March 15-17, 2009
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
Inaugural Meeting – March 15-17, 2009
Alexandria, VA
The National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture held the inaugural meeting of its member organizations March 15 – 17 in Alexandria, VA. 90 people convened, including representatives from 40 of NSAC’s 65 member organizations, as well as 15 farmers associated with several of NSAC’s member organizations.
The meeting included updates on the latest happenings in DC from NSAC policy staff, including sustainable agriculture priorities in the recently passed stimulus bill, omnibus spending bill for FY2009, and upcoming FY2010 appropriations legislation. NSAC’s five Issue Committees and the Policy Council also held meetings to come to consensus on which of the many issues of concern to the diverse membership of the Coalition should be the priorities toward which the DC staff devotes its finite resources. The priority-setting process is still ongoing, but the discussions at the meeting advanced this process tremendously.
On Tuesday, March 17, NSAC meeting attendees trekked to Capitol Hill to establish and strengthen relationships with members of Congress, USDA, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) by visiting them in small constituent groups to discuss specific NSAC priorities with them. Over 60 legislative and 10 Administration visits were made.
Vilsack Visit: One of the highlights of the event was a visit by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack who addressed the group on the second day of the meeting. Vilsack said that if he was asked to summarize President Obama’s agenda for USDA in one word, that word might be “sustainable.” He spoke of the need for more sustainable rural communities in America, and said that farmers need greater access to off-farm income, which can be facilitated by greater rural access to broadband internet and by such initiatives as the Rural Microentrepreneurial Assistance Program.
The Secretary also highlighted the connection between agriculture and energy usage, and said transitioning away from dependence on fossil fuels will be a major priority at USDA. He mentioned improved child nutrition and access to healthy food as a major new thrust. Vilsack also spoke of the need to increase opportunities for beginning farmers, to put in place a more efficient and effective system to address food safety concerns, and to use USDA policy as a tool to stimulate the economy, especially through food assistance programs.
Secretary Vilsack made himself available for questions from the group, and Duane Sand of the Iowa Natural Heritage Society requested that he champion the Conservation Stewardship Program. Vilsack was very receptive to this, and highlighted his advocacy of conservation efforts as governor of Iowa. He said CSP offers a way to make small and mid-size farms more viable. He also noted the importance of organic programs for small and mid-sized farms, and, to great applause, mentioned the important role Kathleen Merrigan will be able to play in this area when she joins the Administration as the Deputy Secretary of the USDA.
Margaret Krome of the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute in Wisconsin asked Secretary Vilsack to champion the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program and the Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program. He candidly stated that he is not specifically aware of the specific budget requests for those programs, but that he would be supportive since those programs that have a demonstrable link to the Administration’s policy objectives he outlined.
In response to a question on USDA rulemakings from NSAC grassroots coordinator Annette Higby, Vilsack said that he is aware of the need for a strong new rule on what it means to be “actively engaged in agriculture” for the purpose of commodity payments, and stated that drafting a new rule to prohibit “undue price preferences” for large volume livestock producers is already under way and he is watching its progress closely.
Finally, Maria Moreira of Flats Mentor Farm in Massachusetts commended the Secretary on the recently posted Request for Applications for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, and urged him to make sure the new Office of Advocacy and Outreach — which will oversee programs addressing small farms, beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers — be established immediately as directed in the recent farm bill.
Meeting goals: to encourage NSAC members to get to know one another and NSAC staff; to hold working meetings of the NSAC Issue Committees; to set NSAC policy priorities for 2009; to confirm a strategy and timeline for grassroots outreach; to establish and strengthen relationships with members of Congress and USDA staff and communicate key strategic messages to them.
Meeting facilitators: NSAC’s Organizational Council Chair, Brad Redlin (Izaak Walton League) and Vice Chair, Scott Marlow (RAFI-USA)
Sunday, March 15
8 – 12 noon NSAC Organizational Council meeting
Business meeting for members of NSAC’s governing body.
2:00 pm Welcome & Kickoff of NSAC
Meeting Facilitators and NSAC Executive Director Aimee Witteman will lead opening session including introductions, meeting logistics, and setting the stage and context for our coalition work.
3:00 pm NSAC’s Federal Policy Work – A View from 20,000 Feet
NSAC Policy Director Ferd Hoefner, NSAC Senior Policy Associate Martha Noble, OFRF-NSAC Organic Farming Policy Associate Zach Baker, will introduce members to NSAC’s federal policy work and provide a big-picture update on the USDA and Administration appointments, Congressional organization, schedule, and legislation.
4:00 pm NSAC’s Grassroots Organizing and Outreach
NSAC Grassroots Advocacy Coordinator Annette Higby and NSAC ED Aimee Witteman will introduce members to the new Grassroots Council and lead a discussion about NSAC’s strategies to build grassroots power for long-term policy change.
5:00 pm Putting it All Together
SSAWG Board Member Chris Campany will help facilitate a discussion on what NSAC members expect and look forward to for the new organization.
5:45 pm Happy Hour Reception
Time to kick back and enjoy some spirits, appetizers, and getting to know one another better.
6:30 pm Depart for dinner in Old Town Alexandria
8 pm Discussion of Strategic Grain Reserves and Sustainable Agriculture
Optional meeting – in the Salon Room of the Hotel for an informal discussion with NSAC allies.
Monday, March 16
7:00 am Breakfast in the Sheraton Dining Room
NSAC Grassroots Council members will meet over breakfast.
8:00 am Issue Committee & Policy-Setting Introductory Plenary
NSAC Policy Staff and Meeting Facilitators will review the goals for the issue committee breakouts, which will include focused strategizing on urgent issues, discussion and decision about recommendations for NSAC’s 2009 priorities, and initial recommendations and commitments from NSAC members for grassroots and media outreach. Margaret Krome of the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute will provide specific updates on our FY10 Appropriations campaign.
8:30 am First Round of Issue Committee Breakouts (attend one of the following)
Conservation, Energy, and Environment Committee
(Co-chairs: Brad Redlin, Izaak Walton League; Dennis Olson, IATP; and Duane Sand, Iowa Natural Heritage)
Marketing, Food Systems, and Rural Development Committee
(Co-chairs: Jim Worstell, Delta, Land, and Community; Terry VanDerPol, Land Stewardship Project)
10:00 am Break
10:15 am Second Round of Issue Committee Breakouts (attend one of the following)
Family Farm Opportunity and Renewal
(Co-chairs: Brett Melone, ALBA; Traci Bruckner, Center for Rural Affairs)
Competition and Contract Reform
(Co-chairs: Becky Ceartas, RAFI; Jeri Lynn Bakken, WORC)
Research, Education, and Extension
(Co-chairs: Brise Tencer, Union of Concerned Scientists; open slot to be filled))
12 noon Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, Will Address NSAC and Take Q&A
12:30 pm Lunch in the Sheraton Dining Room
NSAC’s Social Justice Working Group will meet over lunch.
1:30 pm Issue Committee Report-Backs, Plenary
NSAC Issue Committee Chairs will provide 5-minute highlights of their meetings, including policy priority recommendations and strategic decisions, followed by plenary questions of clarification and comments.
2:00 pm Policy Council Meeting
Discussion and vote on ’09 policy priorities by representatives to NSAC’s Policy Council (one vote for each of NSAC’s Represented Member groups). Facilitated by NSAC Policy Director Ferd Hoefner.
2:00 pm Concurrent workshop for Farmers and Other non-Policy Council Members
Telling Your Farm Story: Strategies for Ways Sustainable Farmers and Advocates Can Work Effectively with the Media
With Lisa Kivirist, W.K. Kellogg Food and Society Policy Fellow; co-author
ECOpreneuring, Rural Renaissance, Edible Earth; Inn Serendipity Farm
3:15 pm Brief Report from Policy Council
Representatives from the Policy Council will share the results of the 2009 policy-setting vote.
3:25 pm Strategies for Building Grassroots Power
Amy Little, founder and former ED of the National Campaign and electoral and coalition adviser, will share campaign strategies, new techniques and tactics for building power.
4:25 pm Regional/SAWG Breakouts
Attendees will break out into SAWG regions to discuss how NSAC members can collaborate in those regions to advance NSAC’s goals, including an inventory in each region of organizing, media, and other grassroots resources to put toward the campaign.
5:15 pm Prepare for Hill and USDA Visits
NSAC staff will go over the next day’s visits to the Hill and to USDA and attendees will break out into their delegations to discuss the schedule of visits to legislators, including basic talking points.
6 – 6:30pm Happy Hour
6:30 pm Depart for dinner in Old Town Alexandria
8pm USDA and OMB Meeting Participants Discuss Next Day’s Visits
Everyone who will be attending a meeting with USDA and/or OMB (Office of Management and Budget) will meet to discuss the basic talking points and plan for those meetings.
Tuesday, March 17
7:00 am Breakfast in the Sheraton Dining Room
7:30 – 8:00 am Depart the Sheraton for Capitol Hill via hotel shuttle and metro
Yellow line toward Fort Totten, then transfer at L’Enfant Plaza (blue toward Largo or orange toward New Carrolton) to Capitol South. See map for directions from Capitol South to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church (about five blocks away).
9:00 am St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 118 3rd St. SE, Washington DC 20003
(on Capitol Hill)
We will have a special speaker from Capitol Hill join us in the Sanctuary at St. Mark’s to kick off the day’s Hill visits.
We will use the Parish Hall at St. Mark’s as our homebase for the day. You are invited to leave your luggage there.
10 am – 4pm Hill visits, USDA meetings, OMB meeting
Meeting participants should schedule their own visits with their delegation and to coordinate with other people in their state. Please contact Annette Higby at Annette@sustainableagriculture.net for more information.
The following are the times for USDA and OMB meetings:
10:30am – GIPSA
1pm – Acting Chief of NRCS, Dave White
2:30pm – CSP at Office of Management and Budget
4:00pm – Risk Management Agency – Sodsaver
Meeting participants should schedule lunch on their own. We will provide maps and suggestions of places to eat on Capitol Hill. Stop back in at St. Mark’s Parish Hall for debriefs after Hill and USDA visits.
4 pm – 5 pm Final Debrief and Meeting Evaluation
Gather at St Marks for closing sharing of the day’s activities and what we learned. Also gathering point for people who want to go out to dinner together.