National Council of Farmer Cooperatives

06/17/2026

Last week, we hosted a group of Nuffield International scholars at our office in Washington, D.C.

Our Senior Director of Government Affairs, Zachary Gihorski, JD, led a conversation focused on America's farmer cooperative system and how NCFC approaches U.S. agricultural policy on behalf of its members. There is genuine international interest in how farmer-owned businesses are organized and how they engage with the policy process here at home, and we were glad to be part of that conversation.

Learn more about our government affairs work at ncfc.org/issue-areas/

06/16/2026

When NCFC testified at an The U.S. Department of the Treasury hearing last month, we urged the removal of Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) penalties that Congress had already eliminated through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The U.S. Department of Energy has now published updated guidance doing just that.

The guidance confirms that ILUC is excluded from emissions calculations for clean fuels produced after December 31, 2025. For farmer cooperatives with fiscal tax years, this is an important win! Without the change, co-ops would have been stuck using an emissions table that overstated their carbon footprint and shortchanged the value of the credit they are entitled to under current law.

We will keep monitoring implementation to make sure the final rules deliver the full value of the 45Z credit for farmer co-ops.

Read the DOE guidance here: https://www.energy.gov/documents/guidelines-determine-life-cycle-greenhouse-gas-emissions-clean-transportation-fuel

06/10/2026

June is , and we're proud to recognize our farmer-owned dairy cooperative members who work every day to bring nutritious milk, cheese, butter, and other dairy products to tables across the world.

Farmer-owned dairy co-ops market approximately 85–87% of the raw milk and milk products produced in the United States, a remarkable testament to what farmers can accomplish when they work together. From the farm to the fridge, these cooperatives are the backbone of America's dairy supply.

A heartfelt thank you to Agri-Mark. Inc., Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, Foremost Farms USA, Land O'Lakes, Inc., Maola Local Dairies, and Michigan Milk Producers Association for your commitment to America's farmers and the communities you serve.

06/04/2026

Today, we turned CEO Duane Simpson's office into a recording studio for the first episode of "Cooperative Voice", our upcoming podcast.

Each episode will feature cooperative leaders, policymakers, and experts who shape the business and policy landscape for America's farmer-owned co-ops.

Stay tuned for our launch later this summer!

06/01/2026

We're thrilled to welcome Haley Bryand to NCFC as our summer intern!

Haley is pursuing a B.S. in Animal Science with a minor in Legal Foundations at Texas A&M University, where she serves as a Student Ambassador for the Department of Animal Science and as a representative on the Texas A&M University - College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Student Council.

She brings real-world policy experience to the role, including a Government Relations internship with the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, where she developed policy summaries, coordinated legislative engagement, and supported political action committee activities. Haley is also a member of TSCRA and the American Bar Association, and holds both a Texas Property & Casualty Insurance License and Beef and Pork Quality Assurance Certification.

We're looking forward to a great summer with Haley’s help telling the story of America's farmer cooperatives on the Hill and beyond!

Please join us in welcoming Haley to the team! 🌾

05/28/2026

Congratulations to Beth Ford, President & CEO of our member Land O'Lakes, Inc., on being named No. 13 on Fortune 's 2025 Most Powerful Women in Business list, recognizing her leadership in elevating the economic challenges facing American agriculture to a national business and policy priority.

The recognition comes alongside a new Wall Street Journal profile exploring Ford's urgent push to sound the alarm on the state of American farming.

Congratulations, Beth! We're proud to call Land O'Lakes a fellow member of NCFC.

View the Wall Street Journal here:

From food insecurity to severe labor shortages, the agricultural sector is reeling. Land O’Lakes CEO Beth Ford says it’s time for America to wake up and take action.

05/27/2026

This past week, we celebrated Justin Darisse, Vice President of Strategy and External Affairs, for 25 years of service to NCFC and the cooperative community through leadership in advocacy, communications, and public policy.

Over the past 25 years, Justin has contributed to many major milestones at NCFC, including work across five farm bill cycles, the “Farmer Co-ops: Providing for America” public relations campaign during the DOJ-USDA Competition Hearings, and NCFC’s efforts to preserve Section 199A.

Throughout his tenure, Justin has traveled to 33 states on behalf of NCFC, worked under four NCFC CEOs, collaborated with 15 NCFC chairmen, and occupied five different offices at NCFC headquarters.

Justin’s dedication to America’s farmer cooperatives and rural communities has left a lasting impact on our organization and industry. Please join us in celebrating this remarkable milestone!

04/27/2026

🌱 Big news! NCFC welcomes Danielle Griffin as our new Communications Manager, starting today. Danielle brings seven years of experience in strategic communications — including at the Veterans Health Administration and the Georgia Symphony Orchestra — and holds graduate and undergraduate degrees in communications from Kennesaw State University. We're thrilled to have her on board as we launch our new strategic plan and work to amplify the voice of America's farmer cooperatives. Welcome, Danielle! 👋

03/24/2026

Today we’re celebrating the farmers, ranchers, and cooperatives who help provide the safe, abundant, and affordable food Americans rely on every day.

Farmer cooperatives give producers the strength to compete in today’s marketplace, keep supply chains moving, and ensure more of agriculture’s value stays in rural communities. They also support more than 250,000 jobs nationwide and invest billions back into local economies each year.

Co-ops are built by farmers, owned by farmers, and focused on strengthening the communities they call home.

Join us in thanking America’s producers—and the cooperatives that help power rural prosperity.

03/19/2026

America’s farmer cooperatives help millions of producers market their crops, access supplies, and compete in today’s global agricultural economy.

Last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act included several tax provisions that support farmer co-ops and the producers who own them.

Among the key provisions:

🌾 Permanent Section 199A Small Business Deduction – Special provisions under Section 199A give farmer co-ops the ability to take advantage of the Section 199A(g) deduction. In a recent survey of NCFC members, we found that they are generating $2 billion in deductions each year, of which 95% are passed on to their farmer-owners.

🚜 100% Bonus Depreciation – Allows farms and cooperatives to immediately deduct the cost of qualifying equipment and investments.

🔧 Expanded Section 179 Deduction – Increases the amount farms and small businesses can expense when purchasing equipment.

These policies help ensure farmer cooperatives can continue investing in their operations, returning value to their members, and strengthening rural communities across the country.