Ohio Farmers Union

Serving Family Farmers and Consumers Since 1934



United to Grow Family Agriculture Since 1934

Labor Dept. backs off on farm kids as child labor

By Leave a Comment

WASHINGTON (Feb. 1, 2012) – National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Labor announced that they are reevaluating the parental portion of the proposed child labor safety regulations for agriculture and agriculture-related jobs while moving forward with the hazardous occupation portions of the proposed rules:

“NFU is pleased that the administration listened to the concerns of the agriculture community and determined that these rules would hinder the ability of young workers to learn about agriculture while doing little to make them safer.

[Read more…]

Market competition is good for consumers, farmers and ranchers

By 1 Comment

The following op-ed by Roger Johnson, president of the National Farmers Union, made the rounds a few weeks ago. At the time, there was yet another concerted push on to get the Obama Administration to make final approval of the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration rule (GIPSA). Johnson makes the points very clearly below why final approval of GIPSA remains a key policy consideration of both the National and Ohio Farmers Union. It’s rather unbelievable at this point that rule making which actually protects the rights of family farmers, smaller livestock operators and consumers would be held up since 2010. Please consider sending President Barack Obama a letter or email today regarding your support of final implementation of GIPSA. – Ron

by Roger Johnson, National Farmers Union President

In June 2010, the U.S. government provided some simple clarifications to the law that governs the relationship between livestock producers and the meatpackers and processors who buy their animals. This proposed change, known as the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (or GIPSA) rule, would help to ensure fairness for individual producers and restore competition to agricultural markets. Predictably, it prompted immediate and vigorous backlash from meat processors.

What does the GIPSA rule, so demonized by packers and processors, actually do?

[Read more…]

Passage of currency reform will make trade agreements more fair

By Leave a Comment

WASHINGTON (Oct. 11, 2011) – National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed S. 1619, the Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act of 2011:

“We are very pleased that the Senate passed the Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act, because it is a comprehensive piece of legislation that uses U.S. trade law to counter the economic harm caused to U.S. farmers, ranchers and manufacturers due to currency manipulation. Before our trade can truly be fair, we need to ensure that all countries are playing by the same rules.

[Read more…]

National Farmers Union Calls on President Obama to Deny Keystone XL Pipeline Project

By Leave a Comment

NFU’s Johnson says current route could damage freshwater resources

WASHINGTON (Oct. 4, 2011) – National Farmers Union (NFU) submitted comments today on the proposed Keystone XL pipeline project, urging the Department of State (DOS) to deny issuance of a Presidential Permit.

“NFU policy opposes any infrastructure or resource development that jeopardizes the health, safety and quality of the Ogallala and other freshwater aquifer resources,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “NFU continues to have serious concerns regarding the proposed Keystone XL pipeline and the agency-preferred route as outlined in the FEIS.”

In the letter, NFU expressed concerns over the environmental impact of the proposed pipeline route.

“Pursuit of the agency-preferred route places in serious jeopardy the groundwater resources in the Ogallala aquifer and related natural resources upon which our nation and our family farmers, ranchers and rural residents depend,” said Johnson.

NFU’s Johnson says pending free trade agreements lack protections for American workers, farmers

By Leave a Comment

National Farmers Union says Congress should oppose FTAs until the playing field is level

WASHINGTON (Oct. 3, 2011) – National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson issued the following statement in regard to the submission of the Korea, Panama, and Colombia Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) for consideration by Congress:

“These three agreements are similar to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). Both of those agreements have worsened the U.S. trade deficit, because the U.S. does not compete on a level playing field with other nations. America adheres to higher labor and environmental standards than other nations, so U.S. companies incur costs that companies in other nations do not.

[Read more…]

NFU: Senate bill must pass to make trade agreements more fair

By Leave a Comment

Bill would help protect U.S. manufacturing & agriculture from currency manipulation by foreign governments

WASHINGTON (Sept. 30, 2011) – National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson sent a letter to U.S. Senate Leadership today urging them to pass S. 1619, the Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act of 2011. The bill would give the U.S. Treasury the authority to enforce existing currency manipulation laws with countries that trade with the U.S.

“The Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act is a comprehensive piece of legislation that uses U.S. trade law to counter the economic harm caused to U.S. farmers, ranchers and manufacturers due to currency manipulation,” said Johnson. “In addition to its 19 cosponsors, S. 1619 is supported by a broad coalition of farm, labor and manufacturing trade organizations and businesses.”

Unbalanced trade agreements have negative effects on the economy. They exacerbate our current trade deficit and cause job losses, which would be damaging to an already fragile economy.

“Before our trade can truly be fair, we need to ensure that all countries are playing by the same rules,” said Johnson. “For example, after signing the North American Free Trade Agreement, Mexico devalued its currency, wiping out most of the gains U.S. industries achieved in the agreement. This action set a precedent for our other trading partners, which continues today. As our country’s economic downturn continues, we cannot afford to continue to ignore the impact illegal currency manipulation has on the U.S. economy.”

 

NFU President says trade with Cuba makes sense

By Leave a Comment

WASHINGTON (Sept. 15, 2011) – National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee passed an amendment to allow direct cash transfers between U.S. and Cuban financial institutions by a vote of 20-10:

“NFU is encouraged that the Senate Appropriations Committee passed the amendment that would allow U.S. and Cuban financial institutions to directly transfer payments to each other. Currently those payments must be routed through a financial institution in another country, leading to additional fees and complications.

“NFU has long been a supporter of trade with Cuba. These self-imposed restrictions hurt our own domestic producers and make U.S. trade less competitive. The U.S. has exported $4 billion of agriculture goods to Cuba since 2000, and that number will grow with the elimination of this unnecessary trade barrier.

“At a time of high unemployment and stagnant economic growth, allowing direct cash transfers between the U.S. and Cuba provides a unique opportunity to create jobs and stimulate economic development in rural America. U.S. farmers and ranchers should be able to do business with customers in the United States’ backyard. It just makes sense. I encourage the full Senate to pass this amendment in its current form as quickly as possible.”

 

Five Ohio members of Congress receive award from NFU

By Leave a Comment

Five Ohio Members of Congress Recognized by NFU

(R-L) Sen. Sherrod Brown, Rep. Marcy Kaptur, Rep. Marcia Fudge, Rep. Betty Sutton and Rep. Tim Ryan

Five Ohio members of Congress were awarded the Golden Triangle Tuesday by the National Farmers Union for demonstrating leadership and supporting policies that benefit family farmers, rural residents, ranchers and fishermen.

The five Ohioans are:

  • U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio
  • U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo
  • U.S. Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Warrensville Heights
  • U.S. Rep. Betty Sutton, D-Copley
  • U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Niles

“Recipients of the Golden Triangle Award have been strong advocates for family farmers and ranchers, and exhibit similar principles and policies to Farmers Union,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “We are pleased to honor those who have proven to be true allies of our organization and our members across the country.”

Roger Wise, president of the Ohio Farmers Union said, “These members of Congress get it. The deck is stacked against family farmers and rural communities when it comes to policy and legislation. All five of these representatives have worked to ensure that our local economies are not left out in the cold when the big money interests show up on Capitol Hill.”

[Read more…]

Farm Policy: Weathering the Storm in Washington

By Leave a Comment

National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson spoke on a panel today at the American Sugar Association Sugar Symposium entitled, “Farm Policy’s Future: Weathering the Storm in Washington.” The symposium was held in Stowe, Vt.

“The 2012 Farm Bill faces quite a few hurdles, not the least of which is the budget situation,” said Johnson. “The passage of the debt ceiling bill in Congress should help give us a better idea of how much money the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate Agriculture Committees will have to write the legislation. We still do not know exactly how much money we will have to write the next farm bill. Only time will tell. We do know that there will be less money available for the next farm bill, so it is critical that the agriculture community comes together to ensure that the next farm bill has everything we need, even if it doesn’t have everything we want.”

Jerry Hagstrom, director and executive editor of the Hagstrom Report moderated the panel, which featured Johnson, Mary Kay Thatcher, director of Public Policy for the American Farm Bureau Federation, and Rick Tolman, CEO of the National Corn Growers Association.

“One of the most essential things that must be included in any farm bill is a strong safety net to protect family farmers and ranchers,” said Johnson. “The Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) Program has no funding baseline past this year, and 36 other farm bill programs, including four other disaster programs, have no funding past next year. We must ensure that SURE and other disaster programs receive the funding they need. Between 1996 and 2002, the federal government made $30 billion in emergency payments to farmers and ranchers because it cut the safety net from the 1996 Farm Bill, written during a time of high prices. We must not repeat that mistake. The cost to extend SURE and other disaster programs for five years is a much more reasonable $8.9 billion. In the long run, including disaster programs in the farm bill is cost-effective.”

NATIONAL FARMERS UNION

Click to Take Action



Contact

Ohio Farmers Union
P.O. Box 363
1011 N. Defiance Street
Ottawa, Ohio 45875
Phone: (419) 523-5300
Toll Free: (800) 321-3671