LINCOLN, NE (September 6, 2017) – Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU) President John Hansen announced today that eight NeFU members will participate in the National Farmers Union (NFU) Fly-In scheduled for September 10-13 joining nearly 300 other Farmers Union members from across the country. Hansen said this year is particularly important because this is the fourth year in a row of below cost of production ag commodity prices.
“The September NFU Fly-In is a long standing organizational tradition. It gives rural Americans and family farmers and ranchers the opportunity to make their voices heard with federal legislators,” said Hansen. “No one knows more about what farmers and ranchers are facing than the farmers and ranchers themselves. They are the real experts on their own operations.”
This year, the Fly-In will focus on the need to strengthen the farm safety net in the next Farm Bill; support homegrown renewable energy development; and ensure family farmers and ranchers have access to affordable and quality health care.
The Fly-In will begin Monday morning with a visit to the United States Department of Agriculture. Monday afternoon members will meet with House and Senate Ag Committee staff about Farm Bill issues. Tuesday and Wednesday teams will meet with Congressmen and Senators and their staffs, working together to knock all 535 doors of the House and Senate.
Members from Nebraska Farmers Union that will be participating in this year’s NFU Fall Fly-In are: NeFU District 2 Director Jim Knopik from Belgrade, Sean Mohlman of red Cloud, Gage/Jefferson County President Dr. Merlin Friesen from Filley, William Armbrust from Elkhorn, Camdyn Kavan from Lincoln, Midwest Regional Agency Insurances General Manager Jeffrey Downing, Midwest Regional Agency from Elkhorn, Financial Services Specialist Kevin Harrington of Lincoln, and NeFU State President John Hansen. “We have a nice mix of grain and livestock producers, several young farmers, and two members of our insurance team with us that help us cover a wide range of interests, perspectives, and parts of the state,” said Hansen.
Hansen said “Production agriculture is facing a major financial crisis as grain prices continue to sink, grain inventories build, exports are flat, and ag production costs stay at or near historic all time high levels. We think the best way for our elected officials to understand the size and scope of the financial hardship farmers and ranchers are facing is to talk directly with the farmers and ranchers themselves. We are extremely pleased that we have 8 Nebraskans willing to share their stories with our elected officials.”
Nebraska Farmers Union is a general farm organization with 3,500 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 445 cooperatives.