On November 3rd, 50 farmers and local food advocates from across the country traveled to Washington DC to meet with their Congressional members to advocate for the recently introduced Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act. NSAC hosted the Local Farm and Food “Fly-in” at a critical juncture for agriculture policy, as the 2012 Farm Bill […]
Archives for November 2011
Farm Bill Update – November 4, 2011
There was much speculation this week that the leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees were close to finalizing a farm bill to send to the Super Committee today; however, no agreement has yet emerged. The chairs and ranking members of both committees had agreed in their October 14 letter to the Super Committee, […]
House and Senate Negotiate FY12 Funding Levels
On Thursday, November 3, a select group of members of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees met to negotiate final fiscal year 2012 (FY12) funding levels for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Conference Committee is considering the FY12 agriculture appropriations bill as part of an appropriations “minibus,” […]
Risk Management Education Centers Announce 2012 Request For Applications
On Wednesday, November 2nd, the regional Risk Management Education Centers announced the release of their 2012 Request for Applications (RFA) for the Extension Risk Management Education Program, which provides funding for regional projects that help farm and ranch families succeed through targeted risk management strategies. This program places a special emphasis on risk management strategies, education, […]
EPA Proposed Rule for CAFO Information Reporting Falls Far Short
In October, EPA issued a proposed rule for obtaining information from Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) under Section 308 of the Clean Water Act. This purposed rule exempts critical information from CAFO reporting requirements, which leaves huge gaps in EPA’s ability to regulate CAFO waste effectively. The proposed rule is required by a settlement between […]
Chicago Council Releases Farm Bill White Paper
The Chicago Council on Global Affairs has released a white paper on the next farm bill that the co-chairmen of the council’s agriculture project presented to staff members of the House and Senate agriculture committees and the super committee on September 23. The Council’s proposal is estimated to save $7.5 billion per year, or $75 […]
Senate Passes FY2012 Agriculture Appropriations Package
On Tuesday, November 1, the Senate passed its fiscal year 2012 (FY12) agriculture appropriations bill as part of an appropriations “minibus,” which combined the Commerce-Justice-Science and the Transportation-Housing and Urban Development funding bills as well as the agriculture bill. The minibus passed 69-30, with 16 Republicans, 49 Democrats, and one Independent voting aye. The House […]
Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act Introduced in Congress
On Tuesday, November 1 Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME-1) and 35 original co-sponsors introduced the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act (S. 1773, H.R. 3286), a comprehensive bill intended for inclusion in the 2012 Farm Bill. As the Senate and House Agriculture Committee leadership work to finalize their farm bill proposal […]
Local and Regional Farm and Food Bill Introduced in Congress
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition For Immediate Release November 1, 2011 Contact: Helen Dombalis, Ferd Hoefner, 202-547-5754 Local and Regional Farm and Food Bill Introduced in Congress Washington, D.C. November 1, 2011 – Today Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Representative Chellie Pingree of Maine and 35 original co-sponsors introduced the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs […]