an amendment offered by Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME). Despite significant financial hardship occurring in the farm … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 12, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 [email protected] WASHINGTON – Today the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations advanced its Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Agricultural Appropriations Bill, restoring $190 million to the Guaranteed Operating Loan account through an amendment offered by Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME). Despite significant financial hardship occurring in the farm … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 6, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 [email protected] BAILEY, Colo. – Farmers Union youth members from across the country gathered here last week for the 81st annual National Farmers Union (NFU) All-States Leadership Camp. Hosted each June at the NFU Education Center, All-States Camp encourages youth to explore their leadership potential, discuss … Read More
By Matt Perdue, NFU Government Relations Representative Farming is a risky business. A sudden storm, enduring drought, or proliferation of crop disease can decimate a crop. Even when farmers produce a bumper crop, market downturns can still make it a struggle to make ends meet. In Montana’s “Golden Triangle,” farms of all sizes and types … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 6, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 [email protected] BAILEY, Colo. – Farmers Union youth members from across the country gathered here last week for the 81st annual National Farmers Union (NFU) All-States Leadership Camp. Hosted each June at the NFU Education Center, All-States Camp encourages youth to explore their leadership potential, discuss … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 5, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 [email protected] WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released the Trump Administration’s first proposed set of volume obligations for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The proposal maintains the conventional biofuel amount at 15 billion gallons, yet lowers obligations for advanced biofuels, including biodiesel, … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 5, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 [email protected] WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released the Trump Administration’s first proposed set of volume obligations for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The proposal maintains the conventional biofuel amount at 15 billion gallons, yet lowers obligations for advanced biofuels, including biodiesel, … Read More
By Steven Emmen, NFU Intern Access to capital is one of the toughest hurdles a beginning farmer will overcome. Beginning producers frequently don’t have collateral to offer lenders. And it can be hard to build a good credit score as a farmhand or apprentice. New farms may also lack accurate income projections that are used … Read More