NFU Public Comments Strongly Endorse Fair Practice Rules

March 23, 2017Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 23, 2017 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202-554-1600 hpackman@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – On behalf of nearly 200,000 family farm and ranch members, National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson submitted public comments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) yesterday, advocating for the agency to finalize the Farmer Fair Practices Rules. The rules would … Read More

FDA Considering Simplifying Agricultural Water Standards

March 23, 2017News

By London Muegge, Education InternContact: Chelsea Matzen, 202-554-1600cmatzen@nfudc.orgThe Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering simplifying agricultural water standards under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) due to stakeholder feedback. The feedback included concern that the standards, which include numerical criteria for pre-harvest microbial water quality, would be too difficult to understand and implement by … Read More

NFU Urges Administration to Keep COOL as a Priority for Trade Agenda

March 22, 2017Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 22, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – The Trump Administration this week released a list of 24 trade practices, including Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL), that trade negotiators should prioritize in future negotiations. National Farmers Union (NFU) is urging the administration to keep COOL on the list, and to ensure a … Read More

NFU Urges Congress to Vote Against AHCA

March 21, 2017Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 21, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – Citing the need for family farmers and ranchers to have affordable access to quality health coverage, National Farmers Union (NFU) is urging Congress to vote against the American Health Care Act (AHCA). The bill is scheduled to be voted on by the … Read More

Farmer Fair Practices Rules Needed to Address Lack of Competition in Livestock and Poultry Sectors, NFU Testimony States

March 21, 2017Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 21, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – Highlighting the iniquities of today’s extremely consolidated livestock and poultry sectors, National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson submitted testimony today to the U.S House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture. The testimony advocates for the adoption of the Farmer … Read More

Access to Markets: Gleaning

March 21, 2017Beginning Farmers

By Jimmy Dula, NFU Intern For the past several months, we have been talking about how you, as a farmer, can access markets through technology, value-added goods, institutions, and more. Today, we’re going to flip the tables and talk about how markets can access you. Farmers feed people, a fact at the core of who we are … Read More

NFU Salutes Family Farmers, Ranchers on National Ag Day, Highlights Need to Ensure Success of Next Generation

March 21, 2017Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 21, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – Highlighting the important roles family farmers and ranchers play in ensuring food security, National Farmers Union (NFU) joined the agriculture community today in celebrating National Ag Day. “Family farmers and ranchers play a critical role in providing food, fuel, feed and fiber … Read More

What Can Farmers Do About Climate Change? Dynamic Cropping Systems: Gabe Brown’s Story

March 21, 2017Climate Column

By Laura Lengnick, founder of Cultivating Resilience, LLC This story is excerpted from Resilient Agriculture: Cultivating Food Systems for a Changing Climate (New Society Publishers, 2015).  Resilient Agriculture explores climate risk, resilience, and the future of food through the adaptation stories of 25 award-winning sustainable farmers and ranchers growing fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, and livestock across America. … Read More

Access to Land: Clark Ranch Family & Succession Planning

March 17, 2017Beginning Farmers

By Lura Roti, South Dakota Farmers Union Middle of Nowhere might be the best way to describe the location of Pat and Barb Clark’s ranch, which is located on native rangeland 40 miles southeast of Lemmon and 30 miles east of Meadow. Homesteaded in 1915 by his grandfather, Avery Clark, and great-uncle, Harry, the Clarks, … Read More

President’s Budget Shuns Rural America with Deep Cuts to Agriculture, Programs Serving Rural America

March 16, 2017Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 16, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – President Donald J. Trump issued his fiscal year 2018 federal budget blueprint today, calling for a drastic reduction in spending on agriculture and rural related agencies and programs. Lamenting further cuts being proposed for agriculture, National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson issued … Read More