FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 12, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – As the Trump Administration navigates a renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), National Farmers Union (NFU) is urging the administration to establish a new, fair trade framework for international trade deals that benefits family farmers, ranchers, and rural residents. … Read More
Month: June 2017
What Can Farmers and Ranchers Do About Climate Change? Market Access for Pastured Meat
By Tom Driscoll, Director of NFU Foundation and Conservation Policy The Climate Column has covered a number of grazing practices that encourage soil health, such as prescribed grazing and rotational grazing. These practices store atmospheric carbon in the soil while protecting forage from the increasingly volatile precipitation patterns driven by climate change, allowing producers to both mitigate … Read More
FDA to Extend Compliance Dates for Agricultural Water Standards
June 9, 2017 By Skylar Schneider, Executive Assistant Contact: Chelsea Matzen, 202-554-1600 cmatzen@nfudc.org This week the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it will be extending the compliance dates for agricultural water requirements established by the Food Safety Modernization Act’s (FSMA) produce safety rule (PSR). This extension does not include sprouts, however. The agricultural … Read More
Access to Markets: The Schaefers Farm Family & the Farm Economy
By Lura Roti, South Dakota Farmers Union When Cheryl and Fred Schaefers tied the knot 40 years ago, the two shared a strong passion for farming. And, along with crops and livestock, the couple wanted to raise a large family. “We originally wanted 12 kids. Fred is the youngest of 9 and I am the … Read More
Organic Livestock and Poultry Rules Benefits Family Organic Producers and Consumers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 9, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – In an effort to improve the consistency and integrity of organic livestock practices and labeling, National Farmers Union (NFU) is urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to finalize a set of regulations on organic livestock and poultry practices that are currently … Read More
Access to Markets: The Schaefers Farm Family & the Farm Economy
By Lura Roti, South Dakota Farmers Union When Cheryl and Fred Schaefers tied the knot 40 years ago, the two shared a strong passion for farming. And, along with crops and livestock, the couple wanted to raise a large family. “We originally wanted 12 kids. Fred is the youngest of 9 and I am the … Read More
Access to Efficiency: Water Rights Q&A With Harrison Topp
By Steven Emmen, NFU Intern Earlier this week, we briefly discussed what the prior appropriation system is and its unique characteristics. To give beginning farmers a better idea of the practical application of prior appropriation, we reached out to a farmer on the western slope of Colorado. Harrison Topp manages a peach farm and is currently … Read More
Access to Efficiency: Water Rights Q&A With Harrison Topp
By Steven Emmen, NFU Intern Earlier this week, we briefly discussed what the prior appropriation system is and its unique characteristics. To give beginning farmers a better idea of the practical application of prior appropriation, we reached out to a farmer on the western slope of Colorado. Harrison Topp manages a peach farm and is currently … Read More
NFU Announces Twenty Participants for 2017-18 Beginning Farmers Institute
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 8, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – National Farmers Union (NFU) has announced twenty beginning farmers and ranchers from across the United States to take part in the 2017-2018 Beginning Farmers Institute (BFI) program. The Institute empowers the success of America’s next generation of farmers by providing mentorship, technical … Read More
NFU Urges Immediate Adoption of Farmer Fair Practices Rules
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 7, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – The Farmer Fair Practices Rules, a set of three rules that provide very basic protections for farmers and ranchers, were released in December 2016 to address the most anti-competitive and abusive practices levied against family farmers by meatpackers and processors. Because the … Read More