Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 4, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – The United States today formally exited the Paris Climate Agreement, three-and-a-half years after President Donald Trump pledged to do so, citing “lost jobs, lower wages, shuttered factories, and vastly diminished economic production.” One hundred and eighty-nine countries have ratified the historic agreement so … Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 21, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – As part of its ongoing efforts to support the next generation of American agriculture, National Farmers Union (NFU) today announced that fourteen participants had been selected for its tenth Beginning Farmer Institute (BFI) cohort. Over the course of ten months, these beginning … Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 8, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today released a final rule detailing updates to its Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) as directed by the 2018 Farm Bill. In comparison to the interim rule, the final version places a greater emphasis on soil health – … Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEOctober 6, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, [email protected] Though millions of Americans are enduring unemployment, food insecurity, the possibility of eviction, and other hardships because of the pandemic, President Donald Trump today indicated that he would not consider another stimulus package until after the election. Out of concern for hungry Americans, struggling rural communities, … Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 5, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – The National Organic Program (NOP) opens economic opportunities and new markets for American farmers – but in the last several years, millions of dollars of non-organic products have been intentionally mislabeled and sold as organic, eroding consumer confidence in the certified organic … Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 1, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – Four and half months after the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act stalled in the Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an amended version of the legislation. The $2.2 trillion stimulus package incorporates many provisions National Farmers Union … Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 30, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – With just hours to spare, the Senate today narrowly avoided a government shutdown by passing a continuing resolution to fund federal agencies through December 11. The bill, which now awaits President Donald Trump’s signature, would also provide nearly $8 billion for nutrition assistance … Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 30, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON  – Pandemic-related disruptions have exposed underlying weaknesses in our food and farm system, National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew told the House Small Business Committee today during a hearing. In both verbal and written testimony, Larew highlighted the need for significant structural … Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 24, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – Higher octane fuels like mid- and high-level ethanol blends are mutually beneficial for drivers, farmers, and the environment. Recognizing this, Representative Cheri Bustos today introduced the Next Generation Fuels Act, which would increase gasoline octane to a minimum standard of 98 Research Octane Number … Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 22, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – With government funding due to run out next week, the U.S. House of Representatives today passed a continuing resolution that would keep federal agencies running through December 11. In addition to preventing a government shutdown, the stopgap measure would provide nearly $8 billion for … Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 17, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – During a campaign rally tonight in Mosinee, Wisconsin, President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) would provide a second tranche of pandemic aid through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). He indicated that an additional $13 billion will … Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 16, 2020 WASHINGTON – In light of the fact that racial and ethnic minority groups are vastly underrepresented in agricultural professions, National Farmers Union (NFU) and Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) are working together to foster diversity and inclusion in the field. During an online ceremony, NFU President … Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESeptember 14, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, [email protected] WASHINGTON – After significant pushback from American farmers and the biofuels industry, the U.S. Environment Protection Agency (EPA) today announced that it would reject 68 requests for retroactive small refinery exemptions (SREs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The decision comes nearly nine months after a Tenth Circuit Court decision that … Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 14, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – As a global pandemic and extreme weather events batter an already weak agricultural economy, more than 400 farmers, ranchers, and rural residents are gathering online this week to speak directly with their elected representatives and administration officials as part of National Farmers … Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 14, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – For years, beef and pork that was born, raised, and slaughtered in another country but processed in the United States has legally been labeled as a “Product of the U.S.A.,” a claim that misleads consumers and puts American ranchers at a disadvantage. … Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 9, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – In a joint effort to foster diversity and inclusion in agricultural professions, National Farmers Union (NFU) and Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) will sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) during a ceremony next week. The MOU, to be … Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 9, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), National Farmers Union (NFU) and American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) today welcomed news reports that President Trump has directed the Environmental Protection Agency to reject dozens of so-called “gap year” small refinery exemption petitions … Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 8, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – As a global pandemic and extreme weather events batter an already weak agricultural economy, hundreds of farmers, ranchers, and rural residents will gather online next week to speak directly with their elected representatives and administration officials as part of National Farmers Union’s (NFU) virtual … Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 21, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – Several months after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth determined that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had improperly issued small refinery exemptions (SREs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), the agency revealed that it has 98 pending requests for … Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 31, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – As family farmers and ranchers cope with significant economic and environmental uncertainty, innovation will play a critical role in helping them continue to safely, sustainably, and reliably grow our food, fuel, and fiber for generations to come. In comments submitted today, National … Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 22, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON – In a report released today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) provided an update on its investigation into recent market disruptions and price volatility in the beef industry. The investigation was prompted by complaints from ranchers, who attributed the … Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJuly 16, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, [email protected] WASHINGTON – The coronavirus pandemic continues to overwhelm rural hospitals, upend agricultural markets, and interrupt daily life as we know it, making it clear that family farmers and rural communities require additional support to withstand these trying times. In a letter sent today to Senate leadership, National … Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 30, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 [email protected] WASHINGTON –  A broad coalition of ethanol, agriculture, and public interest groups are challenging the Trump administration’s recent fuel efficiency rulemaking, on that grounds that it downplays the harm from reduced emission standards, ignores the efficiency and health benefits of higher ethanol blends, and … Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 23, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202-554-1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – Following the December 2019 announcement of a new farm stress management online training course for employees and members of Farm Credit, Farm Bureau and Farmers Union, these organizations have supported the launch of a free online training available to the general public. Developed … Read More