By Alexis Dunnum, NFU Intern As stated in the NFU Climate Column on extreme precipitation, “Projected increases in heavy precipitation combined with milder winters is expected to increase total runoff and peak stream flow during the winter and spring, which may increase the magnitude or frequency of flooding.” With heavy rainfall likely to occur more often, … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 10, 2016 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON (November 10, 2016) – As the clock is ticking for Congress to take up the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), National Farmers Union (NFU) is urging lawmakers to oppose a lame duck vote on the multinational trade agreement. The farm organization, representing nearly 200,000 family … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 7, 2016 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org SALINAS, Calif. (November 7, 2016) – The National Farmers Union (NFU) Beginning Farmers Institute (BFI) reconvened in Salinas, California, on Friday, November 4, for the second of three annual programming sessions. Seventeen beginning farmers and ranchers from across the country attended the two-day, hands-on learning … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 7, 2016 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON (November 7, 2016) – As the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) struggles to gain support on Capitol Hill, Wisconsin dairy farmers overwhelmingly agree that Congress should reject the trade agreement in its current form. In a survey of all dairy producers in Wisconsin, conducted by Wisconsin … Read More
By Alexis Dunnum, NFU Intern As discussed in the recent Climate Column post on no-till farming, practicing alternatives to tilling can increase the amount of organic matter in the soil, allowing for water retention even during dry periods. Another tilling alternative that has the many of the same soil benefits is strip-till. Strip-till is a conservation … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 2, 2016 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON (November 2, 2016) – National Farmers Union (NFU) submitted comments to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) urging that a proposed rule change for the taxable value of assets be amended to consider family farmers and ranchers. The law currently provides meaningful relief for … Read More
By Alexis Dunnum, NFU Intern In the previous Climate Leaders post, we discussed the soil health benefits of no-till farming, and we will soon discuss strip-till, and mulch till. Although these practices vary slightly, something they all have in common is their use of crop residue, which comes from using cover crops. According to the … Read More
By Alexis Dunnum, NFU Intern Previous NFU Climate Column posts have explained that drought and erosion from extreme precipitation are anticipated to become more prevalent if the planet continues to heat up. When tilling is avoided, the organic matter within the soil can attract and retain water. This ensures proper hydration for the plant, even during dry … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 21, 2016 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON (October 21, 2016) – As the weakened farm economy continues to take a toll on family farmers and ranchers, National Farmers Union (NFU) is criticizing meatpackers for driving down prices for independent beef producers. Data released last week showed that family cow-calf producers … Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 19, 2016 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON (October 19, 2016) – Representatives of National Farmers Union (NFU) appealed to international policymakers this week, requesting that the perspective of family farmers and ranchers be better represented in the global food security and nutrition arena. NFU Vice President of International Relations Dave … Read More