36 Groups Urge Ag Secretary to Enforce Beef Checkoff Program’s Prohibition Against Conflicts of Interest; Urge Other Reforms

Joint News Release For Immediate Release: Contact: Bill Bullard: (406-670-8157) Fred Stokes (601-527-2459) September 11, 2014 36 Groups Urge Ag Secretary to Enforce Beef Checkoff Program’s Prohibition Against Conflicts of Interest; Urge Other Reforms Washington, DC – In the wake of this weekend’s announcement by the National Farmers Union (NFU) that it was withdrawing from the Beef Checkoff Enhancement Working Group (working group), 36 organizations sent a joint letter today to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack urging him to Read More …

When the Debate is Over

Remember that kid on the playground, not the bully, but his smaller, weaker spokesman; that big-mouth side-kick that did most of the talking? Well some of these little rascals grow up, but never shut up. Some get paid for their lip bumping; others just talk because they love to hear the sound of their voice. Either way, they talk and talk and talk because they’re afraid to walk the walk. Steve Dittmer is one of those talkers. He has Read More …

‘Picked Off Like a Single Quail’

Daily Yonder – Ag and Trade | 12/30/2013 Unless rural people get organized to stand up to corporate power, the future of rural America will be grim, says veteran Nebraska agriculture attorney David Domina. If you care about rural communities, watch this speech — even if it means skipping a few cat videos. By Tim Marema If farmers don’t get organized and work together, they stand about as much chance of surviving as a lone bird flying into Read More …

Defend COOL from Sen. Johanns

May 13, 2013 Action Alert from Nebraska Farmers Union! Many of you have at one time or another supported our efforts to get and keep clear and effective Country of Origin Labeling for U.S. food products.  Thanks to all our efforts, COOL is now the law.  That law was challenged by lawsuits from Mexico and Canada in the WTO.  USDA has responded in a fashion that we support that makes more consistent and clear where the product was Read More …

What Hasn’t the HSUS Done Lately?

Ag and Trade | Food | By Ben Gotschall | 09/04/2012 The U.S. didn’t lose 91% of its pork producers, 82% of its dairy producers, 42% of its beef producers and 33% of its sheep producers overnight. It has happened by degrees since 1980, during my lifetime, and isn’t going to be slowed down, stopped, or even partially “fixed” in less than a year. In a recent column entitled “Waiting for the HSUS,” Daily Yonder co-editor Bill Bishop Read More …

Letter from Langdon: Bedfellows

By Richard Oswald Some people may think it’s strange that the Nebraska Farmers Union and the Humane Society of the United States have found some areas of agreement. Not me. When I was a kid growing up on the big river bottom I had a couple of pets that fought like you might expect. Chip the Chesapeake retriever and Tom the barn cat never saw eye to eye at feeding time. To the victor went the leftovers. But Read More …