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Farm Bill Update
Harkin and Conrad Release Farm
Bill Proposals, NFU Urges Action
 Senate Agriculture
Committee Chairman Tom
Harkin, D-Iowa, and Senate Budget Committee
Chairman Kent
Conrad, D-N.D., each recently released program
funding level proposals for the 2007 Farm Bill.
Harkin's proposal released on Sept. 27,
includes across-the-board cuts of 12.5 percent on direct
payments plus additional decreases when market prices are
high. NFU has been urging the Senate to implement a permanent
disaster assistance program, which Harkin's proposal
includes. The disaster program will total $5
billion, provided through the Senate Finance
Committee.
Harkin's proposal would increase spending on all programs
by $18.2 billion. It would also increase
spending on the commodity title by $500 million,
specialty crops by $900 million, nutrition by $4.2 billion,
conservation by $4 billion, energy by $2 billion, rural
development by $750 million, trade programs - including food
aid - by $500 million, research by $200 million, credit
programs by $30 million and miscellaneous programs by $100
million.
Conrad's proposal, released on Sept. 26,
includes direct payment cuts when market prices are
higher than the average cost of production. Conrad and Senate
Finance Committee Chairman Max
Baucus, D-Mont., have insisted the new farm law
authorize a permanent disaster aid
program.
With the 2002 Farm Bill expiring yesterday, Sept.
30, NFU joined a coalition urging
Senate leadership to find a quick and favorable
resolution to the funding and other outstanding issues that
are holding up action on this important legislation.
The Senate Finance Committee is set to mark-up
a tax package this Wednesday, Oct. 3, that will
fund a permanent disaster program, among other farm bill
provisions. Harkin has said he will wait until the Finance
Committee has finished its mark before moving
forward with the farm
bill. |
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NFU President Tom Buis
Attends Food Safety Conference
Leaders Hold Discussions about America's
Food Policy
 On Thursday
afternoon, Sept. 27, NFU
President Tom Buis spoke at the National
Food Policy Conference, hosted by the Consumer Federation of America.
Buis was on the panel "Farm Bill Analysis - What Has
Congress Wrought?" along with Stacy Dean, Director of Food
Assistance Policy for the Center on Budget and Policy
Priorities and Scott Faber, Vice President of Federal Affairs
for the Grocery Manufacturers Association/Food Products
Association.
"Family farmers and ranchers deserve a farm
bill that will allow them to get a price from the
marketpalce," Buis said. "The House
bill moves in that direction and we are urging the
Senate to go further by funding a permanent disaster program and strong
competition title."
In its thirtieth year, the conference is a key national
gathering for agriculture, food and nutrition
policy. More than 60 speakers and panelists
explored today's critical food policy issues with a diverse
mix of policymakers, advocates and
scientists. |
Permanent
Disaster Press Conference Video
Online
Video footage of last week's press conference on the need
for permanent disaster relief is now available at the NFU
Video Gallery. All videos are broadcast with
QuickTime. Click HERE to install QuickTime on your
computer.
NFU President Tom Buis and Sens. Max Baucus,
D-Mont., Kent Conrad, D-N.D., Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., Orrin
Hatch, R-Utah, Ken Salazar, D-Colo., Jon Tester, D-Mont. and
John Thune, R-S.D. spoke at the event. Click on the
images below to see clips:
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Letter from Langdon:
Lobbyist - and Patriot - for a Day
NFU
Blog By Richard Oswald, Missouri Farmers Union
Member
 The U.S.
Constitution gives citizens the right to petition their
government. Every once in a while, it's good to do that...in
person.
After a layover in the City of Brotherly Love, I'm on my
way home. I feel a bit of a glow.
As I write this, I'm sitting in the airport in
Philadelphia. Although I got a quick look out the window of
the plane on the way in, it didn't really do justice to
Independence Hall. This is not the best way to see
Philadelphia.
The reason I'm here has nothing to do with Pennsylvania,
and everything to do with freedom. You see, I just spent three
days honoring the Constitution. For the first three days of
the third week of September, I donated my time to serve as an
unpaid lobbyist, visiting Congressional offices in Washington,
DC...
If you have blog topics, ideas, stories or if you would
like to post on NFU's blog, please contact Amber
Birtcher. |
Scholarships Help
with College Expenses This Fall
NFU Youth Benefit Through Education Programs
Rebecca
Ponick of Stanley, Wis., was awarded National
Farmers Union Foundation's $2,000 Hubert K. Seymour
scholarship. Six
young adults were awarded $500 Stanley Moore
scholarships through the NFU Foundation: Ashley Willis,
Kingfisher, Okla.; Charlotte Jackson, New Cambria, Mo.; Erica
Manternach, Hopkinton, Iowa; Darius Wendland, Rudyard, Mont.;
Katie Bylin, Adams, N.D. and Jordan Davison, Wray, Colo.
The Farmers Union Marketing and Processing Foundation
also awarded five $1,500 regional Stanley Moore scholarships
for Farmers Union members in Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota,
South Dakota and Wisconsin. The winners were: Justin
Beitlich, Madison, Wis.; Leah Carlson, Glenburn, N.D.; Stanley
Gonsoir, Groton, S.D.; Ty Schulz, Zumbrota, Minn. and Lisa
Scott, Rapid City, S.D.
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e-cooperatives.com,
Connecting Producers and Consumers
NFU Provides Opportunity to Advertise and Buy Local
Products
 Connecting
consumers with America's food producers is the goal of
"e-dash-cooperatives-dot-com," an innovative Internet portal
to quality products on farms, co-ops and rural businesses. The
site is managed by National Farmers Union. Family farms and
co-ops list and advertise their products on www.e-cooperatives.com. Consumers who
visit the site are able to search for quality foods and
specialty farm products by category, location and growing and
handling methods. |
State News
Ohio: Ohio
Farmers Union sponsored an "Ohio Flavors" recipe
contest in August. Recipes were judged on the use of Ohio
products, taste, originality and appearance. The first-round
judge was OFU member Dorthea Schaefer, a contester featured in
the book and movie The Prize Winner of Defiance,
Ohio. A panel of OFU executive committee members made the
final selections.
The place winners and their cash prizes were: First, $500
- Sheree Lewis, Second, $100 - Teresa Maag and third, $50
- Ruth Ann Yancey. Runners up were Janet Hertel, Sandra Wise
and Beverly Miller.
Texas: Texas
Farmers Union is earning revenue through bingo
games. Charitable gambling was established in Texas in 1981,
and TFU has been collecting money for almost 12 years,
according to TFU president Wes Sims. The income is used for
scholarships, educational forums and to help send members to
fly-ins.
The bingo games are regulated by the Texas Lottery
Commission and groups must have a license to run games,
operate bingo halls and to make or sell bingo supplies and
equipment. Most organizations, including TFU hire another
group to host the games for them. The charitable organizations
pay rent on the space and for the bingo equipment and
employees who run the game. All proceeds after paying
employees and taxes must go to charity.
Nebraska: Nebraska Farmers Union members Keith
and Connie Schumacher of Hemingford, Neb., served
home-made ice cream Sept. 15 - 16 at the FARM (Farm and Ranch
Museum) Harvest Festival in Gering. The Schumachers have
attended the event for the last four year where visitors
purchase and enjoy their cold treat. The couple donates all
proceeds, which average $700 per year, to the museum.
Have NFU news you want to share? Send
any info about meetings, conventions, state fairs, individual
members' success, state government news, or anything else
relevant to NFU and its members to Amber
Birtcher. |
| Join Us in Las
Vegas!
 NFU's 2008
Convention will be held March 2-4 at Bally's in Las Vegas.
Guaranteed to be an exciting mix of top-notch speakers, policy
makers and Farmers Union members from across the country, the
2008 NFU Convention is a can't miss event.
Last year we were privileged to have House Speaker Nancy
Pelosi provide the keynote address and we are looking forward
to another successful event in 2008. See you in Las
Vegas!
Additional Las Vegas Information:
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Farmer's Share of Retail Food
Dollar
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Farm Price
Barometer
September 2007
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This fall, many
young adults are attending colleges and universities with the
help of the 
