The public has until July 25, 2011 to submit comments on the Farm Credit Administration’s (FCA) proposal to require Farm Credit System lending institutions to emphasize borrower diversity as part of their business plan, including young farmers, small farms serving local and regional food systems, and racial and ethnic diversity. The proposed rule is an […]
Beginning and Minority Farmers
New RMAP and RCDI Awards
Congratulations to National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition member California FarmLink! On Thursday, June 30, USDA announced the recipients of the latest round of awards for its Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) and Rural Community Development Initiative Program (RCDI). California FarmLink is one of six organizations selected to receive RMAP funding to support rural microenterprise. RMAP supports […]
FAPRI releases report on impacts of eliminating direct payments to US farmers
On Thursday June 29th, the University of Missouri’s Food and Agriculture Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) released a report entitled “Potential Impacts of Limiting Direct Payments.” The report estimates the economic impacts to farmers, landowners, federal budgetary outlays and consumers if direct payments to farmers are eliminated. The report comes at a time when Congressional leaders […]
Socially Disadvantaged Producer Coop Grants
On Wednesday, June 29, the Rural Business-Cooperative Service of USDA announced that its Small, Socially Disadvantaged Producer Grant Program (formerly known as the Small, Minority Producer Grant Program) will be open for applications until the deadline of August 15, 2011. The full Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) appears in the June 29 edition of the […]
Value-Added Producer Grant NOFA Released – 60 Day Turn Around for Applications
On Tuesday, June 28, USDA’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service will announce that its Value Added Producer Grant Program (VAPG) will be open for applications until the deadline of August 29, 2011. The Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) appears in the June 28 edition of the Federal Register. Advocates for the program are delighted the long anticipated […]
Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Visit DC
On June 15, eleven beginning farmers and ranchers from across the country arrived in Washington, DC to tell legislators what measures our country can take to support beginning farmers and ranchers. Anticipating the 2012 Farm Bill process, beginning farmers and ranchers sought support for a marker bill with a package of provisions for beginning farmer […]
Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program – 2010 Outcomes Report
The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) released its 2010 Outcomes Report this week. The report highlights the 29 projects that were funding in FY 2009 that helped to train, educate and provide outreach and technical assistance to beginning farmers and ranchers throughout the United States. The […]
Request for Applications for Risk Management Education and Outreach Partnerships Program
On Tuesday, June 14, USDA’s Risk Management Agency released its Request for Applications (RFA) for the Risk Management Education and Outreach Partnerships Program. Approximately $3.5 million in funds is available for the program. Projects will be funded for up to one year, and will range from $20,000 to $100,000 per project. This Request for Applications […]
House Takes Up Agriculture Appropriations Next Week
The House of Representatives is scheduled to debate and vote on the agriculture appropriations bill for fiscal year 2012 on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 14 and 15. The measure will be in front of the House Rules Committee on Monday afternoon. At the Rules Committee, House Agriculture Committee Chair Frank Lucas (R-OK) and Ranking Member […]
Farm Credit Agency Highlights Farmer Diversity
On May 25, the Farm Credit Administration (FCA) issued a proposed change to regulations for Farm Credit Systems that would require institutions to include an emphasis on diversity as part of their business plan. The pool of farmers, FCA notes, is becoming not only more racially and ethnically diverse than in the past, but includes […]
Proposed FY2012 Food and Agriculture Cuts One Step Closer to Becoming Law
On Tuesday, May 31, the full House Appropriations Committee passed its fiscal year (FY) 2012 agriculture appropriations bill, which was first passed by the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee last week. If it were to become law, this bill would make truly massive cuts to conservation, extension, research, renewable energy, and rural development programs. A number […]
Sen. Stabenow Holds First 2012 Farm Bill Hearing
On Thursday, May 26, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack addressed members of the Senate Agriculture Committee at the Committee’s first hearing on the 2012 Farm Bill. A second panel of witnesses followed, comprised of former Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman, Michigan farmer and United Soybean Board founding director Barry Mumby, Dr. Andrew Rosenberg of Conservation International, […]
House Ag Appropriations Subcommittee Passes FY2012 Funding Bill
On Tuesday, March 24, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies passed by voice vote its fiscal year (FY) 2012 agriculture appropriations bill, which would cut USDA and FDA discretionary programs by 13.4 percent on top of a similar amount in the FY 2011 bill completed last month. […]
House FY2012 Appropriations Bill Would Slash Conservation, Rural Development, and Research Programs
On Monday, May 23, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies released a draft of its fiscal year (FY) 2012 agriculture appropriations bill. The Subcommittee will debate, potentially amend, and almost certainly pass the bill on Tuesday during an afternoon markup. Before the bill can become law, […]
Merrigan Keynotes Monterey Bay Aquarium Sustainable Foods Gathering
Introduced by Congressman Sam Farr (D-17th/CA) as “someone who really gets it,” USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan keynoted Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Cooking for Solutions conference on May 19. The event attracted food and agriculture writers who could have a real book editor salary from around the nation. The good news, Merrigan explained, is that “there’s […]
Healthy Farms, Healthy People Summit
by NSAC Policy Associate Helen Dombalis A diverse group of over 100 farm, food, and health stakeholders came together in Washington, DC Tuesday and Wednesday for Healthy Farms, Healthy People: A Farm & Food Policy Summit for a Strong America. The summit was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and convened […]
The Atlantic Holds Annual Food Summit in Washington, DC
Earlier this week The Atlantic held its annual Food Summit in Washington, DC. USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan gave the keynote address. Merrigan started by acknowledging that it is an exciting time for people working in the food and farm sectors since Americans are increasingly interested in where their food comes from, how it is […]
Beginning and Minority Farmer Conservation Set-Asides: FY 2010 Results
With generous assistance from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) staff in the Resource Economic, Analysis and Policy (REAP) Division, NSAC has assembled the following brief report on farm bill conservation program assistance targeted to beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers for the fiscal year 2010 enrollment period. What is REAP? The REAP Division’s […]
Ohio Beginning Farmer Testifies at House Ag Credit Hearing
On Thursday, April 14, the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, and Credit held a hearing to review credit conditions in rural America. The two panels primarily featured witnesses from different credit providers, from independent banks to federal loan providers. Among the witnesses was Matt Starline, a young farmer and owner of Starline Organics […]
Congress Releases Draft 6-Month Continuing Resolution
In the early morning of Tuesday, April 12, Congress released a draft of the 6-month continuing resolution (CR), agreed to by House and Senate Democrats and Republicans late last night. The CR would cut $42 billion relative to FY 2010 levels for non-defense spending, but couples that with a $4 billion increase in defense spending, […]
National Agricultural Landscapes Forum in Review
On Thursday and Friday, April 7-8, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), along with the Farm Foundation and American Farmland Trust, presented a two-day forum on landscape integrity and water security in the 21st century. As outlined in an earlier blog post, the National Agricultural Landscapes Forum followed a series five public meetings to gather […]
Appointments to Minority Farmer Advisory Committee Announced
On March 24 USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced appointments for the Agency’s new Minority Farmer Advisory Committee. Authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill, the Committee will make recommendations to Vilsack on outreach and assistance for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, including increased participation in USDA programs and program and policy recommendations. The appointees, who will […]
Spanish Edition of NSAC’s Grassroots Guide to the 2008 Farm Bill
A result of a coordinated effort between NSAC and the Agriculture and Land-Base Training Association, the Spanish Edition of the Grassroots Guide to the 2008 Farm Bill is now available to download from our website. The Spanish edition of the Guide walks you through seven of the 2008 Farm Bill programs important to sustainable agriculture. […]
House Holds Appropriations Hearing on Rural Development
On Thursday morning, March 31, the House Subcommittee on Agriculture Appropriations held a hearing on Rural Development in Fiscal Year 2012. The hearing started with general remarks from subcommittee members regarding concern about the state of rural America, including a note that USDA Secretary Vilsack previously testified to the Subcommittee that rural America has been […]