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Senate Ag Committee
Passes 2007 Farm Bill
NFU Priorities Included in Legislation
The Senate bill includes a $5 billion permanent disaster assistance program
that will provide a helping hand to producers struck by
devastating weather conditions. "The single biggest hole in
the current safety net is the lack of a permanent disaster
program. Weather-related disasters are going to occur and this
program will provide the assurance producers need to continue
another year," NFU President Tom Buis said.
Interstate shipment of state-inspected meat and mandatory
country of origin labeling (COOL) were also included in the
bill. NFU played a vital role in reaching a COOL compromise
agreement this summer and announced an agreement on interstate
shipment Tuesday.
The bill also protects the safety net for farmers when
prices fall; bans packer ownership of livestock; restores the
Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program to original support
levels; includes a competition title; $1.3 billion in fuels
from the farm, $3.7 billion for conservation, $4.2 billion for
nutrition, $500 million for rural development; and increases
funding for specialty crop producers.
The bill now heads to the Senate floor, likely the
week of Nov. 5, followed by a Senate-House conference
committee to work out the two bill's differences and then to
the President's desk.
"I am hopeful the full Senate will take up the farm bill
soon, as the 2002 Farm Bill expired last month and farmers and
ranchers across the country need to know what type of federal
farm policy they will be operating under next year," Buis
said.
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NFU Poll of the Week
Do you think the 2007 Farm Bill will get
to the President's desk before the end of the
year?
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Members'
Corner: Frank & Laura Jones-Michigan Farmers
Union
Highlighting Outstanding Members in Our
States
 Last Thursday
night, Frank and Laura Jones attended a special dinner hosted
by chef Roger Bowser of Zingerman's Deli in Ann Arbor. Bowser
hosts these gourmet dinners every few months to promote local
producers and products in his restaurant, and this time around
the Joneses were the featured guests. Bowser says of the
Joneses' poultry, "Every time I get ahold of a bird from Earth
Shine Farm, I roast it in nothing but salt and pepper, then
share it with as many friends as I can."
Frank and Laura Jones have been raising pasteurized
poultry for 10 years. Together, they run Earth Shine
Farm, a ten-acre organic poultry farm outside Durand, Mich.,
that annually processes and supplies 1,500 table birds
directly to consumers and to high-end restaurants mostly
within a 45 mile radius of Durand. The Joneses' birds
often make it to the tables of nationally-recognized
restaurants and the chefs have nothing but praise for the
poultry.
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**Each week, our members get to hear about NFU's
work on Capitol Hill and around the United States.
Now, we are going to show you what our members are
doing across the country. This is the second in a series
of Member Profiles that will appear each week in the
e-newsletter. Check back to get to know your fellow Farmers
Union members!
Read our previous profiles:
Do you know someone you would like to
feature from your state? Contact Amber
Birtcher. | |
Show Your NFU
Pride through Logowear
Apparel Available on Our Website
 NFU's website now
allows members to show off the organization's logo on custom
apparel.
Available on the site are shirts, hats, jackets, sweats
and blankets, among other items. Sizes and styles are
available for men, women and youth. For most items, you can
choose different colors for the apparel and NFU's logo. NFU's
logo is featured on quality, name-brand items including
Lacoste, Tommy Hilfiger and Nike.
NFU has set up a secure credit card transation and orders
can be sent to a different address and include a note,
making NFU's logowear a perfect gift! Visit
NFU's logowear store today and stylishly
promote Farmers Union! |
Michigan FU
Foundation Revolving Loan
Program
Foundation
Financially Helps Developing Co-ops
 Michigan Farmers Union recently
announced Earth
Shine Farm, owned by Frank and Laura Jones who are
highlighted above in this week's Member
Profile, became the first borrower to fully pay off
their loans issues through the MFUF Revolving Loan Program.
The farm is a pastured poultry enterprise of rural Durand,
Mich.
Established in 1999 with a grant from the United
States Department of Agriculture, the program is
designed to help farmers and rural citizens in Michigan
improve their farming systems or rural businesses through the
formation of new agricultural cooperatives. Individuals and
groups are eligible for low-interest loans from $2,500 to
$10,000 when funds are available and when the funding cycle
permits. The payback period is three to five years depending
on the size and scope of projects. NFU provides ongoing co-op
development technical assistance.
The revolving loan fund program has nine other individual
and start up co-ops in Michigan as borrowers. Borrowers rely
on the support and advice with their projects from various
groups and individuals including Michigan State University, MFU
leaders and others. |
NFU Attents FFA
National Convention in Indianapolis
Event Booth Helped Promote Farmers
Union
 National Farmers
Union interacted with almost 2,000 FFA students and advisors
last week through its booth at the National FFA Convention Career Show,
Oct. 24 - 27.
Young people from 46 states stopped by the booth to test
their knowledge about Farmers Union in order to win a "Family
Farms Rock!" t-shirt or music download card. Hundreds of young
people signed the Farmers Union guest book and shared their
contact information to receive additional information about
Farmers Union in the future.
"Indianapolis was a sea of blue with more than 54,000
students walking around in their FFA jackets!" said NFU
Education Director Laura Johnston Monchuk. "Most
were unaware of the opportunities for leadership, internships
and scholarships that Farmers Union provides young
adults. This was an outstanding opportunity to plant the
Farmers Union seed with FFA students, parents and advisors for
their future membership and
involvement." |
State News
Wisconsin: At a special member meeting
on Oct. 19, Wisconsin Farmers Union delegates
adopted several key bylaw changes. Among the changes adopted
were the creation of an at-large board position and the
decision to open the board of directors to a wider pool of
qualified candidates, along with several other minor
changes.
At the meeting, WFU president Sue Beitlich also announced
that she will not seek re-election at WFU's annual convention
in February. She has served as WFU president since 2003.
"I am ready to leave this office and to simply enjoy
being a member of this fine organization. I am proud of the
accomplishments we have made in becoming a stronger, more
visible farm organization in Wisconsin and nationally. We have
improved our financial position and are poised to increase our
membership as well," Beitlich said.
Minnesota: Minnesota Farmers Union will be
sponsoring two tax seminars, "Innovative Tax Tools for
Minnesota Farmers." Topics will include non-cash commodity
wages; spousal employment; family medical
reimbursement and health insurance plans; farm rental
real estate; gifts of crop and compensation to children;
farmers and Section 179 deduction; depreciation deductions for
farmers and ranchers; capital gains and dividend rates; crop
insurance deferral election; CCC loan elections and FSA
payments; Section 1031 like kind exchange issues; farm income
averaging; domestic production activities deduction for
farmers; charitable gifts of raised commodities; and prepaid
farm expenses.
Former IRS agent Steve Rheaume will be conducting the
seminars, which are free and open to the public. The first
seminar will be held Nov. 7 from 1:00-3:30 at the Initiative
Foundation in Little Falls. The second seminar will be Nov. 8
from 9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at Charlie's Cafe in Freeport. For
more information or to register call MFU at (800)
969-3380.
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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The 
