Making Norway Grow

1
Making Norway Grow

• A Short Presentation of
• The Norwegian Farmers Union

2
The Norwegian Farmers UnionNFU

• NFU - one out of two farmers organisations
• Recognized by the Government as one official
  party in annual negotiations
• 49 000 farmers in Norway
• 62 000 members - direct membership
• Approx. 31 000 agricultural producers are members
  
• Approx. 32 women
• Average age 50

3
The member organisation (1)

• The objective is to unite all who are, or feel
  attached to agriculture and work for common
  interests.
• Anybody who supports our objective can become a
  member. A membership implies both rights and
  obligations.

4
The member organisation (2)

• Local branches (580)
• Local interest groups and constitute the main
  meeting ground for colleagues in the local
  farming sector
• Engages and influences local authorities,
  especially in matters concerning land management
  and business development
• The local annual meeting is open to all members
  and gives each member the right and possibility
  to influence the policies and workings of the
  organisation

5
The member organisation (3)

• County departments (18)
• Engages and influences authorities at county
  level
• Promotes agriculture in the media
• Active toward politicians, both MPs and
  representatives for county based governments and
  party organisations.
• Regional business development
• Helps and supports the local branches
• Elects county leaders and delegates to the annual
  national assembly

6
The member organisation (4)

• The Norwegian Farmers' Union
• Annual meeting highest authority
• Annual meeting, board of directors and committee
  of repr. are main policy-makers
• The work is directed towards
• the members
• the government annual negotiations (support and
  prices)
• coops
• the private business sector
• Proactive in focusing on agriculture in the
  national media Open Farms, The Green School,
  campaigns
• Service and assistance for members

7
Organizational structure
62 000 members

• Local branches (580)
• Annual meeting
• Board (5)

• County
• branches (18)
• Annual meeting
• Board
• Administration
• (3-5)

• Nat. level
• Annual meeting
• (170)
• C. of representatives
• (47)
• Board
• Secr. general
• 60 employees
• 5 departments

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How policy is formed

• Norwegian Agricultural Policy
• Parliament establishes framework (2001)
• Annual negotiations concerning support schemes
  and prices
• Laws and regulations

NFU and other interest groups
Political parties Parliament
Farmers
Ministry of Agriculture
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The NFU - a wide engagement

• Frameworks and farming policies
• Our objectives
• To secure the overall framework for farm based
  activities for our members
• To ensure sufficient income in farming to create
  and maintain attractive jobs and business
  development in agriculture
• To ensure local ownership and local control of
  resources
• To develop an active policy for maintaining a
  decentralised population and employment
  opportunities in rural areas

10
Membership advantages

• Agricultural policy-making, framework,
  legislation, rules and regulations
• Individual help and support - covered by
  membership fee
• Direct personal advantages - at self-cost
• Socio-vocational environment - locally
• Local interest-organization and pressure groups
• Membership fee 1.750 NOK average

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Direct personal advantages

• Farmers Weekly (Bondebladet)
• Insurance
• Accountancy- services and book-keeping
• Discount prices (fuel/energy, telecommunication,
  cars, etc)
• Assistance in legal matters
• Health/Safety/Work-environment
• Publishing Company
• Self-study - groups

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International activities

• International interest-organisations
• IFAP (International Federation og Agr. Producers)
• COPA (EU-farmers organizations)
• NBC (Nordic Farmers Central Org.)
• Relations to the EU
• Mainly trough Min. of Agriculture, The Norwegian
  Delegation to the EU
• Observation post in Brussels - one person -
  serves both the NFU and the Norwegian coops.
• WTO
• Doha-round, crucial for agricultural policy and
  Norwegian farmers
• Ongoing negotiations NFU every countrys
  right to its own food production