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Senate Debates
Farm Bill
Challenges Remain as Bill Moves Forward
Following committee approval, Chairman Harkin indicated
in press accounts the bill's permanent disaster program
could come under harsh criticism on the Senate floor, with
possible attempts made to use the program's funds for other
farm bill provisions. NFU is urging everyone to contact
their Senator and urge opposition to redirecting
disaster program funds to any other farm bill program.
It is unknown at this point what amendments will be
offered on the floor. Early indications from the Senate on
amendments include:
- Cuts to direct payments to fund nutrition or
conservation programs
- Payment limits
- AgJOBS
- Expanding Farm Credit System lending authority
- Banning horse slaughter for human consumption
- Adding Captive Supply Reform Act
We'll keep you updated as more information becomes
available, and look for a full recap of the week's events in
next week's e-newsletter. |
Schafer Nominated
for Secretary of Agriculture
News USDA Leadership Comes in Midst of 2007 Farm
Bill
 On Wednesday,
Oct. 31, President Bush nominated former North Dakota Governor Edward Schafer to
be secretary of agriculture. Schafer served as North
Dakota governor from 1992 to 2000.
NFU President Tom Buis commended the president for moving
expeditiously to fill the position, saying that it's
especially important as Congress is writing new federal farm
policy that will cover the next five years. "If confirmed, we
look forward to working with Governor Schafer in improving the
quality of life in rural America," Buis said.
North
Dakota Farmers Union President Robert Carlson, who
has firsthand experience working with Gov. Schafer, said the
nomination "makes sense."
"As governor, Ed Schafer and our organization worked on
several state and federal issues that were important to North
Dakota agriculture. We appreciated his tenacity in standing up
for farmers and ranchers. He was steadfast in his convictions,
regardless of political consequences," Carlson said.
The nomination caught many by surprise as it was expected
Bush would nominate Acting
Secretary Chuck Conner to fill the position vacated
by Mike Johanns in September. Conner praised
the nomination and, upon Schafer's confirmation,
will resume his position as Deputy Secretary.
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NFU Poll of the Week
Were you surprised by President Bush's
nomination for USDA's new Secretary of Agriculture, Ed
Schafer?
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Members'
Corner: Rick Pfanner-Missouri Farmers
Union
Highlighting Outstanding Members in Our
States
 Rick Pfanner is a
difficult farmer to track down.
Rick grew up on his family farm near Hunnewell, Missouri.
Hunnewell is a small rural community of about 250 in Northeast
Missouri, and the Pfanner farm is located four miles south, in
the heart of Missouri's farming country. After finishing high
school, Rick began full-time in the business that his parents
had started. For twenty-one years, Ricky, as his family and
friends refer to him, has been running the family farm with
his mother and two brothers. The Pfanner farm raises cattle
and sheep and produces corn, beans, wheat and milo.
Although he doesn't find his busy life allows him much
free time outside of farming and Farmers Union, Rick enjoys
hunting and fishing, but most of all enjoys spending time with
his newborn son, Blake. Friday, Nov. 2, also just happened to
be Rick, and his wife Dawn's first wedding anniversary.
Congratulations, Rick and Dawn.
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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. |
U.S. Climate Bill
Would Benefit Farmers
Farmers Earn Extra
Money Capturing Carbon from Land
 American
farmers will be able turn their dirt into cash
through climate change legislation that allows farmers to
capture carbon stored in soil. The bill would create a
potential $24 billion-a-year market for the
credits.
Like other climate change proposals in Congress, the bill
allows large carbon-creating companies to trade credits to
help meet new pollution requirements. The legislation was
approved Nov. 1 by a Senate subcommittee, and gives farmers a
stake in the potential market for emission credits.
NFU President Tom Buis said, "Rural America is the
solution for preventing further climate change, and this
legislation is a step in the right direction for our
environment and our nation's farmers and
ranchers." |
Montana Farmers
Union Annual Convention a Success
President and Board Elected, Youth Honored
 Alan
Merrill was re-elected as president of the Montana
Farmers Union at its 92nd annual meeting and
convention Oct. 27, in Great Falls. He will serve another
two-year term.
Merrill and his wife, Lorrie, are organic farmers
southeast of Big Sandy. Life-long members of Farmers Union,
the Merrill family has participated in all aspects of its
education program, and has served at the local and county
levels of the organization.
Others elected during the convention include:
- District 1: Leonard Stone - Geraldine
- District 3: Lyle Schwarzrock - Poplar
- District 5: Dan Downs - Molt
Conductor, Herb
Vasseur, Chinook
Doorkeeper, John Wendland - Rudyard
- National Farmers Union convention delegates are Bill
Courtnage, Geraldine; Tina Laas, Chester; and Randy
Roudebush, Geraldine. Alternates are Mel Vegge, Glasgow; and
Herb Vasseur, Chinook. Youth delegate is Raelee Bishop,
Brady.
Andrew Bishop, of Brady, Mont., received the Torchbearer Award. Bishop was elected
as a National Youth Advisory Council
member in 2007 and attends the University of Montana Tech in Butte,
where he majors in mathematics and engineering and also plays
football for the Orediggers. Bishop
lives on a fourth generation grain farm east of Brady with his
parents, Todd and Tedi Bishop, sister, Raelee, and
grandmother, Doris.
Three MFU junior youth received the Mildred
Stoltz Scholarship Award. Mildred Stoltz was MFU's
education director for more than 18 years. In her honor, the
Farmers Union Oil Company of Great Falls - now Mountain View
Co-op - set up a fund to recognize youth for the leadership
skills and cooperative spirit. The 2007 Mildred Stoltz
Recipients are:
- Madison Hembd, of Havre, granddaughter of Judy Hembd
- Tom Long, of Great Falls, son of Rita and Rex Coldren
- Emily McCune, of Great Falls, daughter of Tim and
Roberta McCune
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NFU Announces
2008 Internship Deadlines
Program Helps NFU Youths Real World Working
Experience
For spring semester internships, the postmark deadline is
Dec. 21; for summer internships, the deadline is Feb. 22;
and for fall/winter internships, the postmark deadline is
June 20.
NFU's Internship Program offers a "real world" working
experience with opportunities available in NFU's Washington,
D.C., government relations office or its headquarters near
Denver. NFU internships typically last two months and may be
tailored to the career goals of the individual. Internship
areas of interest include communications, cooperative
development, economics, education, membership marketing,
policy research and political science.
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State News
 Iowa: Iowa
Farmers Union will be hosting a Food
& Family Farm Presidential Summit this
Saturday, Nov. 10 in Des Moines. The event will take place in
Des Moines' downtown Marriott, 700 Grand Avenue, from
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. NFU President Tom Buis will be the
honorary chair for the event, along with IFU President Chris
Petersen and Vice President Kevin Miskell.
All Democratic and Republican 2008 Presidential
candidates have been invited. Each candidate in attendence
will share their ideas and plans for rural America should they
be elected President next November. Iowa elected officials,
local candidates and experts on sustainable agriculture will
also speak to members of the audience throughout the
day.
Tickets to the event are $30, and includes lunch. Doors
will open at 9:30 a.m. If you wish to stay at the Marriott, a
block of rooms has been reserved at a reduced rate; be
sure to mention Farmers Union to receive the discount.
You can RSVP to the event by contacting Iowa Farmers Union at
iowafarmersunionsummit@gmail.com or
by calling (515) 745-3140.
Wisconsin: Wisconsin Farmers Union,
along with several other organizations, are sponsoring a
weekend getaway: A Farm Women Gathering to Rest, Refresh
a Reconnect. The event will allow women to get away from the
farm to get needed rest and reconnect with other farm women.
The getaway will offer free health screenings through the
Aspirius Clinic in Weston, Wis.
The event will take place from 8:30 a.m. Nov. 10 to 2:00
p.m. Nov. 11 at the AmericanInn Weston. There is no cost to
attend the getaway; the meals and lodging are being covered by
grant funds. For more information contact Christy at harteau@juno.com or by calling (715)
723-4156.
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
October 2007
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The Senate will be
spending much of this week, and likely next
week, debating the 2007 Farm Bill. The 
Last week
National Farmers Union announced application deadlines for its
