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For Immediate Release: Jan. 27, 2012
Contact: 202-554-1600
WASHINGTON (Jan. 27, 2012) – World Farmers Organization (WFO) President and National Farmers Union Vice President For International Affairs Robert Carlson attended the World Economic (WE) Forum in Davos, Switzerland, this week at the request of the forum’s leadership. The forum meets annually to develop strategy to improve the state of the world. The gathering is a high-level assembly of business and government leaders from around the world, and is privately financed.
“I am here because the world’s leaders are deeply worried about our ability as farmers to feed a growing world population and they want to hear farmers’ voices to find solutions,” said Carlson. “The good news is that agriculture has never received such prominent attention since the end of World War II, but there are some real challenges for us, too. Water supplies for irrigation are being drawn down faster than they are being recharged and the demands for using fertilizer and pesticides more efficiently and sparingly are real. On top of that, we face the uncertain effects of climate change. We know it is happening, but we don’t really know how it will affect our individual farm production. The bottom line is that we are being asked to produce more with less.”
Agriculture, water use, energy development, and climate change are interconnected in a complex relationship that demands different solutions in different parts of the world. The WE Forum is dedicated to finding efficient, decentralized and practical solutions as quickly as possible through partnerships between private business and government policy. In the developing countries, that means a combination of many improvements to increase farm production, including sources of credit, property rights, plant and animal research, and a whole series of infrastructure improvements such as road transportation, farm supply businesses, storage for fruit, vegetables and grains and meat, and an extension service, things that already exist for the developed world’s farmers.
“To feed another 2 billion people in the next 40 years is a huge opportunity for agriculture, and we know that we can do it because we have before,” said Carlson. “The main point that I make at these meetings is one that is sometimes overlooked in the larger world view: if the world wants farmers to produce more food and fiber in a more sustainable manner, we will do it if we get a price for our products that yields us a profit. Every farmer, whether they are in a poorer country or a richer country, wants to make a profit and improve the quality of life for her or his family. We will make the investments in assets to improve production and efficiency if we have a price incentive and the ability to control some of our economic risk.”
National Farmers Union has been working since 1902 to protect and enhance the economic well-being and quality of life for family farmers, ranchers and rural communities through advocating grassroots-driven policy positions adopted by its membership.
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For Immediate Release: Jan. 27, 2012
Contact: 202-554-1600
WASHINGTON (Jan. 27, 2012) – National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson issued the following statement today to urging U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Ron Kirk to pursue a robust appeals process on the recent decision of the World Trade Organization (WTO) that ruled against the United States’ implementation of the country-of-origin-labeling (COOL) law:
“NFU has a proud record of supporting COOL. We were instrumental in getting the COOL laws passed in 2002 and again in 2008.
“We will oppose any attempt to change that law. Fortunately, the WTO decision against U.S. country-of-origin-labeling did not find fault with our law. It simply found fault with the rules and regulations which were used to implement the law.
“As the office of the USTR contemplates its approach to the WTO decision, we urge them to mount a robust and vigorous defense of COOL.
“We are aware that behind the scenes attempts at negotiating a settlement to the WTO decision have some stakeholders arguing that we must weaken our law. We strongly disagree and urge a fervent defense.
“Consumers have a right to know where their meat comes from – and they overwhelmingly want to know just that.”
The labeling law was passed as a part of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 and amended in 2008. COOL requires retailers to notify their customers of the source of certain foods. Canada and Mexico filed a complaint against the United States’ law, which led to the recent ruling. The deadline for filing an appeal to the WTO decision is March 23, 2012.
National Farmers Union has been working since 1902 to protect and enhance the economic well-being and quality of life for family farmers, ranchers and rural communities through advocating grassroots-driven policy positions adopted by its membership.
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For Immediate Release: Jan. 24, 2012
Contact: 202-554-1600
WASHINGTON (Jan. 24, 2012) – National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson issued the following statement following President Obama’s State of the Union Address today:
“We are pleased that the president and the administration have renewed their pledge to the United States’ energy independence. As the president said, we need to seek ‘a future where we’re in control of our own energy, and our security and prosperity aren’t so tied to unstable parts of the world. An economy built to last, where hard work pays off, and responsibility is rewarded.’ Homegrown energy is how we keep money, jobs and families in rural America.
“Rebuilding the economy begins in rural America. It begins with U.S. family farmers and ranchers who provide food, fiber and American-made fuel. The farm bill is largest investment in rural America, and in order toensure family farms and rural America can continue to prosper, it must be passed in 2012.
“We are encouraged by the president’s announcement of the formation of a trade enforcement unit. Trade is a necessity for U.S. agriculture, but we must all play by the same rules. This group will be critical to farmers and ranchers, ensuring that they have a level playing field in marketing their products.”
National Farmers Union has been working since 1902 to protect and enhance the economic well-being and quality of life for family farmers, ranchers and rural communities through advocating grassroots-driven policy positions adopted by its membership.
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For Immediate Release: Jan. 23, 2012
Contact: 202-554-1600
WASHINGTON (Jan. 23, 2012) – National Farmers Union (NFU) is pleased with the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent unanimous decision in National Meat Association v. Harris in which the court ruled that hogs suffering from fatigued hog syndrome are fit for slaughter once they have rested and recovered from their travel. NFU was a party on the victorious side of this lawsuit. The decision overturned an earlier ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals which prevented such animals from being slaughtered.
“We are pleased that the Supreme Court used sound science to determine that animals that are fatigued from being transported are simply tired, not sick, as the state of California attempted to allege,” said NFU President Roger Johnson.
The lawsuit was filed by National Farmers Union and a group of agricultural organizations in response to a California statute that would have prohibited non-ambulatory animals, including those with fatigued pig syndrome, from being used for human consumption.
“These animals represent absolutely no health risk for consumers, so they should not be removed from the supply chain,” said Johnson. “Removing them only decreases the number of animals available for consumption and drives up food costs, while increasing bureaucratic red tape. The Supreme Court’s ruling is supported by science, and benefits consumers, slaughterhouses, and America’s family farmers and ranchers.”
National Farmers Union has been working since 1902 to protect and enhance the economic well-being and quality of life for family farmers, ranchers and rural communities through advocating grassroots-driven policy positions adopted by its membership.
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