Fiscal Cliff/Farm Bill Extension Update

January 3, 2013Blog

By NFU Government Relations Staff First posted Jan. 2, 2013 Late Tuesday night the House of Representatives passed Senate-negotiated fiscal cliff compromise legislation, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (H.R. 8), sending the bill to the president’s desk and finally putting to rest the negotiations that had dominated the lame duck session of the 112th … Read More

The Battle for COOL Continues

December 18, 2012Blog

By Mike Stranz, NFU Government Relations Representative Earlier this month, the World Trade Organization (WTO) gave the United States a May 23, 2013, deadline to bring its Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) rules into compliance with a WTO ruling. That gives NFU members plenty of time to make their voices heard that we want to keep COOL. … Read More

The Battle for COOL Continues

December 18, 2012Blog

By Mike Stranz, NFU Government Relations Representative Earlier this month, the World Trade Organization (WTO) gave the United States a May 23, 2013, deadline to bring its Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) rules into compliance with a WTO ruling. That gives NFU members plenty of time to make their voices heard that we want to keep COOL. … Read More

Tired Criticisms of Renewable Fuels Merit a Response

December 14, 2012Blog

By Jan Ahlen, NFU Government Relations Representative Attacks on the Renewable Fuel Standard have begun again in earnest. Following a recent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decision not to waive the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS), the usual suspects are lining up again to blast our nation’s major effort to ramp up renewable fuels production, reduce … Read More

Tired Criticisms of Renewable Fuels Merit a Response

December 14, 2012Blog

By Jan Ahlen, NFU Government Relations Representative Attacks on the Renewable Fuel Standard have begun again in earnest. Following a recent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decision not to waive the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS), the usual suspects are lining up again to blast our nation’s major effort to ramp up renewable fuels production, reduce … Read More

Fleecing of the Sheep Market

December 12, 2012Blog

By Mike Stranz, NFU Government Relations Representative NFU has been very active in advocating for greater enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act. However, a majority in Congress has also been very active in trying to undermine nearly all of the authorities provided to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration … Read More

Fleecing of the Sheep Market

December 12, 2012Blog

By Mike Stranz, NFU Government Relations Representative NFU has been very active in advocating for greater enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act. However, a majority in Congress has also been very active in trying to undermine nearly all of the authorities provided to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration … Read More

Election Recap from NFU

November 7, 2012Blog

By Brittany Jablonsky, NFU Director of Advocacy Communications Yesterday’s election proved to be fairly positive for many of the House and Senate races NFU was keeping its eye on across the country. Below are some highlights from House and Senate Agriculture Committee members, NFU Golden Triangle Award winners, and NATFARMPAC-endorsed candidates. Ag Committees 8 of … Read More

Election Recap from NFU

November 7, 2012Blog

By Brittany Jablonsky, NFU Director of Advocacy Communications Yesterday’s election proved to be fairly positive for many of the House and Senate races NFU was keeping its eye on across the country. Below are some highlights from House and Senate Agriculture Committee members, NFU Golden Triangle Award winners, and NATFARMPAC-endorsed candidates. Ag Committees 8 of … Read More

Every Day is Food Day for Family Farmers and Ranchers

October 24, 2012Blog

By Brittany Jablonsky Happy Food Day, everyone! Last week we celebrated World Food Day with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, but today, Oct. 24, is Food Day here in the United States National Farmers Union has always believed that everyone who eats should care about their food, where it comes from, how it’s … Read More

Every Day is Food Day for Family Farmers and Ranchers

October 24, 2012Blog

By Brittany Jablonsky Happy Food Day, everyone! Last week we celebrated World Food Day with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, but today, Oct. 24, is Food Day here in the United States National Farmers Union has always believed that everyone who eats should care about their food, where it comes from, how it’s … Read More

NFU Celebrates World Food Day

October 17, 2012Blog

By NFU government relations staff Yesterday NFU celebrated World Food Day, an annual event hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to encourage attention by all nations to the importance of food security and agricultural production, and to the global struggle against malnutrition and poverty. World Food Day is always an … Read More

NFU Celebrates World Food Day

October 17, 2012Blog

By NFU government relations staff Yesterday NFU celebrated World Food Day, an annual event hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to encourage attention by all nations to the importance of food security and agricultural production, and to the global struggle against malnutrition and poverty. World Food Day is always an … Read More

Farmer to Farmer Gleanings from the Fields of Senegal Pt. 3

October 12, 2012Blog

In conjunction with National Cooperative Month, we will be featuring a series of posts detailing the recent work Farmers Union members have done in western Africa through the Farmer-to-Farmer program. Erin Schneider, a Wisconsin Farmers Union member, recounted her time abroad. By Erin Schneider Farm Visits and Horticultural Techniques Well, how exactly do you farm … Read More

A Dairy Good Time in Madison

October 11, 2012Blog

By Mike Stranz, NFU Government Relations Rep. Almost 72,000 people attended the 2012 World Dairy Expo (WDE) in Madison, Wisconsin, last week. National Farmers Union had a booth in the exhibition hall, strategically placed near the free samples of cheese and butter, and had a great deal of foot traffic pass by during the five … Read More

Farmer to Farmer Gleanings from the Fields of Senegal Pt. 2

October 11, 2012Blog

In conjunction with National Cooperative Month, we will be featuring a series of posts detailing the recent work Farmers Union members have done in western Africa through the Farmer-to-Farmer program. Erin Schneider, a Wisconsin Farmers Union member, recounted her time abroad. By Erin Schneider The Assignment: Project in support of Organizational Development, Horticultural Techniques with … Read More

Farmer to Farmer Gleanings from the Fields of Senegal

October 10, 2012Blog

In conjunction with National Cooperative Month, we will be featuring a series of posts detailing the recent work Farmers Union members have done in western Africa through the Farmer-to-Farmer program. Erin Schneider, a Wisconsin Farmers Union member, recounted her time abroad. By Erin Schneider Rain, heat, traffic, frogsong, coupled with the steamy smell of ocean … Read More

Farmer to Farmer Gleanings from the Fields of Senegal

October 10, 2012Blog

In conjunction with National Cooperative Month, we will be featuring a series of posts detailing the recent work Farmers Union members have done in western Africa through the Farmer-to-Farmer program. Erin Schneider, a Wisconsin Farmers Union member, recounted her time abroad. By Erin Schneider Rain, heat, traffic, frogsong, coupled with the steamy smell of ocean … Read More

A Change of Perspective

October 4, 2012Blog

By Stephanie Brase When I was younger, and someone would ask me what I’d like to become, my reply was “I don’t know yet, –but I definitely don’t want to work in an office!” That was an attitude that I kept through the years. And, lo and behold, I ended up applying for an internship … Read More

A Change of Perspective

October 4, 2012Blog

By Stephanie Brase When I was younger, and someone would ask me what I’d like to become, my reply was “I don’t know yet, –but I definitely don’t want to work in an office!” That was an attitude that I kept through the years. And, lo and behold, I ended up applying for an internship … Read More

RFS: Supporting the Midwest not the Middle East

October 3, 2012Blog

By Anya Gandy & Jan Ahlen The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) keeps United States’ energy dollars where they belong,  powering America’s economy. With RFS we have reduced our dependence on foreign oil from 60 percent in 2005 to 45 percent today. And the potential benefits from advanced biofuels are even greater. Switchgrass alone has been … Read More

RFS: Supporting the Midwest not the Middle East

October 3, 2012Blog

By Anya Gandy & Jan Ahlen The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) keeps United States’ energy dollars where they belong,  powering America’s economy. With RFS we have reduced our dependence on foreign oil from 60 percent in 2005 to 45 percent today. And the potential benefits from advanced biofuels are even greater. Switchgrass alone has been … Read More

“Farm bill now!” or “Farm bill when convenient for House leadership!”?

September 21, 2012Blog

By NFU government relations staff This past week, House Republican and Democratic leadership battled over farm bill inaction. The 2008 Farm Bill expires on Sept. 30, 2012, and NFU, other interested organizations, and supporting members of Congress from both parties had been waiting to see if House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and House Majority Leader … Read More

"Farm bill now!" or "Farm bill when convenient for House leadership!"?

September 21, 2012Blog

By NFU government relations staff This past week, House Republican and Democratic leadership battled over farm bill inaction. The 2008 Farm Bill expires on Sept. 30, 2012, and NFU, other interested organizations, and supporting members of Congress from both parties had been waiting to see if House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and House Majority Leader … Read More

EPA’s 2017-­‐2025 Light Duty Vehicle Rule Discourages Alternative Fuel Use 25x’25 Partners Brief

August 28, 2012Blog

National Farmers Union, as part of a coalition with eight other organizations, wrote the following Brief: EPA’s 2017‐2025 Light Duty Vehicle Rule Discourages Alternative Fuel Use 25x’25 Partners Brief While there are a number of obstacles impeding further growth in alternative energy, few are as critical as the joint EPA/NHTSA proposed rules establishing light-­‐dutyvehicle GHG … Read More