Farmers and ranchers attending the National Farmers Union (NFU) 114th Anniversary Convention will have the opportunity to hear from high-ranking experts in food and ag policy. NFU is pleased to announce U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and General Wesley Clark as keynote speakers at the annual convention, which kicks off March 5 and … Read More
Month: February 2016
Grow Local, Eat Local … Invest Local
Artisan Beverage Cooperative, a Greenfield, Mass.-based maker of high quality beverages, a worker-owned co-operative, and a New England Farmers Union member, recently secured approval of its Direct Public Offering (DPO) to Massachusetts residents. This method of “investment-based crowd-funding” is not widely known, but is being pioneered by socially-responsible, mission-based companies such as Equal Exchange, Real … Read More
Member Profile: Crave Food Services
What happens when a chef, obsessed with using local ingredients finds he’s spending more time finding and ordering food than actually cooking it? If the chef is Matt Tortora, he starts a tech company and builds an online platform to connect food service workers and chefs directly to local producers. Tortora and his team at Crave … Read More
NFU Applauds President’s Proposed Research Investments, Opposes Crop Insurance Cuts
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 9, 2016 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON (February 9, 2016) – After reviewing the president’s fiscal year 2017 budget proposal, which was released earlier today, National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson issued the following statement: “With a lagging farm economy, low commodity prices and weather challenges, policies that provide … Read More
Food Incentive Programs take the Frontline on the Fight Against Hunger
By Katie Fisher, government relations intern, National Farmers Union Last week was a busy week for the House Committee on Agriculture as they had two subcommittee meetings in two days. Wednesday morning, the Subcommittee on Nutrition, led by Chairwoman Jackie Walorski, met to discuss food incentive programs and how they can be improved. Five panelists … Read More
Survey Will Help Define Farm-to-Institution Market
New England Farmers Union is working with Farm to Institution New England (FINE) to conduct research about the regional Farm to Institution (FTI) market. The FTI market includes public and private schools, colleges and universities, hospitals, and other institutions. FINE is interested in your unique perspective on marketing and selling to institutions – please take … Read More
NFU Applauds the President’s Commitment to Double Clean Energy R&D Funding
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 8, 2016 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON (February 8, 2016) – Agriculture’s conscientious approach to sustainable food and energy production has driven the need for continued investment in research and innovation in these areas. As such, National Farmers Union (NFU) applauded President Obama’s announcement today to double research and development … Read More
U.S. Farmers Urge Congress to Stop TPP
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 3, 2016 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON (February 3, 2016) – The U.S. Trade Representative today signed the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), and a national organization representing farmers and ranchers from coast to coast is calling on Congress to block the giant trade pact. “TPP is modeled after the failed deals … Read More
NFU Comments on USDA Cottonseed Announcement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 3, 2016 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON (February 3, 2016) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today declined requests to designate cottonseed as an oilseed, citing a lack of authority and cost constraints. Such a designation would have provided struggling cotton farmers with more policy tools to help manage … Read More
NFU Statement on Syngenta Merger
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 3, 2016 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON (February 3, 2016) – In response to today’s merger announcement by Syngenta AG and China National Chemical Corporation, National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson released the following statement: “Today’s announcement is cause for concern among everyone in U.S. agriculture, especially farmers. NFU … Read More