State Senate Majority Leader Brandon Shaffer and Colorado Representative Glenn Vaad (ranking minority member of the Transportation Committee) will be in Longmont Saturday morning, April 18, for a legislative coffee hosted by the Adams/St. Vrain Farmers Union and the Larry Roe insurance agency. The legislators will be at the Buzz Coffee Shop from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. to answer questions and review the legislative session.
Details:
Saturday, April 18, 2009
10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Buzz Coffee Shop
1139 Francis St., Longmont, Colo.

The major event of the 2008 Rocky Mountain Farmers Union annual convention (Cheyenne Little America, Nov. 21-22) will be a presentation and panel discussion on the challenges of livestock production, particularly industrial meat production.

Our special guests will be Bob Martin, Executive Director of the Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production, and Professor Bernard E. Rollin, University Bioethicist at Colorado State University. Martin will give an overview of the Pew Commission’s report on industrial farm animal production, followed by remarks from Dr. Rollin, who serves on the commission. The speakers will be joined by a panel of local livestock producers.

The Pew Report, issued in spring 2008, is a comprehensive assessment of the history and future of factory-style meat production. Its findings will play a major role in the development of farm policy under the new federal administration and, more importantly, guide the evolving meat industry for years to come.

The RMFU annual convention is an opportunity to shape farm policy for the coming year. Among featured speakers will be John Etchepare, Director of the Wyoming Department of Agriculture.

Each year, Farmers Union chapters hold county conventions to elect their local officers, discuss policy issues, and select delegates to the RMFU Annual Convention (Nov. 21 -22, Little America in Cheyenne, Wyo.)

Click here for a complete schedule of meetings as of this date.

Rocky Mountain Farmers Union (RMFU) members will be in Washington, D.C., September 8-10 to meet with federal legislators and urge them to support policies that sustain rural economies and ensure our nation’s security. The delegation includes current RMFU Fellows – a select team of individuals who enrolled in a year-long leadership class that will help them contribute to their communities. The group will be accompanied by RMFU President Kent Peppler, who is a Mead, Colo., farmer, and RMFU Education Director Jennifer Luitjens Bahr. “This is a great opportunity for these young community leaders to exercise their new skills,” Bahr said. “We are especially looking forward to meeting with the Department of Energy to stress the importance of rural communities to our national energy security.”

Development of renewable energy, fair international trade agreements, competitive markets, implementation of the 2008 Food, Conservation, and Energy Act, and sensible food policies will be on the agenda as farm and ranch families from the region and other state Farmers Unions visit senators, congressional representatives, and administration officials from the USDA, the DOE, and other agencies.

High on the priorities of the delegation is raising awareness of the need to extend the renewable energy Production Tax Credit (PTC), which expires in December. “The PTC helps level the energy playing field by matching the sorts of tax credits routinely offered to oil and coal producers,” RMFU President Kent Peppler said. “If Congress allows it to expire, it will do tremendous damage to the new energy economy in the Rockies and even to our nation’s energy independence.” Peppler said.

The delegation will also take the opportunity to counter myths propagated by corporate agri-business, such as the singling out of ethanol as a scapegoat for high food costs or the notion that the family farmer and rancher are getting rich on higher supermarket prices.

“Rural America is struggling, as all Americans are, to stay ahead of a failing economy. And we hold the key to food and fuel security in our country,” Peppler said. “Our food supply and the new energy economy depend on wise use of rural lands. Our members represent lifetimes of experience and innovation in stewardship, conservation, and production. We hope we can keep Washington listening to our members’ voices.”

County officers from Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico Farmers Union chapters gather twice a year to develop plans for better representing their local constituents and using the resources available to build membership, cooperation, and advocacy skills.

The spring/summer retreat for 2008 will be at the Marriott Denver Airport at Gateway Park (16455 E. 40th Circle, Aurora, Colo.) and at May Farms (Byers, Colo.). In addition to discussing in issues that affect rural communities, farming and ranching, the county officers will spend Saturday afternoon in workshops and Sunday morning in leadership training, learning to use programs and tools that help them get local results, improving membership, outreach, and effectiveness.

On Saturday, April 19, officers will visit May Farms for a country breakfast fundraiser, followed by Kids’ Fun Day events from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Both events are open to the public.

>> Details: Kids Fun Day