Direct Marketing is Invaluable for Consumer Education on Agriculture

February 3, 2016Beginning Farmers, Consumers, Direct to Consumer, Farm Bill, farm-to-school, Farmer Leaders, Farmers Markets, Grass Roots Policy, House Agriculture Committee, Meat and Poultry, National Farmers Union, NEFU Members, USDA

GUEST BLOG POST By Katie Fisher, government relations intern, National Farmers Union On Feb. 2, the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture and Research held a hearing examining the opportunities and challenges in direct marketing. It provided first-hand accounts from farmers and ranchers involved in direct marketing ventures, such as local farmers markets, direct to restaurant or … Read More

Understanding AMS’ Withdrawal of Two Voluntary Marketing Claim Standards

January 19, 2016Consumers, Meat and Poultry, Product Marketing, USDA

New England Farmers Union Note: USDA AMS withdrew its grass-fed standard last week and there were a lot of questions from Farmers Union members. The New England Farmers Union legislative chair joined a recent stakeholder call to find out more about how this impacts producers. FSIS has committed to ensuring that all grass-fed claims remain truthful. … 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

NFU Guest Opinion: The Hoeven-Stabenow COOL Compromise Is The Only Path Forward for Food Labeling

July 28, 2015Consumers, Country of Origin Labeling, Meat and Poultry, Product Marketing

National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson explains in a recent Agri-Pulse guest column that, fortunately for all parties involved in the Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) dispute at the World Trade Organization (WTO), Sens. John Hoeven, R-North Dakota, Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan, and a bipartisan group of cosponsors have introduced a COOL compromise bill that both meets … Read More

COOL Supporters Mount Last-Ditch Effort to Sidetrack Repeal

June 9, 2015Country of Origin Labeling, Meat and Poultry, National Farmers Union, Trade

GUEST BLOG POST By Spencer Chase at Agri-Pulse. Reprinted by permission. As the House of Representatives readies a vote to repeal mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL), supporters of the controversial rule are making a last-ditch effort to save it from full repeal. Today, a coalition of 283 agricultural, environment, consumer, and faith-based organizations sent a letter … Read More

Poultry Alert from MDAR

March 19, 2015Meat and Poultry

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources issued the following alert on March 19: Over the last few weeks there have been multiple identifications of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in multiple states. Both wild birds and domestic birds have been found to be susceptible. The states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, Minnesota, Missouri, Arkansas, and … Read More

EPA Official Discusses Water Rule at NFU Convention

March 18, 2015Country of Origin Labeling, Environment, Meat and Poultry, National Farmers Union

GUEST BLOG POST By Dan Voorhis of the Wichita Eagle U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy said Monday that she regretted how her agency handled the rollout of the controversial “Waters of the U.S.” rules that have many farm leaders complaining about federal infringement on private property. She spoke at the National Farmers Union convention … Read More

Should Labels Say Meat Was Made In USA? Ranchers, Meatpackers Disagree

March 10, 2015Country of Origin Labeling, International Agriculture, Meat and Poultry, Product Marketing

GUEST BLOG POST By Grant Gerlock of Harvest Public Media You’ve probably seen, but may not have noticed, labels on the meat at your grocery store that say something like “Born, Raised, & Harvested in the U.S.A.” or “Born and Raised in Canada, Slaughtered in the U.S.” These country-of-origin labels, as they are known, are … Read More