By Tom Driscoll, Director of Conservation Policy and NFU Foundation As we’ve noted on the Climate Column, climate change will disturb the precipitation patterns and temperatures on which farmers rely to grow crops. Farmers will need to adapt to these changes by implementing new practices and readjusting old ones. One option is selecting seeds for staple crops – … Read More
Farmers Receive 11 Cents of Thanksgiving Retail Food Dollar, NFU Farmer’s Share Shows
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 21, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 [email protected] WASHINGTON – Farmers and ranchers take home just 11.4 cents from every dollar that consumers spend on their Thanksgiving dinner meals, according to the annual Thanksgiving edition of the National Farmers Union (NFU) Farmer’s Share publication. The popular Thanksgiving Farmer’s Share compares the retail … Read More
NFU Alarmed by House Passage of Tax Reform Bill: Organization Scored the Vote, Now Urging a No Vote on Senate Version
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 16, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 [email protected] WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives today voted 227-205 to approve the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, a bill that would provide tax cuts and breaks to corporations and wealthy Americans at an estimated cost of $1.5 trillion. National Farmers Union (NFU), a … Read More
Congressional Tax Plans Jeopardize the Farm Safety Net, CBO Analysis Says
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 14, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-554-1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – Amidst the steepest drop in farm profitability in a generation, U.S. Congressional leadership is proposing tax reform legislation that would jeopardize all funding for farm bill commodity safety net programs. The two tax bills being considered in both the U.S. Senate and … Read More
Access to Markets: Rural Development Grants
By Tom Driscoll, Director of NFU Foundation and Conservation Policy As we discussed last week on the Beginning Farmer Forum, the business infrastructure – such as federally-inspected livestock processing facilities for smaller orders and mills that service demand for local feed or flour – that would help beginning farmers connect with emerging markets often doesn’t exist … Read More
What Do Farmers Need to Know About Climate Change? California Air Resources Board Cap-and-Trade Program
By Tom Driscoll, Director of Conservation Policy and NFU Foundation Farming is one of the few professions with the ability to not only reduce ongoing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, but to also remove existing GHGs from the atmosphere. National Farmers Union supports policies and programs that maximize agriculture’s GHG elimination potential by offering value to farmers … Read More
Senate Tax Plan Could Undermine Farm Bill Funding
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 9, 2017 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202-554-1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate leadership today released its plan for comprehensive tax reform. The legislation differs in many ways from its counterpart released by the U.S. House of Representatives a week ago. The plan would comprise a greater number of individual tax brackets, limit … Read More
Access To Markets: Business & Industry Loan Guarantees
By Tom Driscoll, Director of NFU Foundation and Conservation Policy As we’ve discussed here on the Beginning Farmer Forum, access to markets is among the greatest challenges for new producers. Oftentimes, beginning farmers face fewer obstacles in emerging markets than in well-established ones. For example, beginning farmers may be able to grow products appropriate for local and … Read More
Farm Groups Urge President Trump to Implement Farmer Fair Practices Rules
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 7, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 [email protected] WASHINGTON – National Farmers Union joined a coalition of 82 farm, rural and consumers groups today in sending a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to implement the Farmer Fair Practices Rules via executive order. The rules would provide the most basic of … Read More
Access To Markets: Business & Industry Loan Guarantees
By Tom Driscoll, Director of NFU Foundation and Conservation Policy As we’ve discussed here on the Beginning Farmer Forum, access to markets is among the greatest challenges for new producers. Oftentimes, beginning farmers face fewer obstacles in emerging markets than in well-established ones. For example, beginning farmers may be able to grow products appropriate for local and … Read More