FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 20, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202-554-1600 hpackman@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – Responding to mounting environmental challenges confronting American food production and security, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced a a new, department-wide innovation initiative “to align resources, programs, and research to position American agriculture to better meet future global demands.” In … Read More
Press Releases
NFU Recommends Improvements to Maximize Environment Benefits of EQIP
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 18, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202.554.1600 hpackman@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – As the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) continues 2018 Farm Bill implementation with the release of its Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Interim Rule, National Farmers Union (NFU) is urging the agency to strengthen the conservation program to better support farmers … Read More
President’s Budget Shortchanges Farm Programs for the Fourth Year in a Row
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 10, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202-554-1600 hpackman@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump today released his proposed spending for fiscal year 2021. The $4.8 trillion budget would cut both mandatory and discretionary funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and other federal agencies while boosting spending on infrastructure and defense initiatives. … Read More
Rural America Hasn’t Felt the “Great American Comeback” Touted by Trump
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 4, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202-554-1600 hpackman@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – Citing stock market gains, recent trade deals, and low unemployment rates, U.S. President Donald J. Trump tonight touted a “great American comeback” in his third State of the Union address. But as rural communities lag behind in many respects, this hardly paints … Read More
USDA to Issue Third and Final Round of Trade Assistance
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 3, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202.554.1600 hpackman@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – In an effort to assist farmers and ranchers affected by international trade disputes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that it will issue the third and final tranche of 2019 Market Facilitation Program (MFP) payments. As family farmers face record … Read More
USMCA Nears Completion with Trump’s Signature
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 29, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202.554.1600 hpackman@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – During a ceremony held today at the White House, President Donald Trump signed the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) into law. Though the agreement has already been approved by Mexico, it will not be fully implemented until it is ratified by the Canadian government. … Read More
Tenth Circuit Court Strikes Down EPA Small Refinery Exemptions
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 27, 2020 DENVER –In a decision that is expected to broadly impact the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) approach to granting small refinery exemptions (SREs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit late on Friday struck down three exemptions that were improperly issued by EPA. … Read More
Rule Provides Clearer Definition of “Waters of the United States”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 23, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202.554.1600 hpackman@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – In a final rule released today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers revised its definition of “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act. Earlier definitions of WOTUS were considered too vague … Read More
NFU Applauds Senate’s Passage of USMCA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 16, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202.554.1600 hpackman@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate today voted 89-10 in favor of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), moving the trilateral deal to President Donald Trump’s desk for final approval. Though National Farmers Union (NFU) initially withheld endorsement when USMCA was introduced over a year ago, the … Read More
First Phase of U.S.-China Trade Deal Finalized
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 15, 2020 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202.554.1600 hpackman@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – In an effort to ease tensions between their two countries, President Donald Trump and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He today signed the first phase of a trade agreement. At the time of the signing, the deal’s text had not yet been published. … Read More