For Immediate Release                           Contact:      John Hansen 402-476-8815

May 14, 2013                                                                john@nebraskafarmersunion.org

Nebraska Farmers Union Opposes Senator Johanns Efforts to Repeal Country-of-Origin-Labeling

LINCOLN (May 14, 2013) – Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU) opposes in the strongest possible terms Senator Johanns’ offered amendment to repeal Country-of-Origin-Labeling (COOL) to the Senate Agriculture Committee Farm Bill proposal.  COOL is the law of the land and authorization and implementation language has been included in the past two Farm Bills in 2002 and 2008.

NeFU has strongly supported Country of Origin Labeling since 1984, and has diligently worked through the 2002 and 2008 Farm Bills to get COOL labeling established and effectively implemented for 29 years.

“COOL continues to be strongly supported by consumer organizations and most organizations representing family farmers and ranchers,” said John Hansen, NeFU President.  “Food consumers rightly want to know where the food they buy for their families was grown and processed so they can make an informed buying decision in the marketplace.  The primary opposition to COOL comes from the U.S. meat processing cartel.”

NeFU strongly believes that U.S. family farmers and ranchers deserve the opportunity to differentiate their food products from their foreign competition in the marketplace.  U.S. farmers and ranchers rightly take pride in the products they grow, and are not afraid of honest competition.  U.S. food is produced with the highest food safety, environmental, and labor standards in the world.

NeFU supports USDA efforts responding to the WTO challenges of COOL by Mexico and Canada.  “If implemented properly, we believe these USDA labeling revisions represent an improvement in the transparency and accuracy of U.S. food labeling by providing consumers with even more detailed information about where meat products are born, raised, and processed,” said NeFU President Hansen.  “The WTO process should be given the opportunity to work.”

“We understand why Canada and Mexico do not want honest and accurate labeling information,” said Hansen.  “They know that U.S. food consumers prefer U.S. produced meat products.  The U.S. based international meat processing cartel prefers to import foreign meat products and then blend them with higher quality U.S. produced meat products because the old system of marketplace deception is extremely profitable.  We are deeply disappointed with Senator Johanns’s efforts to repeal COOL on their behalf.”

“NeFU strongly opposes Senator Johanns COOL repeal amendment and urges the Senate Ag Committee to reject it.  COOL is good public policy and good marketplace policy. COOL represents marketplace honesty and transparency for both U.S. food producers and U.S. food consumers,” said NeFU President John Hansen.  “Senator Johanns’ efforts to repeal COOL would be a huge step backwards,” he concluded.

KXL Groundwater Vulnerability Overlay

KXL Permeability Overlay

State Dept Hearing Broadcast from NET

For Immediate Release                          

April 11, 2013

Nebraska Farmers Union Submits Supportive Comments on Country-of-Origin-Labeling

LINCOLN (April 11, 2013) – Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU) submitted supportive comments on Thursday, April 11, the final day for comments to USDA relative to their proposed rule to strengthen Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) regulations.  The USDA proposed changes to the rules for COOL implementation are in response to the World Trade Organization (WTO) decision on COOL.

In their comments, NeFU stated:  “NeFU is in general support of the proposed revised rule relative to the implementation of COOL.  If implemented properly, we believe these revisions represent an improvement in the transparency and accuracy of U.S. food labeling.  We appreciate the USDA efforts made to respond to the World Trade Organization (WTO) case in a positive way so our nation can continue to implement effective COOL.  It is in our national interests to do so.”

“NeFU strongly believes that U.S. food producers deserve the opportunity to differentiate their food products in the marketplace, and that U.S. consumers also deserve the opportunity to know where the food products they purchase for themselves and their family come from.  Whether you are a food producer or food consumer, you deserve honesty, accuracy, and transparency in the marketplace, which is exactly what clear and effective labeling represents.”

NeFU pointed out in their comments that their organization has strongly supported Country of Origin Labeling since 1984, and has diligently worked through the 2002 and 2008 Farm Bills to get COOL labeling established for 29 years.

Further comments from NeFU President John Hansen noted:  “I have had the honor of serving as the president of my organization since 1990.  I can honestly say that our members support for COOL is stronger today than it was in 1984.  While our members support for COOL is high, so is their frustration over the never ending attacks on COOL by the meat packers and their political allies within the ag sector.  They seem to believe they are above the law.”

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Nebraska Farmers Union is a general farm organization with 6,200 farm and ranch family members dedicated to protecting and enhancing the economic well-being and quality of life for family farmers and ranchers, and their rural communities.  Since 1913, Nebraska Farmers Union has helped organize over 440 cooperatives.  Visit our webpage at:  www.nebraskafarmersunion.org

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March 1, 2013
For Immediate Release

Lincoln, NE – 18 agricultural students and their professors from 4 different Nebraska Colleges traveled to Minneapolis, Minnesota February 14-17 to learn about cooperatives under the guidance of Nebraska Farmers Union.  The participating colleges included the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, Northeast Community College at Norfolk, Southeast Community College at Beatrice, and Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture at Curtis.  The College Conference on Cooperatives brought a total of 97 students from 32 different Midwestern colleges and universities making it the largest College Conference on Cooperatives held to date.

The Cooperative Conference included tours of the CHS (Cenex Harvest States) Headquarters, the REI Sports Sales Coop, housing coops, food coops, and the Mill City Flour Museum.  The Conference brought in speakers from a vast array of areas including renewable energy, ag coops, rural electric coops, credit unions, and new coops.  NeFU Public Affairs Director Graham Christensen said, “We had another great conference.  The feedback we received from the students and professors was very positive.  The students learned about a host of different ways cooperatives can serve communities, and the wide range of career opportunities available that utilize the benefits of the cooperative approach to economic development.  Everyone left Minneapolis excited about these new opportunities.”

The conference evaluations revealed that 47% of the students in attendance were from farms or ranches, 31% were rural, 12% were from small towns, and the remaining 10% were urban. Christensen said, “The College Cooperative Conference helps make more students aware of additional cooperative tools that can be used to create the economic opportunities needed to help our rural youth stay in their communities.  We are pleased to partner with these Nebraska colleges to help send Nebraska kids to this Conference.”

The annual College Cooperative Conference is co-sponsored by the CHS Foundation in cooperation with the National Farmers Union Foundation.  Nebraska Farmers Union was awarded a grant from the CHS Foundation to help defray the attendance costs for the Nebraska participants.

Nebraska Farmers Union is a general farm organization with 6,200 farm and ranch family members dedicated to protecting and enhancing the economic well-being and quality of life for family farmers and ranchers, and their rural communities.  Since 1913, Nebraska Farmers Union has helped organize over 440 cooperatives.

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December 26, 2012
For Immediate Release

Lincoln, NE.  Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU) called upon House Speaker Boehner to be the Speaker of the entire House of Representatives and use all of the votes available to him in both political parties in the House of Representatives to accomplish those major unfinished tasks currently bottled up in the House of Representatives, including the Farm Bill, the Production Tax Credit for wind energy, and the fiscal cliff.

Nebraska Farmers Union President John Hansen said, “Our farmers and ranchers are facing the economic consequences of the worst drought in 50 years, and the alarming prospects that drought may be continuing into 2013.  Farmers are rightly wondering why their Congress is failing to respond to their situation, why they have allowed the 2008 Farm Bill to expire September 30^th, and why they are unwilling to give the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) the funding and program authorization it needs to respond to their situation, particularly livestock producers.”

“The Senate and House Ag Committees have done their job by sending a Farm Bill proposal with bi-partisan support to their respective bodies for consideration.  The Senate has done its job by voting for their version of the Farm Bill.  The problem in the House is that Speaker Boehner refuses to put the farm bill proposal from the House Ag Committee on the House agenda for a vote. ”

“Folks should rightly be asking, why not?  Is it because the House of Representatives lacks the votes to support the Farm Bill?  No, that is not the reason.  If the Speaker would count all the Democratic votes and moderate Republican votes, there are enough votes to pass the Farm Bill, and likely most of the other issues also languishing in the House of Representatives dungeon.  Tragically, Speaker Boehner refuses to assume his responsibilities to be the Speaker of the House who is supposed to lead both political parties.  Instead he continues to count and consider his own Republican Party caucus votes.  Speaker Boehner allows the minority Tea Party block within his party to control the agenda because they are opposed to the Farm Bill along with the Production Tax Credit for wind energy development, and most of the budget proposals tied to dealing with the fiscal cliff.  As a result, the will of the majority of House voters is being denied by a relatively small minority group of House Republicans.  That is difficult to accept.”

“Speaker Boehner knows the votes within his own party caucus may be lacking, but he also knows there are enough Democratic and moderate Republican farm state votes to pass the Farm Bill if allowed to do so.  Speaker Boehner must step up to the plate and assume the responsibility to govern that comes with being the Speaker of the House of Representatives as the Founding Fathers intended.  We encourage voters to contact their member of the House of Representatives and ask them to put pressure on the Speaker to put the Farm Bill on the agenda before the end of the year,” Hansen concluded.

Since 1913 Nebraska Farmers Union has worked to protect and enhance the economic well-being and quality of life for family farmers, ranchers and rural communities through advocating grassroots-driven policy positions adopted by its membership.

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For Immediate Release                                 

December 7, 2012

GRAND ISLAND, NE.  At their 99^th annual convention at the Midtown Holiday Inn, the Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU) announced the launch of the Farm To Fitness Program as part of their ongoing efforts resulting from an agreement with the Humane Society of the United States to identify, expand and promote new markets for humanely-raised livestock products in Nebraska.

“Farm To Fitness connects health-minded consumers to local producers of nutritious, humanely-raised foods,” said Ben Gotschall, Lancaster County Farmers Union president.   “The program can include gyms promoting local producers to their members, personal trainers developing diets for their clients based on locally-sourced meats, and fitness centers providing a drop point for cooperatively-purchased food orders.”  Partner gyms, personal trainer profiles, and participating farmers will be promoted on the Farm To Fitness website (www.farmtofitness.com), which will feature other links and information for interested consumers.

“Farm to Fitness presents a great opportunity to provide quality food to people who have made an effort to increase their overall health,” said Jordan Barnes, a personal trainer in Lincoln.   “Access to this service enables people to make positive changes not only to their personal health but also to their local communities and the environment,” Barnes added.  “I believe that this is a first step to creating a market that, with enough support, could change how our food is produced.”

“The farm to Fitness program is a good match between food producers and food consumers,” said John Hansen, president of Nebraska Farmers Union.  “This collaborative effort is a win-win for everyone.  We have made a lot of progress this past year with our joint efforts with HSUS to identify new value-added markets that our livestock producers can utilize.”

“We at are very excited to be a part of the Farm to Fitness program,” said Heath Murray, co-owner and trainer at iThinkFit gym in Omaha.  “We take pride in providing our clients with proper workouts, supplementation, and now, some of the finest meats in the world.  This relationship is going to take our business to the next level.”

“This new program is clear evidence that the HSUS collaboration with the Nebraska Farmers Union is delivering results that are good for animals, good for farmers and good for consumers.  I congratulate John Hansen for his leadership in this effort.”  Stated Joe Maxwell, Director of Rural Development and Outreach for HSUS.

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For Immediate Release                   

December 2, 2012

LINCOLN, NE.  Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU) will highlight livestock issues Saturday morning December 8^th at their 99^th annual state convention to be held in Grand Island at the Midtown Holiday Inn.  Livestock producers and the public are invited to attend.

Nationally recognized livestock market expert and retired USDA GIPSA Chief Administrator J. Dudley Butler will report on the particulars of the recent Congressional efforts to strengthen and update USDA’s anti-trust regulations and agricultural marketing definitions and standards.  Butler will also speak on the future of the livestock industry.  Butler will make his presentation 9:00 a.m. Saturday morning, the second day of the two day convention.

Later Saturday morning, Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska President and Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion Board member Dave Wright will report on beef checkoff activities and issues.

NeFU President John Hansen said, “Since 1980, meat packer consolidation, non-competitive marketing practices, and vertical integration have squeezed thousands of livestock producers in Nebraska out of business.  Nationally, according to the latest USDA data, there are 42% fewer beef producers, 91% fewer swine producers, 82% fewer dairy producers, and 33% fewer sheep producers.  Unfortunately, while livestock producers have done an outstanding job of producing high quality livestock and milk, they failed to produce the necessary profit to pay their bills and stay in business.

It is high time we address the root cause for the loss of livestock producers instead of chasing meat packer financed media disinformation  generated wild goose chase diversions.”

The agenda for the entire NeFU Convention held December 7-8^th can be found at: http://nebraskafarmersunion.org/ai1ec_event/killa_agenda/?instance_id=122.

Registration begins at 8am Friday morning. Convention begins at 9am Friday, and resumes 8:30am Saturday.  As always, Farmers Union members and the public are invited to attend.   For more information call the NeFU State Office at 402-476-8815.

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NEAT Attorney to address Keystone XL Pipeline issues at 99th Annual Convention

November 30, 2012

Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU) would like to let all landowners and Nebraska citizens know that Brian Jorde, an attorney with Domina Law Group, will be speaking about the recently formed Nebraska Easement Action Team, better known as NEAT, at the 99th Annual NeFU State Convention.  The Convention will be held at the Midtown Holiday Inn in Grand Island.

Jorde will be presenting on Saturday morning at 11:25am, and NEAT will have a booth where landowners and citizens can get more information on the Keystone XL Pipeline, the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) review process of reroute, and also how to become a member of NEAT.  Sign-up sheets will also be available at the NEAT Booth in the Exhibitor/Break Area at the Midtown Holiday Inn.

NEAT is a non-profit landowner rights group with the purpose of creating a standard and strong Nebraska easement designed to protect Nebraskans from all oil pipelines and oil pipeline companies.

“Many new landowners on the new route have many questions in dealing with TransCanada easements.  This will be an awesome opportunity to get some facetime with a true easement expert in Domina Law Group Attorney Brian Jorde.  Every landowner should attend this event”, said Public Affairs Director Graham Christensen.

This event is timely as it falls shortly after the December 4^th NDEQ public comment session and hearing at the Boone County Fairgrounds in Albion at 6pm.

The agenda for the entire NeFU Convention can be found at: http://nebraskafarmersunion.org/ai1ec_event/killa_agenda/?instance_id=122.  Registration begins at 8am Friday morning. Convention begins at 9am Friday, and resumes 8:30am Saturday.  As always, everybody and anyone are welcome.   For more information call the NeFU State Office at 402-476-8815.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 19, 2012

Nebraska Farmers Union 99^th Annual Convention Agenda Released
Midtown Holiday Inn in Grand Island, December 7-8^th 

Lincoln, Nebraska.  “Leadership At It’s Best Since 1913” is the theme for the 99th annual state convention of the Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU).

John Hansen, NeFU President said, “This year’s convention will tackle a wide range of issues, including major issues facing agriculture; Farm Bill passage, climate change, ag market reforms, renewing the Renewable Fuels Standard, pipeline developments, EPA activities, ag market reforms, and new market development.  “We have an outstanding set of state and national speakers for this year’s Convention to help us prepare for another year of challenges and opportunities.  Education is the base of the Farmers Union triangle because information and fact gathering are the base for constructive problem solving.”

Friday morning participants will hear from Craig Larson, CEO of the Nebraska Rural Radio Association; Stan Brown, General Manager of the Midwest Agency; and Josh Svaty, Senior Advisor to the EPA Region 7 Administrator.   Governor Dave Heineman will be the keynote speaker Friday noon.  .

Friday afternoon retired National Weather Service meteorologist John Pollack will provide basic information about weather and climate change; Chris Clayton, DTN Reporter will help us consider weather and climate change impacts on production agriculture and ways to communicate about those issues; the NeFU and HSUS Ag Advisory Committee will report on new market progress made the past year; and a panel of five NeFU members who ran for the legislature this past year who will share their experiences.

The Friday evening keynote speakers will be Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director of Food and Water Watch and author of “Foodopoly”, a just released book on the impacts market consolidation has on both food producers and consumers.  A book signing opportunity will follow the banquet.

Tom Giessel, NFU Historian will also entertain and educate participants about NeFU and National Farmers Union history at all meals.

Saturday morning will begin with Michael Stranz, NFU Government Relations Representative who will provide an update on federal issues and the Farm Bill prospects and challenges.  J. Dudley Butler, former USDA GIPSA Administrator will make a keynote presentation on “The GIPSA Rule and the Future of Our Industry.” At 9:00.  Chief Ethanol Fuels, Inc.’s Duane Kristensen will provide an update on the Renewable Fuels Standard and other challenges and opportunities with ethanol.   Brian Jorde, and attorney with Domina Law Offices will update efforts with Nebraska Easement Action Team and the pipeline issues.  Mike Flood, Speaker of the Legislature will speak at the noon luncheon, as will Senator Ben Nelson, Congressional schedule permitting.

Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday mornings.  Convention begins at 9:00 a.m. Friday and 8:30 a.m. Saturday.  As always, all members and the public is always welcome.  More information is available at:  www.nebraskafarmersunion.org or at 402-476-8815.

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Nebraska Farmers Union’s
99th Annual State Convention
“Leadership At It’s Best Since 1913”
December 7-8, 2012
Midtown Holiday Inn, Grand Island, Nebraska

Friday, December 7, 2012

8:00           Registration begins….

9:00           Welcome & Convention Call To Order

9:10           NeFU Education Report

9:15           NeFU Foundation Report & Elections

9:25           NFU Fly-In Report

• Ben Gotschall-Raymond
• Mark Kavan-Lincoln
• Lynn Belitz-Fullerton

9:45           Nebraska Rural Radio Association Report

• Craig Larson—Chief Operating Officer

10:30         Farmers Union Insurances Report

• Stand Brown, General Manager of the Midwest Agency

10:45         EPA Region 7 Activities & Issues Report

• Josh Svaty, Senior Adviser to the Regional Administrator

11:10         NEBFARAMPAC Report

• Gale Lush, NEBFARMPAC President

11:20         NEFU Elections

• Introduction of Candidates for Nebraska Delegates to

National Farmers Union Convention-March 2-5, 2013

• Mass Mutual Center, Springfield, Massachusetts.

Districts 2, 4, & 6 caucus for additional NEFU District Director Nominations.

12:00           Noon Luncheon

• Honorable Governor Dave Heineman
• Tom Giessel, NFU Historian

1:35            Our Changing Weather and Climate

• John Pollack, meteorologist

2:15            Climate Change and Rural America

• Chris Clayton, DTN Reporter

3:00            NeFU/HSUS Ag Advisory Committee Report

• Ben Gotschall
• Jim Knopik
• Kevin Fulton
• Martin Kleinschmit
• Doug Dittman
• Jon Yoachim

*New Market Announcement!!

Friday, December 7, 2012 (continued)

3:30            NeFU Elections

• Elect Top Four NFU Convention Delegates
• Elect NEFU Board of Directors for Districts 2, 4 & 6

4:00            NeFU Legislative Candidates Report

• Senator Ken Haar, Malcolm, LD21
• Vern Barrett, Ceresco, LD23
• Butch Hughes, Hastings, LD33
• Judy Domina, Elkhorn, LD39
• Senator Al Davis (Elect), Hyannis, LD43

5:00            Elections – Elect NFU Convention Delegates & Alternates

• Top Two Are Delegates — Bottom Two are Alternates

5:30            NEBFARMPAC Wine & Cheese Fundraiser-Suite 114

Special Guest Hosts:  NeFU Legislative Candidates

6:30            Convention Banquet

• Wenonah Hauter, Author & Executive Director, Food & Water Watch
• Tom Giessel, NFU Historian

Saturday, December 8, 2012

7:00            Builders Club Breakfast for Builders Club Members

8:30           Convention Reconvenes

8:30            NEFU Membership Report

• Graham Christensen, NEFU Public Affairs Director

8:35            NFU Legislative Report

• Michael Stranz, NFU Government Relations Representative

NFU Legislative Report & Farm Bill Update

9:00            The GIPSA Rule & The Future Of Our Industry

J. Dudley Butler, former USDA GIPSA Administrator

10:30          Beef Checkoff Issues Update

• David Wright, President., Independent Cattlemen of NE, National Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion Board, & past NE Beef Council member

11:00          Ethanol Update & Challenges

• Duane Kristensen-Chiefs Ethanol Fuels, Inc.

11:25          Nebraska Easement Action Team (NEAT)

• Brian Jorde, Attorney, Domina Law Offices

12:00                   Noon Luncheon 

• U.S. Senator Ben Nelson 
• Mike Flood, Speaker of the Legislature 
• Tom Giessel, NFU Historian

1:30            Policy Consideration & Adoption Until Completed

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!!!