FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 30, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced final 2018 renewable volume obligations (RVOs) for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The agency will maintain the corn ethanol requirement at its current levels, and increase cellulosic and advanced biofuel requirements slightly from their … Read More
Month: November 2017
Survey Shows Massive Opioid Impact in Farm Country; Farm Groups Call for Dialogue, Action
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 30, 2017 CONTACT National Farmers Union: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106, ajerome@nfudc.org American Farm Bureau Federation: Will Rodger, 202-406-3642, willr@fb.org WASHINGTON – The opioid crisis has struck farm and ranch families much harder than the rest of rural America, a Morning Consult survey shows. While just under half of rural Americans say they … Read More
Current Tax Reform Plan Disadvantages Family Farmers and Ranchers, NFU Says — Organization Urges “NO” Vote, Will Score the Vote
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 29, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – As the U.S. Senate readies to vote on a major overhaul of the nation’s tax system, National Farmers Union (NFU) is urging lawmakers to vote against the current plan because it benefits the nation’s largest corporations and wealthiest citizens at the expense … Read More
Growing for the Future Prepares Beginning Farmers for a Career in Agriculture
By Sophie Neems, NFU Intern ‘Tis the season. . . for agricultural conferences! The harvest is done and the cows have been moved to winter pasture, which means that educational opportunities for farmers and ranchers abound. However, here at National Farmers Union, we understand that it’s not always possible to leave the farm unattended and … Read More
Access to Efficiency: Conservation Stewardship Program
By Tom Driscoll, Director of NFU Foundation and Conservation Policy NFU’s Climate Column has covered a number of farming practices, including conservation tillage and rotational grazing, that can help farmers increase profits by saving money on inputs, energy, and labor. Beginning farmers can receive assistance to implement such practices, as well as incentive payments for the environmental benefits … Read More
What Can Farmers Do About Climate Change? Adapted Seeds
By Tom Driscoll, Director of Conservation Policy and NFU Foundation As we’ve noted on the Climate Column, climate change will disturb the precipitation patterns and temperatures on which farmers rely to grow crops. Farmers will need to adapt to these changes by implementing new practices and readjusting old ones. One option is selecting seeds for staple crops – … Read More
Farmers Receive 11 Cents of Thanksgiving Retail Food Dollar, NFU Farmer’s Share Shows
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 21, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – Farmers and ranchers take home just 11.4 cents from every dollar that consumers spend on their Thanksgiving dinner meals, according to the annual Thanksgiving edition of the National Farmers Union (NFU) Farmer’s Share publication. The popular Thanksgiving Farmer’s Share compares the retail … Read More
NFU Alarmed by House Passage of Tax Reform Bill: Organization Scored the Vote, Now Urging a No Vote on Senate Version
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 16, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives today voted 227-205 to approve the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, a bill that would provide tax cuts and breaks to corporations and wealthy Americans at an estimated cost of $1.5 trillion. National Farmers Union (NFU), a … Read More
Congressional Tax Plans Jeopardize the Farm Safety Net, CBO Analysis Says
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 14, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-554-1600 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – Amidst the steepest drop in farm profitability in a generation, U.S. Congressional leadership is proposing tax reform legislation that would jeopardize all funding for farm bill commodity safety net programs. The two tax bills being considered in both the U.S. Senate and … Read More
Access to Markets: Rural Development Grants
By Tom Driscoll, Director of NFU Foundation and Conservation Policy As we discussed last week on the Beginning Farmer Forum, the business infrastructure – such as federally-inspected livestock processing facilities for smaller orders and mills that service demand for local feed or flour – that would help beginning farmers connect with emerging markets often doesn’t exist … Read More