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
Blog
NFU Women’s Conference: Ten Reasons to Attend in 2019
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
What Do Farmers Need To Know About Climate Change? National Climate Assessment
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
A Deeper Look at the CDC Findings on Farm Suicides
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
A Deeper Look at the CDC Findings on Farm Suicides
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
Growing for the Future Prepares Beginning Farmers for a Career in Agriculture
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
Markets and Infrastructure: The Montgomery Farm Women’s Cooperative Market
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
Confronting Consolidation: How Congress Proposes to Fight Mergers in Ag
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
Skills and Knowledge: Succession Planning
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
Regional Food System Leaders Unite at Chesapeake Food Summit
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
Skills and Knowledge: Hiring and Management Strategies
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
Farm Bill Expiration Impacts on Conservation
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
Farm Bill Expiration Impacts on Conservation
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
The Farm Bill is Set to Expire on September 30 – Here’s What to Expect
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
The Farm Bill is Set to Expire on September 30 – Here’s What to Expect
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
Skills and Knowledge: Telling Your Story
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
Skills and Knowledge: Telling Your Story
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
What Do Farmers Need to Know About Climate Change? Markets for Climate-Smart Ag Products in Missouri
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
What Do Farmers Need to Know About Climate Change? Markets for Climate-Smart Ag Products in Missouri
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
What Do Farmers Need to Know About Climate Change? Commodity Plus Carbon Futures
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
Networking and Community: Farming with an Illness
Editor’s Note: Guest posts do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of National Farmers Union. By Vickie Dunnum, Co-Owner of Dunn-Hill Farm Spring is a beautiful time on the farm. It is a time of new life, new growth and something farmers look forward to all winter long. As farmers, we know that this season’s … Read More
Networking and Community: Farming with an Illness
Editor’s Note: Guest posts do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of National Farmers Union. By Vickie Dunnum, Co-Owner of Dunn-Hill Farm Spring is a beautiful time on the farm. It is a time of new life, new growth and something farmers look forward to all winter long. As farmers, we know that this season’s … Read More
NFU Foundation Awards Scholarships for Next Generation Agriculture Leaders
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 23, 2018 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 [email protected] WASHINGTON – National Farmers Union Foundation (NFUF) today announced the 2018 recipients of the Hubert K. & JoAnn Seymour and Stanley Moore Scholarship awards. Jessica Jurcek of Jefferson, Wisconsin, received the Hubert K. & JoAnn Seymour Scholarship, a $2,000 scholarship award given in honor … Read More
NFU Foundation Awards Scholarships for Next Generation Agriculture Leaders
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 23, 2018 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 [email protected] WASHINGTON – National Farmers Union Foundation (NFUF) today announced the 2018 recipients of the Hubert K. & JoAnn Seymour and Stanley Moore Scholarship awards. Jessica Jurcek of Jefferson, Wisconsin, received the Hubert K. & JoAnn Seymour Scholarship, a $2,000 scholarship award given in honor … Read More
What Do Farmers Need to Know About Climate Change? Markets for Climate-Smart Ag Products in Florida
By Kiana Brockel, NFU Intern 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 become more climate resilient. In … Read More