Summer 2021
As this year has progressed we in agriculture have been given the opportunity to have our hopes risen on the news that the current administration is going to aggressively tackle a lot of the issues that we in Farmers Union have been fighting to change for many years –corporate concentration, especially in the livestock industry, [...]
SURVEY: Exploring Future Chapter Options
By Mercedes Taylor-Puckett Planning our first ever virtual convention came with some speed bumps and one of the biggest was obtaining duly-elected delegates. In a typical year, chapters across the state hold in-person meetings to conduct annual business and hold elections. That just wasn’t an option in 2020. Finding a solution led us into [...]
2022 Policy Drafting begins Online in October
By Donn Teske Policy drafting preceding the Dec 1st & 2nd KFU state convention will be held via Zoom over three consecutive Thursdays, October 7th, 14th, & 21st at 7:00 PM. RSVP HERE Last year we pretty much just moved the existing policy forward and focused on special orders. We really should give policy [...]
Corporate Power in the Livestock Industry is Harming Farmers, NFU President Larew Tells Senate Judiciary Committee
In response to high levels of corporate consolidation in the livestock sector, the Senate Committee on the Judiciary held a hearing in late July titled “Beefing Up Competition: Examining America’s Food Supply Chain.” Several individuals representing meat packing plants, grocery stores, and ranchers presented testimony on the issues the industry is facing and potential [...]
2021 Kansas Farmers Union Notice of State Convention
The Kansas Farmers Union board of directors moved to hold our 2021 state convention in-person this year with a zoom option for those reluctant to attend because of Covid. And they moved to have a backup plan ready if the entire in-person convention needs to be cancelled. That is what we are working [...]
Herb Bartel Selected to serve on NFU Climate Change Policy Advisory Panel
By Mary Howell Herb Bartel, Hillsboro, Kansas Farmers Union treasurer and long-time member, was recently selected to serve on the new Climate Change Policy Advisory Panel for National Farmers Union. The panel, consisting of 16 family farmers and ranchers from across the nation, will advise the organization’s climate-related legislative work, educational programming, outreach and [...]
Mellowfields Farm
Kansas Specialty Crop Farm Spotlight: Mellowfields Farm At Mellowfields Farm Kevin and Jessi cultivate almost 3 acres of Kansas River bottom soil. After several years of being somewhat nomadic in their growing, hopping from neighbors’ yards to leasing land from the City of Lawrence as part of its Common Ground program, [...]
Simple Abundance Farm
Kansas Specialty Crop Farm Spotlight: Simple Abundance Farm Simple Abundance Farm started as a 4 x 8 foot of plywood in Adam and Maggie Pounds’ basement where they grew Microgreens indoors with the use of grow lights. By starting small and learning the ins and outs of consistent growing [...]