I’m writing this President’s Message on the last day of September, which happens to also be the last day of our fiscal year. I will touch on that later in my message. The recent threat of a government shutdown was kicked down the road 45 days, but concern continues in the country. I am proud that…

Helping dairy farmers meet and exceed state and federal regulations and passing inspections with flying colors, our representatives help producers troubleshoot potential issues with equipment, water quality and storage. Dairy staff members also help them navigate animal health and environmental regulations…

As you know, our marketing group works hard every day to find the best markets for your milk. We never forget that those markets determine how well you do financially. There is another part of making sure you are treated fairly that only happens every few years—Federal Milk Marketing Order…

I have many conversations with producers over the course of a week about risk management and what levels they should be pricing their production. We always talk about supply, for which the USDA provides data. Then we speculate about demand, and it’s just that, speculation about how high prices can go before…

The Risk Management Agency began tracking harvest prices on Oct 1, using the December Futures for corn and November Futures for soybeans. Right now, especially corn prices are down quite a bit from the $5.91 Spring base prices, so this could be one of those years that you may collect on a claim without having…

Anyone who farms knows success takes dedication with some good luck sprinkled in. That might be especially true when it comes to dairy farming. As a young dairy farmer in Hixton, Wisconsin, Matt…

Olson, Hayes Announce Bid for President, Vice President By Paul Olson This is my official announcement that I am seeking another term as president of National Farmers Organization. My current term...

For a century, researchers have tracked genetic traits to find out which cattle produce more and better milk and meat. Now, two University of Florida scientists will use artificial intelligence to…

Mike Schulist, National Farmers Organization organic grain field representative, believes food webs will provide additional marketing opportunities for National Farmers members. That’s why he…

From the founding of our nation up to the 1950s, agriculture received a lot of political attention. A majority of the people were farmers and ample food was a top priority. Then, as agriculture’s…

I would like to open by thanking our livestock staff for outstanding work through three quarters of the year. The last three years the COVID-19 issue has taken a toll on many businesses. Complications…

The issues affecting marketing of both conventional and organic grain continue to revolve around weather and war. As I have written previously, these two factors have been the leading cause of…

The rolling hills of southwestern Indiana greets visitors to this faith-based family farming operation in Ferdinand. What was once a dairy farm has transitioned into a beef operation and custom harvesting business with Paul Steckler at the helm.

On May 31, National Farmers Organization submitted a letter of support to the Administrator of USDA AMS, addressing overhaul of the Federal Milk Marketing Orders.
National Farmers supports the National Milk Producers Federation’s (NMPF) comprehensive…

At National Farmers Convene ‘23 in Bettendorf March 8, the dairy division introduced their plan to level the playing field for America’s family dairy farms. The key word in the new title is action and that’s exactly what dairy staff have been focusing on. The two-part Dairy Action Plan focuses…

In 1935, the U.S. had 6.8 million farms. However, that number fell sharply until the early 70s. According to the USDA, since then the number has continued a slower, but steady, decline. The most recent survey from 2022 indicates there are 2 million farms, down from 2.2 million in 2007.

On June 1, National Farmers Organization officially began our business relationship with Middlebury Cooperative, enacting the agreement that was inked earlier this spring.
This joint venture involves approximately 62 dairy farms in southern New York and…

You’ve heard me say this many times before—farms like yours are best for rural economies, best for the environment, and best for food security. In this column, I want to talk more about food security. Did you see the feature story on Dan Casler and his family in the last issue of our Magazine?

In early June, a major market jump saw cash cattle trade close to $190.00, but futures didn’t really keep pace. June ‘23 Live Cattle hit $180.25, an all time high.
On-feed numbers will likely continue to tighten and carcass weights are down, restricting…

The world of grain production and marketing continues to experience extreme volatility. Let’s briefly examine some of the most prevalent challenges.

When you think of dairies, Michigan probably isn’t the state that comes to mind first. However, in 2020, Michigan ranked number one in the U.S. for pounds of milk produced per dairy cow annually — 26,875 pounds. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development says milk production…

Normally, we feature the president’s message in this space. However, President Olson wanted to dedicate this page to important Convene ‘23 business that was held March 7-8 at the Isle Casino in Bettendorf, Iowa. Olson thanks everyone who attended the organization’s annual farm-business…

Excited about current marketing opportunities for cattlemen and women, Paul Lampert, livestock marketing director, and Jeff Rose, cattle contract manager, addressed the National Farmers members gathered in Bettendorf, Iowa, on March 8, for Convene ‘23. The reduction in U.S. cattle…

It was great to see so many of you at national convention. I had a chance to talk with some of you who remembered how we started as a protest organization.
Others I saw joined during the time we were the nation’s leader in collective bargaining for agriculture…