The National Farmers Union concluded its 112th national convention and Santa Fe, NM with delegates adopting a fresh slate of “special orders of business” for 2014.

Just as with special orders passed by state conventions, NFU’s special orders focus the family farming organization’s policy lens for the year. Among topics with special orders passed are Farm Bill implementation, trade concerns, reform of the beef checkoff and recognizing 2014 as the International Year of Family Farming.

As we deal with an impending doubling of the state of Ohio beef checkoff, here’s what NFU had to say about the national program:

Checkoff programs  are  intended  to  promote  the  consumption  and  further  research  and  development  of  commodities,  funded by  assessing  a  fee from  a  farmer,  rancher,  grower or  processor,  based  on  the  production  of  the  commodity.  These  are worthwhile  objectives  if  the  checkoff programs  and  funds  are  properly  administered. Policy  organizations  should  be divorced  from  the  beef  checkoff  program.

A  process  to  review  the  structure  and  effectiveness  of  the  beef  checkoff  is  underway,  but  has  dragged  on  for almost  three  years. Meetings  of  the Beef  Industry  Checkoff  Group  have  continued  for  so  long  because  decisions  have been  based  on consensus  and  some organizations  object  to nearly  all  reforms.  Instead,  changes  should  be  made according to  the majority  of  organizations  assembled  in  the  Beef  Industry  Checkoff  Group.

If  adequate  changes  to  the  current  structure  of  the  beef  checkoff  are  not  made  within  the  confines  of  the  Beef Industry  Checkoff  Group,  NFU  will  seek  its  own  resolutions  to  these  problems.

On international trade, NFU continues to oppose the Trans Pacific Partnership proposed trade deal and voiced continued opposition to “Fast Track” authority for the president when negotiating trade agreements. NFU supports:

NFU  supports  cooperative  efforts  among  nations  to  maintain  prices  for  raw  commodities  at  fair  levels  and  provide or orderly  conduct  of  commerce.  Future  trade  agreements  must  look  beyond  simply  regulating  domestic  support  levels, export  subsidies  and  market  access  but  should  address  differences  in  labor,  environmental and  health  standards. Furthermore,  great  attention  must  be  paid  to  the  trade‐distorting  effects  of  currency  manipulation  and  the cartelization  of agricultural  markets.

To view all of NFU’s special orders for 2014 click here.

Congratulations to Linda Riefers and Holly Finnarn

Ohio Farmers Union members Linda Riefers and Holly Finnarn were recognized for excellence in service in bringing new members to the Farmers Union family in 2013.

“Peer recruitment is a powerful and important part of growing and maintaining membership in our organization,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “The passion and dedication these members exude for Farmers Union is something in which we take great pride.”

Johnson continues as president, Teske elected veep of NFU

Delegates at the National Farmers Union 112th Anniversary Convention re-elected Roger Johnson president of the organization and Donn Teske, Kansas Farmers Union president, NFU vice president.

“I am grateful that the membership will allow me to serve for two more years,” said Johnson. “I am honored to lead this organization and am looking forward to working with NAME to continue the time-honored traditions of Farmers Union.”

Johnson is NFU’s 14th president, a position he has held since 2009. Johnson hails from a family farm near Turtle Lake, N.D., and grew up as an active member of Farmers Union. Prior to his post at Farmers Union, he was the North Dakota Commissioner of Agriculture.

“I am so humbled by the faith and trust the delegates have shown by electing me vice president,” said Teske. “ I’ll do my best to help President Johnson move the organization forward under the direction of the grassroots policy formed here today.

Teske was elected from a field of three candidates, and replaces former NFU Vice President Claudia Svarstad, who did not seek re-election.

Teske has served as Kansas Farmers Union president since 2000 and is a fifth generation farmer in northeast Kansas.

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A meeting of beef producers interested in forming/joining a grassfed beef marketing co-op will be held on February 25, 2014, 2:00 – 4:00 PM at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Room 130 Research Services, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH 44691. Speakers will include Mike Callicrate (Callicrate Beef, Ranch Foods Direct, etc.), Joe Maxwell, Heritage Acres Foods, Deborah Rausch (USDA Rural Development) and Jeff McCutcheon (OSU Extension Service).

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss advantages of marketing beef through a co-op, logistics of co-op formation and operation, grass fed beef marketing strategies. RSVPs or questions may be directed to John Dinon at johndinon[at]aol[dot]com.