FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 12, 2012
Contact:  Sandy Courtnage

MFU to Join in NFU Washington, D.C. Fly-In

GREAT FALLS, MT (April 12, 2012) – The Montana Farmers Union (MFU) will send four members to participate in the National Farmers Union’s (NFU) spring Fly-In.  The attendees will visit Montana’s Congressional delegation as well as other congressional offices while in Washington, D.C. April 17-18, 2012.

Montana’s Fly-In participants will discuss topics that MFU would like to see included or retained in the 2012 Farm Bill, such as strong renewable energy and livestock titles, considerations for beginning farmers and ranchers, and an adequate safety net in the form of crop insurance opportunities.

“Agriculture is a major player in Montana’s and our nation’s economy,” said MFU President Alan Merrill, “and employs one in five Montanans.  Adequate support for the nation’s 2.2 million family farmers and ranchers is an important investment in our country’s well being.”

Attending the Fly-In are Eric Hinebauch, Farmers Union Insurance agent located in Great Falls; Derek Sande, farmer from Geraldine; Sean Tureck, rancher from Coffee Creek; and Chris Christiaens, MFU lobbyist and special projects director.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, current farm safety net programs represent just 14 percent of the total Farm Bill, energy and conservation measures just 6 percent, and the rest being allocated to nutrition and other programs. 

“The entire Farm Bill – nutrition, energy, conservation and farm safety net programs – makes up just two percent of the federal budget,” said Merrill.  “Montana Farmers Union believes it is important for Congress to keep this budgeting effort in perspective and not attempt to balance the federal budget on the back of rural America.”