By Matt Perdue, NFU Director of Government Relations No topic overshadowed the 2018 Farm Bill process more than the state of the farm economy. After a nearly 50 percent drop in net farm income, the majority of farms in the country are operating on negative margins. This financial stress left National Farmers Union’s (NFU) members … Read More
By Matt Perdue, NFU Government Relations Director Environmental sustainability is critical for the future of family farming and ranching and for the health of our rural communities. As concerns over water quality, soil health and the wide-ranging effects of climate-change mount, incentives-based conservation programs are more important now than ever. The 2018 Farm Bill maintains … Read More
By Aaron Shier, NFU Government Relations Representative Though traditional commodity markets remain a large source of revenue, the market for locally or regionally produced food, value-added products, and organic agriculture are becoming increasingly important for farmers. Why are diverse market opportunities so important? Local and regional marketplaces, with their shorter supply chains, can help farmers … Read More
By Aaron Shier, NFU Government Relations Representative Though traditional commodity markets remain a large source of revenue, the market for locally or regionally produced food, value-added products, and organic agriculture are becoming increasingly important for farmers. Why are diverse market opportunities so important? Local and regional marketplaces, with their shorter supply chains, can help farmers … Read More
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
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
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
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
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
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
By Liza Ayres, NFU Intern Curious about resources available to get your new farm up and running? Want to gain business skills and exchange stories with fellow beginning farmers, all from the comfort of your own home? Join National Farmers Union for Growing for the Future, a FREE, interactive, virtual conference December 3-6! This four-day … Read More
By Liza Ayres, NFU Intern The Montgomery Farm Women’s Cooperative Market is a landmark on Bethesda’s Wisconsin Avenue. For decades, it has not only served as a hub for residents looking to purchase fresh produce and artisanal products but has also represented Montgomery County’s abundant agricultural history and continued support of local farmers. Amid the Great … Read More
By Liza Ayres, NFU Intern Consolidation has long been one of the greatest challenges for family farmers and ranchers. Agribusiness mergers reduce innovation, limit choice and increase prices for farming inputs and make it increasingly difficult for farmers to receive a fair price at market. A selective group of firms dominate the processing of every … Read More
By Sophie Neems, Communications Specialist at Farm Credit Succession planning is a delicate business; few people get excited to come to terms with mortality and create a plan for how land and personal assets will be passed from one generation to the next. However, succession planning is about more than just that. It is about … Read More
By Liza Ayres, NFU Intern On September 24 and 25, National Farmers Union was pleased to help sponsor the Chesapeake Food Summit, which united key players in the region for a conference on innovation, equity, and sustainability in the food system. The summit celebrated the region’s diversity and discussed ways to accelerate food system growth … Read More
By Sophie Neems, Communications Specialist at Farm Credit Meet Stacey Carlberg who, along with her husband Casey Gustowarow, manages The Farm at Sunnyside, a 15-acre, certified organic vegetable farm with 250-300 laying hens. Stacey and Casey sell at Farmers Markets, as well as through wholesale and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). While I worked for Stacey … Read More
By Matt Perdue, NFU Government Relations Representative The Farm Bill Conference Committee remains squarely focused on getting a bill passed before the end of the calendar year. Bringing together the significant differences between the House and Senate bills was an already difficult task that received an extra layer of pressure Sunday night when the 2014 … Read More
By Matt Perdue, NFU Government Relations Representative The Farm Bill Conference Committee remains squarely focused on getting a bill passed before the end of the calendar year. Bringing together the significant differences between the House and Senate bills was an already difficult task that received an extra layer of pressure Sunday night when the 2014 … Read More
By Liza Ayres, NFU Intern The farm bill is the most important and comprehensive piece of federal farm and food legislation. Its value extends beyond family farmers and ranchers to consumers, rural communities, and the environment, playing a central role in establishing a secure food supply, keeping food prices fair for farmers and consumers, and … Read More
By Liza Ayres, NFU Intern The farm bill is the most important and comprehensive piece of federal farm and food legislation. Its value extends beyond family farmers and ranchers to consumers, rural communities, and the environment, playing a central role in establishing a secure food supply, keeping food prices fair for farmers and consumers, and … Read More
Editor’s Note: Guest posts do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of National Farmers Union. By Charlotte Smith, President of Northwest Farmers Union If you had told me 15 years ago that I’d have a thriving raw milk dairy and diversified farm, I’d have laughed in your face! I grew up working on my … Read More
Editor’s Note: Guest posts do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of National Farmers Union. By Charlotte Smith, President of Northwest Farmers Union If you had told me 15 years ago that I’d have a thriving raw milk dairy and diversified farm, I’d have laughed in your face! I grew up working on my … Read More
By Tom Driscoll, Director of NFU Foundation and Conservation Policy Regular readers of NFU’s Climate Column know there are many ways farmers can mitigate the negative effects of climate change. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers farmers technical and financial support to help interested farmers mitigate climate change and … Read More
By Tom Driscoll, Director of NFU Foundation and Conservation Policy Regular readers of NFU’s Climate Column know there are many ways farmers can mitigate the negative effects of climate change. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers farmers technical and financial support to help interested farmers mitigate climate change and … Read More
Dr. Richard Gilmore, President/CEO of GIC Group Do any of us recall that U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) initiated the Climate Change Impacts and Risks Analysis Project (CIRA) in 2015? Absent new technologies and risk mitigation production strategies, the analysts forecast a decline of irrigated soybeans by 23 percent, sorghum by 22 percent, and wheat … Read More