FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 21, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202.554.1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – Over the last year and a half, the pandemic, natural disasters, and cybersecurity breaches have revealed deep weaknesses in our food and farm systems, according to National Farmers Union (NFU). In comments submitted today to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the organization’s … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 15, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202.554.1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – In its latest move to facilitate pandemic recovery, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced additional aid for agricultural producers and businesses, including timber harvesters, biofuels producers, dairy farmers and processors, and livestock farmers and contract poultry growers. The initiative also includes … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 11, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202.554.1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – Following multiple allegations and indictments of price fixing and other anticompetitive practices in the livestock sector, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today indicated its intention to propose a series of rules that would offer family famers and contract poultry growers greater agency … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 9, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202.554.1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – To support the next generation of agricultural professionals, National Farmers Union Foundation (NFUF) today announced the 2021 recipients of its annual scholarship awards. Every year, the organization presents several scholarships to students in any area of study attending a two- or four-year accredited college, … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 9, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202.554.1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – In a letter sent to Senate leadership, the Agriculture Workforce Coalition (AWC) urged immediate legislative action to reform the American farm labor system. The coalition, which represents nearly 300 agricultural groups, described the shortage of legal, qualified workers as one of farmers’ “greatest challenges,” … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 4, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202.554.1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – As part of its ongoing efforts to address food insecurity, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that it will invest $1 billion in the nutrition safety net. Those funds will be split among several initiatives, including $500 million for The Emergency Food … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 17, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202.554.1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – National Farmers Union (NFU) recently joined with five other organizations that represent cattle producers to agree to work jointly on issues in the cattle marketplace. On Monday, May 10, 2021, member leaders of American Farm Bureau Federation, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 14, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202.554.1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – In a voice vote, the U.S. Senate last night confirmed Dr. Jewel Bronaugh to serve as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, making her the first Black woman to hold the position. Dr. Bronaugh brings upwards of two decades worth of experience in food … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 6, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – The Biden administration today released a report providing more details on how it plans to meet its earlier goal to conserve at least 30 percent of the nation’s lands and waters by 2030. Entitled “America the Beautiful,” the 22-page document outlines principles that … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 5, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – As climate change poses an increasingly serious threat to farmers’ livelihoods and global food security, a group of National Farmers Union (NFU) members will be discussing meaningful legislative solutions with their elected representatives. “Farmers are no stranger to big challenges, but climate change is … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 3, 2021 WASHINGTON – The Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance (FACA), now more than 70 members strong, has worked over the past three months to develop specific recommendations for how the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) should approach a potential carbon bank. FACA began sharing those recommendations with USDA and Congress today. … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 29, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – Agriculture is uniquely positioned to mitigate climate change – but farmers need the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) support to fully realize that potential, according to National Farmers Union (NFU). In comments submitted today, the family farm organization outlined ways UDSA could better … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 28, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – During his first joint address to Congress, President Joe Biden tonight highlighted the progress the United States has made on pandemic recovery and laid out his strategy to create additional jobs and lift more families out of poverty. The linchpin of that strategy is … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 26, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – In oral arguments scheduled for Tuesday morning, four agriculture and biofuel organizations will argue that the U.S. Supreme Court should affirm a unanimous 2020 decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, which heldthat only small refineries that have remained continuously … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 22, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – On Earth Day, Representative Chellie Pingree and Senator Martin Heinrich introduced the Agriculture Resilience Act (ARA), which sets a number of environmental targets for the agriculture sector to reach by 2040, including net zero greenhouse gas emissions. In order to reach those goals, the … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 20, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – 330 days after Minnesota resident George Floyd’s death, a jury today found former police officer Derek Chauvin guilty of murder. National Farmers Union (NFU) called the act “an abuse of power and a horrifying act of violence,” and said it underscored the “urgent … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 20, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – In the midst of Earth Week, Senators Debbie Stabenow, John Boozman, and Mike Braun reintroduced the Growing Climate Solutions Act, which aims to provide certainty to farmers and ranchers seeking compensation for climate-smart agricultural practices through carbon markets. To achieve this end, the bill … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 31, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden today unveiled a blueprint to “create millions of good jobs, rebuild our country’s infrastructure, and position the United States to out-compete China.” Known as the American Jobs Plan, the proposal outlines a $2.25 trillion investment over eight years to repair our … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 31, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – The Renewable Fuels Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Farmers Union, and American Coalition for Ethanol (collectively referred to as the “Biofuels Coalition”) thanked the states of Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, South Dakota, and Virginia for filing an amicus curiae brief … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 24, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the creation of the Pandemic Assistance for Producers, a new initiative to offer financial assistance to farmers and ranchers affected by pandemic-related disruptions. This endeavor will direct about $6 billion towards new outreach and support programs, … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 24, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – Today, the Renewable Fuels Association, the American Coalition for Ethanol, the National Corn Growers Association and the National Farmers Union, working together as the Biofuels Coalition, filed their response brief in the Supreme Court case HollyFrontier Cheyenne Refining, LLC, et al., v. Renewable Fuels Association, … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 18, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – In an effort to improve the American agricultural labor system, the U.S. House of Representatives today voted in favor of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. The chamber passed an earlier version of the bipartisan bill in late 2019. At the organization’s convention earlier this … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 16, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – To feed National Guard troops on duty in our nation’s capital, Farmers Union Enterprises (FUE) donated $50,000 to provide roughly 5,000 meals from D.C.-based restaurants Farmers Fishers Bakers and Founding Farmers, both of which are part of Farmers Restaurant Group. FUE is made … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 11, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – Four witnesses representing the Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance’s (FACA) founding organizations and co-chairs – American Farm Bureau Federation, Environmental Defense Fund, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives and National Farmers Union – testified today in front of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 11, 2021 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – Like nearly all American farmers and ranchers, Clay Pope has experienced more frequent and severe weather extremes in recent years as a result of climate change. But with the support of voluntary, incentive-based government programs, the Oklahoma Farmers Union member and sixth-generation rancher has made … Read More