Ron Sylvester

NFU: House Farm Bill draft’s cuts worrying

July 9, 2012 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

WASHINGTON – National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson issued the following statement in response to the release of the discussion draft of the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management (FARRM) Act today by U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture Chairman Frank Lucas, R-Okla., and Ranking Member Collin Peterson, D-Minn.:

“NFU is pleased to see the House Agriculture Committee begin to move a 2012 Farm Bill. This is a critical step toward ensuring that a farm bill is passed before the current legislation expires on Sept. 30.

“NFU is also pleased that the House discussion draft contains provisions to address a long-term market collapse – a very critical part of any safety net.

“The FARRM Act also has a number of areas concerning to NFU. The $35 billion in cuts are deeply disproportionate and far larger than agriculture should have to bear, given its share of the federal budget. The nutrition title in particular takes a big hit. In these economically difficult times, millions of Americans depend on nutrition programs to put food on the table, and now is simply not the time to be making deep cuts to these programs.

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As House takes up Farm Bill, Midwest farmers say conservation is key

July 5, 2012 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

Farmers in the U.S. ‘heartland’ value the conservation programs funded under the current Farm Bill and do not want to see cuts in conservation as Congress debates changes to this cornerstone agricultural legislation, says a poll done on behalf of the National Farmers Union and Cultivate Impact.

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NFU praises biofuels investment for U.S. military

July 5, 2012 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

WASHINGTON – National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson issued the following statement after U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, joined by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and Deputy Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change Heather Zichal, announced the availability of up to $30 million in funding for commercial scale advanced drop-in biofuels both through the Defense Production Act and the Department of Energy.

“Today’s announcement is a very positive step as the U.S. military continues to increase its use of biofuels, decreasing its reliance on foreign oil. As a matter of national security, it simply makes sense to utilize home-grown fuel rather than relying on foreign oil. Increasing the use of biofuels also helps to moderate fuel costs. A small increase in the price of crude oil means a big jump in fuel costs for our armed forces.

“This initiative is also great for rural America, because it helps to create more jobs and keeps more money here in the United States rather than sending it overseas. These jobs help ensure a thriving rural America, which is good for everyone.”

National Farmers Union urges Dept. of Justice trust busting

June 25, 2012 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

The National Farmers Union encouraged the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday to follow through on its recent pledge to provide “vigorous antitrust enforcement” in the agricultural sector.

DOJ released its findings on competition and agriculture stemming from the joint workshops held by DOJ and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 2010. The report included the statement that “(t)he sessions confirmed that a healthy agricultural sector requires competition and, consequently, vigorous antitrust enforcement.”

“NFU has long been a proponent of fair markets and competition, so it is good to see the DOJ act on the results of the DOJ-USDA workshops in 2010.” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “The workshops in 2010 offered hope that this administration would reverse the decades of under-enforcement of antitrust laws. Economic studies have shown that the top four beef and pork packers dominate their sectors, so it’s clear that oversight is needed to make our markets competitive.”

The long-awaited document summarizes the discussion that took place at the five workshops, which were held around the country and focused on various sectors of the agricultural economy. The report also highlights some of the enforcement actions that have taken place in recent years to address the continued consolidation of agriculture.

The report included statements about DOJ’s new priorities: “as a result of the workshops, the (Antitrust Division of DOJ) has redoubled its efforts to prevent anticompetitive agricultural mergers and conduct. The workshops have enhanced the Division’s efforts to enforce the antitrust laws.”

The report further noted several instances in the last five years of DOJ action on acquisitions in the agriculture sector. Most of these, however, occurred before the 2010 series of workshops.

“This is a positive step toward ensuring that farmers and ranchers have an opportunity to succeed, but much more work remains to be done,” Johnson said. “I look forward to the Antitrust Division of DOJ following through on the statements in the report.”

Read the DOJ Report Here

NFU says Strategic Petroleum Reserve must be preserved

June 22, 2012 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

WASHINGTON – National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson sent a letter today to leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives expressing concern regarding the Strategic Energy Production Act of 2012.

“NFU members are concerned that the Strategic Energy Production Act of 2012 calls for a plan to increase domestic petroleum and natural gas upon drawdown of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SRP),” said Johnson. “We view this as a means to discourage use of the SPR for its intended purposes. We instead support continued development of renewable energy as our main priority in reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. Domestically produced renewable fuels are good not only for farmers, but also for consumers. For example, ethanol produced by American farmers and ranchers already saves consumers nearly $1 per gallon.”

In the letter, Johnson also supported amendment #15 by Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and amendment #26 by Reps. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., Markey and Barney Frank, D-Mass.

“Amendment #15 would prohibit oil and gas produced under new leases authorized by this legislation from being exported to foreign countries,” said Johnson. “Amendment #26 would require certain funds received from the sale of new leases to be made available to fully fund the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to limit speculation in energy markets. As the agency that has been tasked with increased authority over agricultural, energy and financial markets as part of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the CFTC needs significantly greater resources in order to help guard against economic crisis.”

Senate passes 2012 Farm Bill in bipartisan vote, 64-35

June 21, 2012 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

Ohio Senators: Brown, a ‘yea,’ Portman, a ‘nay’

NFU supportive, process moves to a dysfunctional House

The 2012 version of the Farm Bill which delivers $23 billion in deficit reduction and moves the agricultural safety net away from direct payments and toward a beefed up crop insurance program as two of its major features passed the U.S. Senate today by a vote of 64-35.

Sen. Sherrod Brown, (D-OH), voted for the measure. Sen. Rob Portman, (R-OH), voted against the bill.

“The bipartisan, Senate-passed farm bill is the most significant reform of U.S. agriculture in decades – saving taxpayers $23 billion while investing in Ohio’s number one industry,” Brown said.

“This farm bill is forward thinking, yet realistic. The centerpiece of the bill’s deficit reduction efforts is based on a bill I authored with my colleague, Sen. (John) Thune, (R-SD) that would end the era of paying farmers for crops that they don’t grow and replace direct payments with market-based supports that’s more responsive to farmers and taxpayers. This farm bill is a jobs and innovation bill, an economic relief and development bill, and it affects every American every day,” added Brown, the first Ohioan to serve on the Senate Agriculture Committee in 40 years.

The National Farmers Union issued two statements today – one urging passage of the bill and one congratulating senators on the achievement after its passage. NFU President Roger Johnson said he’s pleased with many of the provisions in the Senate bill such as mandatory funding for renewable energy programs. Although supportive of the bill’s move away from direct payments to support agriculture in the U.S., Johnson remains concerned about long-term price declines.

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No Ohioans to serve on U.S. EPA Ag Advisory Committee

June 20, 2012 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the members of its Farm, Ranch and Rural Communities Committee today and there were no Ohioans appointed. Robert Carlson, president of the North Dakota Farmers Union was appointed to represent the National Farmers Union.

Members will serve on the committee for the next two years.

According to the EPA, the FRRCC “is a policy-oriented committee that provides policy advice, information, and recommendations to the Administrator on a range of environmental issues and policies that are of importance to agriculture and rural communities. The FRRCC addresses specific topics of relevance to agriculture as identified by the Agricultural Counselor to the Administrator, and reports its policy advice and recommendations to the EPA Administrator through the Agricultural Counselor.”

NFU supports investment in Farm Bill energy programs

June 19, 2012 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

WASHINGTON – National Farmers Union supports the Rural Energy Investment Act of 2012, introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives today by Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio. The bill would reauthorize the most critical farm bill energy programs that are currently set to expire Sept. 30. The bill’s original co-sponsors include Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, Tim Walz, D-Minn., Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., Leonard Boswell, D-Iowa, Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, Michael Michaud, D-Maine, Laura Richardson, D-Calif., Barbara Lee, D-Calif., Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa, Donna Christensen, D-Va., Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, G.K. Butterfield, D-N.C., Ben Lujan, D-N.M., Maurice Hinchey, D-N.Y., Ron Kind, D-Wis., and Chellie Pingree, D-Maine.

“Energy programs are a critical part of spurring rural economic development, creating many jobs in rural America and giving farmers and ranchers an additional income stream that helps them to stay on their land,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “These energy programs are also critical in helping the United States become more energy independent and utilize cellulosic and advanced biofuels grown right here at home.”

The bill would strengthen and simplify renewable energy programs, including the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP). According to USDA, REAP created or saved 15,000 jobs over the past nine years.

“These forward-looking and unique programs are successfully leveraging private capital and paving the way for farm-based renewable energy,” said Johnson. “Programs such as REAP, BCAP, the Biorefinery Assistance Program and the Biobased Markets Program are helping to commercialize the next generation of biofuels as they provide critical investment in our rural economies. We urge Congress to pass this bill as quickly as possible.”

Senate Farm Bill Floor Debate Could Take 2 Weeks

June 11, 2012 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

Legislative staffers for the National Farmers Union are watching the U.S. Senate closely over the next two weeks as the upper chamber takes up floor consideration of the 2012 Farm Bill.

The Farm Bill passed through the Senate Ag Committee in April and it passed a full Senate vote on whether to consider the massive bill on the floor with broad bi-partisan support late last week, 90-8.

NFU reports that senators may have as many as 300 floor amendments to offer on the bill, but that through behind the scenes negotiation the package of amendments will probably be cut down to 40 or less.

NFU President Roger Johnson recently lead a coalition of more than 125 food and consumer groups in calling for the Senate to quickly pass the 2012 Farm Bill – citing the fact that many current programs are expiring or are in danger of expiring.

“This strongly bipartisan bill ensures that agriculture does its part to reduce the deficit, cutting spending by $23 billion, while still maintaining a safety net that family farmers and ranchers need,” Johnson said.

“Some farm bill programs have already expired, and the rest expire on Sept. 30. It is critical to pass a farm bill as soon as possible so that Americans have the agriculture, conservation, environmental, forestry, hunger, and rural development programs that they need. While many of us will continue to work for improvements in the bill, we all agree that we need a farm bill this year,” Johnson said.

Most media reports of the Farm Bill’s move through the Senate have been focusing on the shift away from direct payments to farmers in favor of a larger crop insurance program. Farmers would be able to insure against poor yields and declines in prices as well as environmental calamity. Another hot topic is cuts to the food stamp program.

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House Ag appropriations misses mark: NFU

June 7, 2012 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

WASHINGTON – National Farmers Union expressed disappointment today at the mark up of the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Fiscal Year 2013 agriculture appropriations bill today. The bill was approved by voice vote and will move on to the House Appropriations Committee.

The bill includes $19.4 billion in discretionary funding, which represents a cut of $365 million from last year’s level, and falls $1.7 billion short of President Obama’s request.

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Ohio Senators: Brown, a ‘yea,’ Portman, a ‘nay’

NFU supportive, process moves to a dysfunctional House

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