Agriculture and environmental groups form alliance on climate policy

12/11/20 • 19 min

While the world has been focused on dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, a small but diverse group of members of the food supply chain gathered to evaluate if there are enough shared goals and beliefs on climate policy to speak on the issue with a unified voice for agriculture.

In the past, climate legislation has failed in the U.S. in no small measure because the agriculture and forestry industries weren’t unified on the issue, and didn’t have a seat at the table. In an effort to correct that, the Food & Agriculture Climate Alliance (FACA) was formed in February 2020 by four groups that now co-chair the alliance: American Farm Bureau Federation, Environmental Defense Fund, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives and National Farmers Union. The alliance has since expanded to include FMI – The Food Industry Assn., National Alliance of Forest Owners, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture and The Nature Conservancy.

In this episode of Feedstuffs in Focus, Feedstuffs policy editor Jacqui Fatka talks with Chuck Connor, CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, about the work of the Alliance, including the more than 40 recommendations the group developed on climate policy this year.

This episode is sponsored by Balchem Animal Nutrition and Health. Balchem has launched a new podcast called the Real Science Exchange. Get to know top researchers like you’ve never known them before: Search for “Real Science Exchange” on your favorite podcast platform.

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For more information on this and other stories, visit Feedstuffs online.
Follow Feedstuffs on Twitter @Feedstuffs, or join the conversation via Facebook.

Previous Episode

A conversation with Farm Credit Administration chairman Glen Smith

In 1987, when Congress voted to keep the Farm Credit System going with an infusion of funds, a contingency was that each of the system institutions needed to have a young, beginner and small farmer program. With the average age of the U.S. farmer pegged at 57.5 years, that young, beginner and small farmer program is a particular focus of the current chairman of the Farm Credit Administration.

In this episode, Feedstuffs editor Jacqui Fatka talks with Farm Credit Administration Chairman and CEO Glen Smith, an Iowa farmer who has led the regulatory arm of the federal Farm Credit apparatus since 2017. Smith said he sees a common theme in successful young and beginning farmer programs: a good relationship with the Farm Service Agency (FSA), in particular with regard to access to that agency’s guaranteed loan programs for beginning farmers.

This episode is sponsored by Hog Slat; from cleanup to startup, we're here to supply the products you need. As close as your local Hog Slat store or order online at www.hogslat.com.

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Next Episode

Canada, now Australia, why not the U.S.?

When it comes to imported feed ingredients, it is important for feed manufacturers and livestock producers to have as much information as possible related to that ingredient and its origin. At stake is the health of our nation’s herds as unapproved ingredients can introduce significant disease risks.
Unlike in Canada and now in Australia, the U.S. lacks any requirement that a supplier or trader confirm each imported biological ingredient is approved for animal feed use.

Feedstuffs editor Sarah Muirhead recently caught up with Dr. Scott Dee of Pipestone Veterinary Services to talk about how some countries are taking biosecurity to the next level and what needs to be done here in the U.S. to put in place those same safeguards.
This episode of Feedstuffs In Focus is sponsored by United Animal Health, a leader in animal health and nutrition. You can learn more about United Animal Health and how they are working to advance animal science worldwide by visiting their website UnitedANH.com.

For more information on this and other stories, visit Feedstuffs online.
Follow Feedstuffs on Twitter @Feedstuffs, or join the conversation via Facebook.