FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 26, 2016 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON (May 26, 2016) – The Senate Agriculture Committee today convened a hearing to discuss opportunities and challenges in the livestock and poultry sectors, and National Farmers Union (NFU) encouraged Senators on the panel to hear from cow-calf producers as they grapple with the … Read More
NFU Pleased by Absence of GIPSA and Organic Livestock Riders in Senate Appropriations Bill, Disappointed by More Conservation Cuts
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 19, 2016 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON (May 19, 2016) – The Senate Appropriations Committee today marked up the fiscal year 2017 appropriations bill, and National Farmers Union (NFU) was pleased to see controversial provisions excluded from the bill. The organization, representing nearly 200,000 family farmers and ranchers, applauded the … Read More
Senate Ag Hearing on Farm Credit Lends Discussion on Critical Issue
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 19, 2016 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON (May 19, 2016) – The Senate Agriculture Committee today examined the current state of affairs at a hearing about the Farm Credit System (FCS) and the farm sector’s credit outlook. National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson applauded committee members for making this issue … Read More
USITC Report Predicts Increase in Trade Deficit, Modest Gains Overall From TPP
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 18, 2016 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON (May 18, 2016) – The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today released their economic assessment of the widely contested Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement, predicting modest gains for the overall economy despite an increase in the United States’ already massive trade deficit. National … Read More
NFU Statement on Proposed RFS Volume Targets
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 18, 2016 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON (May 18, 2016) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed today its Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) renewable volume obligations (RVO) for 2017 at 18.8 billion gallons, which fall more than 5 billion gallons below the statutory volume levels set by Congress. Pointing … Read More
Member Profile: Spoiler Alert
Ugly but lovely, imperfect, misfit, cosmetically challenged, produce with personality — whatever you call it, the wonky fruits and vegetables movement has gained traction within the last year, and Spoiler Alert is working to help farmers make the most of their oddly shaped and blemished product. We all know that a lot of great produce … Read More
Shaping the Next Generation of Co-operators
GUEST BLOG POST By Marcus Smith In February, I had the opportunity to participate in the 2016 National Farmers Union (NFU) College Conference on Co-operatives (CCOC) in Minneapolis, MN. This annual event is designed to help shape the next generation of co-operative leaders, and my exposure to the co-ops, speakers, and other participants was a learning … Read More
Senate Appropriators Consider Blocking Organic Livestock and Poultry Proposed Rule
By Barbara Patterson, government relations representative, National Farmers Union This week, the Senate Appropriations committee will take up consideration of the Agriculture Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2017. Just as in every year in recent memory, National Farmers Union is working to defeat legislative riders. Riders are a tool that appropriators use to block funds … Read More
Food Safety From Farm to Table
GUEST BLOG POST By Elanor Starmer IF you are a farmer interested in selling produce wholesale or direct to a retailer, restaurant or institution, you probably have food safety on the brain. A growing number of buyers require farms to demonstrate compliance with a food safety standard, often through an audit and certification program. That takes … Read More
NFU Commends Sen. Grassley’s Reintroduction of Legislation Banning Packer Ownership of Livestock
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 11, 2016 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON (May 11, 2016) – A staunch advocate for more competition in agriculture, National Farmers Union (NFU) released the following statement commending U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) for reintroducing legislation to ban packer ownership of livestock: “The livestock market today is heavily concentrated among … Read More