NDFU leaders head to D.C.

North Dakota Farmers Union has sent its two top officers to Washington this week in effort to support the farm bill.

North Dakota Farmers Union President Elwood “Woody” Barth and Vice President Bob Kuylen plan to meet with congressional representatives including Sens. Heidi Heikamp, D-N.D., and John Hoeven, R-N.D., and Rep. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D. The trip is part of an effort from National Farmers Union lobbying effort to ensure that passage of a farm bill does not get pushed back again as a result of the continued focus on budget, sequestration and debt crisis.

A partial extension of the 2008 farm bill, which was passed as part of H.R. 8, the Tax Relief Extension Act in January, is set to expire on Sept. 30.

“We are looking forward to visiting Capitol Hill. We welcome the opportunity to tell our elected officials about the importance of the farm bill to farmers and ranchers everywhere,” Barth said.

National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson and NFU staff have begun meeting with new members of the Senate and House Agricultural Committees including Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., who was recently announced as the new ranking member on the Senate Agriculture Committee.

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