By John Stencel
Ever remember shopping for something, only to have your mother declare, “That’s too expensive. I’ll make it myself,” and march her family out of the store? I believe we need to be taking a cue from good ole mom and doing the same when it comes to energy.
Fuel for automobiles hit an […]

By John Stencel
At the time the citizens of Colorado adopted constitutional amendments limiting taxes—namely the Tabor and Gallagher amendments—many felt they were merely curbing the Legislature’s ability to over tax and over spend. Today, these amendments, along with Amendment 23, which mandates increases in public education spending, have left the Colorado Legislature with some very […]

By John Stencel
America can now rest at ease. The U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement finalized last week includes protection of intellectual property rights—mostly music and movies—for the U.S. entertainment industry. As we all know, this disadvantaged industry was in danger of economic devastation without help from U.S. trade negotiators.
I can’t avoid sarcasm when the well-being of […]

By John Stencel
If there is a positive side to the Dec. 23, 2003 detection of a cow with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease, in the United States, it is greater consumer awareness of how their food is produced.
Following the announcement of the BSE positive cow in Washington, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union joined […]

By Paul Stout
As 2004 comes upon us, I am reminded of those famous words that we in agriculture so often say, “maybe next year.” This statement gets repeated over and over again by many generations during a 30- to 50-year career span. In all those years, on average, one out of six are bountiful. Once […]

By John Stencel
As we say goodbye to 2003 and usher in 2004, it is a good time to reflect on past blessings and look to the future.
Rural Americans truly have much for which to be thankful. The open prairie makes the spirit soar. Raising livestock and crops enables one to ponder the master design of […]

By John Stencel
John Long, a pork producer from Weld County (Colorado), called me the other day with a very good question.
“How can the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) continue to collect and spend producers checkoff dollars when the pork checkoff program has been voted down by producers and twice ruled unconstitutional by federal courts?” he […]

By John Stencel
In September I had the privilege of traveling to Cancun as part of National Farmers Union’s delegation to the World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations. Agriculture was a major part of these discussions, and disagreement over WTO policy on agriculture is what ultimately caused the talks to end.
In a nutshell, the WTO talks stalled […]

By Paul Stout
Over the years we have spoken out against mergers and acquisitions of large corporations and the decline of locally owned businesses in our rural communities. We also have talked about market concentration in our grain and meat industries.
Today I want to speak to you about another type of concentrated power in local government.
Merger […]

By John Stencel
Rocky Mountain Farmers Union’s Water Task Force and Board of Directors recently decided to oppose Referendum A and took the unusual step of asking Gov. Bill Owens to call a special session of the Colorado Legislature to address the referendum’s shortcomings before presenting it to Colorado voters.
Proponents argue that the referendum will be […]

By John Stencel
Rocky Mountain Farmers Union is pleased with the July 8 U.S. Federal Circuit Court of Appeals decision that the mandatory beef checkoff is not constitutional. It is the second court that has made this ruling.
The plaintiffs, including the Livestock Marketing Association, the Western Organization of Resource Councils and individual producers are to be […]

By John Stencel
I rarely use this column to write about decisions that have already been sealed, but I feel so strongly about this issue that I will make an exception.
In mid-June, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union was notified by Colorado State University (CSU) Cooperative Extension Service Director Milan Rewerts of the allocation of budget cuts to […]

By John Stencel
Consumers want it. Producers want it. It’s not illegal or even difficult. So, why all the fuss over requiring country-of-origin labeling (COOL) on all fruits, vegetables, peanuts, meats, honey and fish by September 2004?
Mandatory country-of-origin food labeling became law as part of the 2002 farm bill, signed by President George W. Bush last […]

By John Stencel
A firestorm of protest has erupted since U.S. House Budget Committee Chairman Jim Nussle, R-Iowa, announced plans to cut $19 billion or about 25 percent of the total budget of federal agriculture, nutrition, conservation, and rural development programs. Farmers Union was among the lead organizations that earlier this month sent a letter to […]

By John Stencel
Actions and inaction by top U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials over the past several years have led many to question if its leadership has lost touch with its mission and constituents.
Last year, as producer groups from all commodities, regions and political leanings called for congressional action to legislate disaster assistance for 2001 […]

By John Stencel
January is the month for state of the state (in Colorado) and the state of the union (in Washington, D.C.) addresses. On behalf of producers in the Rocky Mountain region, I would like to use this column to offer the “state of agriculture.”
Colorado’s economy is expected to make a modest rebound in 2003. […]

By John Stencel
Over the last generation, “bigger is better” and “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em,” seem to be the mantra of corporate America’s boards. Mergers and buy-outs among large firms that were once fierce competitors occur almost daily.
Nowhere is this trend more evident than in the food production, processing and retailing sectors.
Just 30 […]

By John Stencel
One or more years of the worst drought in history, several years of low commodity prices, increasing urbanization, long-term water problems. . . . . Conditions in rural Colorado could not be worse.
Farmers have been affected by low yields and have had to sell off livestock. The resulting shortage of cash and the […]

By John Stencel
Picture this: A devastating hurricane, arguably the worst one to hit in a decade, rips through several states. There is widespread damage to homes and other buildings. Roads and bridges must be repaired before they can be used.”
Not unexpectedly, the governors of the affected states declare them disaster areas, and emergency disaster funding […]

By John Stencel
The ink has been dry for several months now on the 2002 farm bill, and USDA staffers are settling in to the arduous task of writing the rules that will govern its provisions. Just as producers lobbied for passage of the new farm bill, they need to stay informed and participate in rule-making.
Complaints […]