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

Understanding the Challenges of a Slumping Farm Economy and its Impact on Connecticut

June 6, 2016Agriculture Research, Census of Agriculture, Dairy, Farm Economics

Guest Blog Post: By Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-2) Agriculture in the Northeast contributes $103 billion to local economies and supports roughly 480,000 jobs across the region. But like the rest of the farm economy, producers in Connecticut have been negatively impacted by slumping commodity prices and weak demand for their products. Nationally, net farm income … 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

Legal Concerns Around Farm Workers and Employees

May 8, 2015Educational Opportunities, Farm Economics, Farm Safety, Farm Workers, Legal Issues, Risk Management

GUEST BLOG POST By Sanne Kure-Jensen Farming is hard work and many farmers seek help from volunteers, compensated volunteers (trade food and/or housing for labor) and paid employees. Farmers want their workers to be happy and productive. Rachel Armstrong led an informative webinar on the legal considerations around unpaid and compensated volunteers. “Ag. law is … Read More

Farm Credit East Releases 2015 Outlook Report for Farmers

March 24, 2015Farm Economics, Farmers, Farming Practices, Funding Opportunities

GUEST BLOG POST by Farm Credit East Farm Credit East, a farmer-owned cooperative, recently released its 2015 industry outlook report. This report examines challenges and opportunities for Northeast agriculture, as well as the impact of broader economic trends and conditions on our region’s farm businesses. “Farming, forestry and fishing businesses have rapidly become knowledge-based businesses,” … Read More

NRCS Reminds Vermont Farmers of March 20th EQIP Signup Deadline

March 10, 2015Farm Bill 2013, Farm Economics, Funding Opportunities, USDA

New England Farmers Union advocates for programs in the farm bill such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Recently, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Vermont announced an EQIP signup deadline of March 20, 2015. Farmers are reminded that the deadline to apply is approaching and they are encouraged to submit applications by this … Read More