Note to Readers: With Congress on recess for the week, we are playing catch-up on our farm bill reporting. This post takes a closer look at farm bill funding issues. A second post covers Senate floor action on the farm bill. Earlier, we posted a review of Senate and House Agriculture Committee markups on the […]
Archives for May 2013
Farm Bill Floor Action Begins
Note to Readers: With Congress on recess for the week, we are playing catch-up on our farm bill reporting. This post covers a range of topics, including Senate floor action on the farm bill. A second post takes a closer look at farm bill funding issues. Earlier, we posted a review of Senate and House […]
What a Win!
Dear Supporter, Guess what? Last week, the Senate heard from us – and they listened! Because of calls from grassroots advocates like you, the Senate passed an amendment – the Durbin-Coburn amendment – that takes a bold first step towards reforming ballooning crop insurance subsidies for wealthy mega-farms in the 2013 Farm Bill! Calls from […]
Smithfield Buyout Raises Fair Competition Concerns
A bid by Shuanghui International, also known as Shineway, to purchase Smithfield Foods for $4.7 billion became national news this week. Shuanghui is the majority shareholder of China’s largest meat processor and, according to the Wall Street Journal, sources most of its products from private farmers – a practice that has been scrutinized in China […]
NRCS Seeks New Acres for Wetlands and Grassland Reserve Programs
On Wednesday, May 29, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced that it is seeking new applications for enrollment in the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) and the Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) in fiscal year 2013. Both programs allow for continuous enrollment throughout the year, and NRCS has been receiving enrollment applications since January. However, until […]
For Immediate Release: Conservation Stewardship Program Deadline Extended to June 14
For Immediate Release: Conservation Stewardship Program Deadline Extended to June 14 Deadline Extended: On May 28, USDA/NRCS extended the deadline for the filing of the initial application form to participate in CSP for 2013 until June 14, 2013. Washington, D.C., May 28, 2013 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) today announced […]
USDA Publishes Country of Origin Labeling Final Rule
On Thursday, May 23, the USDA published the final rule amending the Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) regulations in the Federal Register. A pdf version of the final rule is available here. COOL was originally enacted in the 2002 Farm Bill and required retailers to notify customers of the country of origin of covered commodities. […]
Rural Coop Development Grants Available
The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has announced the availability of $6.5 million as part of its Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) program. The Notice of Funding Availability was published in the May 23 Federal Register. The goal of RCDG is to improve the economic condition of rural areas through the use of cooperative development. Grants […]
Rural Development Front and Center at Senate Hearing
The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a hearing this week amidst the buzz of Farm Bill activities on Capitol Hill. Subcommittee Chairman Mark Pryor (D-AR) and Ranking Member Roy Blunt (R-MO) took a break from floor action on the Farm Bill to lead Thursday’s hearing […]
Key Amendments Debated During Farm Bill Markups This Week
Both the Senate and House Agriculture Committees held their respective committee “markup” sessions this week. Initial drafts of the 2013 Farm Bill written mainly by the Chairs and Ranking Members of each committee were presented to members and modified through several hours of debate and committee votes through the amendment process. While the Senate markup […]
USDA Announces Improvements to Organic Crop Insurance
This week, USDA Secretary Vilsack announced additional crop insurance options for organic farmers available in 2014. Earlier this year, USDA made progress on organic crop insurance options by removing the premium surcharge for organic producers and making other adjustments. In this week’s announcement, Vilsack discussed plans for releasing additional organic price elections as well as […]
More Time and More Funding for Farm Energy Grants and Loans
USDA has announced that the deadline for applying for FY2013 Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants, loans, and feasibility studies has been extended to May 31, 2013. The deadline is extended because USDA has additional funds provided for in the FY2013 Appropriations. In the announcement of the extension, USDA indicated it would issue another […]
Release: NSAC Comments on House Farm Bill Markup
For Immediate Release NSAC COMMENTS ON HOUSE FARM BILL MARKUP Washington, DC, May 16 – The House Agriculture Committee late last night voted a new five-year farm bill out of committee by a vote of 36-10. The bill includes a variety of major priorities of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, along with several serious setbacks […]
USDA Taking Rural Business Opportunity Grant Applications
USDA has issued a notice that the Rural Development Agency is taking applications for Rural Business Opportunity Grants (RBOG). RBOG funds feasibility studies, strategic planning, leadership training and other services and activities that can foster the creation of businesses and jobs in rural areas. Eligible applicants include public entities, non-profit organizations, institutions of higher education, […]
Release: NSAC Comments on Senate Farm Bill Markup
For Immediate Release NSAC COMMENTS ON SENATE FARM BILL MARKUP Washington, DC, May 14 – The Senate Agriculture Committee today voted a new five-year farm bill out of committee by a vote of 15-5. The committee bill maintains the historic reforms to commodity subsidies included in last year’s bill that limit payments to the operator […]
NSAC Endorses the Farm Program Integrity Act of 2013 in the House of Representatives
For Immediate Release May 10, 2013 Contact: Ferd Hoefner, 202-547-5754 NSAC Endorses the Farm Program Integrity Act of 2013 Washington, DC – On Thursday, May 9, Representative Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) introduced the Farm Program Integrity Act of 2013 (H.R. 1932) in the House of Representatives to restore integrity and fiscal responsibility to the commodity program […]
2013 Farm Bill Doubleheader
Next week is a big week for the 2013 Farm Bill. Both the House and the Senate Agriculture Committees will be debating and voting on their respective versions of the 2013 Farm Bill next week. The Senate Agriculture Committee will markup its farm bill on Tuesday, May 14, at 10 AM. Chairwoman Stabenow (D-MI) released […]
NSAC Adopts Immigration Reform Principles
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition this week adopted a statement of NSAC Principles for Immigration Reform and Agriculture. NSAC and its member groups recognize the importance of agricultural workers to the food system. We are encouraged that both chambers of Congress are pursuing immigration reform. In some major respects, however, the proposals put forth so […]
Representatives Introduce Bill to Improve Farm Bill Conservation Programs
Today, Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), along with eleven additional cosponsors, introduced a bill to improve current farm conservation programs. The Balancing Food, Farm, and the Environment Act (H.R. 1890) aims to help farmers and ranchers improve their environmental performance and reward them for the conservation benefits they produce. The other cosponsors of the bill are Representatives […]
Six Former USDA Officials Send Letter on Conservation Accountability
On Tuesday, May 7, six former Chiefs of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) delivered a letter to the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, urging them to reattach conservation accountability measures to federal crop insurance premium subsidies. In the letter, former NRCS Chiefs Dave White (2009-2012), Arlen Lancaster (2006-2009), Bruce Knight (2002-2006), Pearlie Reed (1998-2002), Paul […]
Conservation Buffer and Wildlife Habitat CRP Enrollment Starting Again
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has issued a notice to its state and local offices that on May 13, 2013, FSA will once again begin accepting offers for new contracts under the Conservation Reserve Program’s (CRP) four targeted subprograms: the Continuous signup (buffer initiative), Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, Farmable Wetlands Program, and State Acres for Wildlife […]
Farmers and Ranchers Awarded Value-Added Grants for New Markets and Products
On May 1, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced Value-Added Producer Grant Program (VAPG) awards to over 110 agricultural producers. The grant awards totaled nearly $16.8 million. The funding came from the $14 million appropriation for VAPG in the FY 2012 Appropriations Bill as well as $2.8 million from earlier years. The Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG) […]
For Immediate Release: Grants for Farm and Rural Business Development Announced
For Immediate Release May 2, 2013 Contact: Ferd Hoefner, 202-547-5754 Grants for Farm and Rural Business Development Announced Washington, D.C., May 2, 2013 – Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced that over 110 agricultural producers from 43 states will receive nearly $16.8 million in grants from the 2012 round of the Value-Added Producer Grants program. […]
Conservation Stewardship Program Applications Due by May 31
On May 1, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced that applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2013 sign up of the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) will be due on May 31. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will accept slightly more than 12 million acres into the program. While CSP enrollment is continuous, interested farmers, ranchers, […]