NFU Membership

Your membership pays for itself!• Here is what NFU members

say about the new Office Depot discount:

Membership Benefits

“We saved so much on school supplies… I couldn’t believe it!”

“I saved $50 on a $75 order!”

Take a break! Save on Avis & Budget car rentals and most Wyndham hotels

Save on…

• Your next wireless cell phone

• Lifelock identity theft protection

• Constant Contact email marketing

• Piped-in gas or electric bill (selected states)

Only you can help Farmers Union to grow!

• “Nobody Asked Me!” - Invite your neighbors• Top recruiters receive NFU Awards, from caps

and shirts to Cabela’s gift certificates • Ask your state office for Awards referral form

Get involved, learn & share!• Join us in Santa Fe for

National Convention: March 8 – 11, 2014

• Sign up for Women’s Conference in Florida!

Government Relations Update

Lingering Effects of the Shutdown• Sixteen day

shutdown• Short-term CR

through Jan. 15• Debt ceiling

extended to Feb.

GRIDLOCK

Lingering Effects of the Shutdown

• Natural disasters need a response

• USDA, FEMA unable to respond

• Farm bill lapse causes further problems

Latest Farm Bill Developments

Farm Bill Conferees – Senate

DEMOCRATS

REPUBLICANS

Farm Bill Conferees – Senate

Farm Bill Conferees – House Ag Committee

REPUBLICANS

DEMOCRATS

House Ways & Means Committee

House Foreign Affairs Committee

Additional Farm Bill Conferees

House Leadership

Farm Bill Conferees – House

Major Farm Bill Conference Asks• Keep “permanent law”

• Set fixed reference prices

• Include dairy stabilization program

• Mandatory funding for energy title

• Oppose changes to COOL

• Support farmers market and local foods programs

6

NFU Priorities – Senate vs. House

• Smaller cuts to nutrition (5 years)

• Dairy stabilization• Energy title funding• COOL & GIPSA – no

changes• Compliance• Title I payment limits

• Title I price protection (PLC)

• Beginning Farmer programs

SENATE HOUSE

Other Issues in Play• Nutrition cuts – $39.5 billion (HOUSE) vs. $4.5 billion (SENATE)

• Crop insurance – Conservation compliance – SENATE – Premium subsidy reductions based on income

• Oppose efforts to undo COOL• Title I Payment & Eligibility Limits – SENATE • Beginning Farmer & Rancher Program – HOUSE • Organic Ag. Research & Extension – HOUSE

Other Issues in Play• Oppose weakening GIPSA• Specialty Crop Research

Initiative – HOUSE • Rural Energy for America

Program– Blender pumps – SENATE – Feasibility studies – HOUSE

• Reauthorize Specialty Crop Block Grants – HOUSE

• FIFRA vs. CWA

What Should a Farm Safety Net Do?

#1 Help in times of disaster- Crop insurance- Disaster programs (especially livestock)

Protect against long-term price declines- Target (or reference) prices

#2

Country-of-Origin Labeling

www.uscooldefensefund.orgMake a contribution online at:

• New rules took effect November 23– Response to WTO’s decision that the COOL law

was okay, but implementation needed to change– Packers, processors, Canadians & Mexicans filed

suit against USDA– NFU has intervened on

USDA’s side– Don’t change the law!

Country-of-Origin Labeling• Backlash from Canada– Threatens trade retaliation, claims $1 billion loss– WTO prevents unilateral action– Canadians now lobbying in Washington

• Packers are the real culprit– Tyson stopped buying Canadian cattle– Real costs of COOL: 1/3rd of a penny per pound

Other Policy Issues

Food Safety Modernization Act• FSMA is a well-intentioned reform effort • No major changes to food safety laws since 1940s• Prevention rather than reaction• NFU commented on two rules:

Produce Rule & Preventive Controls Rule

• A second comment period is needed

International Year of Family Farming

• United Nations - worldwide• NFU will be the U.S. leader• Monthly themed events

2014

United to Grow Family Agriculture

International Year of Family Farming

January: International Year of Family Farming

February: Consumers

March: The Marketplace

April: Renewable Energy

May: Rural Life

June: Developing Leaders

2014

International Year of Family Farming

July: The Future of Agriculture

August: Local Economies

September: Farm Safety

October: Communities & Cooperatives

November: Ending World Hunger

December: Global Marketplace

2014

www.nfu.org@NFUDCNational Farmers Union