Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by Margaret Reeves Ph.D, and was originally posted on the Pesticide Action Network’s (PAN) website on June 6, 2016. Margaret is a PAN Senior Scientist with expertise in agroecology and soil ecology. As a long-time farmworker advocate, Margaret serves on the Board of the Equitable Food Initiative and works with partners […]
Conservation, Energy & Environment
Socioeconomic and Environmental Impacts of GE Crop Production Raise Concerns
While the issue of GMO (genetically modified organism) labeling is certainly an important one, there are many other concerns with genetically engineered (GE) crops and food of importance to the sustainable agriculture movement, and that are often at risk of being overshadowed by the labeling debate. A prime example of this are questions regarding the […]
$3 Million Available for Biomass-to-Energy Projects
When you think of sustainable energy, what comes to mind? For most people, solar and wind power would top the list, but many may not realize that sustainable energy can also be generated from on-farm plant matter and animal waste. Many farmers are already using this method, called “bioenergy”, which is produced from a variety of […]
A Breakdown of the Senate’s Annual Food and Farm Spending Bill
Each year, Congress debates and makes key decisions about federal funding priorities for all government agencies, programs, and initiatives – including programs and resources that support our nation’s farmers and ranchers. This week marks an important step in that process (known as appropriations), as the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a bill to fund the U.S. […]
SARE Stories from the Field: The Buzz on Pollinator Conservation
Editor’s Note: This is the sixth and final blog in our series highlighting the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program. Our previous blog featured farmers in California’s Salinas Valley and how they were able to reduce farm inputs through improved nutrient management When you hear the term “pollinator”, what do you think of? For most people, honeybees would […]
RELEASE: New “Farmers’ Guide” Helps Organic Producers Apply for Buffer Initiative
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition announces the publication of their Organic Farmers’ Guide… Read More →
Final Environmental Cost-Share Rule Fails to Incorporate Sustainability Recommendations
Farmers and ranchers are important stewards of our natural resources. Through national initiatives like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is able to support farmers and ranchers in their efforts to introduce conservation efforts on their lands and more sustainably manage their operations. EQIP, managed by USDA’s Natural Resource […]
$72 Million Investment in Soil Health to Help Farmers Address Climate Change
As the impacts of climate change become more extreme, resilient agriculture systems are critical to maintaining economic, ecological, and community health. In the face of such uncertainty, we must prioritize the establishment of food production systems that are diverse and flexible enough to deal with a changing climate. On May 12, 2016, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) […]
Rural Energy Awards Help Farmers Keep the Lights On
As climate variability and energy costs continue to rise, producing on-farm, renewable energy has become an attractive option for many farmers and ranchers. In order to help farmers and ranchers save money by becoming more energy efficient, the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) provides grants and loans to farmers and rural businesses to make […]
USDA Enrolls 800,000 Acres in Long-Term Conservation Contracts
Healthy soils are the underpinning of the agricultural economy. On the most marginal, highly erodible lands, soils are best cared for by keeping them covered in grasses or trees year-round and avoiding agricultural production. On more productive fields, soils can be enhanced through the use of sustainable farming tools like conservation buffers – riparian buffers, grassed […]
GAO Report Calls for Timeline to Update USDA Biotechnology Regulations
As a growing list of genetically engineered plant and animal crops enter the marketplace with minimal, if any, regulation from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Government Accountability Office (GAO) is urging USDA to set a clear timeline for updating its biotechnology regulations. In a report released on April 14, 2016, GAO cautioned: […]
Clean Water Rule Escapes Shutdown in Senate
By voting down an amendment yesterday, April 22, that would have halted the implementation of the “Waters of the United States” rule, the Senate has provided much needed clarity for farmers and ranchers regarding which waters on their land are subject to permitting requirements. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) and our member organizations […]
Give NSAC the Scoop on Your On-Farm Manure Usage
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) and our members are surveying produce farmers to better understand how they use and apply untreated or raw manure on their farms. Between now and June 3, 2016, we are collecting anonymous information to develop comments for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to aid in their development of […]
Upcoming DEADLINES for Federal Food and Farm Grant Programs
As warmer weather settles in, farmers are busy planting crops, livestock are grazing on pasture, and farmers markets across the country are once again full of shoppers. All of this activity means spring is finally here – it also means that deadlines for a variety of federal farm and food grant programs are fast approaching! […]
Policy Solutions for Healthy Soils
This is the second blog in a two-part series on the integral role of agriculture and soil health in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. See yesterday’s guest post from Daniel Kane on the recently published findings on the important role that soils play in combatting climate change. Years of increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have meant […]
New Research Finds Climate Solutions in the Soil
This is a guest post from Daniel Kane, a soil scientist and agroecologist who researches soil carbon cycles, regenerative agriculture, and sustainable food systems. Last year, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) and Breakthrough Strategies and Solutions, LLC, jointly published a paper (“Carbon Sequestration Potential on Agricultural Lands: A Review of Current Science and Available Practices”) that Daniel […]
Stories from the Field: Calculating the Impact of Sustainable Farming Research
Stories from the Field: Calculating the Impact of Sustainable Farming Research Since its inception over 25 years ago, the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program has led the way in farmer-driven, innovative agriculture research. SARE’s unique research focus on cutting edge, farmer-driven innovations has empowered thousands of farmers to utilize cover crops in order […]
$15 Million Available for Wetland Conservation Partnerships
To some, marshes, swamps, and bogs may sound like troublesome obstacles to agricultural production. Conservation and sustainable farmers know, however, that these wetlands are more like “biological supermarkets”, as the Environmental Protection Agency calls them, than problems. Wetlands are rich with resources and provide numerous benefits to working lands and the natural habitats that surround them […]
Farm Groups Defend Agricultural Conservation Programs
Congressional appropriators are this month in the process of drafting their fiscal year (FY) 2017 appropriations bills, bills which will determine the success or failure of programs by setting federal funding levels for the year. Several agricultural conservation programs, like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), are under fire in […]
SARE Cover Crop Survey Seeks Farmers Input
The Sustainable Agricultural, Research, and Education Program (SARE) in conjunction with the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) are seeking responses to their fourth annual national cover crop survey. Whether you are a long-time cover cropper, new to the use of cover crops, or never even considered the practice, SARE needs to hear from you. Results […]
Conservation Practices Reduce Runoff and Erosion in Lake Erie Basin
Each year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) invests billions of dollars to help farmers, ranchers, and foresters conserve natural resources and wildlife habitat on and around their land. With thousands of producers across the country planning to implement conservation practices, understanding if and how conservation efforts are working is critical. According to the Conservation Effects Assessment Project […]
New Data on National Wetland, Grassland, and Farmland Conservation Efforts
Few natural resources provide greater ecological benefits than wetlands and grasslands. Wetlands and grasslands filter water and reduce pollution, help prevent and mitigate the impacts of flooding, and provide critical wildlife habitat. Unfortunately, they are also some of our most threatened resources. Farmers and landowners face pressures to convert wetlands and grasslands into croplands, as […]
Stories from the Field: New Mexico Acequia Association
This spring, NSAC is featuring stories from the field that highlight how organizations and the farmers they serve are building more sustainable food and farm systems with support from federal programs. This week’s post provides an in-depth look at how one community-based organization is utilizing federal conservation programs to improve water usage on farms in […]
Conservation Stewardship Stories: Leon Sowers
This is the final piece in a four-part series chronicling stories from farmers and ranchers who have experienced success with the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). The first three stories featured Alabama ranchers Miguel Otero and Cornelius Joe, as well as Stan Armstrong from Indiana. Conservation Stewardship Stories: Leon Sowers Leon Sowers always keeps an eye on the weather, and in […]