FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 8, 2018 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202-554-1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – The Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity, a government-wide group including more than 22 federal agencies and led by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, today released a report to President Trump. The 23-page document identifies the many needs and … Read More
What Do Farmers Need to Know About Climate Change? Anticipating More Extreme Weather Related to El Nino
By Tom Driscoll, Director of NFU Foundation and Conservation Policy Climate change is likely to impact or exacerbate extreme weather events related to El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO). According to The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), “ENSO is a periodic fluctuation in sea surface temperature (El Niño) and the air pressure of the overlying atmosphere … Read More
NFU Women’s Conference: Ten Reasons to Attend in 2018!
By Lisa Kivirist Just as we farmers care for our soil, we also need to nurture our minds and plant new idea seeds to shape a healthy business vision. That’s exactly what’s on the menu for women farmers at this year’s National Farmers Union Women’s Conference, January 15-18, 2018, at the Catamaran Report in San … Read More
Farm Groups Launch “Farm Town Strong” Campaign to Address Rural Opioid Epidemic
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 3, 2017 CONTACT National Farmers Union: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106, [email protected] American Farm Bureau Federation: Will Rodger, 202-406-3642, [email protected] WASHINGTON – As farming communities face mounting challenges with the nation’s opioid epidemic, the nation’s two largest general farm organizations are teaming up to confront the issue. The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) … Read More
Access to Efficiency: CSP Bundles and Regional Initiatives
By Tom Driscoll, Director of NFU Foundation and Conservation Policy As discussions on the next farm bill challenge us to think about how the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) can best assist farmers and landowners in reaching conservation goals, here on the Beginning Farmer Column, we’ve been focusing on the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). CSP … Read More
Tax Reform Must Not Jeopardize Farm Program Funding, NFU Says
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 20, 2017 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202-314-3106 [email protected] WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives today voted to approve the conference Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, a sweeping tax system overhaul that will now go to the President’s desk for signing into law. National Farmers Union (NFU) staunchly opposed the Act because … Read More
House Disaster Aid Package Offers First Steps to Fixes for Cotton and Dairy
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 19, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 [email protected] WASHINGTON – The U.S. House Appropriations Committee last night unveiled an $81 billion disaster aid package that includes important provisions for cotton growers and limited support for dairy producers. Farmers in both industries are in need of appropriations fixes prior to the start of … Read More
Access to Efficiency: CSP Bundles and Soil Health
By Tom Driscoll, Director of NFU Foundation and Conservation Policy For the past few weeks on the Beginning Farmer Forum, as discussions on the next farm bill challenge us to think about how the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) can best assist farmers and landowners in reaching conservation goals, we have focused on the Conservation … Read More
NFU Urges Congress to Vote Against “Severely Flawed” Tax Reform Conference Bill
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 19, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 [email protected] WASHINGTON – As the U.S. Congress readies to vote on a major overhaul of the nation’s tax system, National Farmers Union (NFU) is urging lawmakers to vote against the current plan because of its regressive structure and devastating implications for the nation’s financial standing, … Read More
What Do Farmers Need to Know About Climate Change? United States Drought Monitor
By Tom Driscoll, Director of NFU Foundation and Conservation Policy On the Climate Column, we have noted that drought is expected to become more frequent, severe and damaging to farmers as the climate continues to change globally. Farmers with operations of all types and sizes need to be aware of drought. The length and intensity of … Read More