Month: July 2011

By Brittany Jablonsky, NFU Government Relations Representative The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently published a proposed rule to establish a proposed national marketing agreement regulating leafy green vegetables. This rulemaking was the result of a request by the largest players in the industry, who asked for regulations based on the statewide agreements established in … Read More

By Tony Jarboe, NFU Communications Coordinator The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has undertaken an initiative to make some major technological changes that will centralize farmers’ and ranchers’ data, and help the agency deliver services and payments more quickly. The initiative, known as “Modernize and Innovate the Delivery of Agricultural Systems,” or … Read More

By Amy Czerniak, NFU Intern Lyle and Donna Hetterly were caretakers and cooks at National Farmers Union’s (NFU) education site in Bailey, Colorado for 25 years.  They attended the NFU All-States Leadership Camp 75th Anniversary Celebration in Bailey on Saturday, July 16, 2011.  Many former campers and staff members were happy to see the Hetterlys … Read More

By Amy Czerniak, NFU Intern When Ruth Kobell’s husband returned from a Farmers Union meeting he had attended with his uncle in Harlem, Mont., he was inspired.  The two men had heard then-president of North Dakota Farmers Union, Charlie Talbott, speak.  Ruth recalled that her husband was “so impressed that he never gave up the … Read More

By Maria Miller, NFU Education Director Saturday marked the reunion and celebration of National Farmers Union’s (NFU) 75th annual All-States Leadership Camp in Bailey, Colo. NFU president Roger Johnson welcomed guests to camp. He said the facility exemplifies Farmers Union’s commitment to education. “It’s the pillar of the education program,” he told guests. NFU and … Read More

By Maria Miller, NFU Education Director Friday was the final full day of 75th National Farmers Union’s (NFU) All-States Leadership Camp in Bailey, Colo. NFU Government Relations Representative Brittany Jablonsky and NFU Climate and Energy Coordinator Jan Ahlen spoke with campers in the morning. Jablonsky grew up in Farmers Union and said, “All-States was really … Read More

By Maria Miller, NFU Education Director National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson addressed campers on July 14 at the 2011 All-States Leadership Camp in Bailey, Colo. As a former All-State Leadership Camp participant himself, he shared much of the organization’s rich history. “The founders of this organization understood some very important concepts when they … Read More

By Maria Miller, NFU Education Director The second full day at National Farmers Union’s (NFU) All-State Leadership Camp in Bailey, Colo., was an inspirational and thought-provoking one for campers.  Olympian Rulon Gardner returned to the NFU Education Center to share his journey from the farm to the Olympics and beyond.  He grew up the youngest … Read More

By Maria Miller, NFU Education Director The 75th National Farmers Union (NFU) 2011 All-States Leadership Camp in Colorado has begun! Sunday was a day of getting acquainted and learning about the cooperative spirit. Yesterday, NFU Vice President Claudia Svarstad spoke to the campers about her experiences with the Farmer-to-Farmer Exchange Program NFU participates in. She … Read More

By Laura Demmel, NFU Executive Assistant In the coming days, the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee will likely debate the three pending Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with South Korea (KORUS), Colombia, and Panama.  National Farmers Union members passed a policy resolution this spring in opposition to the pending FTAs as … Read More