New updates on how the Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative has benefited new farmers and encouraged additional conservation efforts…. Read More →
Archives for June 2014
Melone Testifies at House Agriculture Committee in Support of New Farmers
On Wednesday, June 25, the House Agriculture Committee’s subcommittee that deals with rural development and farm credit issues held an oversight hearing on credit availability in rural America. As is so often the case in these types of hearings, it quickly turned into a slug fest between the Farm Credit System and the banking industry […]
Farmers Speak Out on Critical USDA Programs
Farmers and business leaders from around the country met with USDA, OMB, and members of Congress to advocate for USDA programs that support sustainable agriculture…. Read More →
Promoting Sustainable Agriculture Solutions to Climate Change Effects
On June 25, the one-year anniversary of the President’s Climate Action Plan, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) announced the availability of a document that articulates principles and recommendations for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to consider as it implements conservation programs under the 2014 Farm Bill that address the […]
Release: NSAC Recommends Climate Solutions through Farm Bill Conservation Programs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sophia Kruszewski or Ferd Hoefner, 202-547-5754 NSAC Recommends USDA Actions to Address Climate Change through Farm Bill Conservation Program Implementation June 25, 2014, Washington, DC – On the one-year anniversary of the President’s Climate Action Plan, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) announces the availability of a document that articulates principles […]
New USDA Website, Rules for Beginning Farmers
On Monday, June 23, U.S.Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden announced the implementation of several 2014 Farm Bill measures as well as other policy initiatives to help support new and beginning farmers and ranchers. Harden made the announcement at the inaugural meeting of the reconvened Beginning Farmer and Rancher Advisory Committee in Davis, […]
Whither the 2015 Agriculture Funding Process?
On Thursday, June 19, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) postponed consideration of the Senate’s three-part spending package for Agriculture, Commerce-Justice-Science, and Transportation-Housing and Urban Development for fiscal year 2015. The Senate began consideration of the FY 2015 appropriations package on Tuesday, and was scheduled to begin to voting on amendments on Thursday. However, Majority […]
Funding Available to Boost Declining Honey Bee Population
On Friday, June 20, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the availability of $8 million in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) incentives for Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin farmers and ranchers who establish new habitats for declining honey bee populations on their existing CRP acres. These five states are home for more […]
House Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Clean Water Act Agricultural Exemptions
On Thursday, June 19, the Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry of the House Agriculture Committee held a hearing entitled, “A Review of the Interpretive Rule regarding the applicability of Clean Water Act agricultural exemptions.” The interpretive rule was included in the joint U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) […]
Progress Report on Organic Price Elections for Crop Insurance
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released a new report updating Congress on USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) progress towards completion of organic price elections for all insurable organic crops. USDA has improved crop insurance offerings for organic farmers, but report makes it clear there is still a lot more work to do. With […]
GIPSA Rider is Anti-Farmer and Anti-Free Market
The full House may soon be considering its FY 2015 agriculture appropriations bill (HR4800) that contains a legislative rider that is anti-farmer and anti-free market. In addition to the two specific issues discussed in the previous blog post that are the topic for an important floor amendment, the GIPSA rider contained in the House bill […]
What is the “GIPSA Rider” and why is the House once again attacking farmers’ rights?
A legislative rider tacked onto the 2015 agriculture funding bill will strip USDA’s ability to protect farmers rights… Read More →
CSP Contract Renewal Process Begins Next Month
Producers can renew conservation contracts to extend critical environmental benefits…. Read More →
House Appropriations Debate Recap, More Action In House and Senate Next Week
What’s next for agriculture funding in 2015?… Read More →
Funding Available for Turning Biomass Material into Energy
On Tuesday, June 9, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the availability of funding through the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) for the collection and transport of biomass. BCAP provides financial assistance to farmers and ranchers who establish and maintain new crops of energy biomass, or who harvest and deliver forest or agricultural residues […]
35 Organizations Urge House of Representatives to Oppose New Conservation Cuts
On Wednesday, June 11, NSAC and 34 other national organizations delivered a letter to the House of Representatives in opposition to the $536 million in conservation cuts contained in the House FY 2015 Agriculture Appropriations Bill. The letter was delivered as the House begins consideration of the bill today. The House bill cuts mandatory farm bill […]
Down Payment Loans Help Beginning Farmers Buy Farmland
USDA’s Down Payment Loan Program has been around for over 20 years, and this post is the second in a two part series that examines the impact this program has had on growing new farmers over the past 20 years. To read the first post in the series, click here. To learn more about credit programs to […]
New Farm to School Census Shows Steady Growth
The updated Farm to School Census website reveals even more school district participation in farm to school programs than initially reported…. Read More →
Technical Support Available to Strengthen Local and Regional Food Economies
On Monday, June 9, on behalf of the White House Rural Council, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Local Foods, Local Places, a new initiative that will provide direct technical support to rural communities to help them build strong local food systems as part of their community’s economic action plans. USDA, the […]
Federal Farm Loans Have Increased Access to Land for New Farmers Over the Past 20 Years
USDA’s Down Payment Loan Program has been around for over 20 years, and this post is the first in a two part series that examines the impact this program has had on growing new farmers over the past 20 years. Stay tuned for our second installment later this week! Access to affordable farmland is one […]
Senate Subcommittee Hearing Examines the Impacts of Climate Change on Agriculture
On Tuesday, June 3, the Subcommittee on Green Jobs and the New Economy of the Senate Committee Environment and Public Works held a hearing entitled, “Farming, Fishing, Forestry, and Hunting in an Era of Changing Climate.” Subcommittee chair Senator Jeff Merkley (D- OR) opened the hearing by warning that climate change is no longer a […]
Funding Available to Conserve Sensitive Land and Support Beginning Farmers
New conservation opportunities for beginning, socially disadvantaged, or veteran farmers to access land through the Transition Incentives Program (TIP)… Read More →
Resources Available for a Growing Local Food Movement
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program recently introduced a new “topic room” titled Farm to Table: Building Local and Regional Food Systems, which provides valuable resources for individuals working to build strong food-producing communities. It’s a great one-stop-shop to gather relevant fact sheets, bulletins, webinars, and other educational […]
Low Income Families and Produce Farmers Get a Boost Through Increased WIC Voucher Value
Yesterday, June 2, 2014, WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) cash value vouchers (CVVs) for fruits and vegetables for children increased from $6 per month to $8 per month. This increase, one of several changes announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on March 4, 2014 in its final rule […]