More than 1,000 Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Attend NFU Online Conference

December 8, 2016Press Releases
More than 1,000 Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Attend NFU Online Conference

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 8, 2016 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON (December 8, 2016) – This week, National Farmers Union (NFU) brought together more than 1,000 beginning farmers and ranchers for the first online-only conference focused exclusively on education for the next generation of agriculture. From December 5-8, attendees virtually joined educational sessions focused … Read More

Access to Land: Introduction

December 8, 2016Beginning Farmers
Access to Land: Introduction

By Tom Driscoll, NFU Director of Conservation Policy and Education National Farmer Union’s historic concern and advocacy for the vitality of family farming and rural communities demands that every person involved with the organization works to ensure beginning producers can successfully engage in farming and support their families with sustainable businesses. NFU’s policy, established by the … Read More

NFU Applauds Inclusion of FSA Funding in Congressional Spending

December 7, 2016Press Releases
NFU Applauds Inclusion of FSA Funding in Congressional Spending

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 7, 2016 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON (December 7, 2016) – As the 114th Congress works to pass a spending bill that would fund the government through April 2017, National Farmers Union (NFU) is pleased that the package considers the plight of the farm economy. The continuing resolution includes a … Read More

What Can Farmers Do About Climate Change? Field Borders

December 5, 2016Climate Column
What Can Farmers Do About Climate Change? Field Borders

By Trixie Wessel, NFU Intern In the past, the Climate Column has discussed practices such as strip-till, no-till, and cover crops to prevent erosion and improve soil health. Another important practice with similar benefits is the establishment of field borders, strips of vegetation at the perimeter of a field. Generally composed of stiff-stemmed upright grasses or … Read More

Considering CRP Grasslands Enrollment? There’s Still Time.

November 30, 2016Blog
Considering CRP Grasslands Enrollment? There’s Still Time.

Farmers and ranchers rely on natural resources to grow food and raise livestock, which makes programs that voluntarily incentivize conservation practices – like the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) – even more pertinent to rural America. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) certainly recognizes the benefits of voluntary, incentive-based conservation practices. On November 30, the USDA … Read More

Why Do Farmers Care About Climate Change? Warmer Winters

November 28, 2016Climate Column
Why Do Farmers Care About Climate Change? Warmer Winters

By Tom Somrack, NFU Government Relations Intern As previously noted on the Climate Column, rising temperatures resulting from climate change can have serious repercussions for both crop growers and livestock producers. In addition to the basic issues related to rising temperatures, warmer winters pose their own unique set of potential problems for producers. USDA’s Regional Vulnerability Assessments explain how a decrease in … Read More

EPA Sets Right Tone for Advanced Biofuels with RFS Announcement, NFU Says

November 23, 2016Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 23, 2016 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON (November 23, 2016) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the 2017 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volume obligations, setting conventional renewable fuels at the 15 billion volume level established by Congress. In response, National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson released the … Read More

Farmers Receive Less Than Twenty Percent of Thanksgiving Retail Food Dollar, NFU Farmer’s Share Shows

November 21, 2016Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 21, 2016 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON (November 21, 2016) – Consumers’ holiday food costs have declined, but farmers still receive less than 20 percent of the food dollar, according to the annual Thanksgiving edition of the National Farmers Union (NFU) Farmer’s Share publication. The popular Thanksgiving Farmer’s Share compares … Read More

What Can Farmers Do About Climate Change? Mulch Till

November 21, 2016Climate Column
What Can Farmers Do About Climate Change? Mulch Till

By Alexis Dunnum, NFU Intern In previous blog posts, the NFU Climate Column covered both no-till and strip-till practices as climate friendly alternatives to conventional methods. Both of these alternative conservation tilling methods allow the soil to retain more water than conventional methods, giving crops the opportunity to thrive even during dry spells. Yet another of … Read More

No-Vote Action on TPP a “Significant Victory” for Family Farmers and Ranchers, NFU Says

November 16, 2016Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 16, 2016 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON (November 16, 2016) – A staunch opponent of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement, National Farmers Union (NFU) commended Congress for agreeing to forgo a last minute vote and reexamine the deeply flawed trade agreement. NFU President Roger Johnson released the following statement … Read More