March 18, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

USDA officially announced the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP), a new program that includes direct payments of up to $10 billion in total economic assistance for eligible producers of eligible commodities for the 2024 crop year. The program will be administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA). The program and funding were authorized by Congress in the American Relief Act, 2025, the year-end government funding package last December. The program will begin accepting applications tomorrow, March 19.

 

Farmers Union members fought very hard to ensure these funds were included in the year-end package, which was far from certain. NFU issued public statements in December 2024 here, here, and here (and upon passage of the deal, here) regarding the need for this aid – while continuing the stress the need for a new 5-year farm bill. During the year-end debates over funding, NFU also fought for agricultural disaster assistance, and the nearly $21 billion authorized for that purpose is expected to be distributed by USDA at a future date, but there is a not a clear timeline yet for this.

 

You can preview program details in the Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) here. We have summarized some of the program information below.

 

Program details:

• Assistance will be provided based on a flat payment rate for eligible commodities, multiplied by eligible acres (not production).
• In cases of prevented plant acres, 50 percent of those acres will receive payment.
• Formula for payments (more below) is largely specified in statute. The program pays for economic loss, relative to cost of production; input costs were determined by USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) and the cost of return is based on the WASDE.
• Payments will be factored by 85 percent to ensure all eligible producers can receive payments; after the application deadline closes, if funds remain, USDA may issue a second tranche of funding
• Payment limitations: as specified in statute for the program are as follows:
• • For producers with less than 75 percent of income derived from farming, $125,000 limit
  • For producers with more than 75 percent of income derived from farming, $250,000 limit
• FSA will generate pre-filled ECAP applications for producers based on their acreage of eligible commodities on FSA-578. Beginning in late March, FSA will mail those pre-filled applications to producers who had reported their 2024 crop year acreage of eligible commodities by March 10, 2025. Producers with a level 2 eAuthentication account or a login.gov account may complete their application electronically by visiting https://www.fsa.usda.gov/ecap.
• Farmers do not need to wait to receive their pre-filled application to apply; farmers are welcome to apply directly through their local FSA office or online (if eligible) before receiving their pre-filled application.
• The program application will open tomorrow, March 19, and close on August 15.

 

Formula used to calculate payments:

USDA will make a simplified calculator available to producers on the USDA website. Here is how USDA is describing its formula in the NOFA:

 

FSA has calculated a payment rate for each eligible commodity that is equal to the greater of:

• 26 percent of the economic loss (that is, the difference between the expected cost of production per acre and the expected gross return per acre) for an eligible commodity (referred to as the “economic loss payment rate” in this document); or
• 8 percent of the eligible commodity’s PLC reference price, multiplied by the eligible commodity’s PLC national average payment yield (referred to as the “minimum payment rate” in this document).

FARMERS UNION 

March 15,2025

Press Release:

Texas Farmers Union (TFU) delegate members attended the National Farmers Union 123^rd annual convention held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on March 12^th thru March 14^th.

Delegates attending were Bert and Denise Pruett of Slidell TX, Wayne Laminack of Ralls TX, Clayton Tucker and Kristi Lara of Lampasas TX and TFU Vice-President David Schertz of Krum TX. The TFU delegates joined over 200 delegates from all across the United States in a grassroots process of setting policies to help strengthen family farmers and rancher’s ability to make a living providing food and fiber to the American people and the world.

The main priority policy that was adopted by the delegates were a new comprehensive robust 5-year Farm Bill that includes strengthening the Farm Safety Net, Expand and Enhance Permanent Disaster Programs, Support Food and Nutrition Security, Advance Fair and Competitive Markets and Enact Farmer-Friendly Conservation Programs. Others were addressing federal and state governments passing legislation and establishing rules that strengthen antitrust and pro-competition laws, blocking harmful merger throughout the food chain, greater protections for livestock producers by enforcement of the Packers & Stockyards Act, passing laws or establishing rules that increase transparency and price discovery in cattle markets, making Mandatory Country of Origin labeling (COOL) on beef and passing farmers’ Right to Repair their own equipment legislation.

Texas Farmers Union

January 27, 2025

Press Release:

Texas Farmers Union (TFU) proudly announces the development of a new scholarship in the amount of two thousand dollars that will be rewarded to one deserving individual.

Eligibility is open to all graduating high school seniors, college students and individuals who will be continuing their education in either a two-year or four-year accredited college, university, or technical school for any area of study. They must obtain a TFU membership.

The application time is open now and the deadline is April 1, 2025. The winner will be announce by May 31,

2025.

The application and criteria can be found on our website www.tfunion.org.

Thank you,

Texas Farmers Union

January 27, 2025

Press Release:

Texas Farmers Union (TFU) a grassroots farm organization held their 123^rd annual convention in Abilene Texas on January 24^th and 25^th.

President Mike Oldham from Wheeler/Bastrop counties was re-elected to his 2^nd term and Vice-President David Schertz from Denton/Wise counties was re-elected to his 2^nd term too. Pam Oldham from Wheeler county, Finley Barnett from Taylor county, A.J. Priesmeyer from Wharton county and Billy Miller from McLennan county were elected to District Director positions.

TFU’s policy committee presented their recommendations for any additions to the 2025 policy book and the top priorities to the delegates for adoption. This grassroots procedure sets the guidance for the organization throughout the next year. Some of the top priorities the delegates passed were: A New Farm Bill, Right to Repair legislation, Texas Education, Country of Origin Labeling (COOL), Farm Financial Assistance, Trade and overturning the Mandatory Electronic Animal ID mandate.

TFU would like to thank the great speakers that addressed the delegation that included Chase Kuzel Director of Communications for National Farmers Union (NFU), Lizzie Cook from O’Donnell high school, Judith McGeary an attorney, activist & sustainable farmer, Lisa Battad the Executive director of Dept.of Agriculture Philippine Carabao Center and the key note speaker at the banquet was Jeff Kippley NFU Vice-President.

Thank you, 

Texas Farmers Union 

Press Release:

December 15, 2024

Texas Farmers Union (TFU) expresses their increasing concern for The U.S. and Texas farmers, ranchers and rural Texas as negotiations for an economic assistance package for farmers and an expanded extension to the Farm Bill have stalled in Congress.

Farmers have been saddled with low commodity prices and high input cost and natural disasters causing a $29.3 billion net farm income loss in 2024 alone. With an already unstable farm economy coupled with the current farm income losses, farmers need help to survive. Without the economic assistance funding many farmers will be unable secure the financing necessary to produce the upcoming crops that supply the food and fiber for the U.S. and many others leading to an uncertain future for many farmers and rural areas.

TFU ask everyone to call their Representatives and urge them to come together and pass an economic assistance package and a new robust expanded Farm Bill to provide the necessary assistance needed and guidance to the men and women that produce the American food supply.

Thanks,

Texas Farmers Union

December 11, 2024

Press Release

Kroger/Albertson Mega Merger Stopped

Texas Farmers Union (TFU) supports the recent Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ruling to stop Kroger’s $24.6 billion mega-merger with Albertson’s. If this merger would have been allowed to happen, it would have created the biggest supermarket merger in U.S. history. This is a win for the citizens of the United States and Texas by stopping more consolidation in the marketplace and keeping grocery prices lower. TFU believes competition within the marketplace and all sectors keeps prices lower and therefore will always advocate for the enforcement of all U.S. anti-trade competition laws for the betterment of Texas and the United States.

Texas Farmers Union

December 10th, 2024

Press Release

Texas Farmers and Ranchers need a new 5-year Farm Bill Now!

Texas farmers and ranchers are facing enormous economic uncertainty and financial burdens with the continued failing agriculture economy. The continued decline of crop prices, coupled with high interest rates and high input prices are causing farming and ranching operations to look for financial help to survive and keep their way of life of producing America’s food and fiber.

The 2018 Farm Bill expired on September 30^th, 2023, and was extended by one year, that extension expired on September 30^th, 2024, leaving the farmers and ranchers to forge forward without a clear path of what future farm policy will look like. Farm Bills are supposed to help protect America’s food security, promote job creation advance environmental sustainability and help protect farmers and ranchers from the many risks associated with farming and ranching.

Texas farmers and ranchers need a new comprehensive 5-year Farm Bill now! Please call your congressman/women and urge them to work together to help protect the American farmer and rancher and the Nations’ food security.

Thanks,

Texas Farmers Union

PRESS RELEASE

Farm Financial Assistance Needed

The failing farm economy crisis is taking its toll on U.S. farmers and all of the other people that work in the agriculture industry. Natural weather disasters, prices below the cost of production, high input costs and high interest rates have placed many more financial risks and mental health issues for the family farmer than ever before. Many bankers that provide the financing for farmers to produce their crops are delaying approving new production loans until they see if the farmers they work with are provided with the much needed assistance.  

The farm communities need help now to hopefully keep the men and women of agriculture on their farms and producing a safe and reliable food system for the American people.

Texas Farmers Union (TFU) supports the passage of The Farmer Assistance and Revenue Mitigation Act (FARM Act) or any other financial assistance package that some members of Congress are trying to get passed to help offset some of the financial hardships facing the American farmer and rancher. We know this is not a complete solution to the problem facing farmers and ranchers but it will give some relief to a growing problem that will impact every American citizen.

TFU urges the U.S. Congress to come together and pass the FARM Act or any other financial assistance package immediately to help the American farmer alleviate some of the financial burden that they have endured and keep a safe and reliable food supply for the United States.

Texas Farmers Union  

America Needs a New Farm Bill Now!

The current Farm Bill is set to expire for the second time on September 30th, 2024, and with no new news coming out of Washington DC, it may be a while before we get a new Farm Bill passed. The many factors contributing to the delay (party line shenanigans, childish behavior by both political parties, and a lack of motivation to get a new Bill signed before the election) are causing a greater impact on the U.S. agriculture economy than most outside of agriculture circles want to admit.

A Farm Bill protects America’s food security, promotes job creation, advances environmental sustainability, and is supposed to protect the family farmer and rancher from the many risks associated with farming and ranching. With agriculture being a key contributor to the U.S. economy, there is no better investment from the federal budget than smart farm policy.

The farm economy is failing and falling deeper into a place where a lot of family farmers and ranchers will not be able to survive and return to the incredible way of life that is farming and ranching. There are many circumstances that have arisen since the last Farm Bill was signed that are leading to the failed ag economy: interest rates are at their highest point in a few decades, record declines in net farm income, the ag trade deficit is at record levels and forecasted to be 32 billion next year, supply chains haven’t returned to pre-COVID standards, and farm inputs have remained at high levels even with declines in commodity prices.

A new Farm Bill is needed sooner than later to address these problems, along with addressing climate change, an inadequate farm safety net, land access, corporate control, and many other issues. America’s farm and ranch families and all those that work in agriculture need a new strong Farm Bill now!

In my opinion, the current and past Farm Bills have focused on trying to address revenue support for farmers. These policies have resulted in overproduction of commodities, causing below cost of production prices for commodities and higher costs to the federal government. We need to promote a Farm Bill that supports a supply management program that addresses the problems of cheap prices and costs, and supports net farm income by providing price supports for major crops. Any supply management program would take into account the cause of low prices (supply that exceeds demand) by taking a marginal amount of supply off the market so that crop prices rise to a profitable level, and if necessary, inducing farmers to reduce their production through paid acreage reduction programs through conservation programs. With crop prices well below the cost of production and the ag trade deficit at all-time highs for the foreseeable future, the same old revenue programs will be too expensive and still provide inadequate support to farmers.

Any and all future Farm Bills need to take into consideration and value the environment by fully funding and expanding authorized conservation programs that include paying early adapters of climate-smart conservation practices. They should also value the less fortunate by fully funding and expanding food and nutrition programs. In addition, Farm Bills must address corporate greed and the monopolization of the agriculture sector, such as the consolidation of agriculture manufacturers, seed companies, chemical and fertilizer companies, and crop insurance companies. The growing agriculture trade deficit needs to be immediately addressed to open new markets and revisit old markets, including free and fair trade, to reduce our agriculture trade deficit.

There are many other important factors and needs that a Farm Bill must have to help protect the family farmers and ranchers of this great nation, but there are too many to list here. Please call your representatives and senators and urge them to get together and pass a new robust Farm Bill that will help ensure the survival of the American family farmer and rancher.

David Schertz

Life-long Texas farmer and rancher and current Texas Farmers Union Vice-President

NFU Annual Fly-In 2024

[WASHINGTON September 2024] -- National Farmers Union just completed their Annual Fly-In in Washington DC. The purpose of the visit was to educate our representatives on what is going on in the countryside. Those attending were David Schertz of Krum, TX (cattle and grain farmer), Billy and Shorty Miller of Crawford, TX (owners of Mill-King Dairy), Clayton Tucker of Lampasas, TX (a goat and cattle producer), and President Mike Oldham and his wife Pam Oldham of Smithville.

We had a national board meeting on September 7, 2024 at the national offices, with time being spent on future leadership for Farmers Union, the oldest farm organization in the nation, still made up of farmers from the fields, ranchers, and land owners.

Monday, September 9

Fly-In Opening and USDA Briefing: 8:00 am – 11:45 am

U.S. Department of Agriculture South Building 1400 Independence Avenue SW

Participants lined up at 7:00 am at the Wing 5 Entrance of the USDA South Building with Fly-In name tags and photo IDs for the security screening. The session began at 8 am in the Jefferson Auditorium. Welcome and introductions from NFU were followed by remarks from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. Presentations were made by USDA leaders, including:

• Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Laster Moffitt
• Farm Service Agency Administrator Zach Ducheneaux
• Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Robert Bonnie
• Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Xochitl Torres-Small

Capitol Hill Briefing:

1:15 pm – 4:00 pm

325 Russell Senate Office Building - Kennedy Caucus Room

Participants entered the Russell Senate Office Building. All Fly-In participants were welcome to attend this event. Leaders from key federal agencies and the Senate Agriculture Committee provided policy updates about Fly-In priorities. Speakers included:

• Chair of the Federal Trade Commission Lina Khan
• Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan
• Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust Jonathan Kanter
• Leaders of the Senate Agriculture Committee

Tuesday and Wednesday were spent on Capitol Hill visiting representatives from our home state, talking about low prices, dry weather, and the expiring farm bill (September 30). The new bill should strengthen the safety net for farmers, boost permanent disaster assistance, expand crop insurance options, allow dual enrollment for ARC and PLC, and stem the loss of family dairy farms. Other topics discussed included:

• Fairness for Farmers (price discovery and transparency)
• Mandatory COOL for beef
• Strengthening the Packers and Stockyards Act
• Promoting diverse and value-added market opportunities and livestock processing
• Climate change
• A bill guaranteeing farmers the right to repair their own equipment

The Farmers Union also supports temporarily freezing the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) while pursuing broader H-2A and agriculture workforce reforms.

We covered many issues while focusing on the main one: we need a new Farm Bill to protect our farmers so we continue to have a cheap supply of food and fiber in abundance from our family farmers.

Latest copy of House Version 24 Farm Bill released by Chairman Thompson

Friday

May 10, 2024

House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson (R-PA) shared a 38-page-long document that details about his forthcoming draft farm bill legislation: 

https://agriculture.house.gov/UploadedFiles/Detailed_Summary_-_PDF.pdf

The chairman also issued an open letter to farm bill stakeholders, in which he outlined his approach towards penning the legislation. He pointed out that he's willing to receive additional feedback and concluded his letter by saying "while the Chairman’s mark is near finalized, my door remains open." You can see the letter here:

https://agriculture.house.gov/uploadedfiles/gt_open_letter.pdf

Ban on Beef Imports from Paraguay:

Texas Farmers Union (TFU) supports the Congressional Review Act recently passed by the Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support that would reinstate a long-standing ban on beef imports from Paraguay that was lifted in November 2023. TFU applauds the Senate for their recognition that this ban being lifted was a problem for cattle producers and consumers in the U.S. and now asks the House of Representatives to quickly take up the measure and pass it. The ban on beef imports from Paraguay will benefit U.S. cattle producer's consumers by protecting the safety of their food supply and also placing a value on supporting American farmers and ranchers when they go to the supermarket.

Thanks,

Texas Farmers Union

USDA’s “Product of USA” label:

USDA recently announced a long awaited new “Product of USA” labeling rule. USDA stated that starting in 2026 animal products would need to be born, raised, slaughtered and processed in the U.S. to use the “Product of USA” or “Made in the USA” labeling. Texas Farmers Union (TFU) supports this new labeling rule and sees it as a step in the right direction, but still asks for, Mandatory Country of Origin (MCOOL) on all food products. The new labeling rule addresses a loophole used by multinational meatpacking corporations that has allowed cattle born and raised in Mexico and Canada but slaughtered and packaged in the U.S. to be labeled “Made in the USA”, which undermines the U.S. beef market and cuts into U.S. ranchers paychecks. TFU believes in fair trade with our trading partners but feels that the U.S. farmers, ranchers and consumers should be the top priority when it comes to rulemaking and not what is in the best interest of multinational corporations or other countries.

Thanks,

Texas Farmers Union

 Texas Farmers Union opposes Mandatory Electronic Animal ID

USDA has been trying to implement mandatory electronic identification (EID) for over a decade behind the push from multi-national meat packing corporations and the rouse of food safety and traceability. They have failed to accomplish this from a push back from the American farmer and rancher every time that subject was brought up.

USDA is again trying to force their plan for all cattle producers to use EID ear tags on all adult cattle shipped across state lines. They have submitted a final rule for review by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This is a step closer to accomplishing their goal.

Texas Farmers Union (TFU) has always fought for farmers and ranchers to keep their right to a more profitable path in agriculture. TFU believes that the new rule would cause burdensome regulations and extra costs to the farmers and ranchers. The extra costs to farmers and ranchers from the tags themselves to the other infrastructure costs that more than likely will passed on to the farmer and rancher.

TFU believes that the Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) rule that exist today covers the requirements needed to trace cattle movement. The rule requires all dairy cattle and adult beef cattle that cross state lines have some form of identification either in the form of electronic or low tech forms of ID. The new proposed rule would make EID the only form of ID allowed for cattle crossing state lines.

TFU and farmers and ranchers need your help by calling your Congressman/woman and Senators and tell them to stop USDA’s EID mandate. Call the Capital Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for them by name.

Thanks for your help and consideration.

Texas Farmers Union

Mike Oldham, President

David Schertz, Vice President

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