This blog was originally posted on farmersguild.org and we were given permission to share on our website. Co-Authors for this blog are Kali Feiereisel, Dave Runsten and Evan Wiig of Farmers Guild Last week, the U.S. government issued a blanket “do not eat” warning for produce. As in the 2006 spinach outbreak, the Centers for Disease … Read More
GIPSA Agency Elimination a Blow to Competitive Markets for Family Farmers, NFU Says
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 30, 2018 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that it will be eliminating the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) as a standalone agency and consolidate its functions into the work of the Agricultural Marketing Service. National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson … Read More
USMCA Deal Falls Short of Fair Trade Framework for Family Farmers, NFU Says
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 30, 2018 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – Officials from the United States, Canada and Mexico today signed the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the renegotiated trade deal formerly known as the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The agreement will not have binding force in the United States until it is … Read More
NFU Encouraged by Farm Bill Deal, Urges Swift Passage
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 29, 2018 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – Agriculture committee leadership today announced that they have reached an agreement in principle on the farm bill. While the final details of the bill have yet to be released and negotiators wait on cost estimates from the Congressional Budget Office, National Farmers … Read More
What Do Farmers Need To Know About Climate Change? National Climate Assessment
By Tom Driscoll, Director of NFU Foundation and Conservation Policy Last week, the U.S. Global Change Research Program released the Fourth National Climate Assessment Volume II: Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States (NCA4) detailing the existing and incoming impacts of climate change. Chapter 10 of the report, titled Agriculture and Rural Communities, covers the … Read More
A Deeper Look at the CDC Findings on Farm Suicides
By Matt Perdue, NFU Government Relations Representative Those of us who work with farmers on a daily basis know that mental and behavioral health is a major concern in farming communities. Over the past couple years, as family farmers’ and ranchers’ typical stresses have been compounded by the state of the farm economy, the issue … Read More
Farmers Receive 11 Cents of the Thanksgiving Food Dollar, NFU Farmer’s Share Shows
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 21, 2018 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202.314.3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – Farmers and ranchers take home just 11.3 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
So TAN Guidance Isn’t Legally Binding…Now What?
By Sarah Vaile, Research Attorney, Farm Commons The Technical Assistance Network , otherwise known as “TAN,” are the people over at FDA whose job it is to help you understand the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). But, what if I tell you that the guidance TAN offers is not legally-binding? You may be surprised, but it’s … Read More
Over 200 Farm, Food and Rural Groups Endorse Agribusiness Merger Moratorium Bills
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 1, 2018 WASHINGTON — Today, a broad-based coalition of 213 farm, food, rural, faith and consumer advocacy organizations delivered a letter to Congress endorsing food and agribusiness merger moratorium bills and urging members of the House and Senate to cosponsor the legislation. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Representative Mark Pocan (D-WI) … Read More
Markets and Infrastructure: The Montgomery Farm Women’s Cooperative Market
By Liza Ayres, NFU Intern The Montgomery Farm Women’s Cooperative Market is a landmark on Bethesda’s Wisconsin Avenue. For decades, it has not only served as a hub for residents looking to purchase fresh produce and artisanal products but has also represented Montgomery County’s abundant agricultural history and continued support of local farmers. Amid the Great … Read More