Secretary Vilsack, General Clark to Keynote NFU Convention

February 11, 2016Farm Tours, Farmer Leaders, Grass Roots Policy, National Farmers Union, NEFU Members, USDA

Farmers and ranchers attending the National Farmers Union (NFU) 114th Anniversary Convention will have the opportunity to hear from high-ranking experts in food and ag policy. NFU is pleased to announce U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and General Wesley Clark as keynote speakers at the annual convention, which kicks off March 5 and … Read More

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

Microloan Expansion A Boost for Underserved, Beginning Farmers and Ranchers

January 19, 2016Beginning Farmers, FSA, USDA, Veteran Farmers, Women Producers

A federal microloan program designed to assist underserved farmers – including beginning farmers and ranchers, veterans, small producers and other underserved communities in agriculture – was expanded today.  And that is great news for rural America, says National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson. “Beginning and underserved farmers face the same financial challenges when entering … 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

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

New England Farmers Union Awarded 2 RD Grants

September 29, 2015Beginning Farmers, Cooperatives, Educational Opportunities, Food Justice, USDA

New England Farmers Union was awarded two of 385 grants through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Business Development Grant program. The USDA committed $20 million in funds across the nation to help support the start-up or expansion of rural small businesses. The education foundation of the New England Farmers Union received funding for our work on … 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

Two USDA Grant Opportunities

June 5, 2015Funding Opportunities, Organic Producers, Socially Disadvantaged Farmers, USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced that approximately $11.9 million in organic certification assistance is available through state departments of agriculture to make organic certification more affordable for organic producers and handlers across the country. The funding is provided on a cost share basis and certification assistance is distributed by … Read More

Secretary Vilsack: $97 Million for New Programs for Farmers

March 16, 2015Alternative Energy, Beginning Farmers, Census of Agriculture, Consumers, Farm Bill 2013, farm-to-school, National Farmers Union, Risk Management, Socially Disadvantaged Farmers, Specialty Crops, USDA

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack today announced $97 million in programs to support the continued development of farmers markets, farm to school efforts and rural economies and will also expand risk management tools for specialty crops and limited-resource farmers. “Increasing market opportunities for local food producers is a sound investment in America’s rural economies, … Read More