As of today, our nation’s food and farm policy in the form of the 2008 Farm Bill has officially expired, with no workable replacement. There are many who see this as a better course of events than the passage of one of the new, admittedly imperfect, bills passed by the Senate and proposed in the […]
Action Alert: Not on our watch.
September: it’s harvest time. Corn, tomatoes, pumpkins, apples and more are all coming in from the fields… as well as, with any luck, a new 2012 Farm Bill! It’s been pretty quiet on the farm bill front here in Washington, DC lately – legislators have been at home all month, meeting with folks like you. […]
For Immediate Release: NSAC Releases Applicant Resource Guide for Value-Added Producer Grants
For Immediate Release August 29, 2012 Contact: Ferd Hoefner or Helen Dombalis, 202-547-5754 NSAC Releases Applicant Resource Guide for Value-Added Producer Grants Washington, DC – Today, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition released a Farmers’ Guide to Value-Added Producer Grant Funding. This guide is being released on the heels of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s announcement […]
Path to the 2012 Farm Bill: Local Food Marker Bill: Where Are We Now?
Last fall, Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Representative Chellie Pingree (D-ME) introduced the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act to create jobs and spur economic development through food and farms. This bill funds and improves critical programs that create economic opportunities for farmers, support local and regional food systems, and improve food access for all. […]
Path to the 2012 Farm Bill: Beginning Farmer Marker Bill: Where Are We Now?
Last fall, Senator Harkin (D-IA) and Representatives Fortenberry (R-NE) and Walz (D-MN) introduced the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act to invest in the next generation of American farmers. This bill funds and improves critical programs that provide training, outreach, and technical assistance for new farmers and ranchers. As a marker bill, it’s not intended […]
Action Alert: A Dirty Trick
Dear Supporter, Across the nation, farmers’ livelihoods are withering in an intense, record-breaking drought.* Congress could be doing something about this right now – they could be passing the 2012 Farm Bill, which funds critical disaster assistance programs that are our farmers and ranchers’ safety net in times like these. But are they working to […]
NSAC Comments on House Farm Bill Extension Bill
For Immediate Release July 27, 2012 Contact: Ferd Hoefner, 202-547-5754 NSAC Comments on House Farm Bill Extension Bill NSAC vehemently opposes the dirty extension bill filed today by House majority leadership. Passage of this bill would ensure there is no action this year on the 2012 Farm Bill. It prevents agricultural reform from happening. It […]
Release: NSAC Applauds House Agriculture Committee for Adopting Fudge-Fortenberry Microloan Amendment
For Immediate Release Contact: Ferd Hoefner or Juli Obudzinski, 202-547-5754 NSAC Applauds House Agriculture Committee for Adopting Fudge-Fortenberry Microloan Amendment Washington, DC – Today the House Agriculture Committee adopted by voice vote an important amendment to its draft farm bill that will authorize microlending programs within USDA. “Capital is the number one need of young […]
Release: NSAC Pleased with House Agriculture Committee Adoption of Pingree-Ellmers-Gibson Farm to School Amendment
For Immediate Release Contact: Ferd Hoefner or Helen Dombalis, 202-547-5754 NSAC Pleased with House Agriculture Committee Adoption of Pingree-Ellmers-Gibson Farm to School Amendment Washington, DC – Today the House Agriculture Committee adopted an important amendment to its draft farm bill that will authorize certain farm to school programs. “We applaud the Committee for adopting this […]
What were they thinking?
Dear Supporter, Over $6 billion cut from conservation. A 50% cut to core beginning and socially disadvantaged farmer programs. Ballooning subsidy programs for the wealthiest farmers – with no real limits. What were they thinking? The House Agriculture Committee released its draft 2012 Farm Bill late last week, and it has problems. One major issue? […]
What were they thinking?
Dear Supporter, Over $6 billion cut from conservation. A 50% cut to core beginning and socially disadvantaged farmer programs. Ballooning subsidy programs for the wealthiest farmers – with no real limits. What were they thinking? The House Agriculture Committee released its draft 2012 Farm Bill late last week, and it has problems. One major issue? […]
A no-brainer for healthy kids
Dear Supporter, It’s a no-brainer: our nation’s schoolchildren deserve to eat fresh, healthy, local food in schools – and with that, the opportunity to develop healthy eating habits for life. Why doesn’t the House Agriculture Committee see this? The House Agriculture Committee released its draft 2012 Farm Bill late last week, and it has problems. […]
For Immediate Release: NSAC Comments on House Agriculture Committee Farm Bill Draft
For Immediate Release July 6, 2012 Contact: Ferd Hoefner, 202-547-5754 NSAC Comments on House Agriculture Committee Farm Bill Draft Washington, DC — Yesterday Chairman Frank Lucas and Ranking Member Collin Peterson released their draft farm bill ahead of the House Agriculture Committee’s farm bill markup next week. The bill generates $35 billion in savings […]
For Immediate Release: NSAC BACKS PASSAGE OF SENATE FARM BILL, ENCOURAGES URGENT HOUSE ACTION
For Immediate Release June 20, 2012 Contact: Ferd Hoefner, 202-547-5754 NSAC BACKS PASSAGE OF SENATE FARM BILL, ENCOURAGES URGENT HOUSE ACTION Washington, DC – Today, the Senate passed the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act by a vote of 64-35. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition supported passage of the farm bill as amended after three […]
For Immediate Release: NSAC Pleased with Senate Farm Bill Amendment Votes
For Immediate Release June 20, 2012 Contact: Ferd Hoefner, 202-547-5754 NSAC Pleased with Senate Farm Bill Amendment Votes Washington, DC – Today, the Senate voted on a series of amendments to its version of the 2012 Farm Bill. NSAC Policy Director Ferd Hoefner commented, “The bill reported by the Committee has been significantly improved these […]
VOTE-O-RAMA!
Dear Supporter, Your action has gotten us this far – we can’t stop now! This is crunch time for the 2012 Farm Bill: the Senate will vote on farm bill amendments in a big VOTE-O-RAMA* today, including several that are make or break for beginning farmers, rural communities, and conservation. Voting is happening TODAY – […]
3 Days, 3 Actions. Because our children deserve better.
Dear Supporter, 5 years. That’s how often the farm bill comes around. 5 minutes. That’s all it takes to speak out for reform. A lifetime. That’s the kind of impact you’ll have. Our nation’s schoolchildren deserve to eat fresh, local food in schools – and with it, the opportunity to develop healthy eating habits for […]
3 Days, 3 Actions: Congress just can’t leave out beginning farmers and rural America.
Dear Supporter, 5 years. That’s how often the farm bill comes around. 5 minutes. That’s all it takes to speak out for reform. A lifetime. That’s the kind of impact you’ll have. Our nation’s farmers are aging, and we can’t afford to wait any longer to help the next generation of farmers and ranchers get […]
3 Days, 3 Actions: Because Real Reform is Overdue.
Dear Supporter, 5 years. That’s how often the farm bill comes around. 5 minutes. That’s all it takes to speak out for reform. A lifetime. That’s the kind of impact you’ll have. We can’t afford to subsidize the nation’s wealthiest farmers – and insurance companies – any longer. Now’s the time – amidst the hustle […]
Is this reform?
The Senate agriculture committee’s version of the 2012 Farm Bill is up for debate by the full Senate this week. This bill made historic gains in some areas of farm program payments: championed by Senate leaders as a “true reform bill,” the bill strengthens the farm safety net, caps commodity payments, and tightens eligibility for […]
I think they forgot something.
Dear Supporter, The Senate Agriculture Committee’s version of the 2012 Farm Bill is up for debate by the full Senate this week. But it looks like they forgot to include a few things in the farm bill – like robust funding for rural development and beginning and socially disadvantaged farmer programs. That’s right! Programs that […]
For Immediate Release: NSAC Comments on Proposed USDA Microloan Program
For Immediate Release May 23, 2012 Contact: Juli Obudzinski, 202-547-5754 NSAC Comments on Proposed USDA Microloan Program Washington, DC – Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a proposed rule for a new microloan program that would be part of the suite of credit options available to farmers through the Farm Service Agency (FSA). The new […]
What really matters to you?
Dear Supporter, See that photo below? It’s of Mississippi farmers John and Ora Carpenter, meeting with Representative Alan Nunnelee’s office this spring here in Washington, DC. The Carpenters shared stories about how their farm is an integral part of their community, and how federal programs have helped them expand their business and grow a diverse […]
Path to the 2012 Farm Bill: Senate Markup – Funding Levels
Note to Readers: This is the fifth in a series of posts on the 2012 Farm Bill reported out of the Senate Agriculture Committee on April 26. How does the version of the 2012 Farm Bill passed out of the Senate Agriculture Committee stack up against the farm bill budget recommendations made by the National […]