Blog

By Jeremy Peters, NFU director of climate and energy The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) and Delta Farmers Advocating Resource Management (Delta F.A.R.M.) held the annual Conservation in Action Tour May 30-31, in the Mississippi Delta region of northwest Mississippi. NFU sponsored the tour and NFU Climate and Energy Director Jeremy Peters participated in the … Read More

Submitted By Mike Stranz, NFU government relations representative June 4-10, 2012 is Hemp History Week. Now in its third year, Hemp History Week is the largest national grassroots marketing and public education effort torenew strong support for hemp farming in the U.S. and raise awareness about the benefits of hemp products. Hemp is an untapped opportunity … Read More

By Brittany Jablonsky, NFU government relations representative Last week the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a proposed rule for a new microloan program within the existing Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) operating loan program. FSA proposes to offer annual or term microloans of up to $35,000 that feature a streamlined application process and less stringent requirements … Read More

By Roger Johnson, National Farmers Union president This week marks a milestone in the history of our country and a legacy of President Abraham Lincoln. While he is known for many accomplishments, a little-known fact is that he established the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 150 years ago. On May 15, 1862, Lincoln signed into … Read More

By Tony Jarboe, NFU communications coordinator NFU has released a new curriculum that highlights 2012 as the International Year of Cooperatives. The curriculum is available here. It provides six separate lessons for college and adult students and introduce how cooperation works to help individuals work together to accomplish goals they could not achieve on their … Read More

By Michael Bowman, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union member Last Thursday, the White House hosted a “Champions of Change” event, inviting 12 from more than 500 program alumni to meet with President Obama and share the stories of their work. I was honored to be one of those chosen to attend and was part of a … Read More

By Brittany Jablonsky, NFU government relations representative Today the Senate Committee on Agriculture marked up its draft of the 2012 Farm Bill (entitled the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012) and passed the final version out of committee on a bipartisan 16-5 vote. The manager’s amendment offered today incorporated a number of changes … Read More

By Brittany Jablonsky, NFU government relations representative Last Friday the Senate Committee on Agriculture released a draft of the 2012 Farm Bill. The Committee plans to begin its markup of the bill tomorrow morning at 9:00, and markup is expected to continue through Thursday. NFU is pleased with many of the provisions in the bill, and … Read More

By Justin Sherlock, NFU intern On Thursday, the White House hosted a panel titled “Innovations in Renewable Energy” which is part of the Champions of Change recognition efforts that are being done. In essence, the White House was honoring individuals who have helped spur innovations that are advancing the renewable energy industry. One honoree, Lt. … Read More

By Brittany Jablonsky, NFU government relations representative This morning the Supreme Court began hearing oral arguments on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the health care law passed just over two years ago. Farmers Union members have always felt that access to affordable, quality health care is the right of all citizens, rural … Read More