The Senate began floor discussion of the farm bill on Nov. 5. Most of the day was spent hearing opening statements on the bill, while party leaders negotiated how amendments would be allowed for discussion on the floor.

 

Since the farm bill will likely be the final piece of legislation considered in 2007, it is seen by many as a very attractive avenue to offer non-farm bill related amendments. With so little time left in the 2007 Congressional calendar, time is not available to debate non-farm bill issues.

 

On Nov. 6, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., filled the amendment "tree" by offering five amendments and a motion to recommit, which would block all other amendments from floor discussion. As of press time, however, Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., have not been able to agree on the motion to recommit, nor has any other agreement on how to proceed with amendments been reached or announced.

 

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.

You can read more about the farm bill on NFU's website.

 

NFU President Tom Buis appeared on three radio shows last week to discuss the farm bill. Click on the pictures to listen:

11-8-07 Buis appeared on Watertown, South Dakota's KWAT Ag Hour, to disuss the farm bill and its passage timeline. Jason Frerichs, a member of South Dakota Farmers Union, was the show's guest host.

11-7-07 Buis appeared on NPR's The Diane Rehm Show along with Dan Morgan, Washington Post correspondent; Ken Cook, Environmental Working Group President; and Rep. Ron Kind, D-Wis., to discuss the farm bill.

 

On Nov. 10 nearly 400 Iowans, along with producers and consumers from across the country, attended the 2007 Food and Family Farm Presidential Summit. The event gave 2008 presidential candidates Barack Obama, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton, the chance to lay out their vision for rural America.

"It's important for rural America to hear from the candidates, and important for the candidates to share their views with those who live, work and raise their families in rural America," National Farmers Union President Tom Buis said.

Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley and Reps. Leonard Boswell and Bruce Braley, along with local agriculture leaders, also addressed the crowd.

Read coverage from a Iowa's KCRG.

Be sure to check back next week for a full write-up of the event, including photos and video.

 

National Farmers Union led a coalition letter sent to members of the Senate on Nov. 5, urging Senators to support the Supplemental Disaster Assistance Program and to oppose any efforts to redirect the program's funding to other farm bill programs.

 

Fifty-two agriculture-related groups joined NFU in the letter, saying the disaster program presents an opportunity to establish a predictable program for future weather-related disasters.

 

"The lack of a weather-related disaster program is the single biggest hole in the current safety net," NFU President Tom Buis said. "America's family farmers and ranchers have been feeding the world for more than 200 years and are increasingly fueling our nation. While they can do many things, they cannot control the weather."

 

Funding for a predictable weather-related disaster program is included in the agriculture tax package passed by the Senate Finance Committee last month and added to the Senate Agriculture Committee-approved farm bill.

 

Like any other 25 year-old, Paul Schroeder likes to hang out with his friends, go to the movies, watch football games and attend live concerts, particularly J.B. Beverley and the Wayward Drifters. But unlike most people his age, Paul has a Masters degree in Range Science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, has written a thesis entitled "Grazing System Effects on Cattle Diets in the Nebraska Sandhills" and is heavily involved in his family's farm operation as well as Nebraska Farmers Union.

Paul was born and raised in Ulysses, Neb., a small town of less than 300 in the eastern part of the state. Paul currently helps run the Schroeder family farm with his parents Mike and Diane, also Farmers Union members, where they raise cattle, chickens, corn, beans, wheat and alfalfa. Paul first started helping his dad with the family farm when he was in high school, and has returned to help full-time after completing his college education.

 

 

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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 part of 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:

Rick Pfanner, Missouri

Frank & Laura Jones, Michigan

Scott Magneson, California

 

Do you know someone you would like to feature from your state? Contact Amber Birtcher.

Michigan Farmers Union held its 70th anniversary convention Nov. 7 with 50 people in attendance. The group heard about food safety issues from NFU Government Relations Representative Anne Toeniskoetter. Jeff Moser, NFU's director of economic and cooperative development spoke about co-op programs, highlighting Michigan's involvement in farm forestry education workshops and the MFU Foundtion's revolving loan program. MFU member and summer intern at NFU's Denver office, Kyle Lawrence, talked about his experience in state legislation and at the Washington, D.C. fly-in.

 

John Parks, blueberry grower was elected to serve as a delegate to the NFU convention in Las Vegas March 2 - 4, 2008. Parks' wife, Inez, was elected Vice President of the MFU Foundation.

National Farmers Union Foundation and the cooperative community of the Upper Midwest are hosting a College Conference on Cooperatives Feb. 14 - 17, 2008, in Minneapolis. The conference, sponsored with a grant from CHS Foundation, is designed to give college students a thorough understanding of cooperatives, the foundations upon which they are built and the career opportunities they offer.

 

This conference is designed for post-secondary students, instructors and advisors of all degree programs as well as high school agriculture or business instructors. With presenters from across the cooperative spectrum, the College Conference on Cooperatives is beneficial both to beginning students of cooperatives and to students with some previous cooperative education.

 

The deadline for registration is Jan. 25; register early because space is limited. For more information, contact your state Farmers Union education director.

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!

 

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Additional Las Vegas Information:

 

Bally's Hotel and Casino Resort - Las Vegas

 

Taken from "Agricultural Prices," USDA/NASS.