NSAC's Blog
COMMENT: National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Cheers Farm Bill Wins
December 12, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Reana Kovalcik
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
202-547-5754, rkovalcik@sustainableagriculture.net
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Cheers Farm Bill Wins
Applauds Congress for moving swiftly, urges President to do the same
Washington, DC, December 12, 2018 – With less than a month left in the year, Congress has moved forward a bipartisan 2018 Farm Bill and sent it to the President’s desk for his signature. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), a coalition of over 120 farm and food-focused organizations working together to advance sustainable agriculture through federal policy and grassroots advocacy, issued the following statement in response:
“Family farmers and sustainable food and farm advocates fought hard for this farm bill, and while there are certainly some provisions with which we are disappointed, we are overall glad to see the bill moving forward and to the President’s desk,” said Juli Obudzinski, NSAC Interim-Policy Director. “By establishing permanent, mandatory funding for innovative programs like the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) and Farming Opportunities Training and Outreach (FOTO) program, Congress has made a pledge to ensure that our nation’s next generation of farmers and ranchers have the tools and resources they need to thrive, and that our local food and farm systems can continue to flourish. We are also pleased that the bill includes permanent mandatory funding for organic research and refrains from cutting or otherwise hindering critical nutrition assistance programs like SNAP.”
“Though the bill also contains some important policy improvements to farm bill conservation programs, we remain concerned about the further funding cuts made to our nation’s only comprehensive working lands conservation program, the Conservation Stewardship Program. We are also disappointed that bipartisan efforts to close subsidy loopholes that benefit the wealthiest mega-farms were stripped from the finalbill language. By extending already abused subsidies to nieces, nephews, and cousins, Congress has thrown open the door to continued farm consolidation and small business closures. NSAC remains committed to working with our members and allies going forward to restore investments in critical conservation programs,and to once and for all close egregious subsidy loopholes.”
“Now that the legislative portion of the bill is done, we hope that the President will follow Congress’ lead and swiftly sign the 2018 Farm Bill into law. America’s farmers and families have waited long enough for this bill, which affects every aspect of their lives, livelihoods, and communities in many ways. We look forward to continuing to represent the nation’s family farmers and rural communities in the upcoming rule-making and implementation stages of the farm bill.”
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About the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition is a grassroots alliance that advocates for federal policy reform supporting the long-term social, economic,and environmental sustainability of agriculture, natural resources, and rural communities. Learn more and get involved at: https://sustainableagriculture.net
Categories: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Conservation, Energy & Environment, Farm Bill, Grants and Programs, Local & Regional Food Systems, Organic, Press Releases