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Agricultural Diversification: Practice and Policy

July 14, 2023

On the eve of the 2023 Farm Bill reauthorization, this post drills down into the potential shape of a diversified U.S. agricultural landscape and the policies that are most closely aligned with incentivizing its creation. This post focuses on policies most directly shaping on-farm landscape diversity…. Read More →

Filed Under: Climate Change, Conservation, Energy & Environment, Farm Bill, General Interest

Comment: NSAC Applauds USDA Investments to Improve Measurement, Monitoring, Reporting and Verification of Greenhouse Gas Emissions

July 12, 2023

“The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) applauds USDA’s commitment of funds to improve the tracking and analysis of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. As the agency increasingly focuses on implementing incentive-based support for reducing agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, effective measurement becomes ever more vital. Our understanding of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide emissions from agriculture has developed substantially over the past decades, but remains inadequate for fully understanding the best paths toward greenhouse gas reductions in agriculture. The $300 million USDA is investing in developing measurement systems will be key to expanding our understanding of how crop and livestock systems can best be improved to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions to far below their current levels, and perhaps even to make agriculture a system with potential for net greenhouse gas sequestration.”… Read More →

Filed Under: General Interest, Press Comment, Press Releases

Bipartisan Agrivoltaics Bill Introduced in Senate

June 1, 2023

On May 31, 2023, Senators Heinrich (D-NM) and Braun (R-IN) introduced the Agrivoltaics Research and Demonstration Act of 2023 (S. 1778). Featuring a proposal first outlined in the Agriculture Resilience Act (ARA), the bill provides for the Department of Energy (DoE) and Department of Agriculture (USDA) to jointly focus on advancing research on agrivoltaics and demonstrations of the value of such systems…. Read More →

Filed Under: Carousel, Conservation, Energy & Environment

Largest Federally-Funded Climate Change Planning Effort Gets Underway

March 30, 2023

This guest blog post authored by Jeanne Merrill, policy consultant representing NSAC on U.S. EPA’s Farm, Ranch and Rural Communities Advisory Committee, discusses plans and next steps related to EPA-funded climate planning efforts resulting from the Inflation Reduction Act. … Read More →

Filed Under: Carousel, Conservation, Energy & Environment, Local & Regional Food Systems

The Agriculture Resilience Act in 2023

March 29, 2023

The Agriculture Resilience Act represents a comprehensive approach to addressing climate change in agriculture. First of its kind, the act addresses climate change throughout much of US Department of Agriculture (USDA) programming–not only that which affects farmers, but elements that shape the larger food system, as well. There is broad public support for government incentive-based solutions to climate challenges in agriculture. With its focus on incentives for best practices throughout agricultural programs, the ARA represents exactly what the public, researchers, and advocates have been calling for to move agriculture toward climate resilient systems…. Read More →

Filed Under: Carousel, Commodity, Crop Insurance & Credit Programs

$300 Million Invested into New Organic Transition Initiative

September 15, 2022

The Organic Transition Initiative (OTI) is USDA’s recent program aimed at helping “build new and better markets and streams of income” for organic farmers and producers, by providing producers with technical assistance, including farmer-to-farmer mentoring, financial assistance for conservation and crop insurance, and support developing markets. … Read More →

Filed Under: Carousel, Grants and Programs, Organic

Long-Term Agroecological Research Showcases New Innovations for Resilient Agriculture

June 23, 2022

A virtual briefing featured the ground-breaking research of USDA’s LTAR network, which helps farmers and ranchers overcome productivity challenges while improving environmental stewardship…. Read More →

Filed Under: General Interest, Research, Education & Extension

How do working lands conservation programs shape cover crop adoption?

June 16, 2022

A recent study led by the American Soybean Association (ASA) claims to demonstrate the differing value of two agricultural working lands conservation programs and their ability to create increased adoption of cover crops. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) takes issue with several aspects of the study. … Read More →

Filed Under: Carousel, Conservation, Energy & Environment

New $25 Million Funding Opportunity to Provide Technical Assistance to Underserved Farmers Closes Soon

May 12, 2022

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a new investment of $25 million in grants for the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Technical Assistance Investment Program (ARPTAI) – a new program to provide historically underserved farmers, ranchers and forest landowners technical support in accessing USDA programs and services…. Read More →

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Carousel, Grants and Programs

$19 Million Available to Support Beginning Farmers and Ranchers in 2022

March 28, 2022

USDA announced $19 million for the BFRDP in the fiscal year (FY) 2022 Request for Application (RFA). Applicants have until May 19, 2022, to apply for this year’s round of grants…. Read More →

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Carousel, Grants and Programs

New Partnerships Between USDA Climate Hubs and Cooperative Extension to Boost Climate Research

February 28, 2022

$9 million in new grants for climate-friendly research through partnerships between USDA Climate Hubs and Cooperative Extension…. Read More →

Filed Under: Carousel, General Interest, Grants and Programs, Research, Education & Extension

Over $50 Million Awarded to Train Next-Generation Farmers and Ranchers

December 7, 2021

With additional funding from recent legislation to address the impacts of the pandemic, new projects to train and educate beginning farmers and ranchers are underway…. Read More →

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Carousel, Grants and Programs

$20 Million Now Available for Organic Transition and Certification Cost-Share

November 19, 2021

Earlier this month, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it will provide $20 million in pandemic assistance to cover certification, education, and other expenses for agricultural producers who are certified organic or transitioning to organic. … Read More →

Filed Under: Carousel, Grants and Programs, Organic

From Supply Chains to Regenerative Agricultural Practices, NIFA Awards Over $146 Million for Sustainable Agriculture Systems Research

October 28, 2021

This year, fifteen projects were awarded grants to address a range of agricultural issues including groundwater use, decreasing food waste in the food supply chain, regenerative practices, and algal feed additives for dairy cows…. Read More →

Filed Under: Carousel, Grants and Programs, Research, Education & Extension

$12 Million in Grants Available to Support Farm to School Projects

October 26, 2021

October is National Farm to School Month! USDA just announced the opening of the fiscal year 2022 Farm to School (F2S) Grant Program request for applications (RFA) and the availability of $12 million for grants. The deadline to apply is January 10, 2022. … Read More →

Filed Under: Carousel, General Interest, Grants and Programs, Nutrition & Food Access

COVID Relief Funding NOW Available for Farmers Markets, Processors and Underserved Farmers

October 6, 2021

With farmers pulling long hours at the height of harvest season, and cases of the coronavirus skyrocketing across the country, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is now providing additional funding to help many in our food and farm supply chains who were left out of previous aid programs. As of October 6, USDA […]

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Carousel, Coronavirus, General Interest, Grants and Programs, Local & Regional Food Systems, Marketing and Labeling

Cover Crops and CAFOs: EQIP in FY 2019 and FY 2020

October 6, 2021

In this blog post, we analyze how EQIP financial assistance was utilized in FY 2019 and FY 2020 through the EQIP general pool. … Read More →

Filed Under: Conservation, Energy & Environment, General Interest, Grants and Programs, Sustainable Livestock

Over $30 Million Awarded for Organic Research, Education, and Extension

September 24, 2021

NIFA has awarded over $30 million to fund organic research, education, and extension projects to improve yields, quality, and profitability for producers and processors who have adopted organic standards…. Read More →

Filed Under: Carousel, Grants and Programs, Organic, Research, Education & Extension

Closed out: How U.S. farmers are denied access to conservation programs

September 13, 2021

Editor’s Note: This blog post is co-authored by Cathy Day, PhD, NSAC Climate Policy Coordinator and Michael Happ, Program Associate for Climate and Rural Communities at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, (IATP). ITAP is an NSAC member organization with a 30-year history of pursuing cutting edge solutions that benefit family farmers, rural communities and […]

Filed Under: Carousel, Conservation, Energy & Environment, General Interest, Grants and Programs, Local & Regional Food Systems, Rural Development

NSAC Releases Brief on Financing Options for Meat Processing Infrastructure

August 24, 2021

Editor’s Note: This blog post was co-authored by Matt Kneece, S.C. Policy Coordinator for Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, the lead drafter of NSAC’s Issue Brief on Financing Options for Local/Regional Meat Processing Infrastructure and Kelly Nuckolls, Senior Policy Specialist at NSAC. As the food system begins to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, […]

Filed Under: Carousel, General Interest, Local & Regional Food Systems, Sustainable Livestock

2501 Funding Now Available for FY 2021

July 28, 2021

Historically, farmers of color have been unable to participate in or benefit from USDA programs to the same extent as their white neighbors. This presents an enormous challenge for farmers of color when they are looking to start or maintain viable and resilient careers in farming. Rising costs and limited availability of farmland, access to […]

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Carousel, Grants and Programs, Research, Education & Extension

Unpacking the House Appropriations Committee FY 2022 Agriculture Funding Bill

July 22, 2021

On June 30th, the House Appropriations Committee marked up and approved its fiscal year (FY) 2022 Agriculture Spending bill. The full House Appropriations Committee markup and approval followed the Agriculture Subcommittee’s approval of the funding bill on Friday, June 12. The agriculture appropriations bill includes funding for a wide range of farm and food programs, […]

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Budget and Appropriations, Carousel, Conservation, Energy & Environment, General Interest, Local & Regional Food Systems, Research, Education & Extension

USDA Wants Your Comments on Racial Justice and Equity

July 1, 2021

USDA Wants Your Comments on Racial Justice and Equity… Read More →

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Carousel, Local & Regional Food Systems, Rural Development

Conservation Buffer and Grasslands Enrollment Opportunities Within CRP

June 30, 2021

NSCA takes a look at the Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CCRP) and the CRP Grasslands Program…. Read More →

Filed Under: Carousel, Conservation, Energy & Environment, Grants and Programs

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