NSAC Archives for October, 2011
USDA Announces Risk Management Partnership Awards
Monday, October 31st, 2011
On Friday, October 28, USDA announced $13.5 million in grants to support crop insurance education and outreach in 47 states to ensure that small and underserved producers get the information they need to effectively manage their risk and remain productive. The grants were awarded as part of the fiscal year 2011 funding cycle for two Read the Rest…
“Pick Three” Action Update
Friday, October 28th, 2011
Hundreds of you have called and emailed your Senators and Representatives over the last two weeks – thank you for standing up for a fair and healthy farm and food system! To remind readers of current action items, we summarized and linked three alerts below. Urgent Action Needed on the Farm Bill The food and Read the Rest…
NSAC Writes Agriculture Committee Leaders on Key Points for Farm Bill
Friday, October 28th, 2011
On Friday, October 28, as the staff for the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees prepare for final deliberations on a farm bill proposal to send to the special congressional deficit reduction panel (or super committee), NSAC sent the leaders a letter highlighting some key concerns. The letter addresses three Read the Rest…
Next Week Key for Agriculture Appropriations and the Farm Bill
Friday, October 28th, 2011
The Senate returns from recess on Monday, one day before the House and Senate Agriculture Committees are expected to deliver a farm bill proposal to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (informally known as the “Supercommittee”). In their October 14 letter to the Supercommittee, the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Read the Rest…
Black Farmer Settlement Approved by Court
Friday, October 28th, 2011
On Thursday, October 27, 2011, a District Court Judge issued a motion to approve the settlement in the Pigford II black farmers’ class action discrimination lawsuit against the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The settlement provides $1.25 billion for tens of thousands of black farmers who were discriminated against by USDA in the 1980s and Read the Rest…
USDA announces awards on organic research
Thursday, October 27th, 2011
On October 25, Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced 23 new grants to research and extension programs working to help organic producers and processors grow and market high quality organic agricultural products. The grants, totaling $19 million, are funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) through two Read the Rest…
Groundbreaking Opportunity: The Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act
Thursday, October 27th, 2011
Is supporting your local farmer, visiting your farmers market, CSA, food coop, or other local food source important to you? What about having fresh, local food for your child’s school meals? Or as a farmer or rancher, do you want to figure out ways to add value to your food products to capitalize on sales Read the Rest…
Local and Regional Food Bill Prepared for Inclusion in New Farm Bill
Thursday, October 27th, 2011
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition For Immediate Release October 27, 2011 Contact: Helen Dombalis, Ferd Hoefner, 202-547-5754 Local and Regional Food Bill Prepared for Inclusion in New Farm Bill Washington, D.C. October 27, 2011 – Today Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Representative Chellie Pingree of Maine announced that next week they will introduce the Local Read the Rest…
Senators Harkin and Johnson Stand Up for Fair Competition
Wednesday, October 26th, 2011
On Thursday, October 20 , Senators Tim Johnson (D-SD) and Tom Harkin (D-IA) presented floor statements in support of the proposed Grain Inspection, Packers, and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) livestock competition rule. Earlier in the Senate floor debate, negative remarks made against the rule were made by Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) and Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS). Read the Rest…
NSAC urges Congress to support beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers
Tuesday, October 25th, 2011
On Monday, October 24, NSAC joined with 115 other organizations across the country on a sign-on letter to Congress, to advocate for federal programs and policies that would support beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers, including tribal producers and farmworkers. The letter was delivered to members of both the Senate and House Agriculture Committees, as they Read the Rest…
