We previously reported to you that a 2011 Food and Farm Bill appeared imminent.  Days before Thanksgiving the Congressional “Super Committee” failed to reach agreement on $1.2 trillion in budget cuts.  With that, the 2011 Farm Bill proposal intended for inclusion in the Super Committee’s deficit reduction bill is thus no more.

The now dead 2011 proposal was a mixed bag to be sure.  However, because you made your voice heard, the short-lived 2011 Farm Bill contained some of sustainable agriculture’s conservation, local food, beginning farmer, and organic priorities.

There are many scenarios for what might happen next with the farm bill.  What’s clear is that a more traditional farm bill process will begin early next year.  We now have a prime opportunity to amplify our voices and push for a greener, healthier, and fairer food and farm system for consumers and family farmers!

We need your continued engagement to keep up the momentum and mobilize an even stronger front for the 2012 Food and Farm Bill Campaign.  Thriving family farms and sustainable and organic agriculture are critical to America’s economy, health, and environment.  Pass this link on to your friends and networks, build the sustainable and organic agriculture movement, and stay tuned!

Thank you for all you do!

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Staff

To take action on two of our farm bill priorities, see the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act and Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act.

To support our 2012 Food and Farm Bill Campaign, please make a tax-deductible donation today.  Thank you!

To remind readers of current action items, we summarized and linked three alerts below.

Urgent Action Needed on the Farm Bill

The food and farm bill is moving at such a rapid pace presently, and we want to make sure you are aware of the urgent actions you can take today before it’s too late. If the Agriculture Committee fulfills their goal of completing detailed food and farm bill legislation by this Tuesday November 1st, you only have a few days left to make your voice heard.

Speak out and oppose any farm bill deal that makes big cuts to conservation and nutrition programs, fails to restore funding for local food and beginning farmer programs, or keeps subsidizing commodity production without strict per farm limits.

Exciting food and farm bill reforms and new proposals this week

Beginning Farmers — This week a major new bill was announced in the House and Senate! The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act of 2011 (H.R. 3236; Senate bill number forthcoming), introduced by Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa and Representatives Tim Walz of Minnesota and Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska is a comprehensive bill intended for inclusion in the 2012 Farm Bill that that helps support economic opportunities for young and beginning farmers and ranchers.

This is our chance to ensure food security for future generations and new farming enterprises that can bring jobs and economic renewal to revitalize our nation’s communities. Ask your Two Senators and your Representative to Co-sponsor the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act of 2011! We need support from as many legislators as possible – and quickly.

Local Farms/Food – Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Representative Chellie Pingree of Maine announced that next week they would introduce the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act! This is a second comprehensive bill intended for inclusion in the 2012 Farm Bill – a groundbreaking opportunity for you to support local farmers and ranchers and to ensure your local food system continues to grow. Ask your two Senators and your Representative to co-sponsor the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act!

In the coming days, we will be joining members of Congress and other farm and food advocates in introducing the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act!

The goal of the bill is to advance the development of local and regional farm and food systems from farm to table.  Local food systems not only hold potential for connecting consumers with where their food comes from, but also for boosting farm income, stimulating job creation and economic development, and meeting public health and nutrition goals.

The bill will address the needs of consumers in accessing food from their local communities and the needs of farmers and ranchers producing for local and regional markets, including infrastructure and processing capabilities.  While there are growing “relocalization” efforts and local food economies are expanding across the nation, policy reforms are needed to overcome barriers and more fully capitalize on the new farming opportunities, jobs, and economic growth this sector can deliver.

Ask your two Senators and your Representative to co-sponsor the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act!
We need support from as many legislators as possible – and quickly.
Can we count on you to take action?

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 Farms, Food, and Jobs Act, a comprehensive bill intended for inclusion in the 2012 Farm Bill.

This legislation will help farmers and ranchers engaged in local and regional agriculture by addressing production, aggregation, processing, marketing, and distribution needs.  It will also assist consumers by improving access to healthy food.  Of utmost importance, the bill will provide secure farm bill funding for critically important programs that support family farms, expand new farming opportunities and rural jobs, and invest in the local agriculture economy.

“We applaud Senator Brown and Congresswoman Pingree for introducing this legislation, which is important to farmers and consumers alike,” said Helen Dombalis, a Policy Associate with the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.  “The Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act revises and expands federal farm programs already in place to ensure that they work well for producers wanting to add value to their products and to sell in their own communities and regional markets, helping to meet rapidly expanding consumer demand for local food.”

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and its 40 member groups were closely involved in the development of the bill.  Among the many other groups endorsing the measure are the National Farmers Union, National Organic Coalition, Community Food Security Coalition, American Farmland Trust, and the National Farm to School Network.

The bill includes provisions that cut across ten titles of the Farm Bill, including proposals that address conservation, credit, nutrition, rural development, research and extension, food safety, livestock, and crop insurance.  For instance, the bill would:

• Authorize USDA’s Risk Management Agency to develop a whole farm revenue insurance product for diversified operations, including specialty crops and mixed grain/livestock or dairy operations;
• Strengthen direct producer-to-consumer and larger scale retail and institutional marketing channels, through the Local Marketing Promotion Program, a renewal and expansion of the current Farmers’ Market Promotion Program;
• Expand USDA’s rural Business and Industry loan funding set-aside for local and regional food enterprises and infrastructure;
• Create an annual allocation for local and regional specialty crop market development within the Specialty Crop Block Grant program;
• Renew funding for the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program to assist producers entering into organic production; and
• Fund farmer food safety training through the National Food Safety Training, Education, Extension, Outreach and Technical Assistance program, authorized last year as part of the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2010.

For more information on the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act, visit NSAC’s website.

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition is a grassroots alliance that advocates for federal policy reform supporting the long-term social, economic, and environmental sustainability of agriculture, natural resources, and rural communities.

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Today, Monday 24th 2011, is Food Day.  Please join the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) in answering this call to action.

Healthy, green, fair, and affordable food is important to all Americans.  Today we come together with people across the country who are hosting Food Day events in homes, schools, churches, farmers markets, city halls, and state capitals.

It’s an absolutely critical time to act.  Key decisions in the food and farm bill – a mammoth piece of legislation that sets the rules for the American food system– are being made now. Please speak out today to reform our food and farming system and protect our natural resources.

Many NSAC member organizations are seizing this opportunity to raise awareness about how decisions made in Congress in the next week will impact our environment, health, security, and prosperity for decades to come.

To learn more about Food Day, click here.

On a press call announcing the awards, Merrigan noted that “this year, similar to last year, there is a huge interest in local.”  She specified that 54 of the 55 States and Territories requested funding for efforts related to local or regional food systems: “They are sending a strong message that support is needed.”

On the press call, Merrigan gave a few specific examples of newly awarded initiatives related to local and regional food:

• In Oklahoma, funds to partner with Copper Bear Farms to offer free salad bar options to children grades Pre-K through fifth grade and produce a business model for local farmers to grow reliable and quality salad bar crops for distribution to local schools
• In Utah, funds to partner with Bear Lake Raspberry Company to increase accessibility of raspberry storage to rural farmers through the provision of a grower-shared commercial freezer that will be used to store raspberries as well as a refrigerated trailer to transport those berries to major population centers areas throughout the intermountain west
• In South Dakota, funds to partner with the Value Added Agriculture Development Center to develop a statewide Online Marketplace to connect specialty crop growers and buyers
• In Massachusetts and New Hampshire, funds to partner with the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources and the New England Apple Association to develop profitable long-term food service markets for fresh-sliced apples and build the region’s capacity to meet the increased demand

Merrigan also highlighted farm to school programs as another of this year’s “themes.”  Funded initiatives this year for farm to school efforts include:

• In Iowa, funds to promote the purchase of State’s specialty crops through the establishment of additional chapters and other initiatives established within the Iowa Farm to School program
• In Oregon, funds to pilot a new national service program, FoodCorps, through the coordination of the Oregon Farm to School and School Garden Program with the Oregon Department of Education and extensive public-private partnerships around the state; support specialty crop agriculture, food and environmental literacy in the state, and foster new career entrants into farming and food processing of specialty crops
• Also in Oregon, funds to partner with Corvallis Environmental Center to increase purchases of Oregon specialty crops by school districts, promote Oregon fruits and vegetable to children and their families, and serve as a model for emerging farm to school programs in Oregon

Merrigan was joined on the call by Bruce Grim, Executive Director of the Washington State Horticultural Association, who spoke about the utility of previously participating in the program to create a food safety program including a guidance manual that allows orchards to be “audit ready,” which he added is “a huge cost saving for growers.”  Also on the call was Bill Brim, President of Lewis Taylor Farms in Georgia.  Brim discussed the use of program funds to launch in spring 2010 a locally grown program, GeorgiaGrownFun.com, which he said “created an avenue for small growers.”

Following up on these examples, Merrigan pointed out that Specialty Crop Block Grants promote the development of new markets and that “new markets equal new revenue and new jobs.”

NSAC advocates for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program and supports the use of program funds for the development of local and regional food systems, recognizing that these systems increase farm income and stimulate economic development.

Congratulations to the NSAC members receiving 2011 funds from the program:

• Appalachian Center for Economic Networks (ACEnet) to assist specialty crop producers to increase wholesale market access and profitability for fresh and processed specialty crops to restaurants, grocery retailers and educational institutions by providing Market Ready, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Point (HACCP) training, regional brand promotions, and improved processing and packaging technologies
• Carolina Farm Stewardship Association to publish a report documenting the wholesale demand for organic produce grown in North Carolina, to provide organic transition support services to specialty crop producers, and to work with North Carolina Fresh Produce Safety Task Force small-farm workgroup on the Local Produce Safety Initiative to identify pathogen control best management practices for small farmers
• Carolina Farm Stewardship Association to improve outreach to South Carolina specialty crop producers about resource conservation programs and increase adoption of conservation practices; allow them to reduce the cost of implementing organic pest and disease control practices; and provide organic/transitioning producers with the tools they need in order to be in compliance with the National Organic Program
• CitySeed in Connecticut to deliver a creative, buy local marketing campaign via free space on BuyCT Grown and through  point of sale materials that target maple syrup, nursery products, summer berries, pick-your-own apples, tree fruit, pumpkins and Christmas trees
• Community Alliance with Family Farmers in California to create a food safety extension program targeting small and minority farmers through workshops and one-on-one assistance
• Fay-Penn Economic Council in Pennsylvania to establish a Local Economy Initiative that focuses efforts to rebuild a local sustainable food system and promote direct farm-to-consumer sales, farmers markets, and other sustainable agriculture marketing practices.
• Illinois Stewardship Alliance to increase specialty crop sales to restaurants and developing new resources to connect farms to restaurants by educating restaurants and farmers, promoting local foods through the “Buy Fresh Buy Local” campaign, providing technical training to chefs and facilitating a farm-to-restaurant series.
• Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy to create new selling opportunities for Minnesota growers of fresh fruits and vegetable by addressing key barriers in the burgeoning K-12 school marketplace
• Kansas Rural Center to develop new relationships between specialty crop growers, food businesses, and consumers and provide technical assistance to specialty crop farmers and buyers
• Michigan Food and Farming System to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crop producers by providing food safety education on traceability, develop a group audit process that allows smaller scaled specialty crop growers to pool their resources to create a cooperative on-farm food safety plan and audit process for field and hoop house growers, and to assist farmers in expanding into new and existing specialty crop markets by providing them with opportunities to meet the buyers for retail and wholesale institutions
• Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut to increase the sales and consumption of specialty crops by increasing the number, success, season length and size of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) projects
• Northeast Organic Farming Association of Massachusetts to provide specialty crop producers with classes and workshops on methods to forgo pesticides and take advantage of organic growing methods for specialty crops
• Northeast Organic Farming Association of Rhode Island to provide training and establish an advisor program for farmers interested in the use of organic specialty crop production techniques
• Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont to develop a strategic marketing and outreach campaign to increase consumer awareness and purchases of certified organic fruits and vegetables in the marketplace and increase the value of the certified organic brand to both new and veteran organic farmers
• Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture to plan and implement the development of a Northeast Pennsylvania “Food Hub”to increase the production and sales of Pennsylvania grown specialty crops
• Rural Advancement Foundation International to complete an assessment of crop insurance that is needed to protect and encourage growth of North Carolina specialty crops industry
• Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (SSAWG) to educate small and beginning farmers via DVDs on the planning, production, and marketing of specialty crops

Sign up to participate in a webinar on Monday afternoon, October 10, entitled, “What You Need to Know about the Farm Bill—Important Updates and Information Related to Community and Regional Food Systems.”

Join us on Monday, October 10, 4:00 Eastern, 3:00 Central, 2:00 Mountain, and 1:00 Pacific time zones.  Space is limited, so please email fooddaywi@gmail.com with questions or for information about how to register for the webinar.

The webinar is hosted by several Wisconsin groups but targeted to interested participants around the country.  It will address the following topics

- What is the Farm Bill and why does it matter to your community?

- What’s the timeline for action?

- How will issues related to community and regional food systems be treated in two Farm Bill “marker bills” soon to be introduced?

- What coalitions or networks are working on these issues, and how can you get involved?

Margaret Krome, Policy Program Director with the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute in Wisconsin, will describe the Farm Bill’s structure, relevance, and timeline.  Helen Dombalis, Policy Associate with the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, will lay out some important farm bill provisions for addressing local and regional food systems.  Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH)’s Legislative Director John Latini will share provisions of a forthcoming bill on community agriculture that he is helping develop.  There will be plenty of time in this 1-hour webinar to answer questions.

Presenters will discuss proposals ranging from expanding use of Electronic Benefits Transfer systems and increasing purchasing flexibility for schools in buying food to modifications in existing research, conservation, credit and other provisions to support local and community food systems.

In November 2010, Congress approved a resolution introduced by Representative Rush Holt (D-NJ) to officially designate October as National Farm to School Month.  The passage of House Resolution 1655 demonstrates the growing importance and role of Farm to School programs as a means to improve child nutrition, sustain local economies, and educate children about the origins of food.

USDA’s Farm to School website has recently made updates to its resource pages.  The “Implementing Farm to School Activities” page offers information on getting involved in the various aspects of starting and operating a successful Farm to School program.  The food safety page includes information for producers on meeting food safety requirements and standards such as Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP).  Finally, there is now an interactive map of the U.S., which allows visitors to the site to easily identify their Farm to School contacts with their State governments.

During the 2010 Child Nutrition Reauthorization, NSAC successfully advocated with the Community Food Security Coalition,  National Farm to School Network, and other partners for $40 million in mandatory funding for a new Farm to School competitive grants program.  Funding for this program will begin in Fiscal Year 2013 (which starts October 1, 2012).  To keep up with the latest information from USDA about the status of this program, visit USDA’s Farm to School grants page.  The information about the new program is currently available under the section “Future USDA Grants.”

To sign up for updates from USDA about Farm to School programs, visit their list serve update page.

RBEGs provide grants for rural projects that finance and facilitate development of small and emerging rural businesses that boost local rural economies.  The IRP provides loan capital to development organizations to use as revolving loans to finance small business and job growth in poor rural areas.

This round of funding includes numerous projects targeted to food systems:

• $60,092 to expand the food distribution system in Newport, VT
• $171,050 for Farm-to-Table marketing efforts and a food hub study in Vermont
• $150,000 to construct a greenhouse in Eastaboga, AL
• $48,000 to conduct a farm energy production study in Rumsey, CA
• $99,000 to renovate the farmers market in Tifton, GA
• $58,488 for technical service for food innovation districts in Traverse City, MI
• $85,000 to build a cooperative grocery store for the residents of Nebraska and Colorado
• $65,000 for business development using University of Nebraska Food Processing Center
• $81,677 for the upgrade of the food center in Taos, NM
• $84,102 to construct a decentralized regional composting system in Pittsburgh, PA
• $50,000 to purchase food processing equipment for Mad River Food Hub, VT
• $25,000 to support development of farmers markets in New Hampshire
• $82,000 to expand and remodel a grocery store in rural Oklahoma
• $100,000 to build a food manufacturing kitchen in South Carolina

Congratulations to one of NSAC’s members, Center for Rural Affairs, for receiving an RBEG award of $72,000 for marketplace activities, including outreach to eight Tribes in Nebraska and South Dakota.

Download NSAC’s Guide to Federal Funding for Local and Regional Food Systems to learn more about the applicability of the Rural Business Enterprise Grants to local and regional food systems.

This is an opportunity for emerging Farm to School programs to seek funding to establish or improve school-based or community gardens as venues for hands-on nutrition education and experiential learning.

State colleges and universities, agricultural extension services, independent school districts, nonprofits, and individuals are eligible to apply for the People’s Garden Grant Program.  Applications are available through the federal governments online applications portal.  The deadline is August 26, 2011.

The People’s Garden Grant Program, which is also supported by Agricultural Marketing Service, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Food and Nutritional Service, Forest Service, and Natural Resources Conservation Service, is an outgrowth of USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack’s initiative to form a People’s Garden at USDA headquarters and at USDA facilities throughout the country in honor of the 200th birthday of President Lincoln who founded USDA as “the people’s department” in 1862 .

NIFA will host a teleconference on Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) for potential applicants.  To participate in the teleconference, please call toll-free (888) 858-2144; the access code is 1059897.  For those unable to participate in the call, NIFA will post a summary of the questions and the information provided to the NIFA website.

NIFA additionally requests stakeholder input from any interested party for use in the development of the next RFA for this program.

NSAC has long been a supporter of the Farm to School Program, which will be distributing its own competitive grant awards starting next year, at the start of Fiscal Year 2013 in October 2012.  NSAC recently submitted recommendations to USDA on the implementation of this program.  We would encourage schools and school districts that are considering applying to the new Farm to School grant program to consider this People’s Garden grant program as a way to fund the school garden component of a larger farm to school endeavor.