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) […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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) […]
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 […]
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 […]
USDA Announces Risk Management Partnership Awards
On Friday, October 28, USDA announced $13.5 million in grants to support crop insurance education and outreach in 47 states to ensure that small and underserved producers get the information they need to effectively manage their risk and remain productive. The grants were awarded as part of the fiscal year 2011 funding cycle for two […]
“Pick Three” Action Update
Hundreds of you have called and emailed your Senators and Representatives over the last two weeks – thank you for standing up for a fair and healthy farm and food system! To remind readers of current action items, we summarized and linked three alerts below. Urgent Action Needed on the Farm Bill The food and […]
NSAC Writes Agriculture Committee Leaders on Key Points for Farm Bill
On Friday, October 28, as the staff for the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees prepare for final deliberations on a farm bill proposal to send to the special congressional deficit reduction panel (or super committee), NSAC sent the leaders a letter highlighting some key concerns. The letter addresses three […]
Next Week Key for Agriculture Appropriations and the Farm Bill
The Senate returns from recess on Monday, one day before the House and Senate Agriculture Committees are expected to deliver a farm bill proposal to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (informally known as the “Supercommittee”). In their October 14 letter to the Supercommittee, the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate […]
Black Farmer Settlement Approved by Court
On Thursday, October 27, 2011, a District Court Judge issued a motion to approve the settlement in the Pigford II black farmers’ class action discrimination lawsuit against the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The settlement provides $1.25 billion for tens of thousands of black farmers who were discriminated against by USDA in the 1980s and […]
Groundbreaking Opportunity: The Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act
Is supporting your local farmer, visiting your farmers market, CSA, food coop, or other local food source important to you? What about having fresh, local food for your child’s school meals? Or as a farmer or rancher, do you want to figure out ways to add value to your food products to capitalize on sales […]
Local and Regional Food Bill Prepared for Inclusion in New Farm Bill
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition For Immediate Release October 27, 2011 Contact: Helen Dombalis, Ferd Hoefner, 202-547-5754 Local and Regional Food Bill Prepared for Inclusion in New Farm Bill Washington, D.C. October 27, 2011 – Today Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Representative Chellie Pingree of Maine announced that next week they will introduce the Local […]