SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT VAPG NOSA Update:  A revised Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program Notice of Solicitation of Applications (NOSA) has received upper-level USDA approval and we expect it to be published soon.  The new application will have a 90 day proposal period.  USDA will rescind the original NOSA and will be in touch with applicants who […]

LAST WEEK House Appropriations Passes 2010 Ag Spending Bill:  Late at night on Thursday, June 18, the House Appropriations Committee approved by voice vote the Fiscal Year 2010 agricultural spending bill.  The bill will be on the House floor starting July 7 or soon thereafter.  The Senate appropriations subcommittee will get the Senate process started […]

ACTION ALERT Plan Now for August Recess! You don’t have to go all the way to Washington DC to meet with your Congressman, Senators or their staff. In August, your legislators will be coming to you! During the August recess they’ll be heading for their home state or district to meet with constituents, to attend […]

GREAT NEWS! Ann Wright Named Deputy Undersecretary: We are enormously happy and proud to report that Ann Wright, former Sustainable Agriculture Coalition advocate, was named this week by USDA Secretary Vilsack as Deputy Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP). MRP oversees the Agricultural Marketing Service, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, and Grain Inspection […]

ACTION ALERT Organic Initiative Sign-Up Extended in Some States:  The Natural Resources Conservation Service has given States the option to extend their sign-up period for Organic Initiative funds beyond the initial deadline of May 29th.  NSAC has posted a new alert for producers on state extensions. The Organic Initiative is a special $50 million pool […]