Spoiler Alert & Healthy Acadia: A Food Donation and Case Study

July 14, 2016Conservation, Consumers, Direct to Consumer, Environment, Farm Economics, Food Hubs, Food Justice, Nutrition, Regional Food Systems

Guest blog post by: Farmers Union member, Spoiler Alert Healthy Acadia is a Maine-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to build healthy communities. In partnership with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Healthy Acadia coordinates gleaning opportunities throughout Hancock and Washington counties, a region characterized by significant levels of poverty and food insecurity. Healthy Acadia connects volunteers … Read More

Spirited Convention Includes Keynotes from Sec. Vilsack, Gen. Clark

March 16, 2016Conservation, Consumers, Country of Origin Labeling, Direct to Consumer, Farming Practices, GMO, Grass Roots Policy, National Farmers Union, NEFU Members, Trade, Transparency in Labeling

Family farmers and ranchers are the best advocates for agriculture, and over the last four days, the National Farmers Union has provided more than 500 members and delegates of the 114th Anniversary Convention with the advocacy tools they need to be better informed about topics important to farm policy and the industry. “We came to … Read More

Member Profile: Steve Normanton

December 4, 2015Climate Change, Conservation, Country of Origin Labeling, Direct to Consumer, Diversified Farms, Farmer Leaders, Farmer Profile, Meat and Poultry, NEFU Members, Organic Producers, Trade

Steve Normanton grew up in South Africa, working on a farm that raised antelope, giraffe, rhinoceros, buffalo, and other African game, in addition to cattle, before moving to the states in 2003. Now a New Hampshire resident, he raises pastured beef cattle, pork, lamb, and chickens for meat and eggs, and grows mixed vegetables on … Read More

Convention Paints Strong Picture of Local Agriculture

November 12, 2015Beginning Farmers, Climate Change, Conservation, Consumers, Cooperatives, Country of Origin Labeling, Direct to Consumer, Farm Bill, Farm Bill 2013, Farm Demographics, Farm Economics, Farm Transfer Issues, Farm Workers, farm-to-school, Farm-to-Table, Farmer Leaders, Farmers Markets, Farmland Preservation, Food Hubs, Food Labels, FSA, FSMA, Grass Roots Policy, National Farmers Union, NEFU Members, Regional Food Systems, Regional Policy, SNAP, Trade, USDA

New England Farmers Union’s sixth annual convention, Gearing Up for Success, drew roughly 60 members of the farming community when it met on Nov. 6-8 at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord, NH. Attendees heard from national, regional, state, and local agricultural leaders on subjects such as federal agricultural policy, food safety, local and regional … Read More

NFU Supports CRP Enhancements, Notes Importance of Program to Both Environment and Food Security

September 11, 2015Conservation, National Farmers Union, USDA

  National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) supporting proposed improvements to the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and noting the importance of the program for both the environment and domestic and global food security. “NFU appreciates USDA’s work to improve the efficacy of CRP and stands … Read More

Farmer Input Will Improve CSP

August 18, 2015Conservation, Farm Bill 2013, Farming Practices, Grass Roots Policy

The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is designed to help farmers and ranchers maintain natural resources and adopt conservation practices on agricultural land. Participants earn performance-based payments for these practices, such as cover cropping, highly diversified crop rotations, and managed rotational grazing. Administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), CSP also provides … Read More