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Cattle Marketing Signals
I would like to open by thanking our livestock staff for outstanding work through three quarters of the year. The last three years the COVID-19 issue has taken a toll on many businesses. Complications…
Grain Marketing Signals
The issues affecting marketing of both conventional and organic grain continue to revolve around weather and war. As I have written previously, these two factors have been the leading cause of…
Faith and Family
The rolling hills of southwestern Indiana greets visitors to this faith-based family farming operation in Ferdinand. What was once a dairy farm has transitioned into a beef operation and custom harvesting business with Paul Steckler at the helm.
Federal Milk Marketing Order Reform
On May 31, National Farmers Organization submitted a letter of support to the Administrator of USDA AMS, addressing overhaul of the Federal Milk Marketing Orders.
National Farmers supports the National Milk Producers Federation’s (NMPF) comprehensive…
Dairy Action Plan
At National Farmers Convene ‘23 in Bettendorf March 8, the dairy division introduced their plan to level the playing field for America’s family dairy farms. The key word in the new title is action and that’s exactly what dairy staff have been focusing on. The two-part Dairy Action Plan focuses…
Farm Kids for College Scholarship
In 1935, the U.S. had 6.8 million farms. However, that number fell sharply until the early 70s. According to the USDA, since then the number has continued a slower, but steady, decline. The most recent survey from 2022 indicates there are 2 million farms, down from 2.2 million in 2007.
President’s Message
On June 1, National Farmers Organization officially began our business relationship with Middlebury Cooperative, enacting the agreement that was inked earlier this spring.
This joint venture involves approximately 62 dairy farms in southern New York and…
Dairy Marketing Signals
You’ve heard me say this many times before—farms like yours are best for rural economies, best for the environment, and best for food security. In this column, I want to talk more about food security. Did you see the feature story on Dan Casler and his family in the last issue of our Magazine?
Cattle Marketing Signals
In early June, a major market jump saw cash cattle trade close to $190.00, but futures didn’t really keep pace. June ‘23 Live Cattle hit $180.25, an all time high.
On-feed numbers will likely continue to tighten and carcass weights are down, restricting…
Grain Marketing Signals
The world of grain production and marketing continues to experience extreme volatility. Let’s briefly examine some of the most prevalent challenges.
Sweet Success
When you think of dairies, Michigan probably isn’t the state that comes to mind first. However, in 2020, Michigan ranked number one in the U.S. for pounds of milk produced per dairy cow annually — 26,875 pounds. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development says milk production…
Convene ’23 Business
Normally, we feature the president’s message in this space. However, President Olson wanted to dedicate this page to important Convene ‘23 business that was held March 7-8 at the Isle Casino in Bettendorf, Iowa. Olson thanks everyone who attended the organization’s annual farm-business…
Convene ’23 Commodity Reports
Excited about current marketing opportunities for cattlemen and women, Paul Lampert, livestock marketing director, and Jeff Rose, cattle contract manager, addressed the National Farmers members gathered in Bettendorf, Iowa, on March 8, for Convene ‘23. The reduction in U.S. cattle…
Dairy Marketing Signals
It was great to see so many of you at national convention. I had a chance to talk with some of you who remembered how we started as a protest organization.
Others I saw joined during the time we were the nation’s leader in collective bargaining for agriculture…
Cattle Marketing Signals
We are right in the middle of a major market jump as I write this article. Cash cattle trading is at $177 and futures not really keeping pace.
April 2023 gapped higher and is at an all time high near $171. On-feed numbers will likely continue to…
Grain Marketing Signals
Our National Farmers convention was an incredibly rewarding experience this year. The opportunity to interact with old friends and to meet new friends was a real privilege and generated new enthusiasm and determination to accomplish our goals as members and producers. The grain marketing…
Livestock industry, cattle marketing conditions addressed
(Ames, Iowa) March 9, 2023 —Invigorated about current marketing opportunities for cattlemen, Pat Lampert, National Farmers Organization livestock marketing director said the reduction in cattle herd size has pushed markets higher than producers have seen in some time. The U.S. cattle inventory shows a four-year…
National Farmers’ annual convention presenters address new farm bill
(Bettendorf, Iowa) March 9, 2023 —Gene Paul, National Farmers Legislative Coordinator, told the audience at the 2023 National Farmers Convention in Bettendorf, Iowa that he does not anticipate a Farm Bill will be completed this year. “Given the current atmosphere in Washington, and the manner in which things are developing…
Federal Milk Marketing Orders, Industry Consolidation
(Ames, Iowa) March 9, 2023 — Dairy industry consolidation and Federal Milk Marketing Orders were a focus at National Farmers Convene ’23 in Bettendorf, Iowa March 8.
Agriculture Economist and dairy consultant Dr. Richard Levins, University of Minnesota detailed how the processing side of milk production is…
U.S. Ag Secretary Senior Advisor Andy Green
(Bettendorf, Iowa) March 9, 2023 — Andy Green, senior advisor on fair and competitive markets to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, spoke yesterday at National Farmers Convention in Bettendorf, Iowa. Green noted the difficulties farmers and ranchers and consumers have faced in the marketplace, saying the current administration and USDA are…
Kay of the Milky Way
Dairy cows have been at the center of Rachel Rynda’s life since before she could walk. It is fitting that she now represents Minnesota’s dairy industry as the 69th Princess Kay of the Milky Way. Many of Rynda’s childhood memories revolve around black and white cattle, family, and county fairs. “I remember playing in the barn alley while my parents…
Convene 23 Set for Isle Casino in Quad Cities
The Isle Hotel & Casino in Quad Cities, Iowa, is home for our annual winter member meeting March 7 and 8. Convene ’23 is just two days long, and a national board meeting begins at 2 p.m. on Monday, March 6.
Committee meetings will take place Tuesday morning, March 7, beginning at 7:30 a.m. A member welcome morning…
Paul attends DC Fly-in talks Policy with Legislators Staff
National Farmers Legislative Coordinator Gene Paul flew to Washington, D.C., in early September to talk with farm policy influencers as part of the National Farmers Union fly-in. He spoke with National Farmers Communications Director Perry Garner about his trip…
President’s Message
Greetings to all. Here in the upper Midwest, we saw our first frost in late September and the leaves turned beautiful fall colors. Corn and soybean harvest was in full swing the second week in October after the crops matured. Fall is the traditional time of the year when National Farmers begins to see our annual membership…
