By Doug Sombke, president, South Dakota Farmers Union For most of my life, making a living as a farmer meant trying to make ends meet knowing that commodity prices were almost always going to be relatively flat, while production costs rose yearly. The price of a bushel of corn was stuck in the $2.00 range … Read More
NFU Applauds House’s Inability to Pass Fast Track
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (June 12, 2015) Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON (June 12, 2015) – National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson applauded today’s House vote that effectively kills – at least for now – Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), also known as fast track authority. TPA would grant the administration the ability to secretly … Read More
NFU Announces Beginning Farmer Institute Participants
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 12, 2015 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON (June 12, 2015) – National Farmers Union (NFU) announced the 11 participants selected for the 2015/2016 Beginning Farmer Institute (BFI), a diverse group with operations ranging from half an acre to over 1800 acres. Those selected for the class are: Kasey Bitz of North Dakota; Kyle … Read More
NFU Calls Vote to Repeal COOL in House “Disappointing, Knee-Jerk Overreaction;” Assures Senate There Remains a Viable Path Forward to Save The Law, Satisfy WTO
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 10, 2015 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON (June 10, 2015) – National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson called today’s voice vote in the U.S. House of Representatives to repeal Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) a “disappointing, knee-jerk overreaction” and urged the U.S. Senate to continue its thoughtful handling of the World Trade Organization (WTO) … Read More
RFS: A Shot in the Arm to Rural America
By Jim Benham, president, Indiana Farmers Union It seems Indiana’s farmers are facing too much rain, or drought; or it’s too hot too early, or too cold to soon, or there’s the late spring freeze or the early fall freeze. It’s either feast or famine in farming, and we’ve developed tools and techniques for coping … Read More
Broad Coalition of 283 Delivers Letter to the House Urging Rejection of COOL Repeal Bill
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 8, 2015 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON (June 8, 2015) – National Farmers Union (NFU) today joined 282 other organizations representing farm interests, rural America, faith, environment, farmworker and consumers in urging members of the U.S. House of Representatives to reject the repeal of the Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) law and support commonsense … Read More
NFU Asserts Climate-Related Food Security Concerns
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 5, 2015 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON (June 5, 2015) – National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson filed comments today on the United States Global Change Research Program’s (USGCRP) draft report, The Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health in the United States: A Scientific Assessment (Climate and Health Assessment). The Climate and Health … Read More
NFU Urges House Members to Vote No on TPA, Says Organization Will Be Scoring Vote
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 5, 2015 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON (June 5, 2015) – National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson reminded members of the U.S. House of Representatives that the 113-year old organization and its 200,000 family farmer and rancher members remain steadfastly opposed to the passage of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA). “As … Read More
NFU Hails Extension of Proposal Period for Organic Checkoff
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 3, 2015 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON (June 3, 2015) – National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson today hailed the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) decision to extend the proposal period for the organic checkoff. “We are very pleased that USDA is accepting additional viewpoints from the organic community,” said Johnson. “We … Read More
Conservation Reserve Program Sign-Up
By Daniela Silva, government relations intern, National Farmers Union Last week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be accepting new applications starting December 1, 2015, through February 26, 2016, to participate in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Secretary Vilsack is specifically targeting the “800,000 additional acres of highly … Read More