06/02/09: USDA NAIS Listening Session Scheduled for June 9 in Jefferson City
Missouri farmers and ranchers will have the chance to voice their opinions on the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) during a USDA hosted listening session, June 9 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Truman Hotel & Conference Center, 1510 Jefferson Street, in Jefferson City.

Missouri Farmers Union (MFU) will have representatives on hand at the USDA listening session to express opposition to the financial burdens the NAIS will put on family farmers and ranchers. MFU encourages USDA to look for real, workable solutions to animal health and food safety concerns. Immediate action must be taken to give us any chance to deter this program. Please do the following:

• Attend the listening session on June 9. Please have prepared comments ready, and remember there might be opportunities to visit with media.
• Submit written comments online or mail to:

ATTN NAIS, Surveillance and Identification Programs
National Center for Animal Health Programs, VS, APHIS
4700 River Road Unit 200
Riverdale, MD 20737

Click here for directions to the Truman Hotel & Conference Center. If assistance is needed with transportation, directions or talking points please contact Missouri Farmers Union.

04/07/09: Missouri Farmers Union Lobby Day
Join Missouri Farmers Union for the second annual Lobby Day at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City on Tuesday, April 7 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in House Hearing Room 2. The Lobby Day brings together family farmers, entrepreneurs, rural educators, consumers and anyone who wants to make their voice heard in promoting and sustaining Missouri agriculture. Members and guests from around the state will to talk with legislators about agricultural and rural issues facing Missouri including:

• Community Based Renewable Energy
• Rural Health Care
• Community and Sustainable Food Systems: Incentives to buy from Missouri farmers
• Grain and Elevator Farmer Protection

Click here for an agenda and directions to the event. More details are available by calling Missouri Farmers Union at 573-659-4787. Walk-ins are welcome, but, if possible, please RSVP to (573) 659-4787 or ameyer@missourifarmersunion.org.

03/11/09: National Animal Identification System Action Alert
The National Animal Identification System (N.A.I.S.) is gaining traction in Washington D.C., and we have the opportunity to let USDA know that the program will adversely affect thousands of Missouri farmers, while doing nothing for food safety concerns. This week members of Missouri Farmers Union were in Washington D.C. to deliver your views to House and Senate offices and participate in the National Farmers Union Convention. Click here and join the members by expressing your opinion on this program to USDA and your elected leaders.

04/16/08: Missouri Farmers Union Lobby Day
Join members and guests at the Missouri Capitol on Wednesday, April 16 for the Missouri Farmers Union Lobby Day. Farmers Union will advocate on four vital issues: limiting the national animal identification program, opposing limits on labeling of dairy products, supporting farmers right to save seed and increasing funding for agriculture. The event will begin at 10 a.m. in House Alcove-Third Floor in Jefferson City. For more information call 573-659-4787 extension 302.

07/05/06: National Farmers Union Legislative Fly-In
National Farmers Union will host its Fall Fly-In to Washington D.C. September 10-13, 2006. Members, journalists, rural entrepreneuers and co-op members interested in attending the Fly-In to talk with Congress and get an update on legislative issues impacting agricultural producers and rural communities should contact the MFU office at 573-659-4787 or email info@missourifarmersunion.org. A short application is available for interested individuals to tell us more about your interest in attending. Click here to obtain an application.

2006 Fly-In Missouri Farmers Union Application

2006 Fly-In Agenda

03/14/06: Kremer Appointed to USDA Advisory Committee
Russ Kremer, president of Missouri Farmers Union, was recently appointed to the United States Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture (AC21) by Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns. Kremer joins 18 other committee members whose diverse backgrounds include bioethics, recombinant DNA research, government relations, risk assessment, consumer advocacy, plant pathology, veterinary medicine and farming. Kremer is the only livestock farmer, and the only Missourian on the committee. Read on.

04/27/05: Pharmaceutical Rice Threatens Markets of Missouri Rice Growers
Missouri Farmers Union today expressed opposition to the proposed production of pharmaceutical rice, a crop that is genetically altered with human and animal genes to produce experimental pharmaceuticals, in Southeast Missouri. Read on.

09/09/04: Re-energizing Missouri's Rural Communities
As a nonprofit striving to protect family farmers and ranchers, Missouri Farmers Union cannot endorse candidates. However, MFU can provide both parties with a new vision for Missouri’s rural policy. During the Missouri House Agriculture Committee meetings on September 8 in Canton and September 9 in Moberly, MFU unveiled their policy for re-energizing Missouri’s rural communities.