By Barbara Patterson, government relations representative, National Farmers Union For years, producers fought for a federal standard for organic to preserve integrity in the label. As a part of the Organic Food Production Act, Congress created the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) to assist in the development of standards for substances to be used in … Read More
Investing in the Future Generation of Agriculture
When it comes to being a beginning farmer, producing food in your first season is only half the battle. Beginning farmers face many challenges such as creating business plans, taking out loans, marketing their products, choosing the right insurance and finding the right resources to access all of this information. The newest USDA New Farmers … Read More
NFU Applauds America’s Family Farmers and Ranchers for Their Role in Addressing Global Hunger
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 1, 2015 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON (November 1, 2015) – National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson today applauded the nation’s two million family farmers and ranchers who on average feed 155 people and supports 24 million jobs in the United States. “While we’ve made great strides in addressing … Read More
Thanksgiving is a Good Time to Salute America’s Family Farmers and Ranchers for Their Role in Addressing Global Hunger
By Roger Johnson, president, National Farmers Union In just a few weeks our nation will celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. While we enjoy the delicious food, we need to remember to thank family farmers and ranchers for the bounty they provide and support policies that will help them to continue to increase their productivity. Certainly, the … Read More
Farm to Lunch Tray: Getting Local Foods into Schools and Students out on the Farm
By Janna Raudenbush, Public Affairs Specialist, Food and Nutrition Service, United States Department of Agriculture Four years ago, vegetable farmer Chuck McCool of Rover, Arkansas read an article in his local newspaper about a nearby school that had received a local grant to incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables into their meal programs. Over the next few … Read More
Water Pollution Concerns Surround CAFOs
By Sara Kangas, government relations intern, National Farmers Union Over the past seventy years, intensive livestock operations like animal feeding operations (AFOs) have caused a shift in the culture of American farming. Influenced by scientific and technological advancements and increased efficiency practices, AFOs can now produce larger animals in a faster time span than ever before. … Read More
NFU Cautiously Optimistic Over Removal of Crop Insurance Cuts from Budget Deal
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 28, 2015 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON (October 28, 2015) – National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson today voiced cautious optimism over the budget deal passed by the U.S. House of Representatives this evening. The agreement, led by the House Agriculture Committee, would remove harmful provisions that would have undermined … Read More
NFU Applauds the Passage of Positive Train Control Extension
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 28, 2015 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON (October 28, 2015) – National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson applauded Congress’s completion of an extension for the implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC), ensuring American family farmers, ranchers, and all those that rely on rail will not experience interrupted service. The revision … Read More
NFU Thanks USDA for Release of Safety Net Funds to Farmers and Ranchers; Asks for Relief for Those Still Waiting for Help
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 27, 2015 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON (October 27, 2015) – National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson thanked the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for releasing safety net payments to nearly half the farms signed up for Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC), and asked the agency … Read More
Losing Control: Local Communities Are Standing up for Local Control
By Barbara Patterson, government relations representative, National Farmers Union Local control is eroding across the country and examples abound: in 2014, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin announced her state would block any city from increasing the minimum wage on the local level; Texas made local fracking bans illegal; and the Supreme Court of Ohio struck down … Read More