FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJune 20, 2019 WASHINGTON – Today, 35 farm and food organizations called on elected officials and candidates running for office to address the disproportionate market power held by the giant agribusinesses that dominate livestock and poultry markets. The list of priorities for creating fair and competitive markets for family farmers is endorsed by groups … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJune 13, 2019 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202.554.1600hpackman@nfudc.org WASHINGTON– Ten months after introducing a plan to relocate and reorganize two major agricultural research agencies, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that it will move the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and the Economic Research Service (ERS) to the Kansas City Region. … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJune 12, 2019 MINNEAPOLIS– As the average age of the American farmer approaches 60, National Farmers Union (NFU) and the National FFA Organization are working together to cultivate the next generation of American agricultural professionals. At a ceremony in Minneapolis, Minnesota, NFU President Roger Johnson and National FFA Organization CEO Mark Poeschl formalized … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJune 5, 2019 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202.554.1600hpackman@nfudc.org WASHINGTON– During a hearing held today by the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research, key stakeholders expressed concerns about the current and potential ramifications of reorganizing and relocating two major agricultural research agencies. In accordance with previous announcements, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMay 31, 2019 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202.554.1600hpackman@nfudc.org WASHINGTON– The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today issued a final rule that will permit year-round sale of gasoline blended with 15 percent ethanol, also known as E15. The rule’s finalization comes just in time to allow for summertime use of E15 this year, but does not … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMay 23, 2019 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202.554.1600hpackman@nfudc.org WASHINGTON– The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today released initial details for a trade assistance package to support family farmers and ranchers struggling with oversupply and low prices due to international trade conflicts. The agency plans to allocate as much as $16 billion, including $14.5 billion … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMay 22, 2019 Washington, D.C. — Today, a broad-based coalition of 219 farm, food, rural, faith and consumer advocacy organizations delivered a letter to Congress endorsing food and agribusiness merger moratorium bills introduced by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Jon Tester (D-MT) and Representative Mark Pocan (D-WI). The Food and Agribusiness Merger Moratorium and Antitrust … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMay 21, 2019 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202-559-9890hpackman@nfudc.org WASHINGTON– The U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry today held a hearing dedicated to the issue of climate change and the agricultural sector. In written testimony, National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson thanked the committee for addressing the deleterious effects of climate change … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMay 16, 2019 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202-559-9890hpackman@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – Despite concerns about how it would affect the quality, quantity, and objectivity of agricultural research, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is rushing forward with plans to move the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and the Economic Research Service (ERS), two major … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMay 15, 2019 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202.554.1600hpackman@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – Following the recent escalation of trade tensions between China and the United States that will likely exacerbate the erosion of agricultural export markets and further depress commodity prices, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expected to announce a trade assistance package to support … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMay 9, 2019 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202.554.1600hpackman@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – On the heels of unsuccessful trade negotiations with China, the White House is expected to increase tariffs from 10 percent to 25 percent on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods early Friday morning. President Donald Trump has also threatened to levy duties on an … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEApril 30, 2019 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202.554.1600hpackman@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – In response to sustained depressed milk prices, chronic oversupply, farm-level consolidation, and a wave of farm closures, the U.S. House Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture today held a hearing on the state of the dairy economy. National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 29, 2019 Contact: Alexis Dunnum, 202.554.1600 adunnum@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – In the midst of significant financial stress in the U.S. farm economy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must deliver on the promises of President Trump and the intent of Congress to expand the use of biofuels and, therefore, demand for U.S. … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 25, 2019 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202.554.1600 hpackman@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – For every dollar American consumers spend on food, U.S. farmers and ranchers earn just 14.6 cents, according to a report recently released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS). This value marks a 17 percent decline since 2011 … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEApril 18, 2019 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202.314.3106ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – As the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) works towards allowing year-round use of E15 gasoline, National Farmers Union (NFU) is concerned EPA’s proposed rule will make it harder for retailers to sell higher level blends of ethanol. In a letter to EPA Administrator Andrew … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEApril 11, 2019 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202.314.3106ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture today released the results of the 2017 Census of Agriculture, the most complete set of data for American agriculture available. The Census, taken every five years, provides an abundance of information about land use, farm ownership and decision-making, demographics, … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 3, 2019 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202.314.3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – Amidst escalating rhetoric and threats from President Donald Trump to close the U.S.-Mexico border, National Farmers Union (NFU) today insisted the President avoid such a “disastrous” decision, which would effectively cripple trade with U.S. agriculture’s top trading partner. NFU President Roger Johnson … Read More
Washington, DC, April 2, 2019 – Having succeeded in protecting funding for the Conservation Title in the 2018 Farm Bill, more than 140 leading farm, conservation, and wildlife groups are once again joining together to protect those hard-fought conservation funds and programs in the fiscal year (FY) 2020 appropriations process. In a letter delivered today, … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMarch 27, 2019 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202.314.3106ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – Highlighting concerns among legislators, farmers, rural residents, consumers and researchers for the proposed reorganization and relocation of two U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) research agencies, the U.S. House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee today held a hearing to examine the impacts of such a move. USDA … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMarch 25, 2019 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202.314.3106ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – In an effort to improve mental health support for farmers, ranchers and farmworkers, National Farmers Union (NFU) and a broad coalition of leading farm and rural advocacy groups are urging Congress to fully fund the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN) in fiscal … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 14, 2019 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202.314.3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – For the first time in two decades, ethanol consumption declined in the United States from 2017 to 2018, according to the Renewable Fuels Association. The decline follows two years of a dramatic spike in waivers being provided to oil refiners by EPA … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 12, 2019 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – In a move to expand use of higher level blends of ethanol, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today issued a proposed rule to allow the year-round sale of E15, or gasoline blended with 15 percent ethanol. The timing of the proposed … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 11, 2019 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202.314.3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump today revealed his proposed fiscal year 2020 budget, proposing cuts to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other federal agencies in order to increase spending on a proposed border wall and defense initiatives. National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 7, 2019 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – National Farmers Union (NFU) joined the Carbon Capture Coalition in submitting a letter to leaders in Congress to highlight the importance of “carbon capture research, development, and commercial deployment as an essential component of a broader strategy to decarbonize power generation and … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 5, 2019 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202.314.3106 ajerome@nfudc.org BELLEVUE, Wash. – The National Farmers Union (NFU) 117th Anniversary Convention concluded today following the adoption of the organization’s policy book and special orders of business. More than 460 family farmers and ranchers convened in Bellevue, Washington, to set organizational policy positions that seek … Read More