Ron Sylvester

Farmers Union and Feeding America Partnership

March 23, 2016 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

For the past several years, the National Farmers Union and Feeding America have been in partnership to end hunger in America. Feeding America is the worthy charity that supports food banks (probably your local or regional one) all over the U.S.

The tradition continues.

Food insecurity is a problem for millions of Americans across the country, and the National Farmers Union (NFU) has pledged to contribute to nationwide hunger relief through a renewed commitment to Feeding America’s Invest An Acre program. Following an announcement at the NFU 114thAnniversary Convention in Minneapolis, the organization officially kicked off its fundraising efforts this week.

“We often associate food insecurity with impoverished foreign nations, but we cannot ignore the hunger problem here at home in many rural communities,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “As family farmers and ranchers, we have a responsibility to help families in need through local hunger relief efforts.”

More than 48 million Americans lived in food-insecure households in 2014, according to the USDA. To combat the problem in rural America, the domestic hunger relief organization created Invest An Acre to make it easy for farmers to donate a portion of their crop proceeds to the food bank serving their local community. Every dollar donated by farmers is matched by Monsanto to double the impact.

“Food insecurity is not an individual problem; it can take a toll on an entire community. We are proud to renew our partnership with Feeding America and to continue NFU’s longstanding support of hunger relief efforts in rural America,” commented Barbara Patterson, a government relations representative with NFU, who is coordinating the renewed partnership.

From 2011 to 2014, NFU and its members contributed nearly $200,000 to various hunger relief initiatives through Feeding America, the Invest An Acre program and local food banks.

More information about NFU’s involvement in Invest An Acre and ways to donate is available at http://www.nfu.org/feeding-america.

As Dependable as the Sunrise

March 14, 2016 By Ron Sylvester 1 Comment

Linda Borton was our executive director for the last few years. She took over the reins of a struggling organization around 2011. I say “around” because she worked for OFU for her entire lifetime. I say “around”, because when her appointment as executive director became official, she had already served in that capacity before and had been serving, unpaid, in that capacity during OFU’s darkest days.

At any rate, we all appreciate what Linda did for so may years. We all appreciate that she was there when we needed her most. And, here is the tribute from U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur to Linda Borton:

OFU asks, Where’s the Beef…. And Pork and Milk and Eggs?

March 14, 2016 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

Food and Ag Policy absent from Presidential Campaigns

Statement from Ohio Farmers Union President Joe Logan on eve of 2016 Ohio Primary:

“As half a dozen Presidential candidates barnstorm across the state in advance of Ohio’s crucial primary election, we have heard almost nothing about Ohio’s largest industry. In Ohio, we have been proud to tout our agriculture and food industries as one of our most important economic sectors, but our agricultural leaders have not been successful at holding the candidate’s feet to the fire about the future of Ag and Food policy.

“This election year coincides with a period of serious economic stress in the ag community, and a time when we should be making critical decisions about such important issues as food labeling and the structure of our next farm bill. We call on presidential candidates to “steak” out their positions on issues critical to our future food system.

“We have heard both sides of the argument about the benefits and liabilities of international trade agreements, mostly related to manufacturing jobs. Absent in these discussions has been comprehensive analysis of the impacts of lesser-known impacts trade agreements such as Investor-State Dispute Resolution (ISDR), which will allow both nations and corporations to bring disputes against federal, state or local governments who may enact preferences for domestic or locally-sourced products.

“We have recently witnessed the sad results of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO’s) dispute resolution case regarding our Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) law for meats. In this case, the WTO resolution panel, chaired by one of the litigant nations, ruled against a U.S. law that had the support of 94% of American consumers and 90% of independent American farmers. None of the candidates has mentioned this important element of trade agreements, nor have they mentioned the fact that it is now more difficult for U.S. consumers to determine from where their food originates.

“Even more timely is the currently ongoing debate about labeling of foods containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs). On the heels of legislation passed by Vermont requiring the labeling of such foods, and fearing the evolution of a patchwork of differing labeling requirements, Congress is contemplating a federal statute that would establish uniform labeling requirements, while preempting any state or local initiatives to do so.

“As in the COOL debate, American consumers strongly support a requirement for accurate labeling of GMO products, but corporate food industry interests strongly oppose it. This issue is of utmost importance for the future of our food system – and the marketing efforts of a growing number of family farmers around Ohio and the U.S. who are earning more per bushel for their production of non-gmo grains.

“At this critical moment in history, with political sentiments as broadly dispersed as any time in recent memory, we call upon our presidential candidates to make their positions known on important issues such as these.”

Clark Rallies Farmers to Fight for Renewable Energy

March 8, 2016 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

MINNEAPOLIS (March 7, 2016) – “You’re not just farmers. You’re in the national security business, and we need you out there on the front lines protecting America’s economic future.” That was the call-to-action issued today by retired U.S. Army General Wesley Clark at the National Farmers Union 114^th Anniversary Convention.

Clark, a West Point valedictorian who also served as the NATO Supreme Allied Commander, explained that oil dependence has dominated America’s foreign and military policy for too long and that renewable energy is key to breaking the cycle.

“How many more U.S. troops do we need to send abroad before the nation wakes up and says, ‘you can’t run foreign policy based on the price of a barrel of oil,’” Clark asked the group.

“Energy policy is national security policy,” he added, calling the Renewable Fuel Standard one of the most important pieces of energy policy ever passed because it boosts production of homegrown alternative energy sources.

“We need your support to keep the Renewable Fuel Standard in place,” Clark told the gathering of more than 500 farmers and ranchers from across the country.

But it won’t be easy and rural America will meet stiff resistance from Big Oil. The oil industry is “the most powerful industry in the history of mankind,” he said, and it will use its money and political power to maintain a stranglehold on America and the energy market.

Calling ethanol “greener, cleaner, cheaper and better,” Clark said U.S. farmers have a positive story of success to share while fighting for America’s energy future.

“If we can stay with the Renewable Fuels Standard, we will beat the Saudis, the Russians, the Iranians or anybody else who tries to manipulate this country…we’ll put our own energy policy in place,” he concluded. “I don’t want my grandchildren going out there to fight for someone else’s oil, and neither do you.”

USDA Secretary Discusses Diversification, Conservation and Trade at NFU Convention

March 8, 2016 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, who is also a National Farmers Union member, addressed the organization’s 114^th Anniversary Convention this morning, where he celebrated U.S. agriculture’s uniqueness, called on Congress to act on food labeling, and advocated for increased trade with Cuba.

“It is important to focus, not just solely on large-scale production agriculture, but it is important to continue to focus on diversifying opportunities for all sizes of operations,” he said, receiving thunderous applause from NFU’s diverse membership.

Prices for major commodities have fallen in recent years, but Vilsack believes investments made by the U.S. Department of Agriculture will equip rural America to weather the difficult times. Among the items he listed: renewable fuels initiatives, new and beginning farmer education programs, crop insurance, rural development grants and conservation.

Vilsack also called on lawmakers to act on labeling issues currently facing the country.

[Read more…]

USDA Expands Specialty Crop Insurance Coverage

February 25, 2016 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

Representing the interests of 200,000 family farmers and ranchers across the country, National Farmers Union applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) efforts to expand crop insurance coverage for organic producers. In an announcement Thursday, Secretary Vilsack stated that organic price elections would expand to 57 crops for the 2016 and 2017 growing years, up from just four crops in 2011, and contract price options will be available for 73 crops.

“Whether organic or conventional, if you have crops in the ground, you face the risk of losing a harvestable crop to an unexpected weather event or natural disaster,” said National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson. “Producers transitioning to organic agriculture face an added level of risk in that their transitioning crop values had not been properly reflected in their crop insurance policies. I am pleased to see USDA expand its insurance coverage for transitioning producers.”

Sales of organic foods continue to break records. In 2014, the organic sector increased sales by 11.3 percent to more than $39 billion. Some producers have taken note of the price premiums and begun transitioning to organic methods of production. Organic agriculture is another opportunity for farmers and ranchers to add value to their operations, but they must have useful tools to mitigate risk.

[Read more…]

NFU Opposes Roberts’ GMO labeling bill – for now

February 25, 2016 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, (R-KS), the Senate Ag Committee chairman, has introduced a bill that would set up a nationwide system for the labeling of food with genetically modified organisms – or GMOs.

National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson issued a statement acknowledging NFU represents farmers on both sides of the GMO issue and said the family organization will not support the bill “in its current form.”

From Johnson:

“National Farmers Union (NFU) represents 200,000 family farmers and ranchers across the nation who employ a wide variety of practices and philosophies. Many of our members have chosen to incorporate genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into their production methods, while others have made different choices. The rights of GMO and non-GMO producers should be respected as equal while public concerns about GMOs are evaluated by federal agencies.

“NFU also values consumer rights, including the ability of consumers to have access to as much pertinent information as they want to know about their food. We support mandatory labeling of foods derived from genetically engineered plants, although we do not have policy on what such labeling should look like. As such, NFU opposes the proposed GMO labeling bill in its current form.”

Funding Available for Western Lake Erie Basin Farmers for Water Quality Improvement Measures

February 17, 2016 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

from the Ohio Dept. of Agriculture:

REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (Feb. 17, 2016) – The next round of funding is now available through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), as part of a tristate, five year, $17.5 million program funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The goal of the program is to reduce nutrients and harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie by assisting farmers in installing conservation practices that benefit water quality in the western basin of Lake Erie.

This year, applications received from Ohio livestock farmers will receive priority for funding. Nutrient management practices that allow for proper storage, timing, and placement of nutrients, will help livestock producers comply with Ohio’s new nutrient management laws. Ohio livestock farmers located in the western Lake Erie basin watershed interested in applying for technical and financial assistance to implement these practices should contact their local USDA Service Center as soon as possible to apply.

The Tri-State Western Lake Erie Basin Phosphorus Reduction Initiative is a partnership effort that includes public, private and non-profit organizations and is led in Ohio by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. These partner organizations assist with promoting conservation opportunities and monitor the impact of these practices implemented through the initiative.

For more information about conservation assistance available through the Tri-State Western Lake Erie Basin Phosphorus Reduction Initiative, visit Ohio’s USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service website at www.oh.nrcs.usda.gov.

Free Lunch and Nutrient Management Seminar – Paulding County

February 11, 2016 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

Ohio Farmers Union Outlines Policy Priorities for 2016

February 11, 2016 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

Ohio’s Farmland Property Tax Problem, Frack Waste Key Issues

COLUMBUS – From opposition to the Obama Administration’s proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership to advocacy for further reform in the way farmland is taxed in Ohio, the Ohio Farmers Union announced 2016 policy priorities today that touch both state and federal government.

OFU President Joe Logan said that the Farmers Union is one of the few remaining farm organizations that looks out exclusively for the independent, family farmer.

He said that on issues like international trade, government-sponsored commodity checkoffs and many issues in rural Ohio arising because of fracking, OFU’s stance is rooted in “looking out for the little guy.”

“Neither the National Farmers Union, nor the Ohio Farmers Union, have been captured by huge multi-national corporate interests or the ongoing trend for big business consolidation in agriculture,” Logan said.

“Our policy priorities are different. If you’re running a family-sized farm or working to build a local or regional food and fiber network, OFU puts your interests first.”

Two highlights from this year’s priorities are proposed reforms to Current Agricultural Use Valuation and the standards for fracking waste disposal wells.

CAUV is the system for taxing farmland that is currently in production. It was enacted in the 1970s and values farmland across Ohio according to its agricultural value rather than a general market value. CAUV has kept much of Ohio’s farmland from disappearing into urban and suburban sprawl and has helped farm families across the state continue to work their farms. Since the end of the Great Recession, farm families in Ohio have seen their CAUV assessments increase 50-300 percent.

OFU is backing S.B. 246 and H.B. 398, both pending in their respective houses of the Ohio General Assembly. Logan said both bills would update the complex formula used to determine CAUV land value to better reflect changes to the economy since the Great Recession. The wild fluctuations experienced over the past several years would be taken out of the system, legislators hope.

OFU is also calling on the Kasich Administration to change Ohio’s regulations concerning the deep wells used around the state to dispose of waste from fracking. This waste comes from Ohio’s gas and oil production as well as that of neighboring states.

Specifically, the 4,000-member family farmer group wants a moratorium on so-called Class II injection wells used for frack waste. OFU wants any new frack waste disposal wells to be built and regulated under Class I standards. Along with ensuring the wells would be built more robustly, Class I wells are regulated by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency rather than the Dept. of Natural Resources.

In all, OFU is unveiling nine 2016 policy priorities. Please follow this link for a document outlining them in their entirety.

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