Those tuned into the biotechnology regulatory landscape will have noticed quite a few changes and announcements from the federal government lately. Several agencies have been asking for public comments, announcing proposed rules, releasing guidance, and taking other actions related to biotechnology, or genetic engineering (“GE”). The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health […]
Archives for November 2015
$350 Million to Protect Wetlands, Grasslands, and Farmland
On Thursday, November 19, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the availability of $350 million in fiscal year (FY) 2016 for long-term easements to protect wetlands, grasslands, and farm and ranch land. The funding is available through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), which the 2014 Farm Bill created by combining the Wetland Reserve […]
CAFOs and Cover Crops: A Closer Look at 2015 EQIP Dollars
What do Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) and cover crops have in common? Both receive millions of dollars in funding each year through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). This post digs into EQIP data from Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 to highlight major conservation wins, as well as identify critical opportunities for improvements in this working […]
New Guidebook Will Help Organic Farmers Access Conservation Programs
On Thursday, November 19, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) published a new handbook to help NRCS field staff work more effectively with organic and transitioning-to-organic producers. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, which along with several of its member organizations contributed to the new guide, issued a press release on the […]
RELEASE: USDA Releases New Handbook to Help NRCS Staff Work with Organic and Transitioning-to-Organic Producers
Contact: Greg Fogel, 202-547-5754 USDA Releases New Handbook to Help NRCS Staff Work with Organic and Transitioning-to-Organic Producers Washington, D.C., November 19, 2015 – Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the release of a new handbook aimed at helping Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) field staff work with organic and transitioning-to-organic producers. In […]
New Resources for Transitioning to Organic Production
This fall, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released two resources aimed at helping producers transition to organic production, with one more expected soon. Here is a brief rundown, plus a quick review of major USDA conservation program decisions coming down the pike. New Business Planner On November 13, the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) […]
New Scorecard Reveals Legislators’ Stance on Good Food Policy Issues
A new report was released today that scores federal legislators on food policy issues. The National Food Policy Score Scorecard: 2015 Progress Report, was compiled by the D.C.-based non-profit organization, Food Policy Action, which was launched in 2012 as a collaborative effort to hold legislators accountable for their votes that impact the food system. Introducing the […]
Farm to School Awards Made Just as Congress Faces Last Chance to Pass A New Child Nutrition Bill
On Tuesday, November 17, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced more than $4.8 million in grants for 74 projects in 39 states through the USDA Farm to School Grant Program for fiscal year (FY) 2016. The Farm to School Grant Program promotes healthy kids through nutritious school meals and snacks from local and regional producers […]
Release: NSAC Comments on Farm to School Grant Awards
Contact: Alyssa Charney; Ferd Hoefner, 202-547-5754 Release: Farm to School Program in Great Demand, Congress Should Respond by Passing the Child Nutrition Act Reauthorization Today’s announcement by USDA of the latest round of Farm to School Grant awards demonstrates a pressing need for more support for farm to school, as the demand for programs that […]
What’s the Conservation Stewardship Program “Makeover” All About?
The Conservation Stewardship Program, the largest conservation program in the United States, is undergoing a major overhaul, or “makeover” for the 2016 sign-up period. … Read More →
New Study Finds Investment in Agroecology Falls Short
On Friday, November 10, the Journal of Environmental Science & Policy published an article, Investing in the transition to sustainable agriculture, which provides an analysis by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) and partners to identify how much U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 2014 competitive grant funding for research and education incorporated agroecology. According to […]
High Demand for Farm Loans in 2015 with Even Greater Demand on Horizon for 2016
Just like any small business, starting and running a farm is no small feat, and can be quite expensive. Everything from purchasing or leasing land to farm, seeds, equipment, and breeding stock, add up. Often, the timing of farm expenses required at the beginning of a growing season don’t line up perfectly with when revenue […]
RELEASE: NSAC Comments on Produce Rule
FDA released the much-anticipated final rule detailing preventive standards for farms that grow, harvest, pack, or hold covered produce for human consumption. … Read More →
Farm-Identified Turkey Operation Aided by Value-Added Grant
This post is the third in a series highlighting Value Added Producer Grants awarded in 2015. Visit our first post for an overview of this year’s awards, and our second post for another producer profile. This post features Peter Stone of Stonewood Farm in Orwell, Vermont. On November 10, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced awards totaling […]
New Initiative to Help Farmers Help Monarchs
On Thursday, November 12, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) announced the availability of $4 million to provide food and habitat for monarch butterflies in the Midwest and southern Great Plains. This new conservation effort will aid farmers and ranchers in providing food and habitat for monarch butterflies in 10 […]
Value-Added Program Supports Local Meat in the Green Mountain State
This post is the second in a series highlighting Value-Added Producer Grants awarded in 2015. Visit our first post for an overview of this year’s awards. This post features Ethan Gevry of Champlain Valley Farm in Addison, Vermont. On November 10, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced awards totaling $34 through the Value Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program. Administered […]
Organic and IPM Working Group Releases White Paper on Sustainable Systems
The Organic and IPM Working Group released a new white paper Monday, entitled Organic Agriculture and Integrated Pest Management: Synergistic Partnership Needed to Improve the Sustainability of Agriculture and Food Systems. The white paper is the result of more than a year of work to put on paper the Working Group’s shared vision for taking […]
USDA Awards $34 Million for Farm Value-Added Business Development
On November 10, Vernita Dore, Deputy Under Secretary of Rural Development, announced that 258 farm businesses from 47 states, Puerto Rico, and the Western Pacific will receive $34 million in grants from the Fiscal Year 2015 round of the Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG) program…. Read More →
USDA Provides 2016 Guidance for Organic, High Tunnel and Other Conservation Initiatives
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) recently provided its state NRCS offices with instructions on how and when to administer various conservation initiatives for fiscal year (FY) 2016. The guidance, Instructions for Implementing National Program and Landscape Conservation Initiatives, covers initiatives that are funded through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program […]
Release: Grant Awards for Value-Added Business Development Announced by USDA
Contact: Ferd Hoefner, Greg Fogel, 202-547-5754 Grant Awards for Value-Added Business Development Announced by USDA Washington, D.C., November 10, 2015 – Vernita Dore, Deputy Under Secretary of Rural Development, announced today that 258 farm businesses from 47 states, Puerto Rico, and the Western Pacific will receive $34 million in grants from the 2015 round of the […]
What to Look for in the FSMA Produce Rule
On November 2, FDA announced that the food safety rule governing the safe growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of produce — as well as rules governing foreign suppliers and third party accreditation – was submitted to the Federal Register for final publication. … Read More →
Senate Fails to Stop Clean Water Rule, but Key Protections Still on Hold
On Monday, November 3, the Senate failed to garner the support necessary to move forward with a bill that would have required the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to withdraw and re-propose the regulation that clarifies the scope of the agency’s jurisdiction over “waters of the U.S.” under the Clean Water Act. This bill was […]
USDA Invests $30 Million in Mississippi River Basin Initiative
On November 3, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a $30 million investment in 73 conservation projects through the Mississippi River Basin Initiative (MRBI). These fiscal year 2016 MRBI awards will benefit 33 new conservation projects and 40 ongoing projects. Three NSAC members are partnering organizations on new awards, including Illinois Stewardship Alliance for conservation efforts in […]