Agricultural News
NFU Concludes 115th Anniversary Convention with Adoption of Policy, Special Orders of Business- AFR's Terry Detrick Reacts to Policy Efforts
Thu, 09 Mar 2017 20:45:31 CST
The National Farmers Union (NFU) 115th Anniversary Convention concluded on Tuesday following the adoption of the organization's policy book and special orders of business. Nearly 500 family farmers and ranchers convened in San Diego both to engage in thoughtful policy deliberations, as well as to learn from agricultural experts and each another.
Leading the delgation from Oklahoma was the President of the American Farmers and Ranchers, Terry Detrick of Ames, Oklahoma. Shortly after Detrick returned to Oklahoma- Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays caught up with Detrick and talked with him about his perspective of the policy sessions. You can hear their conversation by clicking on the LISTEN BAR at the bottom of this story.
A key measure that Detrick and the AFR delegation championed was the first of the Special Orders listed below- addressing Family Farming and Crisis Relief. Detrick is a huge fan of the Ag Mediation Program and this special order urges Congress to include authorization in the next farm bill to fund Ag Mediation efforts at the national level.
The adopted policy book and special orders of business will guide the organization's government affairs priorities over the course of the next year, including the current farm crisis and upcoming deliberations on the 2018 Farm Bill.
"As a family farmer and rancher-led organization, our grassroots policy adoption process is the most important part of our annual convention," said NFU President Roger Johnson. "This year, NFU delegates adopted strong language to address a variety of issues facing family agriculture and rural communities, including the depressed farm economy, corporate consolidation, and international trade."
The convention featured two high-level panels on federal farm bill and conservation issues, as well as remarks from industry leaders from a variety of agricultural sectors.
"Our programming provides members with the opportunity to learn more about the issues facing their operations and communities, and it sets the stage for how the national organization should address those issues back in Washington," said Johnson. "With deliberations beginning on the upcoming farm bill, this year's panel discussions provided valuable insight, important context, and diverse viewpoints that will shape the debate."
As a means of providing the organization a prescriptive set of priorities, 136 delegates from 33 states approved six special orders of business:
- Family Farming and Crisis Relief
- Family Farming and Farm Bills
- Family Farming and Trade Policy
- Family Farming and Leading the Way on Climate Change
- Family Farming and Expanded Higher Ethanol Blend Utilization
- Family Farming and Dairy Policy
Full text of the adopted policy manual will be available soon at www.nfu.org.
Source - National Farmers Union
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