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 Read the Rest…

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 Read the Rest…

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 Read the Rest…

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.  Read the Rest…

For Immediate Release May 1, 2013 Contact: Greg Fogel, 202-547-5754 Conservation Stewardship Program Applications Due by May 31 Washington, D.C., May 1, 2013 — Today, 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 by May 31.  USDA’s Natural Read the Rest…

Lawmakers Reintroduce Bill to Expand Opportunities for the Next Generation of Farmers Washington, D.C., April 25, 2013 – Today, Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa and Representative Tim Walz of Minnesota announced the introduction of the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act of 2013 in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.  The two identical Read the Rest…

New Information Available for Farmers and Ranchers Interested in 2013 Enrollment in the Conservation Stewardship Program Washington, D.C. April 16, 2013 – USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will very shortly begin the 2013 enrollment process for farmers and ranchers who want to participate in the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).  Over 12 million acres of Read the Rest…

For Immediate Release April 9, 2013 For More Information Contact: Ferd Hoefner, NSAC Policy Director, 202-547-5754 Lawmakers Reintroduce Bill to Boost Economic Growth, Create Jobs, and Provide Healthy Food Washington, D.C., April 9, 2013 – Today, Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Representative Chellie Pingree of Maine introduced the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act Read the Rest…

For Immediate Release: Conservation Stewardship Program Back on Track With Passage of Government Funding Bill Washington, D.C. March 21, 2013 – A bill to fund the federal government for the remaining six months of fiscal year 2013 is now awaiting the President’s signature. The House of Representatives passed the government funding bill on Thursday morning Read the Rest…

For Immediate Release March 15, 2013 Contact: Susan Prolman 202-547-5754, sprolman@sustainableagriculture.net National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition comment on Merrigan Resignation Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan has finished four very solid years as second in command at the US Department of Agriculture. Over the years, she has built an impressive record of accomplishment, particularly with respect to the Read the Rest…