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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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