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 […]
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 […]
Release: NSAC Comment on FY 2016 Budget Deal’s Implications for Agriculture
October 27, 2015, Washington, DC – The following are comments from Ferd Hoefner, Policy Director, on the fiscal year 2016 budget deal struck this week. “We are pleased that a budget bargain has been struck, providing impetus to finish the work of funding the government for the fiscal year that has already begun. Two things […]
Building on Farm to School Success: Act Today!
Looking at their school lunch trays, kids in northeast Iowa can now make a unique observation: “my dad grew that!” In a state where agriculture is one of its biggest economic drivers, “my dad grew that” was something kids couldn’t say about their school lunches until very recently: up to a few years ago, Iowa-grown […]
Farm to School in PA: Blossoming and Ready to Expand
“A vital part of our mission involves educating future consumers about the many benefits of locally grown food. [We have been] designing curriculum for 3rd and 4th grade classes, bringing local farmers into classrooms, and providing students with “market bucks” to encourage farmers market purchasing. It’s a start, but this is just the beginning for […]
NSAC Comment on Senate Appropriations Markup of Farm and Food Spending Bill
Washington, DC, July 16, 2015 – The following is a statement issued by NSAC regarding the Senate’s Fiscal Year 2016 agriculture appropriations bill: “We are thrilled the Senate bill allows the Conservation Stewardship Program to proceed at the level dictated by the 2014 Farm Bill. Rejecting the ill-considered cut in the President’s budget and the […]
Release: NSAC Comments on AGree’s Agricultural Research Recommendations
Washington, DC, June 24, 2015 — Today, AGree released a new position paper on agricultural research. Entitled Research and Innovation: Strengthening Agricultural Research, the paper is available online at www.foodandagpolicy.org. Below are comments on the research recommendations by Ferd Hoefner, Policy Director for the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and a newly appointed AGree Advisor. It […]
Release: NSAC Submits Comments on USDA Draft Rule that would continue to allow million dollar subsidy payments to mega-farms
Washington, DC, May 27, 2015 – The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to undertake a major overhaul of its “actively engaged in farming” draft rule to create fair and effective limitations on the subsidies taxpayers provide to commodity farms. Fair and effective enforcement of the farm bill’s payment […]
Release: USDA Proposes to Continue Farm Subsidy Abuse
March 25, 2015, Washington, DC – Yesterday USDA issued the long awaited proposed rule to reform farm subsidy payments. Sadly, the proposed changes to the “actively engaged in farming” rules amount to very little in the way of real reform, missing the best chance yet for President Obama to make good on his number one […]
Release: NSAC, NCAT and RAFI to Host National Webinar on New Whole Farm Revenue Protection Policy – January 21, 2015
Release: NSAC, NCAT and RAFI to Host National Webinar on New Whole Farm Revenue Protection Policy – January 21, 2015 January 12, 2015, Washington, D.C. — There’s a new crop insurance option now available for diversified farmers – Whole Farm Revenue Insurance – and an upcoming webinar will help farmers understand whether it’s right for them. […]
Take Action for Farmers, Clean Water, Healthy Soil!
The Conservation Stewardship Program needs your help TODAY!… Read More →
Release: NSAC Comment on Final FY 15 Budget Bill
December 10, 2014, Washington, DC – Late on December 9, Congress released their final annual appropriations bill to keep the government running for the rest of the fiscal year, and while there is some good news, overall it’s bleak news for sustainable agriculture – complete with drastic cuts to critical conservation programs and anti-farmer policy riders that […]
Release: New Farm Bill Resource Now Available to Help Farmers and Food Advocates Navigate USDA Programs
November 10, 2014, Washington, DC – Today the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) published a comprehensive digital guide to the key federal farm and food programs that support sustainable farm and food systems. The Grassroots Guide to Federal Farm and Food Programs will help farmers and non-profit organizations navigate the numerous farm bill and other […]
Release: New Report Finds Farmers Harmed by Decline in Nation’s Public Seed Supply
New Report Finds Farmers Harmed by Decline in Nation’s Public Seed Supply Contact: Juli Obudzinski, (202) 547-5754, jobudzinski@sustainableagriculture.net October 31, 2014, Washington, DC — A much-anticipated analysis of the state of our country’s plant and animal breeding infrastructure and seed supply was released today, marking the first such analysis in over ten years. The proceedings […]
Welcome to NSAC’s New Website!
NSAC’s website has a new look! There’s more coming soon, too. … Read More →
Release: Funding Restored For Beginning Farmer Training Programs
News Release: USDA has announced the availability of $19 million in funding for beginning farmer training grants through the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP). … Read More →
Budget Finale, Appropriations Start Up as Congress Leaves Town
Congress has just left town to return home for a two-week recess; the House and Senate will not be back in session until the week of April 28. What will this mean for budget action?… Read More →
Bill Introduced to Thwart State Efforts to Require GMO Labeling
The issue of labeling products that contain genetically modified (GMO) material is contentious and has faced strong opposition from many industry groups but has been backed aggressively by consumer advocacy groups. It is estimated that 80 percent of food in the United States contains at least one genetically engineered ingredient, and polls have indicated that […]
Release: USDA Value-Added Producer Grants Deadline Extended with Veteran Priority Included
Release: Value-Added Producer Grants Deadline Extended with Veteran Priority Included Washington, DC, March 25, 2014 – Today the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development agency announced a two week extension for grant applications for the Value-Added Producer Grant program. The extension, published in today’s Federal Register, was made necessary by changes to the program included […]
2018 Farm Bill: NSAC Campaigns
Redirect link for NSAC’s 2018 Farm Bill campaigns.
Release: NSAC Statement on Farm Bill Final Passage
Release: NSAC Statement on Farm Bill Final Passage Contact: Ferd Hoefner, fhoefner@sustainableagriculture.net January 28, 2014, Washington, DC – The farm bill reported by the conference committee renews funding for a number of important programs that were left stranded by last year’s farm bill extension, but fails to make much-needed reforms in the structure of farm […]
Release: NSAC Statement on Farm Bill Payment Limit Reform
Release: NSAC Statement on Farm Bill Payment Limit Reform Washington, DC, January 23, 2014 – The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition issued the following statement and analysis today on the status of payment limitations for commodity programs in the farm bill: “The issue of payment limitations for commodity programs is one of the very few remaining […]
Release: USDA Launches 2014 Sign-up for CSP – NSAC Provides Enrollment Information for Farmers
For Immediate Release Contact: Sophia Kruszewski or Greg Fogel, 202-547-5754 USDA Launches 2014 Sign-up for the Conservation Stewardship Program – NSAC Provides Helpful Enrollment Information for Farmers and Farm Groups Washington, DC, December 4, 2013 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced the start of the 2014 enrollment process […]
Release: NSAC Submits Comments to FDA on Proposed Food Safety Regulations
For Immediate Release NSAC Submits Comments to FDA on Proposed Food Safety Regulations Washington, DC, November 21, 2013 – The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) has submitted comprehensive comments to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) proposed regulations for produce safety and for preventive controls for facilities that manufacture human food. NSAC also submitted comments […]