Ron Sylvester

National Farmers Union sends positive comments to feds on COOL

April 1, 2013 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

Then National Farmers Union today submitted positive comments to the USDA on proposed changes to the Country of Origin Labeling rule or “COOL.”

COOL mandates that certain foods must be labeled at the retailer with their country of origin. Originally passed as part of the 2007 Farm Bill, COOL was initiated by rule in 2009. Canada and Mexico successfully attacked the first version of COOL as promoting unfair trade practices before the World Trade Organization. The Obama Administration chose to deal with the ruling by not totally abandoning COOL, but by rewriting the rule.

Fighting against COOL are agribusiness giants like Tyson Foods and Cargill who routinely mix animals or animal products from other countries into products such as ground beef. Proponents of the rule argue that U.S. consumers deserve to know where their food is coming from and that U.S. raised and processed food will benefit from consumer awareness.

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NE Ohio-based OFU Chapter holding event on climate change and farming

March 31, 2013 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

from Mardy Townsend:

Farmers spend a lot of time trying to figure out the weather, so those in northeast Ohio will be interested in the topic “Farming in a Warming World”. Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake, and Trumbull Counties Farmers Union invite all climate and weather watchers to their spring educational event on April 6, at 1:30pm, at the Colebrook Community Center (682 Rte 322, Colebrook). Joe Logan, Director of Agricultural Affairs for the Ohio Environmental Council and president of Trumbull County Farmers Union, will address some important questions for farmers and consumers; Is climate change real? What will it mean for farmers? What can we do to adapt to a changing climate? How can farmers help to reduce climate impacts?

This event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments provided. Co-sponsored by the Lake Effect chapter of the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association. (The Colebrook zip code is 44076, which is really neighboring Orwell – this may confuse your GPS. The Colebrook Community Center is the old Colebrook Elementary School in southern Ashtabula County, on the northeast corner of State Routes 322 and 46.) For more information call Mardy and Marge Townsend at 440-272-5174.

U.S. EPA Report: 2012 saw great gains in auto fuel economy

March 17, 2013 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

According to a recent report, EPA estimates that between 2007 and 2012 fuel economy values increased by 16 percent while carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions have decreased by 13 percent, and in 2012 alone the report indicates a significant one year increase of 1.4 miles per gallon (mpg) for cars and trucks.

The expected 1.4 mpg improvement in 2012 is based on sales estimates provided to EPA by automakers. EPA’s projections show a reduction in CO2 emissions to 374 grams per mile and an increase in average fuel economy to 23.8 mpg. These numbers represent the largest annual improvements since EPA began reporting on fuel economy.

Fuel economy is expected to continue improving significantly under the Obama administration’s historic National Clean Car Program standards. The program cuts greenhouse gas emissions and would double fuel economy standards by 2025. The standards will save American families $1.7 trillion dollars in fuel costs, and by 2025 will result in an average fuel savings of more than $8,000 per vehicle. The program will also save 12 billion barrels of oil, and by 2025 will reduce oil consumption by more than 2 million barrels a day – as much as half of the oil imported from OPEC every day.

NFU’s Johnson: Ban on legal, human horse slaughter misguided

March 15, 2013 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson released the following statement in response to the introduction of the Safeguard American Food Exports Act (SAFE), which would prohibit horse slaughter operations in the U.S. as well as prohibiting transport of the animals across the U.S. border for slaughter in Mexico and Canada:

“NFU has strongly opposed any ban on horse slaughter in the past and is also opposed to the legislation currently being proposed. The subject of horse slaughter has gained increasing momentum in the media recently and, unfortunately, the narrative being played is plagued with misinformation.

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Comments being accepted until April 11 on proposed COOL rule

March 12, 2013 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

The National Farmers Union reported earlier this month that the Obama Administration’s Office of Management and Budget has released the proposed new rule on Country of Origin Labeling, or COOL.

COOL came under fire from a recent World Trade Organization ruling and the administration has been working toward re-tooling the policy to meet U.S. trade treaty criteria.

“The proposed rule changes released by OMB are an excellent response to decisions by the World Trade Organization that called for changes to our COOL implementation,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “By requiring further clarity in labels and stronger recordkeeping, the set of rules released today are a win-win for farmers, ranchers and consumers.”

[Read more…]

Farmers Union supports raising fuel storage level permit requirements

March 10, 2013 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

National Farmers Union sent a letter today commending Sens. Heitkamp, D-N.D., and Roberts, R-Kan., and Reps. Neugebauer, R-Texas, and Peterson, D-Minn., for their bicameral legislation that would increase the allowable exemption for transporting fuel to 1,000 gallons.

“National Farmers Union delegates recently adopted policy during the organization’s annual convention in Springfield, Mass., that supports raising the current full HAZMAT protocol requirements threshold for portable fuel to 1,000 gallons,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “This is a perfect example of NFU’s grassroots membership engagement levels on today’s issues.”

Current law requires agriculture producers to obtain a permit for transporting diesel fuel in excess of 119 gallons.

“This law is overly burdensome to our producers, and only increases costs and red tape,” Johnson said. “NFU supports common sense environmental and agriculture policy that balances environmental stewardship without placing extra costs on producers.”

Click here and here to view the letter.

NFU Delegates Adopt 2013 Policy Document

March 5, 2013 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The National Farmers Union (NFU) 111th Anniversary Convention adjourned Tuesday afternoon in Springfield, Mass. The four-day event concluded with the delegates considering and adopting the organization’s policy for the next year.

“Farmers Union is truly a grassroots organization, and our policy adoption process is an example of the value of Americans’ right to free speech,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “The policy adopted by the delegates today is what will guide the advocacy work of our organization for the next year.”

Just as we do in Ohio at OFU’s annual convention, NFU also adopted several special orders of business which are topical, “of the moment” policy concerns. They include:

“The voices of family farmers, ranchers and fishermen and women have been heard,” said Johnson. “NFU will continue to work on behalf of the providers of our nation’s feed, fuel, food and fiber. As we head back to Washington, D.C., we have a very clear message to relay to Congress: a five-year farm bill must be completed as soon as possible to provide certainty and protection against multi-year price collapse.”

Delegates adopted policy favoring comprehensive reform of immigration laws in relation to agricultural workers. Existing NFU policy that supports conservation compliance requirements for federal crop insurance premium subsidy eligibility was reaffirmed. The body renewed its support for affordable healthcare, with an emphasis on disease prevention and access to nutritionally sound foods. Policy was put in place to address the challenges that small boat fishermen and women face.

Click here to read or download the entire 2013 NFU Policy document.

Mel Borton honored at National Farmers Union Convention

March 4, 2013 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

L-R: John Hansen, president, NE Farmers Union; Roger Johnson, president, NFU; Mel Borton; Roger Wise, president, OFU. Photo Courtesy of NFU.

During National Farmers Union’s 111^th Anniversary Convention, Mel Borton was presented with the organization’s Award for Meritorious Service to Farmers Union and American Agriculture.

Meritorious Service Awards honor those who have made particularly noteworthy contributions to agriculture, humanity and Farmers Union. This honor is the highest award the NFU Board of Directors can bestow upon an individual.

“Mel Borton has dedicated six decades of his life to Farmers Union,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “His passion for the organization has made him a true leader in membership growth and advocacy for U.S. family farmers, and for that we are grateful.”

Borton was born and raised on a farm in northwestern Ohio. He started farming on his own in 1948 as a sharecropper and joined Ohio Farmers Union that same year. He has held several leadership roles in Farmers Union and on other national committees. Today he continues to lobby on the state and national level on behalf of family farmers.

Before receiving his award, a video of congratulations from Ohio Farmers Union President Roger Wise was played for Borton and convention delegates and attendees.

“Mel has been an integral part of Ohio Farmers Union and National Farmers for many years,” Wise said. “When I was a young man and my Dad was on the OFU Executive Committee, Mel was one of the first people I met. He has been an important part of our organization nationally and in Ohio – he’s always advocating for family farmers.”

USDA: Deadline looms for hispanic and women farmers, ranchers

March 4, 2013 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today reminded Hispanic and women farmers and ranchers who allege discrimination by the USDA in past decades that there are 45 days remaining in the filing period closing March 25, 2013.

“Hispanic and women farmers who believe they have faced discriminatory practices in the past from the USDA have 45 days left to file a claim in order to have a chance to receive a cash payment or loan forgiveness,” said Secretary Vilsack. “USDA urges potential claimants to contact the Claims Administrator for information and mail their claim packages on or before March 25, 2013.”

The process offers a voluntary alternative to litigation for each Hispanic or female farmer and rancher who can prove that USDA denied his or her application for loan or loan servicing assistance for discriminatory reasons for certain time periods between 1981 and 2000. As announced in February 2011, the voluntary claims process will make available at least $1.33 billion for cash awards and tax relief payments, plus up to $160 million in farm debt relief, to eligible Hispanic and women farmers and ranchers. There are no filing fees to participate in the program.

Contact your local or the state FSA office for information.

White House: Sequestration’s impact on Ohio

March 4, 2013 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

The automatic across-the-board cuts known as “sequestration” began on March1 and the White House wants you to know how these cuts will hurt Ohio.

Sequestration is the fallout from the 2011 deal between Congress and President Barack Obama to increase the nation’s debt ceiling. At that time and since, leaders from both parties have admitted that sequestration is bad policy because it cuts all domestic programs except for Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and veteran’s programs. The thinking was when it was passed that these cuts were so egregious that sequestration would be repealed and replaced with reasoned, balanced deal to cut the deficit. Partisanship in Washington remains more important than progress and it wasn’t repealed let alone replaced.

These cuts will be a slow burn and most Americans won’t notice any changes for weeks or months. For instance, most of the 26,000 civilian Defense Dept. employees in Ohio who will be put on ten to 20 day furloughs must be given a minimum of 30 days notice before being furloughed.

The White House issued a memo one week ago which outlines some of the fallout specific to Ohio. Among the cuts expected are:

$161 million in pay for those civilian Dept. of Defense employees in the state removed from the economy due to furloughs
4,700 low income families will lose rental housing vouchers
$25 million in lost funding for K-12 public education
$22 million in lost funding for public school instruction of disabled kids
1,450 fewer work study jobs for Ohio college students

In the last newsletter we reported that Senate Democrats were offering up USDA guaranteed payments as part of a replacement deal for the sequester. That bill is going nowhere for now. Republicans are dug in that there will be no further tax increases as part of a better deal. Both that Senate bill and a proposal the president has floated include closing certain tax loopholes affecting the wealthy and large, profitable corporations. The GOP is calling such tax reforms “increasing taxes” for now. The stalemate continues. The military and most vulnerable pay.

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