After a year riddled with pandemic-related challenges, farmers were hoping for an easy, uncomplicated growing season. Unfortunately, for many that dream seems unlikely, as much of the Western half of … Read More
Drought Grips Western U.S.
Blog
Small Business Loans Extended
A day before the Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was set to expire on March 31, President Joe Biden signed a two-month extension into law. The program, which provides forgivable loans to … Read More
Scaling Good Manufacturing Processes Education to Small-Scale Processors
By Tricia Wancko, Food Safety Grant Coordinator Many small-scale farms and food businesses—whether they are chopping, canning, preserving, aggregating, or dehydrating value-added products—might not know where to begin when navigating the Preventive Controls Rule (PCR) of the Food Safety Modernization … Read More
Why Farmers Are Worried About Bill Gates (And Other Non-Farming Land-Owners)
By Hannah Packman, NFU Communications Director You’ve likely heard the buzz that Bill Gates, in addition to being one of the wealthiest men in the world, is now also the largest … Read More
Good Practices Bring Great Results for Small Farms
By Billy Mitchell, NFU FSMA Training Coordinator “Camaraderie with the whole team.” “Much more fun!” “Peace of mind.” For most farmers, those phrases may conjure up memories of early fall … Read More
What the American Rescue Plan Means for Food and Farmers
By Hannah Packman, National Farmers Union Communications Director Last week, President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package. At the organization’s convention in early March, … Read More
Oklahoma Women’s Cooperative Gives Back
By Melody Aufill, AFR/OFU Member, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture Ag in the Classroom Coordinator As I sat down to write this article, Oklahoma was in the middle of a massive weather … Read More
Meeting Urban Growers’ Unique Produce Safety Needs
By Billy Mitchell, NFU FSMA Training Coordinator One of the many lessons I’ve learned, or I should say re-learned, over the past year is how important titles can be. I’ve … Read More
Cold Temps, Hot Food Safety Projects
By Tricia Wancko, Food Safety Grant Coordinator Punxsutawney Phil has decreed six more weeks of what has shaped up to be a frigid winter, but there are plenty of food safety projects … Read More
FFA and Farmers Union Make for a Well-Rounded Agricultural Education
By Darrin Williamson, Region V FFA Officer and Chapter Vice President, Minnesota Farmers Union Youth Advisory Council Member Happy FFA Week, an annual celebration of FFA and the impact it … Read More