June 15, 2009
ACTION ALERT Plan Now for August Recess! You don’t have to go all the way to Washington DC to meet with your Congressman, Senators or their staff. In August, your legislators will be coming to you! During the August recess they’ll be heading for their home state or district to meet with constituents, to attend […]
June 8, 2009
GREAT NEWS! Ann Wright Named Deputy Undersecretary: We are enormously happy and proud to report that Ann Wright, former Sustainable Agriculture Coalition advocate, was named this week by USDA Secretary Vilsack as Deputy Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP). MRP oversees the Agricultural Marketing Service, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, and Grain Inspection […]
June 1, 2009
ACTION ALERT Organic Initiative Sign-Up Extended in Some States: The Natural Resources Conservation Service has given States the option to extend their sign-up period for Organic Initiative funds beyond the initial deadline of May 29th. NSAC has posted a new alert for producers on state extensions. The Organic Initiative is a special $50 million pool […]
May 26, 2009
ACTION NEEDED Organic Initiative Sign-Up Extended in Some States: The sign-up for the special $50 million in Organic Initiative funds offered through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) continues. Last week, states had the option to extend their sign-up periods beyond the initial three-week offering. To see whether a state has extended, see this list […]
May 18, 2009
ACTION NEEDED Sign On Now for a CSP Sign Up: NSAC is circulating a sign-on letter to Secretary Vilsack urging prompt implementation of the Conservation Stewardship Program. The letter seeks program improvements and a spring sign up for the new nationwide, continuously available CSP. The cutoff date for sign-ons is close of business on Tuesday, […]
May 12, 2009
ACTION NEEDED Organic Initiative Funds Now Available! First Sign up Period: May 11 – May 29 In dialogue with NSAC, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) has reserved a special $50 million pool of funding for a new Organic Initiative under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The Initiative, announced on Tuesday May 5 by […]
May 6, 2009
NRCS Organic Initiative 2009: NSAC’s Most Up-to-Date Information as of May 5, 2009 General On May 5, 2009, NRCS announced the set-aside of $50 million for its new 2009 Organic Initiative through its Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The program is administered by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and will be available in all […]
May 4, 2009
SARE Earns Impressive Support: More than 220 state, regional and national food, farm, conservation and faith groups have signed on to a letter circulated by NSAC in support of increased funding for the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SARE). That so many organizations stepped up over a short nine day sign on period speaks […]
April 27, 2009
ACTION NEEDED SARE Sign On Letter – Deadline NOON Friday, May 1: The NSAC Appropriations Campaign is pushing hard for a substantial increase in funding for the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SARE) for fiscal year 2010. We’re asking for a $30 million appropriation, up from the current $19 million. We all know […]
April 20, 2009
April 13-17, 2009 Photo: Jamie Collins is the operator of Serendipity Farms, a 45 acre certified organic farm in Monterey, CA. She grows over 50 different varieties of vegetables, herbs and berries sold through farmers markets, community supported agriculture programs, local restaurants and markets, and wholesale markets. Jamie advocates for small, organic and beginning farmers […]