We are very pleased to post Stephen’s final essay here (Final.May2015.Tolpinrud.Coexistence) and grateful for the opportunity to have worked with him and fellow students through Dr. Graddy-Lovelace’s program.
Are Dairy Farmers Facing the Year 2009 Again?
With dairy farmers’ prices plummeting $9.50 per cwt. (hundred weight) from the high point of $26.16 in September 2014 down to the present level of $16.66, it makes one wonder if the net result will come close to the 2009 massacre.
USFRA Promotes Agribusiness, Not Farmers
The USFRA was created in 2011 as a trade association uniting Big Ag corporations (such as Monsanto, Cargill and DuPont Pioneer) and marketing groups for commodities (including corn, soybeans, beef and pork). Take note: some of these groups are farmer-funded, but in reality, farmers have no choice but to fund them, and it is often at their own expense.
Glyphosate IS everywhere!
I thought this would be a pretty simple first blog post – Monsanto’s Roundup Contaminates More than Just the Food on the Store Shelves – but breast milk?
Legislative Update from D.C.
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack appeared before the House Agriculture Committee last week to discuss the state of the rural economy and field questions on the implementation of the Farm Bill. Over the past few weeks USDA officials have appeared before the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to discuss USDA’s proposed budget for FY2015. And as always, bills are being introduced on the Hill that would have real impacts on the lives of farmers. Here are some key highlights:
NFFC Board President Notes Progress and Setbacks in 2014 Farm Bill
Read NFFC’s President Ben Burkett Review of 2014 Farm Bill
NFFC Dairy Leader Proposes Milk Price Proposal to Agriculture Committees
To: Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chair of the Senate Ag Committee,
Senator Thad Cochran, Minority Chair of the Senate Ag Committee
Rep. Frank Lucas; Chair; House Ag Committee
Rep. Colin Peterson, Minority Chair; House Ag Committee
Food Safety Modernization Act Update
NFFC joined approximately 300 farms, farm businesses and allied organizations on this Food Safety Modernization Act sign-on letter defending the Tester-Hagan exemption. It was submitted to the USDA as a formal comment on FSMA to both the Produce Safety and the Preventive Controls rule.
The Food Sovereignty Prize from New York Debrief
On October 15th, the US Food Sovereignty Alliance hosted the 5th annual Food Sovereignty Prize at Cooper Union in New York City. Representatives of the honorees and USFSA opened the ceremony with a Mystica, wearing flags that represented the honorees as well as other liberation fighters. The Mystica participants carried bowls of seeds, water, soil, and aspirations through the audience to join Mother Earth center stage. Chants and a song of struggle and liberation were shared with the audience before moving into the formal ceremony.
Letter to Sec. Vilsack about COOL
Please read our sign-on letter to USDA Secretary Vilsack about COOL.
Competition in Agriculture
Letter to Congress on the serious financial crisis experienced by the majority of U.S. dairy farmers
Petition to Agriculture Secretary Vilsack
Dairy Farmers urge all supporters to submit this petition to Agriculture Secretary Vilsack calling for Dairy Hearings. Print and fax or mail this petition.