NSAC's Blog
Value-Added Producer Grants Are Now Open
March 3, 2022
On March 1, 2022, USDA Rural Development announced the availability of at least $19.75 million in total funding for VAPG projects.
New Partnerships Between USDA Climate Hubs and Cooperative Extension to Boost Climate Research
February 28, 2022
$9 million in new grants for climate-friendly research through partnerships between USDA Climate Hubs and Cooperative Extension.
$1 billion Available for Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities
February 24, 2022
Earlier this month, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it will provide $1 billion in funds from the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) (15 U.S.C. 714 et seq.) to fund pilot projects aimed at “creat[ing] market opportunities for commodities produced using climate-smart practices.”
COMMENT: NSAC Responds to USDA Announcement of Meat Processing Grants
February 24, 2022
NSAC Responds to USDA Announcement of Meat Processing Grants
THIS MUST BE THE PLACE: NSAC’S WINTER MEETING CENTERS RELATIONSHIP BUILDING, POLICY PRIORITIES
February 16, 2022
Every year, NSAC comes together to set policy priorities based on needs identified by members and informed by the work of issue committees to firmly establish the Coalition’s positions and “asks” on issues.
Release: USDA Launches Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities
February 7, 2022
Today, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced the launch of the Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities, a USDA effort to combat the climate crisis by partnering with agriculture, forestry, and rural communities to provide climate solutions that strengthen rural America.
CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM SIGNUP BEGINS JANUARY 31, 2022
January 28, 2022
For more than 35 years, the Farm Bill’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) has paid farmers and landowners to take highly erodible and other environmentally sensitive lands out of crop production and enroll them instead in conserving practices. CRP signups begin January 31, 2022.
Release: NRCS Announces Improvements to CSP and EQIP
January 11, 2022
Yesterday, the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) made a series of changes to its premier conservation programs to better support farmers’ ability to face climate change.
The “Sweet Spot” for Farms to Enhance On-farm Biodiversity
January 11, 2022
In this guest blog post Patrick Baur and Kenzo Esquivel discuss their newly published study that shows how some diversified farms have found a “sweet spot” to expand their crop portfolio and adopt ecologically based practices like hedgerows or cover crops.
Center for Rural Affairs report looks at spending under Conservation Stewardship Program
January 4, 2022
“Mapping the Money: An Analysis of Spending Under the Conservation Stewardship Program,” is a new report from the Center for Rural Affairs that traces the path of the funding, from Congress to on-the-ground conservation.