On May 22, 2025, the House of Representatives approved its budget reconciliation legislation, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB, HR 1), by a vote of 215-214-1. Just a week earlier, on May 15, the House Committee on Agriculture approved, by a party line vote of 29-25, components of OBBB that fall within its jurisdiction. […]
NSAC’S Blog
We Took Action to Defend Our Food System — Now It’s Your Turn
In anticipation of President Trump’s 100th day in office, a coalition of organizations from across the nation participated in a Week of Action between April 22 and April 29, 2025, to collectively highlight the disruption and attacks the administration has made on our food system and farmers. During the Week of Action, organizations coordinated efforts […]
Comment: NSAC Responds to House Agriculture Committee Budget Reconciliation Approval
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Laura Zaks National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition press@sustainableagriculture.net Tel. 347.563.6408 Comment: NSAC Responds to House Agriculture Committee Budget Reconciliation Approval Washington, DC, May 15, 2025 – Today, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) released the following statement attributable to Mike Lavender, NSAC Policy Director, in response to the House Agriculture Committee’s 29-25 […]
Healing Land and Legacy Through Urban Agriculture
Ask someone to imagine a “farm” and they will probably conjure a barn, a silo, rolling hills of crops, and pasture. That is, they will imagine rural areas. But one of the fastest growing – and underutilized – forms of agriculture is happening in America’s cities and suburbs, neighborhoods surrounded by industry, infrastructure, and millions […]
Release: Budget Bill Steamrolls Farm Bill Future, Slashing Billions
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Laura Zaks National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition press@sustainableagriculture.net Tel. 347.563.6408 Release: Budget Bill Steamrolls Farm Bill Future, Slashing Billions Washington, DC, May 13, 2025 – Yesterday evening, the House Agriculture Committee released its budget reconciliation bill text. Although a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) score was not yet available, summary materials provided by […]
When USDA Cuts Staff, Farmers Pay the Price: Lessons from the ERS and NIFA Relocations
In a move reminiscent of past disruptions but at a much larger scale, the Trump administration is implementing widespread staffing cuts across federal agencies. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is facing a significant reduction, expecting approximately 30,000 USDA positions to be eliminated. About 16,000 employees have already accepted deferred resignation offers. This downsizing […]
Farmers Need Climate Research to Thrive
Since its establishment in the 2008 Farm Bill, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has advanced research that helps American farmers and ranchers stay at the cutting edge of innovation and adapt to challenges such as natural disasters. Farmers and ranchers depend upon NIFA-supported research that invests in developing resilient crops, innovative soil […]
Release: On the Eve of House Agriculture Committee Markup, Farmer-Serving Organizations Urge Congress to Stand for a New, Full Farm Bill over Budget Reconciliation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Laura Zaks National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition press@sustainableagriculture.net Tel. 347.563.6408 Release: On the Eve of House Agriculture Committee Markup, Farmer-Serving Organizations Urge Congress to Stand for a New, Full Farm Bill over Budget Reconciliation Washington, DC, May 8, 2025 – Today, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) joined 160 farmer-serving organizations from across […]
Comment: Proposed USDA Budget Undermines Farmers and Rural Communities
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Laura Zaks National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition press@sustainableagriculture.net Tel. 347.563.6408 Comment: Proposed USDA Budget Undermines Farmers and Rural Communities Washington, DC, May 2, 2025 – Today, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) issued a statement in response to the Trump Administration’s release of its “skinny” budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 discretionary […]
USDA Programs Freeze: What We Know
Last Updated: April 29, 2025 For more than three months, billions of dollars of lawfully obligated USDA funding have been frozen or terminated. While the agency has still not made public the full scope of what remains frozen or targeted for termination, the harms to communities, farmers, and organizations are already clear. This blog post […]
Release: The Strengthening Local Processing Act Addresses Critical Livestock and Poultry Supply Chain Issues, Bolstering Resilient Food Systems
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Laura Zaks National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition press@sustainableagriculture.net Tel. 347.563.6408 Release: The Strengthening Local Processing Act Addresses Critical Livestock and Poultry Supply Chain Issues, Bolstering Resilient Food Systems National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) applauds the Senate introduction of this bipartisan, bicameral, comprehensive bill to support small processing plants Washington, DC, April 30, […]
Whole-Farm Revenue Protection Analysis: New Enrollments Reveal Path Forward
This year marks the tenth anniversary of Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP), a novel insurance product that offers farmers nationwide the option to insure the revenue of their entire operation, including crop, livestock, and nursery production, under a single policy. WFRP also rewards adoption of business practices that reduce risk with its premium discount for crop […]
Release: Agriculture Resilience Act Advances Bold, Farmer-Driven Vision
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Laura Zaks National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition press@sustainableagriculture.net Tel. 347.563.6408 Release: Agriculture Resilience Act Advances Bold, Farmer-Driven Vision National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Proudly Endorses Critical Climate and Agriculture Bill Washington, DC, April 22, 2025 – Today, on Earth Day, Representative Chellie Pingree (D-ME-1) and Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) introduced the Agriculture Resilience […]
Release: NSAC Responds to USDA Announcement on Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities Program
For Immediate Release Contact: Laura Zaks National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Email: press@sustainableagriculture.net Tel. 347.563.6408 Release: NSAC Responds to USDA Announcement on Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities Program Widespread Farmer Support Informs USDA Decision to Rebrand Program and Restart Payments, but Overhaul Nonetheless Disregards Lawful Agreements with Farmer-Serving Organizations Washington, DC, April 14, 2025 – Today, the […]
Newly Updated Farmers’ Guide to the Conservation Stewardship Program Available
NSAC has published an updated 2025 Farmers’ Guide to the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). The guide provides an in-depth look at the program and is designed to help farmers, ranchers, and foresters prepare and apply for this comprehensive conservation program that is authorized by the federal farm bill and administered by the US Department of […]
Release: NSAC Applauds Introduction of the Organic Science and Research Investment Act
Contact: Laura Zaks National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition press@sustainableagriculture.net Release: NSAC Applauds Introduction of the Organic Science and Research Investment Act Washington, DC, April 11, 2025 – Earlier this week, US Senators John Fetterman (D-PA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) introduced the Organic Science and Research Investment Act, joined by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Cory Booker (D-NJ), […]
USDA Begins Releasing Frozen REAP Funding
On January 20, 2025, President Trump’s executive order on American energy led to the freezing of projects funded by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), including stopped payments to recipients of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). More than $911 million in obligated funds through REAP have been frozen. On […]
Comment: NSAC Calls for Comprehensive Farm Bill, Addresses Likely Long-Term Cuts to Farm and Food Programs in Budget Process
For Immediate Release Contact: Laura Zaks, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Email: press@sustainableagriculture.net Comment: NSAC Calls for Comprehensive Farm Bill, Addresses Likely Long-Term Cuts to Farm and Food Programs in Budget Process Washington, DC, April 3, 2025 – Today, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) issued the following statement after yesterday’s release of the fiscal year […]
Release: New bill introduced in the US House and Senate proposes bipartisan solution to the farmland access crisis
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASELaura Zaks, Associate Director of Communications and Development Tel: 347.563.6408 Email: press@sustainableagriculture.net Release: New bill introduced in the US House and Senate proposes bipartisan solution to the farmland access crisis Washington, DC, April 1, 2025 – Today, the bipartisan New Producer Economic Security Act was introduced in the U.S. House and Senate by […]
Release: Cynthia Hayes Memorial Scholarship Now Accepting Applications
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Laura Zaks, Associate Director of Communications and Developmentpress@sustainableagriculture.net Release: 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, March 28, 2025 —Last week, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) and the […]
NSAC Applauds Bicameral Reintroduction of the Save Our Small Farms Act
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Laura Zaks National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition press@sustainableagriculture.net Tel. 347.563.6408 NSAC Applauds Bicameral Reintroduction of the Save Our Small Farms Act Washington, DC, March 28, 2025 – Today, the Connecticut congressional delegation, led by Representative Johana Hayes (D-CT-5), reintroduced the Save Our Small (SOS) Farms Act. Rep. Hayes was joined by Representatives […]
Release: NSAC Commends Defense of Farmers Amidst Ongoing Unlawful Contract Freeze
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Laura Zaks National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition press@sustainableagriculture.net Tel. 347.563.6408 Release: NSAC Commends Defense of Farmers Amidst Ongoing Unlawful Contract Freeze Washington, DC, March 27, 2025 – Today, Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), Representative Gabe Vasquez (D-NM-2), alongside others, introduced the Honor Farmer Contracts Act of 2025 in response to the US Department […]
Uninsured: Federal Crop Insurance Program Leaves Most Farms Unprotected
Crop insurance is the cornerstone of the farm safety net, insuring farms for losses from unpredictable weather, market fluctuations, and other risks. Consequently, the federal crop insurance program (FCIP) is the costliest part of agriculture production spending, as taxpayers subsidize the program to the tune of billions of dollars each year. Despite being a cornerstone […]
Farmers Speak Out on the Devastating Impact of USDA Funding Freeze
On March 6, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) hosted a virtual briefing: Impact in the Field – How the USDA Funding Freeze and Employee Layoffs are Impacting Farmers and Ranchers. Five farmers from around the country joined NSAC’s policy director, Mike Lavender, for a panel discussion to voice their concerns about the ongoing funding […]