National Farmers Union members consider policy, Springfield, Mass., March 5, 2013.

The president of the National Farmers Union says the group’s policy has a slightly different focus than other farm and commodity organizations.

Roger Johnson says National Farmers Union delegates consider policy adoption with less regard for bushels, pounds or hundredweight of production.

“They look at all these issues from the perspective of what’s best for the people primarily with that average-sized farmer in mind,” Johnson told Brownfield Ag News this week at the organization’s annual meeting in Springfield, Mass., “that’s really, I think, where they focus; and beginning and new farmers…they really have sort of a longer-term futuristic view.”

Johnson spoke to Brownfield Ag News immediately after NFU delegates completed consideration of their policy book. Their convention was in Springfield, Massachusetts.

AUDIO: Roger Johnson (5 min. MP3)

Al Gustin accepts the NFU Milt Hakel Award in Springfield, Mass., March 4, 2013.

Farm broadcaster Al Gustin was presented the National Farmers Union Milt Hakel Award on Monday. Accepting the award given annually to someone for excellence in agricultural communications, Gustin, recently retired from his career in North Dakota, urged communications professionals to keep others informed about what family farmers do. Also during his acceptance speech, Gustin cited by name others who have won the award in the past, including Brownfield’s Julie Harker, who accepted the honor a few years ago when the convention was in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Presenting the award, NFU President Roger Johnson called Gustin “among the best in the farm broadcasting business.”

AUDIO: Al Gustin (2 min. MP3)

Chandler Goule at the National Farmers Union convention, Springfield, Mass., March 4, 2013.

The disappointment over Congressional inaction on the farm bill is not confined to one party. That’s according to a National Farmers Union (NFU) legislative specialist, speaking in Springfield, Massachusetts, where the NFU is discussing its policy this week.

NFU members are talking about their support for country of origin labeling, for improving renewable fuels infrastructure to advance the production of second generation renewable fuels and for conservation issues, according to Chandler Goule, vice president of government relations for the NFU. But the overriding issue, just as with other farm and commodity groups, is that Congress pass farm legislation. NFU members, said Goule, seem to be growing weary of both parties.

“The Senate is controlled by the Democrats and the House is controlled by the Republicans, so this is not just a one party issue,” Goule told Brownfield Ag News at the NFU convention Monday. “When your campaign slogan is ‘I refuse to negotiate with the other party,’ we’ve got a major breakdown in our political system.”

The National Farmers Union is finalizing its policy book on Tuesday, which will complete its annual meeting.

AUDIO: Chandler Goule (5 min. MP3)