Winning is Fun!

COOL is finally here. After ten years, country-of-origin labeling is a done deal. National Farmers Union’s Tom Buis and his staff did a masterful job of negotiating and lobbying to finally bring this win home!

American producers of all different types of commodities will benefit a great deal from COOL. Consumers will now have what they have wanted for years, knowing where their food comes from. My hat’s off to Tom and the great staff at National for winning this one! The House Farm Bill is as close to RMFU policy as it gets. We got a decent safety net, authorization for permanent disaster, and a serious overhaul on payment limitations. All three are right there in the RMFU policy that Monty Niebur and his Farm Bill Task Force and the convention delegates put together. Thanks to Monty and all those who helped. This new Farm Bill has much more to offer and as the Senate begins to work on their side we will keep you informed as to the progress of the different components.

We at RMFU have had a lot of wins so far this year. The board and our staff have worked very hard, and I appreciate what they have done for us members. But you as members are the hearts and souls of this organization, and the more input you have in what this organization does the better off we all are. I encourage you to get or stay involved in our issues. We have accomplished a great deal because we have sound policy based on grassroots logic that resonates not only with our members, but with all farmers and ranchers throughout this great nation. We have a lot of work yet to do, but with your help I know that RMFU will bring home some more wins and rural America will be better for it.

Just remember, if you feel like you are under control, you aren’t going fast enough. I hope to talk with you soon and I hope when I do we will have some more wins.