By Beth Mason, NACD North Central Region Representative In 2014, the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) began a three-year project to increase the adoption of soil health practices across the United States. The project consists of two initiatives – one focused on quantifying the monetary benefits of using soil health practices, and the other on … Read More
Farmers Union Marches for Science
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 22, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – Marching in cities across the United States, members of National Farmers Union (NFU) joined the world’s first-ever March for Science today, emphasizing the vital role that science should play in everyday life and in federal policymaking. NFU President Roger Johnson, a third-generation … Read More
Access to Efficiency: The Wienk Charolais Farm Family & Technology
By Lura Roti, South Dakota Farmers Union Thumbing through a recent Wienk Charolais sale catalogue, Arnold Wienk, 78, recalls what it was like in the early years. “When I first sold bulls, the only number we gave buyers was the birthdate.” The glossy flyer is filled with photos of breeding stock and several columns of … Read More
Access to Efficiency: The Wienk Charolais Farm Family & Technology
By Lura Roti, South Dakota Farmers Union Thumbing through a recent Wienk Charolais sale catalogue, Arnold Wienk, 78, recalls what it was like in the early years. “When I first sold bulls, the only number we gave buyers was the birthdate.” The glossy flyer is filled with photos of breeding stock and several columns of … Read More
Why We’re Marching for Science
By NFU President Roger Johnson Tomorrow, Farmers Union members from across the country will join forces with thousands of scientists, concerned citizens, and policymakers to stand up for robustly funded and publicly communicated science at the March for Science. Farmers rely on sound science and public research to maintain the stability of the food system. This includes … Read More
Access to Capital: Two Roots Farm & Slow Money
By Harper Kaufman, Co-Owner and Operator of Two Roots Farm Christian and I fell in love with farming not too long after we fell in love with each other. Before graduating from the University of Montana, we had our first farming experience at PEAS Farm, the university farm near campus. While there, we began to grasp the … Read More
FDA Posts Answers to FSMA-Related Questions
April 18, 2017 By Skylar Schneider, Executive Assistant Contact: Chelsea Matzen, 202-554-1600 cmatzen@nfudc.org The Food Safety Modernization Act, also known as FSMA, may at times feel cumbersome or confusing. To make it simpler, the FDA developed the Technical Assistance Network (TAN), a central area for questions related to FSMA. TAN recently shared a list of … Read More
Access to Capital: Slow Money
By Jimmy Dula, NFU Intern As public interest in local and organic food increases, new markets have emerged in response to higher demand for these products. However, producers often need access to additional capital in order to access these markets. In response, Woody Tasch authored Slow Money: Investing as if Food, Farms, and Fertility Mattered, a … Read More
What Do Farmers Need to Know About Climate Change? Agricultural Conservation Easement Program
By Tom Driscoll, Director of Conservation Policy and NFU Foundation As discussed in previous Climate Column articles, specific practices, like no-till farming and planting cover crops, allow farmers to mitigate and adapt to climate change. However, in many instances, simply keeping land in production will secure important climate benefits. The Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Agricultural … Read More
Access to Land: The Birgen Farm Family & Succession Planning
By Lura Roti, South Dakota Farmers Union Like most South Dakota farms 50 years ago, the Birgen’s farm resembled that of the Old McDonald nursery rhyme. “We raised cattle, chickens, sheep, had milk cows and stock cows, but back then, everyone did. You sold cream and eggs,” recalls Matt Birgen, an 86-year-old Korean War Veteran … Read More