Access to Efficiency: USDA Programs and Services Benefit New and Beginning Producers

July 17, 2017Beginning Farmers No Comments

By James Tillman, Acting Associate Chief for Conservation, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service Are you interested in protecting the soil, water, plants, and air and achieving economic sustainability on your newly acquired farm, ranch, or forest? Would you like to increase your marketing and income potential while focusing on increasing wildlife habitat on some of … Read More

Amidst a Severe Economic Downturn for Farmers, Congress Must Create a Functional, Adequately Funded Farm Safety Net

July 13, 2017Press Releases No Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 13, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 [email protected] WASHINGTON – As American family farmers and ranchers navigate the most severe economic downturn since the 1980s farm crisis, the National Farmers Union (NFU) Board of Directors is urging the U.S. Congress to allocate more money to the farm safety net to make it … Read More

NFU Appreciates House Appropriations Committee Partial Restoration of Farm Service Agency Loan Program Funding

July 12, 2017Press Releases No Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 12, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 [email protected] WASHINGTON – Today the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations advanced its Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Agricultural Appropriations Bill, restoring $190 million to the Guaranteed Operating Loan account through an amendment offered by Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME). Despite significant financial hardship occurring in the farm … Read More

Nebraska Farmers Union Brings 8 Members to Washington to Represent Family Farmers and Ranchers

July 7, 2017Press Releases No Comments

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 … Read More

NFU Celebrates Youth Leadership and Cooperative Education at 81st Annual All-States Leadership Camp; New National Youth Advisory Council Elected

July 6, 2017Press Releases No Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 6, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 [email protected] BAILEY, Colo. – Farmers Union youth members from across the country gathered here last week for the 81st annual National Farmers Union (NFU) All-States Leadership Camp. Hosted each June at the NFU Education Center, All-States Camp encourages youth to explore their leadership potential, discuss … Read More

From the Field: Farming is a Risky Business

July 6, 2017From the Field No Comments

By Matt Perdue, NFU Government Relations Representative Farming is a risky business. A sudden storm, enduring drought, or proliferation of crop disease can decimate a crop. Even when farmers produce a bumper crop, market downturns can still make it a struggle to make ends meet. In Montana’s “Golden Triangle,” farms of all sizes and types … Read More

NFU Statement on EPA’s RFS Volume Targets

July 5, 2017Press Releases No Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 5, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 [email protected] WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released the Trump Administration’s first proposed set of volume obligations for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The proposal maintains the conventional biofuel amount at 15 billion gallons, yet lowers obligations for advanced biofuels, including biodiesel, … Read More

Access to Capital: Kiva Microloans

June 27, 2017Beginning Farmers, Blog No Comments

By Steven Emmen, NFU Intern Access to capital is one of the toughest hurdles a beginning farmer will overcome. Beginning producers frequently don’t have collateral to offer lenders. And it can be hard to build a good credit score as a farmhand or apprentice. New farms may also lack accurate income projections that are used … Read More

What Should Farmers Know About Climate Change? Irrigation Water Management

June 26, 2017Blog, Climate Column No Comments

By Skylar Schneider, Executive Assistant, National Farmers Union Climate change presents a multitude of challenges for farmers, as extreme temperatures and erratic rainfall patterns can negatively impact crops. In order to prepare for these extreme conditions, such as drought, farmers can adopt energy-conserving practices. For example, water is a valuable natural resource that is absolutely … Read More

NFU Commends USDA Decision to Authorize Emergency Grazing

June 23, 2017Press Releases No Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 23, 2017 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202-554-1600 [email protected] WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today authorized the release of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land in Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota for emergency haying and grazing. The announcement came just days after a number of elected officials, National Farmers Union, … Read More