FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 28, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – In a sweeping and regressive executive order on energy, President Donald Trump today reversed years of progress in the U.S.-led fight against climate change. The order dismantles critical Obama-era policies that prepare the United States to mitigate and adapt to the effects … Read More
By Jimmy Dula, NFU Intern The United States farm bill, as one would expect, addresses agricultural issues such as trade, conservation, and crop insurance. Some would be surprised, however, to learn that food stamps and nutrition programs are also included in the bill. In fact, the 2014 Farm Bill allocated $756 billion in spending over 10 years … Read More
By Laura Lengnick, founder of Cultivating Resilience, LLC This story is excerpted from Resilient Agriculture: Cultivating Food Systems for a Changing Climate (New Society Publishers, 2015). Resilient Agriculture explores climate risk, resilience, and the future of food through the adaptation stories of 25 award-winning sustainable farmers and ranchers growing fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, and livestock across America. … Read More
By Lura Roti, South Dakota Farmers Union Traditionally, Lakotas don’t have a background in farming or ranching, but they do have a strong heritage of cowboying and rodeo, explains Elsie Meeks. Meeks, 62, ranches on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation with her husband, Jim, 71. “The Lakotas were a horse nation. Horses were essential to … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 24, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – Unable to gain adequate support for the American Health Care Act (AHCA), Congressional leadership withdrew the bill today. National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson issued the following statement in response: “Today’s decision to pull the American Health Care Act highlights a … Read More
Are you a fruit or vegetable producer? LiveWell Colorado and UpRoot are conducting a survey on gleaning, and they need your help. Gleaning is the act of gathering leftover produce after a harvest. “Leftover” produce includes seconds, imperfects, or produce that will not be sold or distributed for any reason – in other words, produce that … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 23, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – Former Georgia governor Sonny Perdue appeared before the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee today for the confirmation hearing on his nomination to be U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. Urging a speedy confirmation vote of Mr. Perdue, National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson issued … Read More
By London Muegge, Education InternContact: Chelsea Matzen, 202-554-1600cmatzen@nfudc.orgThe Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering simplifying agricultural water standards under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) due to stakeholder feedback. The feedback included concern that the standards, which include numerical criteria for pre-harvest microbial water quality, would be too difficult to understand and implement by … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 23, 2017 Contact: Hannah Packman, 202-554-1600 hpackman@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – On behalf of nearly 200,000 family farm and ranch members, National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson submitted public comments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) yesterday, advocating for the agency to finalize the Farmer Fair Practices Rules. The rules would … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 22, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON – The Trump Administration this week released a list of 24 trade practices, including Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL), that trade negotiators should prioritize in future negotiations. National Farmers Union (NFU) is urging the administration to keep COOL on the list, and to ensure a … Read More