Utah State University Cooperative Extension recently launched a Rural Tax Education website to provide farmers and ranchers and Extension educators with agriculturally-related income tax information. The homepage of the website includes information about upcoming free-of-charge webinars related to agricultural taxes, as well as a highlighted hot topic in the farm tax field. It also includes […]
Archives for November 2011
The Farm Bill is Dead! Long Live the Farm Bill! – Part Two
In part one of this post, we discuss what might be next for the ongoing congressional budget debate and in turn for the new farm bill. In part two we turn to details about what was in the short-lived and now dead 2011 Farm Bill deal. What We Know About the Farm Bill that Did […]
2011 Farm Bill – R.I.P. – Part One
After missing their original November 1 deadline, the House and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders continued to work on hammering out a deal on what might have become the 2011 Farm Bill. Things really heated up late Thursday and early Friday, November 18, when the new farm bill deal appeared imminent. Friday came and went, however, […]
Funding Available for Outreach to Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers
On November 17th, USDA’s Office of Advocacy and Outreach announced a Request for Applications (RFA) for the Outreach and Assistance to Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Grant Program (OASDFR), also known as the “Section 2501” program. For purposes of this program, USDA defines a socially disadvantaged (SDA) farmer, rancher, or agricultural producer as someone from […]
WTO Panel Rules Against Basis of COOL Regulations
On Friday, November 18, a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute panel released a ruling against the major underpinnings of U.S. Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) regulations that let consumers in the U.S. know the origins of meat products from cattle and hogs. The U.S. Trade Representative has not yet announced whether the U.S. will appeal this […]
President Signs FY 2012 Agriculture Appropriations Bill
On Friday, November 18, President Obama signed the FY 2012 agriculture appropriations bill into law. The bill was passed as part of a “minibus” (H.R. 2112) which also includes the Commerce-Justice-Science and the Transportation-Housing and Urban Development funding bills as well as a new continuing resolution, which extends FY 2011 funding levels through December 16, […]
Senate Bill Would Promote Lending to Local Food Entrepreneurs
On November 17, an innovative bill that would establish a revolving loan fund program that would support local farm businesses and market gardens was introduced in the Senate. The Growing Opportunities for Agriculture and Responding to Markets (GO FARM) Act of 2011 (S.1888) was introduced by Senators Robert Casey (D-PA) and Tom Harkin (D-IA). The […]
“Dirty Water” Amendment to FY2012 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill
On Thursday, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition joined over 170 organizations on a letter to Senators urging that they vote against a “dirty water” amendment to the FY2012 appropriations bill for water and energy development. The letter is being circulated by the Clean Water Network. The dirty water measure, sponsored by Senators John Barrasso (R-WY) […]
USDA Blogs about Farmers Market Data
In the last month, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has posted two blogs about exciting farmers market research and initiatives. USDA has updated its geo-coded dataset for farmers markets based on the 2011 National Farmers Market Directory. In a blog posted on October 27, 2011, titled “Data-Lovers Rejoice: More Farmers Market Geocodes Available,” USDA […]
EQIP Organic Initiative Bulletin Published
On Monday, November 14, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) released the fiscal year (FY) 2012 National Bulletin on the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Organic Initiative. This bulletin provides guidance to State Conservationists for administering the EQIP Organic Initiative in FY 2012. The Organic Initiative provides funds and technical assistance to certified organic, exempt […]
Final FY 2012 Agriculture Funding Levels Agreed Upon
On Tuesday, November 15, House and Senate negotiators reached a compromise deal on a fiscal year (FY) 2012 appropriations “minibus” (H.R. 2112) which includes the FY 2012 agriculture appropriations bill. The minibus will now be sent back to both chambers of Congress for a final vote before being sent to the President for his signature […]
New Report Highlights Needs of Young Farmers
A new report recently released by the National Young Farmers’ Coalition reveals some of the top barriers facing young and beginning farmers in the U.S. today. Building a Future with Farmers: Challenges Faced by Young, American Farmers and a National Strategy to Help Them Succeed includes results from 1,000 young farmers across the country who were […]
Pre-Veterans Day Legislative Update
As we head into the federal holiday for Veterans Day, not much solid information is known about the big three legislative processes with major import for food and agriculture. This much we know for sure — next week will be critical moment for all three. Here is a quick rundown. Agricultural Appropriations — As we […]
FDA Rejects Petitions to Ban Certain Antibiotics in Animal Agriculture
On Monday, November 7, much to the dismay of the sustainable agriculture community, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) denied two citizen petitions that asked the Agency to ban certain uses of antibiotics in food animals. The petitions, filed in 1999 and 2005, urge the FDA to withdraw the approvals for antibiotics given to […]
Vilsack Announces Funding for Rural Micro-Enterprise Programs
On November 9th, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the selection of 35 rural micro-development organizations in 22 states to receive loans and grants to support rural business development, create jobs, and strengthen local communities. “These investments will bring increased economic opportunity to rural residents and communities,” said Vilsack. “They will help organizations expand job and […]
Request for Applications for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers Grant Program
On November 3, USDA’s Office of Advocacy and Outreach (OAO) submitted a Request for Applications (RFA) for its Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Grant Program (OASDFR). The notice says a total of approximately $10 million for FY 2012 is available. The maximum amount of federal funding granted to eligible recipients shall […]
USDA Announces Rural Energy for America Program Grants and Loans
On Wednesday, November 10, USDA announced a round of 2011 Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) loans and grants to farms, ranches and small rural businesses. As with the first and second rounds announced earlier this year, NSAC is pleased to see that of the 59 grants awarded almost one-half were in the amount of […]
Funding Available to Support Research on Specialty Crops
USDA recently released the Request for Applications (RFA) for the fiscal year 2012 round of funding for the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI). This competitive grants program is entering its fifth and final year of funding under the current farm bill cycle. The program is administered by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). […]
Senate Champions Introduce Beginning Farmer Bill
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition For Immediate Release November 10, 2011 Contact: Ferd Hoefner, Juli Obudzinski 202-547-5754 Senate Champions Introduce Beginning Farmer Bill Washington, D.C. November 10, 2011 – Ten Senators today introduced the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act of 2011, a comprehensive bill intended for inclusion in the upcoming farm bill that highlights federal […]
EPA Clean Water Act Permit for Aquatic Pesticide Application
On Monday, November 7, the EPA issued notice of a final Clean Water Act National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit for the application of aquatic pesticides to waters of the United States. This Pesticide General Permit (PGP) does not cover pesticide drift or runoff from land application of pesticides, which is generally considered […]
USDA Request for Comment on Agricultural Career and Employment Grants Program
Today, Tuesday November 8, USDA’s Office of Advocacy and Outreach (OAO) released a request for comments on an interim rule regarding the Agricultural Career and Employment (ACE) Grants Program. The ACE grants program is intended to improve the supply of skilled agricultural workers and bring greater stability to the workforce in this sector. The purpose […]
Final FY11 Signup Data for NRCS Easement Programs
USDA signed 1,139 contracts to enroll 200,186 acres in the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) in FY 2011. This represents a 27 percent decrease from last year’s 272,762 acres, a result of the $119 million cut made to WRP during the FY11 appropriations process. USDA signed contracts for 414 thirty-year easements totaling more than 59,000 acres, […]
USDA Releases Report on Marketing of Local Foods in the US
On Friday, November 4, USDA’s Economic Research Service released a report entitled “Direct and Intermediated Marketing of Local Foods in the United States” that assesses the relative scale of local food marketing channels throughout the country. This report provides new information on marketing channels based on the 2008 Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS). The research […]
Whither the Super Committee Process?
Farm and food advocates have obviously been keenly focused on the soon-to-be-revealed farm bill being stitched together by the Chairs and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees. The theory has been that they will develop and send to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (more popularly known as the Super Committee) […]