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
Blog
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
A Voice for Beginning Farmers
By Nate Brownlee, Nightfall Farm November is a fun month on the farm. We have made it through the biggest push of our season and are starting to see the rest at the end of the race. We have fewer animals and thus more time to be working on projects. Some of those projects are … 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
FSMA Readiness: Physical and Chemical Risks
By Liza Ayres, LFSC Intern, National Farmers Union Farming inevitably presents produce safety risks, but increased knowledge and action can help farmers reduce liabilities and maintain successful operations. Previous blogs in this series explained the biological risks that can occur due to bacterial growth or other pathogens, but because food safety hazards can take a … Read More
Confronting Consolidation: How Congress Proposes to Fight Mergers in Ag
By Liza Ayres, NFU Intern Consolidation has long been one of the greatest challenges for family farmers and ranchers. Agribusiness mergers reduce innovation, limit choice and increase prices for farming inputs and make it increasingly difficult for farmers to receive a fair price at market. A selective group of firms dominate the processing of every … Read More
FSMA Readiness: Produce Safety Risks from Parasites
By Jake Stukenberg, LFSC Intern, National Farmers Union After discussion of bacteria and viruses we’ll be wrapping up the types of biological hazards that the FSMA Produce Safety Rule covers today. The third type of pathogen that the Produce Safety Rule aims to reduce is parasites. Parasites are protozoa or intestinal worms that can only … Read More
Skills and Knowledge: Succession Planning
By Sophie Neems, Communications Specialist at Farm Credit Succession planning is a delicate business; few people get excited to come to terms with mortality and create a plan for how land and personal assets will be passed from one generation to the next. However, succession planning is about more than just that. It is about … Read More
FSMA Readiness: Produce Safety Risks from Viruses
By Jake Stukenberg, LFSC Intern, National Farmers Union When it comes to produce safety, much of the risk is caused by things a grower could never see with the naked eye. Last week we talked about the risks bacteria pose to produce and strategies to reduce the risks associated with them. This week we’re moving … Read More
Regional Food System Leaders Unite at Chesapeake Food Summit
By Liza Ayres, NFU Intern On September 24 and 25, National Farmers Union was pleased to help sponsor the Chesapeake Food Summit, which united key players in the region for a conference on innovation, equity, and sustainability in the food system. The summit celebrated the region’s diversity and discussed ways to accelerate food system growth … Read More