January 6, 2010
With the arrival of a new year, NSAC is transitioning its Weekly Update into a blog with regular postings about sustainable agriculture and food policy and politics. We will continue to provide the information normally included in the Weekly Update about Congress, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and other goings-on in the sustainable agriculture and […]
December 21, 2009
Support the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition! On your screen right now is the last NSAC Weekly Update of 2009! Don’t miss out on the chance to show your support for NSAC and the Weekly Update with an end-of-the-year tax deductible donation. If you have found the information in the NSAC Weekly Update useful, the analysis […]
December 14, 2009
Support the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition! Each week the NSAC staff attend hearings and mark-ups and sift through the Federal Register, agency notices from the USDA and EPA, and Capitol Hill updates to bring you the most up-to-the-minute information about federal farm, food, and environmental policy along with critical, expert analysis. The finished product is […]
December 7, 2009
LAST WEEK House Agriculture Committee Hearings on Climate Change Legislation: Last week, the House Agriculture Committee held two hearings on climate change and agriculture. Wednesday’s hearing focused on economic impacts of climate change on the agriculture sector. Thursday’s hearing addressed the potential costs and benefits of agricultural offsets in cap and trade schemes in pending […]
December 2, 2009
ACTION NEEDED Comments Due Today on the Rural Micro-entrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP): Comments are due today, November 23rd, on the proposed rule for the new Rural Micro-entrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP). RMAP was created in the 2008 Farm Bill to provide loans and grants to Micro-enterprise Development Organizations (MDOs) that support micro-enterprise development in rural areas. While the law directs […]
November 16, 2009
TAKE ACTION ON FOOD SAFETY LEGISLATION Please Call Members of the Senate HELP Committee! The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee is scheduled to begin markup of the Food Safety Modernization Act (S 510) on November 18. The Act seeks to decrease foodborne illnesses by strengthening the Food and Drug Administration’s food safety […]
November 10, 2009
TAKE ACTION Be at the Ready! Action Alert on the Senate Food Safety Bill Forthcoming! The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee is scheduled to begin markup of the Food Safety Modernization Act (S 510) on November 18. The Act seeks to decrease foodborne illnesses by strengthening the Food and Drug Administration’s food […]
November 2, 2009
TAKE ACTION Farmer Input Needed for EQIP Organic Initiative Survey: The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) is seeking the input of conventional and organic farmers to help improve the 2010 Organic Initiative – a program administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Offered first in 2009 as part of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), […]
October 26, 2009
TAKE ACTION Time Running Out to Comment on the Conservation Stewardship Program!! Time is running out for sustainable and organic farming advocates to submit comments to shape the implementation of the new Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), the Nation’s first and only green payments program. In particular, USDA needs to get a loud and clear message […]
October 20, 2009
TAKE ACTION CSP Comments Due October 28! USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is seeking comments on the administrative rules that will govern implementation of the Conservation Stewardship Program. The deadline for submitting comments has been extended to October 28th. NSAC analysis and talking points for writing your comments are available here. You can submit your […]