By Charlie Michel, National Farmers Union Education and Outreach Coordinator When a statewide COVID-19 lockdown upended their food safety event planning, Mary Howell and Mercedes Taylor-Puckett of Kansas Farmers Union (KFU) were quick to respond with creative solutions for delivering on-farm education to Kansas growers. A primary challenge was reaching producers in cities like Wichita, … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 30, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 hpackman@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – Pandemic-related disruptions have exposed underlying weaknesses in our food and farm system, National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew told the House Small Business Committee today during a hearing. In both verbal and written testimony, Larew highlighted the need for significant structural … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 24, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 hpackman@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – Higher octane fuels like mid- and high-level ethanol blends are mutually beneficial for drivers, farmers, and the environment. Recognizing this, Representative Cheri Bustos today introduced the Next Generation Fuels Act, which would increase gasoline octane to a minimum standard of 98 Research Octane Number … Read More
By Melanie Arthur, NFU Intern The Covid-19 pandemic has created new challenges for our food system, especially for those operating or working on farms or in food facilities. To simplify and streamline pandemic-related decisions, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released a new resource, the Employee Health … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 22, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 hpackman@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – With government funding due to run out next week, the U.S. House of Representatives today passed a continuing resolution that would keep federal agencies running through December 11. In addition to preventing a government shutdown, the stopgap measure would provide nearly $8 billion for … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 17, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 hpackman@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – During a campaign rally tonight in Mosinee, Wisconsin, President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) would provide a second tranche of pandemic aid through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). He indicated that an additional $13 billion will … Read More
By Hannah Packman, National Farmers Union Communications Director A year ago, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) abruptly relocated two of its major research agencies – the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and the Economic Research Service) – from Washington, D.C. to Kansas City. The move forced dozens of experienced employees to quit, taking their expertise … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 16, 2020 WASHINGTON – In light of the fact that racial and ethnic minority groups are vastly underrepresented in agricultural professions, National Farmers Union (NFU) and Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) are working together to foster diversity and inclusion in the field. During an online ceremony, NFU President … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESeptember 14, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737hpackman@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – After significant pushback from American farmers and the biofuels industry, the U.S. Environment Protection Agency (EPA) today announced that it would reject 68 requests for retroactive small refinery exemptions (SREs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The decision comes nearly nine months after a Tenth Circuit Court decision that … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 14, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737 hpackman@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – For years, beef and pork that was born, raised, and slaughtered in another country but processed in the United States has legally been labeled as a “Product of the U.S.A.,” a claim that misleads consumers and puts American ranchers at a disadvantage. … Read More