Last fall, Congress allowed the farm bill to expire without a new bill to take its place. Instead, Congressional leaders cobbled together an awful and temporary extension of the old farm bill on New Year’s Eve that shut down a number of innovative programs indefinitely. As of October 1, Congress has once again allowed the […]
Beginning and Minority Farmers
Now, More Than Ever: Groups Urge Full and Fair Farm Bill
At midnight this morning, after months of Congressional inaction, the Farm Bill expired – with no replacement in sight. Back in July, we reported that 240 organizations called on Congress to complete its work on a full and fair farm bill. As of today, 410 organizations from across America have signed that joint statement, uniting […]
House Rules Committee Kills Key Farm Bill Amendments
Very early on the morning of Wednesday, June 19, the House Rules Committee decided upon which amendments members of the House of Representatives will vote on during House considering of the 2013 Farm Bill today, tomorrow, and perhaps into next week. The final list includes 103 amendments, but excludes several of the most important amendments […]
Risk Management Education Funding Available
The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC), operating through the Risk Management Agency (RMA), has announced available funds totaling approximately $3 million for the Risk Management Education Partnerships Program. The deadline for applications is July 22, 2013. The Risk Management Education Partnerships Program is a competitive cooperative partnership agreement program that provides crop insurance education and […]
USDA Taking Rural Business Opportunity Grant Applications
USDA has issued a notice that the Rural Development Agency is taking applications for Rural Business Opportunity Grants (RBOG). RBOG funds feasibility studies, strategic planning, leadership training and other services and activities that can foster the creation of businesses and jobs in rural areas. Eligible applicants include public entities, non-profit organizations, institutions of higher education, […]
Bill to Boost Opportunities for Beginning Farmers Introduced
Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) along with nine of his colleagues, and Representative Tim Walz (D-MN) together with Reps. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), Chris Gibson (R-NY), and Collin Peterson (D-MN) have just introduced the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act of 2013. The Senate bill is number is S. 837 and the House bill number is H.R. […]
House Subcommittee Debates 2014 Farm and Food Funding
Over the last two weeks, the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee held a series of hearings to examine the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s and the Food and Drug Administration’s budget requests for fiscal year (FY) 2014. We previously posted about the first Subcommittee hearing of the year, which featured Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, and the second […]
Healthier food, successful farms: starting now.
Dear Supporter, Wherever there’s local food, there are farmers feeding communities and creating jobs. Farmers and ranchers are responding to skyrocketing demand for fresh, healthy food everywhere – at farmers’ markets, grocery stores, and in schools across the nation. At the same time, the farmers and ranchers across the country who feed us are getting […]
Guest Post: An Alabama Farmer’s Perspective on Policies that Promote Healthy Food and Healthy Economies
Today on Capitol Hill, farmers, business owners and community advocates shared their stories and knowledge of critical farm bill programs with Congressional staff. Sponsored by the Congressional Tri-Caucus – made up of Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) – the collaborative briefing “Policies that […]
Farmer Discrimination Claims Deadline Approaching
The deadline for USDA’s Hispanic and Women’s Farmers and Ranchers Claim Process is quickly approaching. In late March the USDA announced the extension of the original deadline. Hispanic and women farmers and ranchers who allege discrimination by the USDA in past decades must now file their claims by May 1, 2013. The United States Government […]
President’s 2014 Budget: Overview and Department of Agriculture
On Wednesday, April 10, President Obama released his budget request for Fiscal Year (FY) 2014. In this year’s ongoing budget saga, the White House is billing its proposal as a step towards reaching a “grand bargain” with Republicans over taxes and spending. (For more on the “grand bargain,” see a previous blog post.) Over ten weeks […]
House Chair Introduces Food and Farm Funding Bill for Rest of 2013
On Monday, March 4, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-KY) introduced legislation to fund the government for the remainder of the fiscal year (FY). The bill, known as a continuing resolution (CR), would replace existing funding legislation, which expires on March 27. Discretionary Spending As expected, the Chairman’s bill includes sequestration cuts, which would reduce […]
Changes Give Minority and Women Farmers More Input on Farm Programs
USDA recently finalized federal regulations that allow the Secretary of Agriculture greater authority in ensuring fair representation and participation of minority, tribal and women farmers on local Farm Service Agency (FSA) committees. FSA is the credit lending arm of USDA, and also has responsibility for administering and delivering other services to producers, such as issuing […]
AGree Issues 2013 Policy Proposals
AGree, an initiative to seek consensus on proposals to transform food, agriculture, conservation, energy, nutrition policies, today issued some near-term recommendations for the 2013 Farm Bill and other food and agriculture-related legislation. The five areas included – immigration and work force issues, nutrition and food systems, conservation, young people in food and agriculture, and agricultural […]
Microloans Now Available for Young and Beginning Farmers
Earlier this week, USDA announced the start of an exciting new loan program that will better meet the credit needs of small farms of all types, including especially young farmers and those serving local and regional food markets, including urban farmers. The final rule for the proposed microloan program was published today, and the Farm […]
The 2012 Farm Bill (that never was) Year in Review
Although 2012 ended on a sour note for farmers and ranchers across the country, there were some notable moments to celebrate for the sustainable agriculture movement, amidst all the ups and downs of the 2012 Farm Bill debate. In this final blog post of our “Path to the 2012 Farm Bill” series, we include twists […]
Rural Development Progress Report for Fiscal Year 2012
On January 9, USDA released their Rural Development Progress Report for Fiscal Year 2012. The report highlights success stories from USDA Rural Development’s active portfolio, including the following rural business development programs: $1 billion in Business and Industry loan guarantees $25.5 million in Rural Business Enterprise Grants $50.3 million in Rural Economic Development loans and […]
President’s Council Report on Agriculture — What About Ecology?
Guest Post by Doug Gurian-Sherman, Senior Scientist, Union of Concerned Scientists The new report from the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) addresses the state of U.S. agriculture research. The report notes that public funding for agricultural research has stagnated, while industry sources have increased greatly to 61 percent of the total—three times the […]
FDA Releases Food Safety Regulations
Today, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released two major proposed rules detailing standards for produce safety and preventive controls for human food production. FDA is also requesting comments on its draft risk analysis on activities conducted in a facility co-located on a farm. Releasing these rules is part of FDA’s implementation of the Food […]
For Immediate Release: NSAC Statement on FDA Release of Food Safety Rules
For Immediate Release January 4, 2013 Contact: Ariane Lotti, 202-547-5754 NSAC Statement on FDA Release of Food Safety Rules Washington, DC – Today, the Food and Drug Administration released much-anticipated proposed rules detailing standards for produce safety and preventive controls for human food production. Releasing these rules is a major step in the implementation of […]
Congress Includes Awful 2008 Farm Bill Extension in Fiscal Cliff Deal
On New Year’s Eve, the Senate passed a simple extension of the 2008 Farm Bill through September 30, 2013, as part of a much bigger legislative package to avoid the so-called fiscal cliff. The House approved the Senate bill late on New Year’s Day and President Obama signed it into law on January 2. The […]
January 1 Farm Bill Extension Deal is a Disaster for Farmers
For Immediate Release January 1, 2013 January 1 Farm Bill Extension Deal is a Disaster for Farmers Washington, DC – The farm bill extension deal reached in negotiations between Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Vice President Joe Biden is a disaster for farmers and the American people. The nine month extension measure was attached […]
Path to the 2012 Farm Bill: One Week to Go, What Next?
Last night House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) pulled his so-called “Plan B” — with tax and spending cut measures — from the floor when it became clear that he didn’t have the Republican votes needed to pass it. The Speaker launched his now-failed Plan B plan at the beginning of the week, calling off any […]
Path to the 2012 Farm Bill: The Stakes Keep On Climbing
One of the hard parts about working on federal policy is that it can be easy to get wrapped up in policy details and forget that decisions — and indecisions — made in Washington affect people and communities throughout the nation. So when Congress decided to let the current farm bill expire on October 1, […]