How to Work with FDA on Food Guidance Documents

January 31, 2017News

How to Work with FDA on Food Guidance DocumentsBy London Muegge, Education InternContact: Chelsea Matzen, 202-554-1600cmatzen@nfudc.orgJanuary 31, 2017If you are a food industry association and want to create a guidance document to help your members meet federal standards, what’s the best way to involve the FDA in this effort? The agency drafts its own documents, … Read More

Access to Land: Farming on County Property

January 31, 2017Beginning Farmers

By Jimmy Dula, NFU Intern As land values in many parts of the county continue to rise, and as urban development threatens rural landscapes, county governments have begun taking stewardship of farmland and its development rights in order to make the land available to farmers. Though programs vary in structure and funding, they share the … Read More

Chapter Elects First Female Muslim President in NFU History

January 30, 2017Blog

By Tommy Enright, Wisconsin Farmers Union Communications Associate The Wood-Portage-Waupaca County Chapter of Wisconsin Farmers Union made history in November with the election of Alicia Razvi, a CSA farmer from Stevens Point, as their chapter president. Razvi served as the chapter’s secretary/treasurer for two years prior to her election to the office of president. “Two … Read More

What Can Farmers Do About Climate Change? Forest Farming

January 30, 2017Climate Column

By Tom Driscoll, Director of Conservation Policy and NFU Foundation Last week, the Climate Column discussed one practice, alley cropping, that builds climate resilience of farmland by incorporating trees. The National Agroforesty Center (NAC) promotes other such practices, including forest farming. Forest farming “is the cultivation of high-value specialty crops under the protection of a forest canopy that has been … Read More

Access to Markets: Organic Q&A With Harrison Topp

January 26, 2017Beginning Farmers

By Jimmy Dula, NFU Intern Harrison Topp, NFU member and Director of Membership for Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, is the operator of Topp Fruits in Paonia, Colorado. Topp holistically manages the stone fruit orchard, giving special consideration to environmental stewardship and resource management. The orchard first received organic certification two years ago. In this Q&A, Harrison … Read More

Access to Markets: Organic Certification

January 24, 2017Beginning Farmers

By Hannah Packman, NFU Communications Coordinator Although Organic Certification has only been offered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for about 15 years, there are already more than 20,000 organic operations nationwide. According to the USDA, Organic Certification is given to operations that “demonstrate that they are protecting natural resources, conserving biodiversity, and … Read More

NFU Statement on U.S. Withdrawal from Trans-Pacific Partnership

January 23, 2017Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 23, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3102 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON (January 23, 2017) – A staunch opponent of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement, National Farmers Union (NFU) applauded the Trump Administration’s decision to withdraw the U.S. from the deeply flawed TPP trade agreement. NFU President Roger Johnson released the following statement in … Read More

What Can Farmers Do About Climate Change? Alley Cropping

January 23, 2017Climate Column

By Tom Driscoll, Director of Conservation Policy and NFU Foundation The Climate Column has covered many practices supported by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). In addition to its own work promoting conservation practices, NRCS also collaborates with the United States Forest Service to provide resources through the National Agroforestry Center (NAC) to help farmers contribute to climate resilience. NAC promotes … Read More

Access to Education: Young Farmers Conference

January 19, 2017Beginning Farmers

By Christy Ottinger, Manager of Little Gunpowder Farm As a beginning farmer, I try to seize every opportunity to further my education and learn more about all aspects of farming. Thus far, I have done this by attending conferences during the winter, participating in NFU’s Beginning Farmers Institute, and enrolling in short workshops during the season. … Read More

NFU Statement on Sonny Perdue’s Nomination to Agriculture Secretary

January 19, 2017Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 18, 2017 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON (January 18, 2017) – President-elect Donald Trump today selected former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue to be the U.S. Agriculture Secretary in the incoming Trump administration. National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson released the following statement in response to today’s announcement: “Given the … Read More