February 2, 2010
This post is the second in a series of commentaries by NSAC staff on the President’s 2011 budget, released on February 1st. To read the overview by Executive Director Aimee Witteman click here. Look out in the following days for more budget analysis on research programs, conservation, rural programs and more. The President’s 2011 budget […]
February 1, 2010
By Aimee Witteman Today, President Obama unveiled his $3.8 trillion budget for fiscal year 2011. The big fat volumes with all of the program line items for each department of government were published online at the U.S. Government Printing Office this morning. This post summarizes just a few of the proposed losses and gains for […]
January 29, 2010
By Martha Noble, NSAC High tunnels help to extend the growing season for lettuce on Don Bustos’ Santa Cruz farm in Santa Fe, NM; Photo by Jess Daniel Update on Final Tally (February 2, 2010) The date for states to opt into the NRCS Seasonal High Tunnel Pilot Program closed on January 29 with 42 […]
January 23, 2010
By Ariane Lotti, NSAC USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service has opened the 2010 sign-up for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program Organic Initiative. 2010 Organic Initiative Snapshot: $50 million has been allocated for 2010; The sign-up is open through March 12, 2010; Existing certified organic farmers and farmers transitioning to organic production are eligible; Applicants who […]
January 22, 2010
By Jess Daniel, NSAC Introducing… an updated “quick-guide” to federal programs and grants for farmers, ranchers, food entrepreneurs, and the researchers, educators and community groups who serve them. This chart is a one-stop shop for links to the relevant USDA program websites (where they exist), brief descriptions of programs, and important dates and deadlines. Check […]
January 20, 2010
By Loni Kemp, consultant to the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy in response to a comment by FSA employee Paul Harte on the article “BCAP Boondoggle” from January 11, 2010. Mr. Harte from USDA is quick to accuse, but the BCAP law is quite clear about where there is discretion that the Farm Service […]
January 15, 2010
At the annual meeting of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) in Santa Fe this week, USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, Edward Avalos told the gathered delegates of his desire for USDA to listen to and serve the needs of small and mid-sized farms, including through buy local campaigns, value-added agricultural development, […]
January 11, 2010
By Loni Kemp, consultant to the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy While the Biomass Crop Assistance Program designed to help farmers plant new energy crops languishes in administrative limbo—the BCAP that NSAC and others fought so hard for in the 2008 farm bill—the other BCAP has grown into a monster. What started out as […]
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 […]