Grass Roots Policy | New England Farmers Union

Spirited Convention Includes Keynotes from Sec. Vilsack, Gen. Clark

March 16, 2016Conservation, Consumers, Country of Origin Labeling, Direct to Consumer, Farming Practices, GMO, Grass Roots Policy, National Farmers Union, NEFU Members, Trade, Transparency in Labeling

Family farmers and ranchers are the best advocates for agriculture, and over the last four days, the National Farmers Union has provided more than 500 members and delegates of the 114th Anniversary Convention with the advocacy tools they need to be better informed about topics important to farm policy and the industry. “We came to … Read More

Secretary Vilsack, General Clark to Keynote NFU Convention

February 11, 2016Farm Tours, Farmer Leaders, Grass Roots Policy, National Farmers Union, NEFU Members, USDA

Farmers and ranchers attending the National Farmers Union (NFU) 114th Anniversary Convention will have the opportunity to hear from high-ranking experts in food and ag policy. NFU is pleased to announce U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and General Wesley Clark as keynote speakers at the annual convention, which kicks off March 5 and … Read More

Direct Marketing is Invaluable for Consumer Education on Agriculture

February 3, 2016Beginning Farmers, Consumers, Direct to Consumer, Farm Bill, farm-to-school, Farmer Leaders, Farmers Markets, Grass Roots Policy, House Agriculture Committee, Meat and Poultry, National Farmers Union, NEFU Members, USDA

GUEST BLOG POST By Katie Fisher, government relations intern, National Farmers Union On Feb. 2, the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture and Research held a hearing examining the opportunities and challenges in direct marketing. It provided first-hand accounts from farmers and ranchers involved in direct marketing ventures, such as local farmers markets, direct to restaurant or … Read More

150 Meet in Greenfield for New Farmer Gathering

December 14, 2015Beginning Farmers, Cooperatives, Educational Opportunities, Farm Transfer Issues, Farm Workers, Food Desert, Food Justice, Grass Roots Policy, NEFU Members, Regional Food Systems, Regional Policy, Socially Disadvantaged Farmers, Urban Agriculture, Women Producers

New farmers assembled the Arts Block in Greenfield, Massachusetts, on Dec. 12 from all over New England, New York state, and even Canada for the Northeast New Farmer Winter Gathering. Roughly 150 attendees arrived with enthusiasm and energy to participate in an anti-oppression training facilitated by representatives of Springfield-based Gardening the Community. Liz Wills-O’Gilvie and … Read More

Convention Paints Strong Picture of Local Agriculture

November 12, 2015Beginning Farmers, Climate Change, Conservation, Consumers, Cooperatives, Country of Origin Labeling, Direct to Consumer, Farm Bill, Farm Bill 2013, Farm Demographics, Farm Economics, Farm Transfer Issues, Farm Workers, farm-to-school, Farm-to-Table, Farmer Leaders, Farmers Markets, Farmland Preservation, Food Hubs, Food Labels, FSA, FSMA, Grass Roots Policy, National Farmers Union, NEFU Members, Regional Food Systems, Regional Policy, SNAP, Trade, USDA

New England Farmers Union’s sixth annual convention, Gearing Up for Success, drew roughly 60 members of the farming community when it met on Nov. 6-8 at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord, NH. Attendees heard from national, regional, state, and local agricultural leaders on subjects such as federal agricultural policy, food safety, local and regional … Read More

Now’s the Time to Submit a Change to the Policy Book

October 6, 2015Grass Roots Policy, NEFU Members

New England Farmers Union looks to you, our members, for important insight into the issues and concerns of farmers. This will guide our advocacy work in the region’s statehouses and in Washington, D.C., in the coming year. Our convention is approaching (November 6-8 in Concord, NH), and we invite you to present policy recommendations for consideration. It … Read More

New England Fly-In Group’s Got Dairy Covered

September 21, 2015Dairy, Farmer Leaders, Fly-In, Grass Roots Policy, National Farmers Union, Organic Producers, Women Producers

Five New England Farmers Union members attended the 2015 National Farmers Union Legislative Fly-In last week, and three of the attendees are dairy farmers. Mary Castonguay milks Ayrshires in Maine; Allie Bates works on her family’s dairy farm and makes goat cheese, also in Maine. Both Castonguay and Bates are members of the Organic Valley … Read More

New Tool Helps You Take Action

August 20, 2015Consumers, Country of Origin Labeling, Grass Roots Policy, National Farmers Union, NEFU Members

National Farmers Union (NFU) today is launching a new online advocacy tool, the NFU Action Center, which will allow users to keep track of key issues affecting family agriculture and rural communities, and take action on these issues with the click of a button. You will be able to: Stay up-to-date with key issues, bills … Read More

Pipeline’s Concerns Outweigh Benefits

August 19, 2015Conservation, Environment, Grass Roots Policy, Legal Issues

The Northeast Energy Direct Pipeline is a project currently being proposed by Kinder Morgan Energy’s subsidiary, the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co (TGP). The pipeline route would start in Wright, NY, head south to Hancock, Mass., northeast to Northfield, Mass., and then eastward across southern New Hampshire to a hub in Dracut, Mass. The pipeline would … Read More

Farmer Input Will Improve CSP

August 18, 2015Conservation, Farm Bill 2013, Farming Practices, Grass Roots Policy

The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is designed to help farmers and ranchers maintain natural resources and adopt conservation practices on agricultural land. Participants earn performance-based payments for these practices, such as cover cropping, highly diversified crop rotations, and managed rotational grazing. Administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), CSP also provides … Read More