Farm Safety Education Should Reach Beyond the Farm Gate

June 3, 2016Farm Safety, Farm Workers, Farmers, Farming Practices, National Farmers Union, NEFU Members

Nearly 500 farm work-related deaths occur annually, according to a 2013 study from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). As farmers and ranchers are more active on and around their operations this time of year, National Farmers Union (NFU) is raising awareness about farm safety issues and best practices through a series of 10 … Read More

150 Meet in Greenfield for New Farmer Gathering

December 14, 2015Beginning Farmers, Cooperatives, Educational Opportunities, Farm Transfer Issues, Farm Workers, Food Desert, Food Justice, Grass Roots Policy, NEFU Members, Regional Food Systems, Regional Policy, Socially Disadvantaged Farmers, Urban Agriculture, Women Producers

New farmers assembled the Arts Block in Greenfield, Massachusetts, on Dec. 12 from all over New England, New York state, and even Canada for the Northeast New Farmer Winter Gathering. Roughly 150 attendees arrived with enthusiasm and energy to participate in an anti-oppression training facilitated by representatives of Springfield-based Gardening the Community. Liz Wills-O’Gilvie and … 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

A Warm Welcome for Shop Talk at Warm Colors Apiary

July 15, 2015Educational Opportunities, Farm Tours, Farm Workers, Farmer Leaders, Farmer Profile, Grass Roots Policy, NEFU Members, Women Producers

New England Farmers Union held a Shop Talk on July 9 at Warm Colors Apiary in South Deerfield. Warm Colors is a beekeeping operation on 80 beautiful acres on the Mill River run by Dan and Bonita Conlon. While Dan has been keeping bees since his childhood, the two started keeping bees there as a … 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