By Barbara Patterson, government relations representative, National Farmers Union Last week, the House Appropriations Committee approved the Fiscal Year 2017 Agriculture Appropriations bill, which once again included the controversial GIPSA rider, a provision that proactively limits farmers’ basic rights and protections. Accompanying this bill was report language (this is guidance on the bill, but it … Read More
By Harrison Topp, Membership Director, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union When people ask what I grow, my first response is usually trees. Really, I’m an orchardist who produces stone-fruits, predominantly cherries and plums. But I have the closest relationship with my trees and with the ecosystem around them. From the “understory,” to the canopy, to the … Read More
By Katie Fisher, government relations intern, National Farmers Union The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development’s (RD) Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program is now accepting applications for fiscal year 2016. The application is due by July 1, 2016 and has approximately $44 million in funds available to producers who are entering into value-added … Read More
By Katie Fisher, government relations intern, National Farmers Union On Tuesday afternoon, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies met to discuss the opportunities for military veterans in agriculture. Chairman Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) called upon five witnesses to testify about their personal experiences with veterans in agriculture, … Read More
By Tom Driscoll, government relations representative, National Farmers Union The Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB) is very sensitive to pollution and subject to sediment, phosphorus and nitrogen loading from a variety of sources. A recent study found that producers are taking the lead in cleaning up the Basin, and new efforts announced by the Natural … Read More
By Tom Driscoll, government relations representative, National Farmers Union Would you like to improve soil health, water and air quality, wildlife and pollinator habitat or energy efficiency on your land? The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offers farmers and ranchers technical and financial support to achieve these goals … Read More
One of the biggest struggles beginning farmers face is access to farmland, and in particular, affordable farmland. Over 90 million acres of farmland are expected to turn over to new owners in the next decade. The USDA released the results of the latest TOTAL survey in November of 2015. This survey reached 400,000 landowners, leasers … Read More
By Dana Rushovich, production manager, Boone Street Farm When I first started working at Boone Street Farm over two and a half years ago, I was looking for a way to connect with my local community around food. I had just returned from my first full time farming experience in North Carolina and knew that … Read More
By Katie Fisher, government relations intern, National Farmers Union The Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture held a hearing this morning about foot and mouth disease. National Farmers Union members place a tremendous amount of emphasis on maintaining domestic animal health. NFU even adopted a special order of business on animal disease protection at its … Read More
By Katie Fisher, government relations intern, National Farmers Union Last week was a busy week for the House Committee on Agriculture as they had two subcommittee meetings in two days. Wednesday morning, the Subcommittee on Nutrition, led by Chairwoman Jackie Walorski, met to discuss food incentive programs and how they can be improved. Five panelists … Read More
By Katie Fisher, government relations intern, National Farmers Union Last week was a busy week for the House Committee on Agriculture as they had two subcommittee meetings in two days. Wednesday morning, the Subcommittee on Nutrition, led by Chairwoman Jackie Walorski, met to discuss food incentive programs and how they can be improved. Five panelists … Read More
By Katie Fisher, government relations intern, National Farmers Union Yesterday, the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture and Research held a hearing examining the opportunities and challenges in direct marketing. It provided first-hand accounts from farmers and ranchers involved in direct marketing ventures, such as local farmers markets, direct to restaurant or grocery store sales, value … Read More
By Katie Fisher, government relations intern, National Farmers Union Yesterday, the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture and Research held a hearing examining the opportunities and challenges in direct marketing. It provided first-hand accounts from farmers and ranchers involved in direct marketing ventures, such as local farmers markets, direct to restaurant or grocery store sales, value … Read More
By Roger Johnson, president, National Farmers Union The demographics of American agriculture tell it all. Fully 57 percent of the nation’s 3.2 million farmers are within 10 years of retirement age or older, according to the 2012 Ag Census. That means agriculture will see a huge transition in the next decade or so, as retiring … Read More
NFU Note: USDA AMS withdrew their grass-fed standard earlier this week and there were a lot of questions from NFU members. NFU reached out directly to the source to find out more about how this impacts producers. FSIS has committed to ensuring that all grass-fed claims remain truthful. Read more from AMS Deputy Administrator Craig Morris in … Read More
NFU Note: USDA AMS withdrew their grass-fed standard earlier this week and there were a lot of questions from NFU members. NFU reached out directly to the source to find out more about how this impacts producers. FSIS has committed to ensuring that all grass-fed claims remain truthful. Read more from AMS Deputy Administrator Craig Morris in … Read More
By Roger Johnson, president, National Farmers Union There are many promising trends in agriculture, but certainly the growing number of women who are using their talents to help strengthen the viability of the family farm is one that stands out above many others. As America’s role in supplying food, feed, fuel and fiber to both … Read More
By Roger Johnson, president, National Farmers Union There are many promising trends in agriculture, but certainly the growing number of women who are using their talents to help strengthen the viability of the family farm is one that stands out above many others. As America’s role in supplying food, feed, fuel and fiber to both … Read More
By Roger Johnson, president, National Farmers Union Dating back to 1984, National Farmers Union (NFU) policy has supported country of origin labeling (COOL). Our producers have always known that they raise the best beef and pork in the world, and they believe consumers should be able to know where the meat at the grocery store … Read More
COOL in Jeopardy of Straight Repeal: Tell Your Elected Officials to Oppose COOL Riders on the Omnibus Bill On Monday, the World Trade Organization (WTO) authorized Canada and Mexico to impose $1.01 billion in retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods as part of a dispute over the the U.S. Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) law. As of right now, Congress … Read More
COOL in Jeopardy of Straight Repeal: Tell Your Elected Officials to Oppose COOL Riders on the Omnibus Bill On Monday, the World Trade Organization (WTO) authorized Canada and Mexico to impose $1.01 billion in retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods as part of a dispute over the the U.S. Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) law. As of right now, Congress … Read More
By Roger Johnson, president, National Farmers Union The Earth’s climate is changing – temperatures are rising, extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, and precipitation patterns are shifting dramatically. While some in Washington like to spend their time debating the notion of climate change, there is little debate about the subject in rural America. And … Read More
By Roger Johnson, president, National Farmers Union The Earth’s climate is changing – temperatures are rising, extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, and precipitation patterns are shifting dramatically. While some in Washington like to spend their time debating the notion of climate change, there is little debate about the subject in rural America. And … Read More
By Brian Shultz, board member, Michigan Farmers Union Fair Lake Farm consists of two separate parcels of land in Barry County, Michigan. One of these is a 43-acre parcel located on the shores of Fair Lake near the small town of Delton. This farm produces hay for winter cattle feed. Just two miles away is … Read More
By Zack Clark, government relations representative, National Farmers Union As we honor our country’s military veterans today, we should also reflect on the contributions they have made, or could make, to feeding our nation through agriculture. Today, of the 21.6 million veterans alive, more than six million live in rural America, with a significant portion … Read More