Read NFFC's Winter 2011 newsletter here.

Jim Goodman; Wisconsin dairy farmer and member of Family Farm Defenders, and Kathy Ozer traveled to NYC to participate in Occupy the Food System events on Sunday December 4th. Jim presented a strong statement at Zuccotti Park (see NFFC newsletter above for articles and links). Jim's oped is being circulated nationally by Otherwords. It is posted on Commondreams here

SUPPORT NFFC THROUGH THE COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN #16371 - For the first time it is now possible to give contributions to NFFC through this important program, known as CFC. Through it, members of the federal government workforce can elect to support our work throughout the year. Sharing our unique ID - #16371 - with everyone you know who might participate will be a great way to help keep NFFC strong.

Listen here to Melinda Hemmelgarn, of radio station KOPN, interview George Naylor, Iowa farmer and NFFC past president, as they discuss the historical and present day challenges of family farming and offer suggestions for our new Farm Bill.

This letter was sent to the Senate signed by over 20 organizations urging co-sponsorship of S. 1640; the Federal Milk Marketing Improvement Act of 2011.

NEW RULES WILL SUPPORT FARMERS AND JOBS - Read this op-ed in support of the GIPSA rules by NFFC member Mardy Townsend here.

ORGANIZATIONS OPPOSE PENDING FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS - Fair Trade, Not Free Trade, Should Be Basis of Food and Agriculture System. The National Family Farm Coalition and 56 allied organizations representing family farmers, ranchers, fishermen and advocates signed a letter to Congress condemning the pending free trade agreements (FTAs) with South Korea, Colombia and Panama. As the letter states, more FTAs will only accelerate the economic disasters in agriculture already at hand, including industrial farms dependent on massive amounts of petroleum-based inputs, low-paying, exploitative jobs in processing and packing plants, and increased consolidation throughout the agricultural supply chain. Read the letter here.

Interested in purchasing local seafood? www.localcatch.org is a new website devoted to connecting consumers with Community Supported Fisheries in their area, and supported by NFFC member group NAMA. (7.13.11)

Read our updated Reserves fact sheet here. (7.8.11)

GIPSA update- The USDA proposed new GIPSA (Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration) rules that would level the playing field for thousands of farmers who sell their hogs and livestock to large meatpackers and processors. Read more background here (6.19.11) and a letter (8.3.11) to Senators urging their support.

Historic workshops on agricultural antitrust issues warrant national vision! More than 160 Groups Urge U.S. Departments of Justice and Agriculture to Issue Action Plan on Consolidation in Agriculture and Food Industries. Read the letter here.

"There can be no justifications for land grabbing!” - Social movements and CSOs tell World Bank, UN agencies and governments there can be no excuse. Read the full article from La Via Campesina here.

About APRIL 17 - INTERNATIONAL DAY of PEASANT STRUGGLES - This day of action celebrates the struggle of peasants and rural people while commemorating the 1996 assassination of 19 farmers in Brazil. For more information about April 17 and events click here.

DTN reports on the Credit Survey put out by NFFC and allies: "The U.S. farm sector is booming with soaring land values, record-high crop prices and record farm income. For all that, farmers face stricter loan standards than a few years ago, small-farm activists say." Read the article here, find the full report here, and a companion report by Tim Wise at Tufts University here.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports: "Farmers worry that milk prices could slide below break even," including comments by NFFC's Joel Greeno. Click here.

Watch a terrific new video, produced by Daniel Tucker, featuring NFFC members reading the 7 Principles of Food Sovereignty here.

Family Farm Defenders Express Solidarity with Wisconsin Workers Occupying the State Capitol - read press release here and see news coverage here.

Listen on the web to NFFC representatives on two recent radio programs, here and here.

Click here to read our 2011 Mentoring Report, which includes a valuable tool-kit for mentors and their new and beginning farmer mentees.

La Vía Campesina Declaration in Cancun can be found here. Or download the statement here. "The thousands of solutions to the climate crisis are in the hands of the people."

Once again, NFFC has a chance to be a future Deals for Deeds recipient. So, login and vote. This is a great way to get a deal for yourself and support worthy non-profits. Sign up for their free membership, then vote for NFFC in the Social Giving. When NFFC is featured during an upcoming deal, we'll receive a portion of the funds.

Read "Cattle Call: Why is a Washington watchdog attacking an obscure USDA official?" for a good summary of the GIPSA/USDA situation and why we need actual enforcement.

NFFC President Ben Burkett talks with The Yale Forum on Climate Change & The Media about Sustainable Agriculture. Read it here.

Read the NFFC statement of opposition to the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement here.

NFFC ally Food and Water Watch shares a great fact sheet on Consolidation and Buyer Power in the Grocery Industry. Read it here.

Leading up to the Department of Justice/USDA public workshop, DC public radio's Power Breakfast spoke with NFFC's Kathy Ozer. To download the audio file click here.

Listen: The Right to Food: Corporate, Foreign Gov’t Land Grab Causing Hunger in Poor Countries (10.28.10) The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Olivier De Schutter, joins Democracy Now to discuss his recent warning that some 500 million small farmers in poor countries are suffering from hunger, partly because foreign countries and corporations have bought up large tracts of land.

Via Campesia press release (10.13.10): Land-grabbing causes hunger! Let small-scale farmers feed the world! Read more here.

NFFC at Farm Aid 2010 click here

The Mountain Empire's disappearing dairy farms (10.03.10) - Dairy farmers and NFFC's Kathy Ozer comment on the Dairy Crisis and Virginia's disappearing dairy farms.

In response to the recent NFFC Dairy media teleconference, read: Dairy farmers pinched by low milk prices (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 07.29.10), Desperation on the Farm (St. Albans Messenger 07.30.10, no link available), and Desperate Dairy Farmers (Sun-Gazette 07.30.10)

Over One Thousand European Milk Producers Protest During the Session of the European Council of Agriculture Ministers - The report of the High Level Group on Milk (HLGM) that will be discussed today by the European Council of Agriculture Ministers cannot solve the milk crisis. European Coordination Via Campesina (ECVC) and European Milk Board (EMB) make one thing clear at their demonstration: fair prices for producers and supply management are needed.

Read about the recent events in Madison - Here - "Farmers plead for help as milk prices destroy profits" and, via WHY: "The main event was a Dairy Town Hall Forum in Madison, Wisconsin, sponsored by Family Farm Defenders, National Family Farm Coalition, and Food and Water Watch, and timed to coincide with Friday's Department of Justice and USDA workshop examining corporate concentration in the dairy industry."

US farmer speaks out about World Bank land grab principles (04.26.10) - Bob St. Peter of Food for Maine’s Future writes on land grabbing and food sovereignty.

Re-localizing our food system is the solution to hunger (02.17.10) - Bob St. Peter responds to a panel discusion on biotechnology in agriculture.