WASHINGTON (May 11, 2010) –
National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson addressed the Washington Agricultural Roundtable today. Johnson’s speech titled, “A Farm Leader’s Look at U.S. Farm Policy” highlighted NFU’s priorities for the 2012 Farm Bill and the organization’s main policy stances on trade policy, clean energy and financial market reform.
“National Farmers Union has supported, since its inception, a form of government intervention so the markets work for agriculture,” said Johnson. “When times are tough, there should be help for farmers.”
As the House Committee on Agriculture has been holding hearings in the countryside on the coming farm bill, NFU has been speaking with its members about priorities that need to be brought to the table as the negotiations get underway.
“When it comes to climate legislation, we want to make sure there is an opportunity for farmers to take advantage of a carbon market for selling offsets for doing the smart thing environmentally,” said Johnson. “Furthermore, we need to be sure there aren’t artificial limits on the amount of offsets that can be put in place.”
NFU supports climate and energy legislation that will provide opportunities for agriculture to generate revenue, rather than Environmental Protection Agency regulation that will cost U.S. farmers and ranchers to comply.
The Roundtable is a Washington, D.C., based group of agricultural industry representatives, federal government staff and foreign embassy representatives that meets monthly to hear speakers on agricultural policy and program issues.
National Farmers Union has been working since 1902 to protect and enhance the economic well-being and quality of life for family farmers, ranchers and rural communities through advocating grassroots-driven policy positions adopted by its membership.
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