“” Farm Bill Workshops for Colorado, Wyoming

Rocky Mountain Farmers Union (RMFU) announced today that it will coordinate a series of Farm Bill workshops in rural Colorado and Wyoming, beginning with a meeting in Greeley, Colo., on August 11.

RMFU President Kent Peppler, a Mead, Colo., farmer, said, “The so-called ‘Farm Bill’ is 700 pages of legislation on food, energy, conservation, and rural community programs. It took two years to reach compromises that protect our food and energy security without hurting the environment or breaking the budget. This bill impacts everyone, not just farming and ranching families. Nearly two-thirds of the funding goes to nutrition, conservation, and energy programs, but it also addresses specific interests of food, fuel and fiber producers and rural communities. It addresses many issues that are important in the Rocky Mountain region. We are pleased that we have been able to build a team of experts who can help rural families understand how the bill affects them.”

Rocky Mountain Farmers Union has put together a group of speakers who will be at workshops in five high plains communities during the week of Aug. 11 -14. The team includes experts from farm and commodity groups, conservation organizations, rural banking and crop insurance.

The workshops will include brief presentations and in-depth question-and-answer sessions. National Farmers Union VP of Government Relations Katy Zeigler will the keynote speaker at all five workshops. Located in Washington, D.C., Zeigler has been deeply involved in the shaping and analysis of farm bill legislation for many years.

Other speakers will be drawn from the many sponsoring organizations. The following organizations will participate: Colorado Sugar Beet Growers Association, Colorado and Wyoming Associations of Conservation Districts, Independent Bankers of Colorado, the Wyoming Bankers Association, Baca County Conservancy District and Southeast Colorado RC&D, Weld Food Bank, county Farmers Union officers, and local Farmers Union Insurance agents.

Schedule of Events:

• Monday, August 11
  Greeley, Colo: 7:15 p.m.
  – Bunkhouse at Island Grove Park
• Tuesday, August 12
  Torrington, Wyo: 7 p.m.
  – Brand Room at Goshen County Fairgrounds
• Wednesday, August 13
  Sterling, Colo: 1:00 p.m.
  – Sterling Room at Ramada Inn
  Wray, Colo: 7:15 p.m.
  – City Hall Roundhouse
• Thursday, August 14
  Lamar, Colo: 2:00 p.m.
  – Empire Room at Best Western Cow Palace Inn

Sponsors

• Rocky Mountain Farmers Union
• Independent Bankers of Colorado
• Wyoming Bankers Association, Inc.
• Colorado Sugar Beet Growers
• Colorado Association of Conservation Districts
• Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts
• Baca County Conservation District
• Southeast Colorado RC & D
• Weld Food Bank
• Colorado and Wyoming County Farmers Unions
• Colorado and Wyoming Farmers Union Insurance Agents