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Three policy priorities considered at Farmers Union Convention

National Farmers Union delegates are considering 2023 policy priorities during the final day of convention.

National Policy Committee Chair and northwest Minnesota farmer Melany Thomas says the 2023 Farm Bill should have an additional title for competition.

“Bolstering the Cattle Market Price Discovery and Transparency Act and we’d like to have the farm bill include creating the office of the special investigator for competition matters. This position would help strengthen the Packers and Stockyards Act.”

Additional updates to other parts of the farm bill being discussed under this special order include improving the farm safety net through crop insurance, making programs more specialty-crop friendly, strengthening conservation programs and using renewable energy to help meet climate goals.

She says delegates would like additional dairy reforms.  

“Establish a price discovery formula at the producer level through growth management programs that incentivizes matching production with market demand,” says Thomas. “Have reforming of all class formulas to reflect the value and volume of all dairy products sold in the market today.”

NFU would continue its Fairness for Farmers Campaign if delegates vote to approve these areas.