NFU members believe that the problems facing farmers are common problems, and that farmers producing diverse products must work together to advance effective solutions. The NFU works toward the development of economic and social policies that will maintain the family farm as the primary food-producing unit in Canada.

Associate Members are a valued part of the National Farmers Union family. Associate Members are non-farmers that understand that food issues are everyone's issues and want to help farmers build a sustainable and nutritious food system in Canada.

The National Farmers Union is the only voluntary, direct-membership national farm organization in Canada. It is also the only farm organization incorporated through an Act of Parliament (June 11, 1970).

The National Farmers Union, Canada, is comprised of eight regions shown in the map below.

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The NFU works on the non-partisan development of economic and social policies that will maintain the family farm as the basic food-producing unit in Canada. To help realize this goal, the NFU and its members work to create, expand, and safeguard orderly marketing and supply-management systems. NFU members believe that individual farmers must work collectively to assert their interests in an agricultural industry increasingly dominated by multi-billion-dollar corporations.

Objectives

The objectives of the National Farmers Union, as outlined in its constitution, are:

a) To promote the betterment of farmers in the attainment of their economic and social goals;

b) To conduct projects for the benefit of farmers in the development of markets for, and the marketing of, farm products;

c) To achieve the reduction of costs and other measures designed to increase the economic benefits of farming;

d) To conduct educational and research projects for the benefit of farmers;

e) To promote and secure legislation and other forms of government action for the benefit of farmers;

f) To promote a higher standard of community in agriculture;

g) To provide services for its members consistent with its objects and w ork jointly with any other persons or organizations for the attainment of its objects.

History

The NFU was formed in 1969 through the merger of the Saskatchewan Farmers Union, the Ontario Farmers Union, the Farmers Union of B.C. and the Manitoba Farmers Union. Prior to 1969, these provincial unions worked autonomously in their respective provinces.

Provincial Unions were at a disadvantage in working with the federal government. For this reason, they created a coordinating body, the National Farmers Union Council, consisting of representatives of the executives of each provincial union.

Over time, the officials and members of the provincial unions realized that the major policy decisions which affected farmers were being made at the federal level. At a joint meeting of the executives of the provincial unions in Winnipeg in March, 1968, the executive members passed a motion to strike a committee to develop a constitution for a direct membership national farm organization.

The founding convention of the National Farmers Union was held in Winnipeg in July, 1969. In the following months the provincial unions were phased out and their assets and liabilities transferred to the NFU. Following the 1969 founding convention in Winnipeg, the NFU is the only farm organization in Canada with its own federal charter. The NFU was recognized by an Act of Parliament in 1970.

National Farmers Union | 2717 Wentz Avenue | Saskatoon, SK | S7K 4B6
Phone: (306) 652-9465 | Fax: (306) 664-6226
Email: nfu@nfu.ca