By Sophie Neems, Previous NFU Intern & Current Communications Specialist at Farm Credit There’s a noticeable new trend in farming demographics: the number of farmers coming to agriculture as a second career – many of whom are women – is growing. These female, first-generation producers must secure land, build an enterprise, and establish themselves within … Read More
Historical Document Curated by Tom Giessel, NFU Honorary Historian It is abundantly clear to anyone who has seen National Farmers Union’s Farmer’s Share that farmers receive only a small portion of every dollar spent on food at the grocery store. Farmers Union has been sounding the alarm about this issue throughout its entire history, as … Read More
By Alexis Dunnum, NFU Executive Assistant Land management practices have the capacity to either mitigate climate change or to exacerbate its negative impacts. As landowners, farmers have the opportunity to participate in conservation efforts and directly protect the land, water, and wildlife. However, owning and managing property is not the only way to ensure lands … Read More
By Melissa Miller, Owner & Operator of Ladybell Farms As a farm educator and advocate, I am lucky enough to travel the country to visit with dozens of women in agriculture every year. From Virginia to Oklahoma, Oregon to Wisconsin, these women never cease to amaze me with their innovative ideas and consistent hard work. I … Read More
By Jake Stukenberg, NFU Intern Nationwide, farmers are beginning to age out and retire from their service to produce. Are young people turning to farming to as the established generation steps back? According to the 2012 Census of Agriculture, only 5.1 percent of the 2.1 million principal owner farmers are younger than 35. This is … Read More
By Janan Lenzy, Information Systems Coordinator The proliferation of weeds on farmland can impede the growth of crops and forage. As the climate continues to change, longer seasons and warmer temperatures will likely encourage the propagation of invasive species. There are a number of methods by which farmers and ranchers can combat weed pressures. Here … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 31, 2018 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202-554-1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – In a move that has already provoked retaliatory measures, the Trump administration today announced its intention to impose a 25 percent tariff on steel and a 10 percent tariff on aluminum imports from the European Union, Canada, and Mexico, effective midnight Thursday. … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 31, 2018 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202-554-1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – In a move that has already provoked retaliatory measures, the Trump administration today announced its intention to impose a 25 percent tariff on steel and a 10 percent tariff on aluminum imports from the European Union, Canada, and Mexico, effective midnight Thursday. … Read More
By Lisa Everhart Myers, Demeter Farm March was an unusual month at Demeter Farm. It was a month filled with farming convention visits, spring snow storms, and, the very best part, an Indiana Class 1A boys’ basketball championship for my alma mater, the Morristown High School Yellow Jackets. For those of you who don’t know … Read More
By Janan Lenzy, NFU Intern Previously on the Climate Column, we have discussed how troublesome weeds can be for agricultural operations, particularly as the climate continues to change. Although tillage can be an effective method of weed control, there are substantial drawbacks that may dissuade some farmers from implementation. One possible alternative to tillage is … Read More