FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Laura Zaks National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition press@sustainableagriculture.net Tel. 347.563.6408 Release: NSAC Publishes “Conservation Practices for Agricultural Resilience: A Resource Guide” Washington, DC, October 29, 2026 – Today, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) released Conservation Practices for Agricultural Resilience: A Resource Guide, a new publication identifying the US Department of Agriculture’s […]
NSAC’S Blog
USDA’s New REAP Rule Puts Program Out of Reach for Most Farmers, Ranchers, and Rural Small Businesses
On October 1, 2026, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a final rule overhauling the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which took effect on October 16. Unfortunately, rather than improving REAP, this new rule flips the script on how the program has benefited small farmers, turning it into a program that drives farm […]
Rooted in Community: NSAC Reflections From Farm Aid 2026
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) had the privilege of joining many of our members in attending the 41st Annual Farm Aid Festival, held in Virginia Beach, Virginia last month. After a year marked by market instability, a slashed federal workforce, and millions of dollars of cancelled contracts, the circumstances around the 41st Farm Aid […]
What’s Behind USDA’s Beef and Meat Processing Push?
Over the last several months, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has made a dizzying array of announcements about the livestock and meat processing industry. Starting in late July with the announcement of the Strengthening Processing for US Ranchers grant program through the Farm Service Agency (FSA), all the way through to September 4th, when […]
Release: New USDA Payments Offer Little Hope for a Brighter Future
Washington, DC, Tuesday, October 20, 2026 – Yesterday, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the Harvest Fuel Relief Program to distribute $8 billion through one-time payments to farmers. The newly announced program will be funded through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), though USDA provided few other details on how payments will be calculated […]
Unpacking the New SNAP Stocking Requirements
A new US Department of Agriculture (USDA) rule geared towards increasing healthy food options for families that receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits has generated confusion for farmers, farmers markets, and other local food stores that accept SNAP or plan to. The rule is currently set to take effect on November 4, 2026. This […]
The Uncertain Future of Urban Agriculture at USDA
Urban farming is often portrayed as raised wooden beds or community garden plots on overgrown vacant lots in cities around the country. The more prominent, but untold story is how urban farming provides access to land for beginning farmers or those without the means to purchase it, or how these farmers creatively manage limited resources, […]
Comment: After Tense Markup, Farm Bill’s True Test Awaits on the Senate Floor
For Immediate Release Contact: Laura Zaks National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition press@sustainableagriculture.net Comment: After Tense Markup, Farm Bill’s True Test Awaits on the Senate Floor Washington, DC, Wednesday, September 16, 2026 – The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) released the following statement attributable to Mike Lavender, NSAC Policy Director, in response to the Senate Agriculture Committee’s […]
Keeping the “Farm” in the Farm Safety Net
On Thursday, August 6, 2026, the Senate Agriculture Committee convened to consider the Agricultural Act of 2026, the farm bill draft presented by Chairman John Boozman (R-AR). The wide-ranging markup covered every title of the farm bill – from commodity programs and nutrition to research and agriculture credit – and the consideration of amendments along […]
Cyclospora, Climate, and Solutions to Strengthen Food Safety
As the old saying goes, one bad apple can rot the whole bunch. In 2026, a more appropriate twist is that a bad batch of lettuce can lead to entire harvests being lost, not to mention the public health impacts. The recent Cyclospora outbreak, produced by a confluence of international and domestic policy and business […]
Release: NSAC Welcomes Attention on Local Processors and Farmer Protection, Concrete Action Needed
For Immediate Release Contact: Laura Zaks National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition press@sustainableagriculture.net Release: NSAC Welcomes Attention on Local Processors and Farmer Protection, Concrete Action Needed Washington, DC, Tuesday, September 8th, 2026 – On Friday, September 4, the Trump Administration released two Executive Orders (EOs): the Promoting Fair Competition in Livestock Markets and Expanding Market Access for […]
Guest Post: USDA’s new “Harvest to Hallways” school food initiative falls short of needed investments
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP), an NSAC member, and was authored by Nora Shields-Cutler, IATP’s Program Associate for Community Food Systems. The original post is available on IATP’s website. While the initiative announcement makes some encouraging promises, the amount of funding doesn’t come close to the […]
Ozark Food Systems and Farm Bill Strategy: NSAC’s Summer Meeting Recap
Every summer, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) gathers to plan for the year ahead. NSAC summer meetings serve as an opportunity for coalition members to connect, exchange ideas and information, and strategize collectively on shared policy priorities. Summer meetings rotate locations yearly to reflect the geographical diversity of NSAC’s member organizations, also allowing NSAC […]
The Senate Farm Bill Markup: What Happened and What’s Next
On Thursday, August 6, the Senate Agriculture Committee convened to consider the Agricultural Act of 2026, the Senate’s version of a new farm bill. The early August Committee meeting (known as a “markup”) was the Senate Agriculture Committee’s first farm bill markup since June 2018. The journey to a new farm bill is never straightforward […]
Comment: Senate Farm Bill Takes A Step Forward, Significant Work Remains
For Immediate Release Contact: Laura Zaks National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition press@sustainableagriculture.net Comment: Senate Farm Bill Takes A Step Forward, Significant Work Remains Washington, DC, August 6, 2026 – The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) released the following statement attributable to Mike Lavender, NSAC Policy Director, in response to the Senate Agriculture Committee’s markup of the […]
Comment: Revised Senate Farm Bill Proposal Still Falls Flat for Most Farmers
For Immediate Release Contact: Laura Zaks National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition press@sustainableagriculture.net Comment: Revised Senate Farm Bill Proposal Still Falls Flat for Most Farmers Washington, DC, August 2, 2026 – The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) released the following statement attributable to Mike Lavender, NSAC Policy Director, in response to Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman’s […]
Release: Farmers Advance Sustainable Agriculture Priorities During NSAC Lobby Day
For Immediate Release Contact: Laura Zaks National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition press@sustainableagriculture.net Release: Farmers Advance Sustainable Agriculture Priorities During NSAC Lobby Day Washington, DC, July 21, 2026 – Today, nearly 40 farmers, ranchers, and agriculture stakeholders participated in a National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) Lobby Day. Farmers from 12 states – California, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, […]
Release: NSAC Applauds the Introduction of the Fair Seeds for Farmers Act
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Laura Zaks National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition press@sustainableagriculture.net Tel. 347.563.6408 Release: NSAC Applauds the Introduction of the Fair Seeds for Farmers Act Washington, DC, July 15, 2026 – Yesterday, Representatives Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Greg Casar (D-TX) introduced the Fair Seeds for Farmers Act. Over the past few decades, the continued consolidation […]
Release: NSAC Urges Reconsideration of Problematic OMB Proposed Rule
For Immediate Release Contact: Laura Zaks National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition press@sustainableagriculture.net Release: NSAC Urges Reconsideration of Problematic OMB Proposed Rule Washington, DC, July 14, 2026 – Yesterday, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) submitted detailed comments to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) citing major concerns with OMB’s proposed Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance […]
The Food Safety Outreach Program’s 10th Birthday: A Review
History The Food Safety Outreach Program (FSOP) was originally authorized with the passage of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Recognizing the importance of providing training – particularly for smaller, more economically vulnerable operations, Congress created FSOP to fund outreach, education, training, and technical assistance projects that directly assist small and mid-sized farms, beginning and […]
Proposed Grant Rules Increase Uncertainty, Risk for Farmers
Since January 2025, farmers, agricultural organizations, and the communities they serve have experienced unprecedented instability in long-standing federal partnerships with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Lengthy funding freezes, unanticipated grant terminations, full program cancellations, and a woefully understaffed USDA have detrimentally disrupted the programs, services, and resources that farmers and rural communities leverage to […]
Release: NSAC and SAAFON Celebrate the Eighth Cohort of Cynthia Hayes Memorial Scholars
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Laura Zaks National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition lzaks@sustainableagriculture.net Tel. 347.563.6408 The Cynthia Hayes Memorial Scholarship honors the co-founder of the first network for African American organic farmers in the United States by providing $5000 scholarships to two undergraduate students and one graduate student who identify as Black and/or Indigenous. Washington, DC, June […]
Digging Deeper into the Senate’s Farm Bill ‘Discussion Draft’
On Tuesday, June 23, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) released the long-awaited text of the Agricultural Act of 2026 (the Agricultural Act). Clocking in at just over 900 pages, the Agricultural Act would update wide swaths of federal food and farm policy – yet NSAC’s initial analysis found that the draft falls well […]
Comment: Senate Farm Bill Draft Offers Untapped Potential
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Laura Zaks National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition press@sustainableagriculture.net Comment: Senate Farm Bill Draft Offers Untapped Potential Washington, DC, June 24, 2026 – The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) released the following statement attributable to Mike Lavender, NSAC Policy Director, in response to the Agricultural Act of 2026 discussion draft released by Senate […]