FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 18, 2018 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – The House version of the 2018 Farm Bill failed on the House floor today by a vote of 198 to 213. National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson issued the following statement in response to the vote: “The rejection of the House version … Read More
Access to Efficiency: Managing a Farm Crew
By Michelle McKenzie, Co-Manager of Bellair Farm Farming for a season is hard work. Leading a crew all the way through a season and knowing you will do it all again next year is even harder work! Keeping your crew’s trust and respect is the best way to get through it all successfully. I’ve been co-managing … Read More
What Can Farmers Do About Climate Change? Weed Control & Tillage
By Janan Lenzy, NFU Intern Climate change been the cause, both directly and indirectly, of various challenges for agricultural producers. This list includes extreme droughts and floods, irregular growing seasons, animal and crop disease transmission, and pest migration. Another seemingly perpetual issue exacerbated by climate change is weed growth. Weeds are invasive plant species genetically … Read More
NFU Statement on White House Agreement on RFS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 9, 2018 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – The White House convened its final scheduled meeting yesterday on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and future of the biofuel industry, bringing together lawmakers and stakeholders from the oil and biofuel industries. The meeting concluded with an agreement to allow year-round use … Read More
Access to Efficiency: EQIP & the Farm Bill
By Nate Brownlee, Co-Owner and Operator of Nightfall Farm Here at Nightfall Farm, Liz and I are committed to farm in ways that conserve our natural resources, having rooted our business in the model of the triple bottom line—environmental, social, and financial. When I think back to the first season of our farm, I recall … Read More
What Do Farmers Need to Know About Climate Change? UD Cooperative Extension’s Climate Communications
By Tom Driscoll, Director of NFU Foundation and Conservation Policy If you are a regular Climate Column reader, you likely appreciate that deliberate action undertaken by farmers, policymakers and food value chain participants will make domestic and global food systems more resilient to the negative impacts of climate change. But every actor in the food … Read More
Farmer’s Share of Retail Food Dollar Hits New Low
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 4, 2018 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – For every dollar consumers spend on food, the farmer receives just 14.8 cents, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The figure represents a 5 percent decrease from the previous year’s data and the lowest “farm share” since USDA began reporting … Read More
Access to Markets: Indiana Cooperative Development Center
By Hannah Ruth Tabler, NFU Intern For beginning farmers, getting a start in the agriculture industry can be difficult. Without a supportive network and educational resources, aspiring growers can find themselves at a loss for where to start in an industry where connection is key. Thankfully, organizations like the Indiana Cooperative Development Center offer support … Read More
Why Do Farmers Care About Climate Change? Colony Collapse Disorder
By Janan Lenzy, NFU Intern Bees contribute to the economy and health of the environment. In addition to their notoriety for honey production, bees also provide the versatile substance known as beeswax, and they are imperative to 30 percent of the world’s crop production, pollinating many fruit, vegetable, and flower species, as well as 90 percent … Read More
NFU Board Opposes Current House Version of Farm Bill — Farmers Union Urges Significant Improvements Before Passage
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 24, 2018 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – National Farmers Union (NFU) Board of Directors today passed a resolution in opposition to the current state of the 2018 Farm Bill as passed by the House Agriculture Committee last week. The Board called on House members to make significant improvements to … Read More