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Clark Rallies Farmers to Fight for Renewable Energy

March 8, 2016 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

wesclarknfuMINNEAPOLIS (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 114th 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.”

Filed Under: Blog, Home-Feature Tagged With: National Farmers Union, Renewable Fuel Standard, Wesley Clark

Budget Deal Contains Horrible Crop Insurance Provision

October 27, 2015 By Ron Sylvester 1 Comment

action-alertOne would think that if Congress were to take $3 billion out of the private sector crop insurance delivery system there would be hearings and lots of work done on the economics of the proposal by both sides of the issue.

You would be wrong to think that, because tomorrow there will be a vote in the U.S. House to accept a budget deal which contains what amounts to a $3 billion cut in the crop insurance subsidies that are so critical to the U.S. farm safety net.

According to the legislative shop at the National Farmers Union, this bit of business is such a surprise that both the House and Senate Agriculture Committees are lining up to oppose the entire budget deal if it contains this cut. NFU staff are all hands on deck canvassing members of Congress and senators all day today to oppose the deal.

programs grafic_postThe national budget can’t be balanced on the backs of farmers. While it is true that this money will come out of the insurance industry, it’s also true that there will be a trickle down effect in rural America. The compromises that took so many years to forge in the last Farm Bill set up what is essentially a public-private system behind the safety net. It can’t just be torn down in a day.

Here’s a quote from an email I received today from a staffer at NFU that sums it up nicely:

While this is a direct hit to crop insurance companies, there can be no doubt about the trickledown effect onto the countryside.  Consolidation is already occurring in the crop insurance industry, and this will only speed up that consolidation, which will mean fewer choices and a less efficient private sector delivery system for producers.

And, if you think that farmers haven’t already done their piece for the national budget, consider the two charts pictured here. They speak for themselves.

Call your member of Congress and both of our U.S. Senators – Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman. You may call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for your representative or one of the senators. Tell them to vote NO on the budget deal if it contains the cut to the Private Sector Delivery System to Crop Insurance.

This is horrible policy and should be a poison pill to kill the whole deal.

Here’s more information:

  • Oppose Cuts to Private Sector Delivery
  • Premium Support Cuts to Crop Insurance

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Budget Deal, Crop Insurance, National Farmers Union, Rob Portman, Sherrod Brown

NFU Sends Sen. Hatch Message on Taxes

July 22, 2015 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson encouraged support for the U.S. Senate Finance Committee’s draft tax extenders package that will be considered today at the Committee’s executive session.

“Producers and rural residents deserve certainty when it comes the tax needs of their individual businesses,” said Johnson in a letter to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Oregon. “NFU applauds the Finance Committee in advancing a two year extenders package well ahead of the end of the year.”

Johnson noted that over the last several years, Congress has approached the extension of valuable tax credits in a way that was unpredictable and unfriendly for family farmers and rural residents.

“The last minute extensions, some of which were retrospective in nature, left producers scrambling during the last few weeks of the year to make purchases,” said Johnson. “There was very little confidence that Congress would extend the credits until it actually passed. As a result, long-term planning was impossible.”

Johnson pointed out NFU support for the following tax credits:
·      Charitable contributions of real property for the purpose of conservation.
·      Extension of bonus depreciation.
·      Charitable deduction for contributions of food inventory.
·      Extension of increased expensing limitations and treatment of certain real property as section 179 property.
·      Extension of the Renewable Electricity Production Credit.
·      All extensions that benefit the renewable fuel sector at both the production and consumption levels.
·      Deductions for energy efficiency upgrades made to buildings.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: National Farmers Union, Orrin Hatch, Roger Johnson, Taxes

NFU Makes Proposal on Organic Checkoff

July 20, 2015 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

National Farmers Union has submitted a partial proposal for an organic commodity checkoff program to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The proposal provides for a majority of checkoff funds to go toward agricultural research, a producer majority on the board, and an inclusive checkoff that allows all organic producers the ability to vote in any referendum establishing the checkoff.

“Domestic consumer demand for organic agricultural products is ever-increasing, and to date, the U.S. has had to rely on imports to meet much of that demand,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “NFU’s proposal calls for a majority of the checkoff funds to go to agricultural research to ensure consumer demands are met with American-produced organic products, as well as a board composition that has a producer majority in order to better represent the organic industry, and a democratic process that allows for each organic certificate holder to vote on whether or not the checkoff should be established.”

NFU’s proposal notes that the organic sector has had scarce resources available for organic research. It calls for 60 percent of checkoff funds to go towards agricultural research that will provide organic producers in the U.S. the information they need to keep up with the increasing demand for organic food in the U.S.

“Commodity research and promotion programs are, and always have been, intended to support the efforts of producers of agricultural commodities,” according to the proposal. “An organic checkoff must fill the gap in agricultural research and prioritize addressing the production research needs of the industry.”

The proposal also notes that board composition should be a producer majority, and provides for 13 members of the 19-member board to be organic producers in order to properly represent the organic industry.

“The board would have considerable oversight of the checkoff dollars, including 25 percent for discretionary purposes,” notes the proposal. “Board composition is of tremendous importance to NFU and should constitute a significant producer majority.”

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Checkoff, National Farmers Union, Organics

Logan: Why We Fight for Country of Origin Labeling

May 27, 2015 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

by Joe Logan, President OFU

Joe Logan, OFU

OFU President Joe Logan addressing the organization in January 2015.

Sometimes it seems like a colossal waste of time and energy but organizations like ours are compelled to rise and speak out when destructive things are happening. Such was the case last week as an extraordinary series of events took place in Washington D.C.

On May 18, a dispute resolution panel from the World Trade Organization (WTO) announced its decision that an existing U.S. law requiring food companies to apply Country Of Origin Labeling (COOL) to many meat products presents a hardship to other nations who wish to sell their products to American customers. The dispute was initiated by Canada and Mexico, who together export about 7% of the beef and 5% of the pork consumed by Americans. Oddly, the dispute panel was chaired by a representative of Mexico.

As a result of their decision, Canada and Mexico will be given the chance to prove/document the economic harm they have suffered. Pending sufficient proof, they will be entitled to impose an equal value of penalties onto the offending country (the U.S.) in the form of tariffs of any American products of their choosing.

The WTO settles many such disputes each year and the process is often a multi-year affair, which includes numerous delays and much negotiation among the parties before a final resolution. This case, however, is taking a radically different course. The nations claiming to be harmed (Mexico and Canada) are supported by some organizations who are authorized by the U.S. government. As ridiculous as it might seem, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) – two organizations authorized by the U.S. Congress — are siding with our trading partners and against the United States in this case.

L-R: Joe Logan, Edward Edney, office of U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, Roger Wise, OFU Treasurer. Logan and Wise were in Washington lobbying Congress on COOL in late May 2015.

L-R: Joe Logan, Edward Edney, office of U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, Roger Wise, OFU Treasurer. Logan and Wise were in Washington lobbying Congress on COOL in late May 2015.

The rationale for this strange occurrence is simple but frightening in its implications. Our livestock producing, processing and marketing systems have been changing in profound ways. Our pork, poultry and beef industries have become highly integrated and globalized. They are now dominated by a handful of very large, global corporations. Gone are the days when independent farmers raised hogs and chickens and offered them for sale in local or regional markets. Although many independent cattlemen still raise calves, the feedlots where most cattle reach market weight are dominated by large corporate beef processors.

In such a global, integrated system, both processors and importers have taken seats on the boards of the organizations (like NCBA and NPPC) that were once held by independent farmers and ranchers. Now, those organizations serve the interests of their global corporate giants who own and control the lion’s share of the livestock, processing plants and distribution chains. If today’s globalized, integrated system had been this firmly in place in 2002, we would never have been able to get COOL enacted, despite that it is very strongly supported by both consumers and independent farmers.

The National Farmers Union fought vigorously for the better part of two decades to get COOL passed by Congress and enacted by USDA. We have been extremely proud to have championed a policy that was so robustly supported by consumers and that gave those remaining independent farmers and ranchers a chance to redeem the benefits of their extraordinary efforts to produce safe, high quality food products for American Consumers.

The changing structure of the livestock and food industry, along with the changing character of our more partisan congress, have created a seismic shift in the political landscape for issues like COOL. Members of Congress can now ignore the enormous popularity of issues like COOL (90% approval) and instead bow to the interests of corporate lobbyists who can provide resources needed to overwhelm any political foe.

In this political environment, it is not surprising that the opponents of COOL – the global food processing companies have mustered the resources to influence key members of congress to take extraordinary actions like the one that occurred on May 19: The House Ag Committee Chairman introduced a bill to repeal the COOL. Not only did Chairman Conaway introduce the bill, but he conducted an expedited “mark up” and committee vote to approve his bill the following day.

Despite our feverish efforts to inform many thoughtful members, the bill easily passed out of committee and will be scheduled for a vote on the floor of the House in June. After several days of work talking to hundreds of members of the House and Senate, we believe we have headed the stampede. We feel confident that the WTO process will have a chance to play out before Congress takes repeals the law.
We are also confident that Canada, Mexico and the global meat processors will be hard pressed to demonstrate any legitimate harm from our COOL law. If so, our hard-fought and highly popular policy may survive and serve the interests of consumers and for years to come.

If you haven’t already, please call your member of Congress and ask your friends and family – farmer and consumer alike – to do the same. Tell your representative that Americans deserve to know where their food comes and that America’s – and Ohio’s – family farmers deserve their right to proudly proclaim their bounty is a product of the U.S.A.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Canada, Conaway, Congress, COOL, Joe Logan, Mexico, National Farmers Union, Ohio Farmers Union

May 6: Call President Obama – Ask Him to Stand Up For COOL

May 5, 2015 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

ofulogofbfeatOhio Farmers Union Members:

National Farmers Union, in partnership with a coalition of other groups, has organized a White House call in day. We’d like to flood the White House with as many calls as possible. Please call President Obama at 888-793-4597 tomorrow, Wednesday, May 6. Please send this along to all members/contacts/friends/family.

  1. Call the White House at 888-793-4597
  2. When you are connected, tell the person who answers:

Hi, my name is _______ and I’m from ______.  I urge President Obama to stand up for my right to know where my food comes from by protecting country of origin labels.

That’s it! The whole process should take no more than 60 seconds. The White House tracks every call they get on an issue, so volume of calls matters.

Thanks for your help and continuing concern for public policies that benefit Ohio’s family farmers and consumers.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Barack Obama, COOL, Country of Origin Labeling, National Farmers Union

NFU’s Johnson Cautions on Pending Trade Deals

April 3, 2015 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

from the National Farmers Union

WASHINGTON  – National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson today cautioned the American public – rural and urban alike – to be very leery of the rhetoric being used to sell upcoming trade deals and to insist that any agreement signed by this country has the primary goal of reducing the overall trade deficit.

nfulogo-feat“Trade is neither inherently good nor is it inherently bad,” said Johnson. “And the string of deals that have been signed into law over the past decade, including the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the more recent Korean trade deal have failed to deliver prosperity and instead have exported good American jobs while growing the overall trade deficit,” he said.

Johnson noted that in 2014, the trade deficit increased to $505 billion, representing nearly 3 percent of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and slowing growth for the overall economy. “Yes, the positive trade balance of U.S. agriculture trade is good news – but it is massively overshadowed by the alarming overall U.S. trade deficit,” he said.

“And all family farmers and ranchers should take note of that,” he said.

Johnson said that Congress should deny the request of the president, and any president in the future, who asks for Trade Promotion Authority — also known as Fast Track.

“Fast Track allows the president to negotiate these agreements in secret and then present them to Congress for an up or down vote, with any and all amendments forbidden. Trade agreements that lack transparency should raise everyone’s eyebrows,” said Johnson.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: NAFTA, National Farmers Union, Roger Johnson, TPP, Trade Deficit, TTIP

Vilsack, McCarthy Hit on WOTUS, Rural Development in Remarks to NFU Convention

March 17, 2015 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack speaks before the National Farmers Union Annual Convention in Wichita, KS, March 16. Photo: NFU

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack speaks before the National Farmers Union Annual Convention in Wichita, KS, March 16. Photo: NFU

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy both made news and spoke frankly to the delegates and attendees of the 113th National Farmers Union Annual Convention in Wichita, Kansas.

NFU’s national convention kicked off this past Saturday and ends today. Nearly 500 members were in attendance.

McCarthy spoke to conventioneers on Monday and thanked NFU for not “having a knee-jerk reaction” to EPA’s roll out of a draft Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule.

McCarthy said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and EPA are working on details of the final rule and appreciated the comments submitted by NFU. On the subject of ditches, she said that EPA needs to make the definitions clearer. “Most farm ditches were never covered before, and they won’t be in this new rule,” she promised.

Another EPA hot topic for farmers has been the lack of action on setting up to date requirements for the nation’s Renewable Fuel Standard.

“The RFS is a complicated program, and we weren’t able to accomplish what we needed to do last year,” she said. “Implementing the RFS as Congress intended has been challenging,” McCarthy said.

U.S. EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy also spoke to NFU conventioneers on Monday.

U.S. EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy also spoke to NFU conventioneers on Monday. Photo: NFU

Vilsack also spoke to NFU on Monday and announced $97 million in programs to support the continued development of farmers markets, farm to school efforts and rural economies and will also expand risk management tools for specialty crops and limited-resource farmers.

“Increasing market opportunities for local food producers is a sound investment in America’s rural economies, while also increasing access to healthy food for our nation’s families,” Vilsack said.

“There are over 400 school systems in this country that are purchasing locally and this is a tremendous opportunity to help rebuild the rural economy,” Vilsack said.  He noted that the 2012 Census of Agriculture indicated more than 160,000 farmers and ranchers nationwide are tapping into growing consumer demand by selling their products locally.

“Consumer demand for local, healthy food is skyrocketing in schools, hospitals and wholesalers. These grant opportunities allow farmers and ranchers to meet this demand, and feed our nation’s kids.”

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Gina McCarthy, National Farmers Union, Renewable Fuel Standard, Tom Vilsack, U.S. EPA, USDA, Wichita, WOTUS

NFU Supports Efforts on More Study of Effects of Climate Change by Agencies

March 4, 2015 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

nfunr2National Farms Union President Roger Johnson today submitted comments today highlighting why the Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ) efforts to mitigate and learn more about climate change are important to America’s family farmers and ranchers.

“Family farmers and ranchers across the U.S. are already feeling the impact of increasing weather volatility,” noted Johnson in the comments submitted to the CEQ on the Revised Draft Guidance for Federal Departments and Agencies on Consideration of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions and the Effects of Climate Change in NEPA Reviews. “A compilation of the economic impact of extreme events with an economic impact in excess of $1 billion shows an increase in this extent of economic damage over the last 30 years,” he said.

Johnson noted that family farmers are good stewards and seek opportunities to work to mitigate climate change, as demonstrated by NFU’s policies supporting acknowledgment of carbon sequestration and emission reductions through agricultural practices, biofuels and renewable energy. “The CEQ revised draft guidance will encourage assessment and discussion on GHG emissions, potentially leading to decisions that will mitigate climate change or increase climate resilience.”

Johnson commended CEQ for assisting agencies in making decisions when considering climate change implications, and contributing to cost-effectiveness and efficiency in government.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Climate Change, National Farmers Union

NFU Hits on Food Security, Food Sovereignty at Conference

October 10, 2014 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

From the National Farmers Union

NFU President Roger Johnson

NFU President Roger Johnson

National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson today discussed the role of family farming and cooperatives in food security and food sovereignty as part of a panel discussion at the International Summit of Cooperatives in Quebec City, Canada.

“Family farms and ranches worldwide are the cultural, social, economic, and security cornerstones of every nation,” said Johnson. “Forty percent of the world’s households directly depend on family farming, and every person who eats also depends on family farmers.”

The International Summit of Cooperatives, held annually, brought together nearly 200 leading experts and more than 2500 participants from 42 countries to share their knowledge on innovation in sustainability, development, employment, food security, and the economics of cooperatives.

Johnson noted that despite agricultural production in the United States shifting to large farms, trends also indicate an increase in new, yet smaller, farms.

“Americans want families to own and operate farms and ranches,” said Johnson. “Consumers want local foods, and demand is creating new opportunities.”

Johnson also noted that in the United States, farmers and ranchers have been successfully involved in cooperatives for nearly 100 years. Farmers Union’s own history is closely tied with the cooperative movement, having developed and supported thousands of cooperatives over the decades. “Cooperatives and agriculture go hand-in-hand,” said Johnson.

“Co-ops provide farmers and ranchers with lower-cost inputs, higher income through marketing and processing, financial resources, access to electrical utilities and communications technology, and connections to consumers.”

The five panelists also discussed the idea that family agriculture is the basis for sustainable production to move towards food security. Johnson pointed out the many benefits of food security in the United States.

“Food security has allowed the U.S. economy to expand into technology, manufacturing, entertainment and heavy industry,” said Johnson. “Consumers spend less than 10 percent of their income on food and it also allows the U.S. to have programs to help feed the poor.”

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: 2014, Cooperatives, International Summit of Cooperatives, National Farmers Union, Roger Johnson

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