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
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
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
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
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
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
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 15, 2016 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON (November 15, 2016) – Recognizing the need to improve sourcing of American-grown food products by U.S. schools, National Farmers Union (NFU) applauded the introduction of the “American Food for American Schools Act of 2016.” The legislation aims to enforce provisions of the Richard … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 14, 2016 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON (November 14, 2016) – National Farmers Union (NFU) extended a congratulatory letter to President-elect Donald J. Trump, outlining opportunities to work together with the new administration on several common ground farm policy issues. “We appreciate the attention that Mr. Trump paid to issues … Read More
By Alexis Dunnum, NFU Intern As stated in the NFU Climate Column on extreme precipitation, “Projected increases in heavy precipitation combined with milder winters is expected to increase total runoff and peak stream flow during the winter and spring, which may increase the magnitude or frequency of flooding.” With heavy rainfall likely to occur more often, … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 10, 2016 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON (November 10, 2016) – As the clock is ticking for Congress to take up the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), National Farmers Union (NFU) is urging lawmakers to oppose a lame duck vote on the multinational trade agreement. The farm organization, representing nearly 200,000 family … Read More