Contact: Eric Deeble, Policy Director,National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)edeeble@sustainableagriculture.net Agriculture Needs Multifaceted Climate SolutionsCongress and USDA Should Prioritize Existing Conservation, Agricultural Research, and Rural Economic Development Programs Washington, DC, February 25th, 2021 – This comment was issued on Thursday, February 25, 2021 in response to the hearing “Climate Change and the U.S. Agriculture and Forestry […]
NSAC’S Blog
Contract Farmers Now Eligible for CFAP Aid
Update 3/1/21: USDA has announced that the application deadline listed below of February 26 has been eliminated and USDA’s Farm Service Agency will continue to accept applications while the agency undergoes a review of the CFAP program. Interested applicants will have at least an additional 30 days to sign up after any decision is announced. […]
Undo the Packers and Stockyards “Undue Preference” Final Rule
In the waning days of the Trump Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a final rule on the undue or unreasonable preference provision, Section 202(b), of the Packers & Stockyards Act of 1921 (P&SA). Unfortunately, the rule fails to protect livestock and poultry farmers from the abusive and exploitative practices that have become […]
Conservation Reserve Program Signup Extended
For almost 35 years, the farm bill’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) has compensated farmers and landowners for taking highly erodible and other environmentally sensitive lands out of crop production and enrolling them instead in conserving practices. Through CRP, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) pays farmers to set aside land for grass or tree cover […]
The Time is Ripe for Competition and Antitrust Reform in Agriculture
This is the first of several blogs which will explore the impacts of consolidation and concentration in the agriculture industry on farmers and the broader food system, as well as a path forward. The blog series is authored by NSAC Policy Associate Billy Hackett with meaningful contributions by farmers and experts. Read the second entry […]
Funding Now Available to Help Farmers with FSMA
Farmers are working to improve food safety on the farm, and prepare for Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) inspections, but this requires both assistance and resources. We are excited that the Food Safety Outreach Program (FSOP) applications have just opened up and will provide organizations with funding to assist and help farmers and small food businesses with […]
RELEASE: Cynthia Hayes Memorial Scholarship Now Accepting Applications
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Daniela Solis, Communications and Development FellowThe National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)press@sustainableagriculture.net Cynthia Hayes Memorial Scholarship Now Accepting Applications The Cynthia Hayes Memorial Scholarship honors the co-founder of the first network for African American organic farmers in the United States. Washington, DC, February 10th, 2021, —Yesterday, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), in partnership […]
RELEASE: House Agriculture Committee Includes Needed Aid in Budget Reconciliation Provisions
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Eric Deeble, Policy DirectorNational Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) edeeble@sustainableagriculture.net House Agriculture Committee Includes Needed Aid in Budget Reconciliation ProvisionsCOVID-19 Funding Will Assist with Farm and Food System Response and Recovery February 9th, 2021, Washington, DC — Today, the House of Representatives released the Agriculture and Nutrition title of the FY2021 Budget Reconciliation […]
FSMA: It’s Back! And Farmer Comments are Needed
We need your help to ensure farms that are not facilities are removed from the Traceability Proposed Rule, and that the rule ensures inexpensive and practical traceability for small food businesses. … Read More →
RELEASE: USDA Secretary of Agriculture Nominee Tom Vilsack Clears First Step Toward Senate Confirmation
Contact: Daniela Solis, Communications and Development Fellow The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) press@sustainableagriculture.net USDA Secretary of Agriculture Nominee Tom Vilsack Clears First Step Toward Senate ConfirmationNSAC Issues Comments on Secretary Vilsack’s Imminent Confirmation Washington, DC, February 2nd, 2021—Today, the Senate Agriculture Committee favorably reported out the nomination of Tom Vilsack to serve again as the Secretary […]
BIG BOOST IN FUNDING AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT THE NEXT GENERATION OF FARMERS
USDA announced $16.5 million in grant funds to help organizations train new farmers and ranchers. Grants will be awarded through the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP)…. Read More →
Release: New Analysis Finds USDA Program Can Support Farmer Viability and Alleviate Food Insecurity Both During and Beyond COVID-19 Crisis
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACTS: Kyra Sanborn, ksanborn@law.harvard.eduDaniela Solis, press@sustainableagriculture.net New Analysis Finds USDA Program Can Support Farmer Viability and Alleviate Food Insecurity Both During and Beyond COVID-19 Crisis Harvard’s Food Law and Policy Clinic and the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition release recommendations to strengthen USDA’s Farmers to Families Food Box Program. Washington, DC, February 2nd, […]
NASS 2020 Local Food Marketing Survey Needs Farmer Input
In recent years, the increasing interest in local and regional food systems has garnered consensus around the need for more robust economic data about the sector. The impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on farm and food systems in the U.S. have further underlined the need for better data. While many small to mid-sized farmers […]
Government Funding Bill – Sustainable Agriculture Wins
With the country facing an imminent government shutdown, the President finally signed the $2.3 trillion Emergency Coronavirus Relief Act of 2020 on December 28th. This bill includes both badly needed emergency COVID-19 relief aid as well as regular fiscal year (FY) 2021 appropriations. For more information on the COVID-19 relief aspects of the bill check […]
Coronavirus Bill Contains Billions for Farmers and Farm Programs
The New Covid Bill On December 28th, President Trump signed the Emergency Coronavirus Relief Act of 2020, averting a looming government shutdown. This $2.3 Trillion dollar, 5,500 page, package of funding and legislation combined a $900 billion Coronavirus response bill and a $1.4 Trillion annual appropriations bill for FY21 into a single, must-pass “omnibus.” The […]
Food Safety Outreach Program Grants Recently Awarded
At the end of 2020, the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) awarded funds through the Food Safety Outreach Program (FSOP) to several organizations who plan to provide educational resources and assistance to farmers and food businesses working to improve their food safety practices…. Read More →
New Funding Opportunity for Organic Transition and Education Research for 2021 and 2022
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced the Request for Applications (RFA) for the Organic Transitions Program (ORG) in late 2020. Like its counterpart, the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI), ORG supports research to improve the competitiveness of organic farming. However, ORG is distinct from OREI […]
Top 20 Wins (and Fights!) for Sustainable Agriculture in 2020
The end of the year is just around the corner – and what a year it has been! In these times of pain, uncertainty, reflection, and action, two things are certain: (1) our country and our world as we know it will never quite be the same, and (2) the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) […]
RELEASE: Last-Minute Coronavirus Relief Package Will Strengthen Our Farm and Food System
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Eric Deeble, Policy DirectorNational Sustainable Agriculture Coalitionedeeble@sustainableagriculture.net Last-Minute Coronavirus Relief Package Will Strengthen Our Farm and Food SystemThe Emergency Coronavirus Relief Act of 2020 provides additional aid to farmers, farm and food system workers, and families Washington, DC, December 20th, 2020 – Today, Congress will consider passage of the Emergency Coronavirus Relief […]
Over $61 Million Invested in Value-Added Agriculture Entrepreneurs
Editor’s note: as we were preparing this blog for publication, the USDA announced the next round of funding through the program, with a 90 day application window. NSAC will be updating and publishing our farmers guide to applying for the program first thing in the new year. “Value-added” foods and goods are made from raw […]
FUNDING CUT FOR 2501 PROGRAM DESPITE RECORD NEED TO RESPOND TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Historic discrimination and inadequate assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs have contributed to the exceptional challenges that farmers of color and military veteran farmers face in the industry. For three decades, the Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program (also known as the “Section 2501” program) has […]
$150M for Sustainable Agriculture Research, Impacts, and Assessment
Long-term sustainable agriculture research is critical to growing and supporting every American farm, especially as farmers across the country continue to address the challenges posed by a changing climate. USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Sustainable Agriculture Systems (SAS) program – initiated to enhance the sustainable production of food in the face of […]
WHAT THE NEW FDA RULE MEANS FOR FARMS: PART 2
Photo shows a harvest of baby-lettuce leaves. USDA Photo by Lance Cheung…. Read More →
RELEASE: Fair Competition Livestock Rule Fails to Advance Needed Reforms
Contact: Eric Deeble, Policy DirectorNational Sustainable Agriculture Coalitionedeeble@sustainableagriculture.net Fair Competition Livestock Rule Fails to Advance Needed ReformsUSDA fails to address major issues with its “undue preference” rule Washington, DC, December 10th, 2020 – Today, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) released a final rule to attempt to satisfy 2008 Farm Bill requirements to […]