On Tuesday, July 12, USDA announced the twenty-five recipients of its Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP) grants. FSMIP will match $1.3 million worth of state grants to assist in exploring new market opportunities for U.S. agricultural products. FSMIP provides funds to state departments of agriculture or other similar state agencies to develop innovative approaches for […]
Archives for July 2011
Rural Coalition’s National Rural Gathering
From June 22 through 26, Rural Coalition/Coalición Rural held its National Rural Gathering: Water, Land, Energy, and Food in Shawnee and Wewoka, Oklahoma. Located in the heart of the Seminole Nation, better supporting socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers was the major focus of the gathering. NSAC works with the Rural Coalition to advocate for […]
Oklahoma’s Sustainable Agriculture
Last month, NSAC Policy Associate Helen Dombalis traveled to Oklahoma where she explored the state’s many sustainable agriculture endeavors. Policy Advocacy and Research: GIPSA, Conservation, and Beyond – Yukon and Oklahoma City Helen was joined by sustainable agriculture advocate and farmer Kathy Moore of Anichini-Moore Ranch & Farm and co-founder of the Oklahoma Composting Council. […]
Articles of Note in Latest JAFSCD Issue
Among the many excellent articles contained in the latest issue of the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development are three with special relevance to NSAC’s work. An article highlighting African American farmers is available without a subscription until July 16. Access to the full issue requires a subscription, but the abstracts can be […]
House Agriculture Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Conservation Programs
On Thursday, July 7, the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry held an audit hearing to examine USDA conservation programs. This is part of a series of hearings to be held by the House Agriculture Committee leading up to the 2012 Farm Bill. According to the Committee’s press release on the hearing, […]
Ethanol Policy: Shifting from Corn Starch to Cellulosic Sources
This week, Congress continued to signal that federal biofuel policy is shifting from corn starch based ethanol to cellulosic ethanol production. On Friday, Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA) announced that some key Senators, including Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and John Thune (R-SD), had agreed to end on July 31 the 45 cents per gallon Volume Ethanol […]
House Agriculture Subcommittee Specialty Crop Hearing
On Thursday, July 7, the House Subcommittee on Nutrition and Horticulture held a farm bill hearing to examine USDA specialty crop programs. Specialty crops include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, flowers, and nursery plants. The specialty crop title of the farm bill also includes organic agriculture programs. The Subcommittee heard testimony from Rayne Pegg, Administrator for USDA’s […]
House Appropriations Subcommittee Slashes FY2012 EPA Funding
On Thursday July 7, the House Interior and Environment Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee approved an FY2012 spending bill, which includes deep cuts to the budgets of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and riders blocking EPA action with relevance for agriculture. The Subcommittee approved the bill in 8-5 party-line vote. The bill would reduce the […]
Value-Added Producer Grant Program – Deadline to Apply August 29, 2011
August 29, 2011 Deadline for Farm Value-Added Grants USDA has invited applications for Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG). Two years of funding totaling more than $37 million will be awarded. Proposals are due August 29th, 2011. VAPG is a competitive grants program that awards grants to producers to help them develop farm-related businesses that add value […]
House Small Business Subcommittee Hearing on GIPSA Proposed Rule
On Thursday, July 7, the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Energy & Trade of the House Small Business Committee held a hearing on a rule proposed by USDA’s Grain Inspection Packers & Stockyards Act (GIPSA) in response to a 2008 Farm Bill directive. The directive requires USDA to implement regulations under the Packers & Stockyards Act to […]
Budget Deal Negotiations Update and What it May Mean for Agriculture
High level talks (and lots of political noise) continue in order to reach an agreement on a macro budget deal. The macro budget deal would include major actions for deficit reduction while also lifting the debt ceiling before the government would otherwise go into default in early August. The latest reports indicate that President Obama […]
Farm Credit Seeks Public Comment On New Rule By July 25
The public has until July 25, 2011 to submit comments on the Farm Credit Administration’s (FCA) proposal to require Farm Credit System lending institutions to emphasize borrower diversity as part of their business plan, including young farmers, small farms serving local and regional food systems, and racial and ethnic diversity. The proposed rule is an […]
United Egg Producers Act to Improve Welfare
United Egg Producers (UEP), an industry association representing 80 percent of US egg producers, today announced it will join with NSAC member The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to urge Congress to enact a law that will require $4 billion in animal welfare improvements to be phased in over the next 15 to […]
New USDA Report on Crop Insurance and Sodbusting
On Thursday, June 30th, USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) released a report entitled, “Grassland to Cropland Conversion in the Northern Plains: The Role of Crop Insurance, Commodity, and Disaster Program,” which estimates the impact that federal crop insurance and disaster assistance have on grassland conservation in the region. Summary of Findings The report has four […]
Rural Business Opportunity Grants Available
On Friday, July 1, USDA announced the availability of funding for its Rural Business Opportunity Grants program (RBOG). Nonprofit corporations, public bodies, Indian Tribes, and cooperatives whose members are primarily rural residents may apply for up to $50,000 for a project in one state, or for up to $150,000 for a multi-state application. RBOG awards […]
New RMAP and RCDI Awards
Congratulations to National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition member California FarmLink! On Thursday, June 30, USDA announced the recipients of the latest round of awards for its Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) and Rural Community Development Initiative Program (RCDI). California FarmLink is one of six organizations selected to receive RMAP funding to support rural microenterprise. RMAP supports […]