The Conservation Stewardship Program has been supporting farmers and ranchers for more than seven years … Read More →
Conservation, Energy & Environment
Senators Defend Conservation Funding in FY 2017 Budget Negotiations
On Thursday, March 17, 33 Senators delivered a letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, urging them to oppose cuts to conservation programs in fiscal year (FY) 2017. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Chris Coons (D-DE) steered the effort, as they have done in previous years. Included among the […]
GMO Labeling Preemption Bill Fails Vote in Senate; Debate Expected to Continue
The debate over the labeling of foods containing genetically engineered or genetically modified (GMO) ingredients casts a wide net. In addition to the traditional food, agriculture, and business interests you might expect to be involved, the GMO labeling debate has pulled in countless other interest groups, from states’ rights activists to concerned parents. Farmers, consumers, […]
$260 Million Available for Regional Conservation Partnerships
Well-designed public-private partnerships can enhance the delivery of federal conservation programs. Each of the last three farm bills have included a special funding set-aside for conservation partnerships, and in recent years, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has actively promoted these partnerships. On Monday, March 14, USDA announced the availability of $260 million for […]
Conservation Stewardship Stories: Stan Armstrong
This piece is the third in a four-part series chronicling stories from farmers and ranchers who have experienced success with the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). The first two stories featured Miguel Otero and Cornelius Joe, ranchers from Alabama who both found success with CSP. Stan Armstrong is the multi-generational farmer’s multi-generational farmer – he and his family have […]
Final Rule Released for Conservation Stewardship Program
USDA today released the final rule for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), which makes changes to CSP as required by the 2014 Farm Bill. The release of this final rule follows the publication of the Interim Final Rule (IFR) in November 2014. CSP is a comprehensive working lands conservation program designed to help farmers and […]
USDA Commits $20 Million to Reward Conservation Innovation
Every day farmers and ranchers are developing creative ways to conserve the air, water, and soil on their lands. … Read More →
New Outreach and Education Tools Available to Support to Organic Certification
New resources for transitioning organic producers are now available through the Agriculture Marketing Service’s National Organic Program (NOP). Through the Sound and Sensible initiative, NOP aims to makes organic certification more “accessible, affordable, and attainable” by helping transitioning farmers on a wide array of issues including record keeping and documentation, preventative practices, and much more. Utilizing […]
FDA Requests Information on Manure Use
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced the first opportunity for the public to weigh in on their approach to assessing the risks posed by raw manure used in growing produce. According to the FDA: The risk assessment will consider pathogen survival and growth under different agricultural and ecological conditions (e.g., soil types, […]
GMO Labeling Debate Heating Up in Senate
The debate over genetically engineered or genetically modified food labeling has been fiercely contested … Read More →
USDA Makes Payments Available for Organic Field Border Buffers
Many organic farmers install conservation buffers strips around the edges of their crop fields. These ‘field border’ buffers provide multiple conservation and environmental benefits, and also help farmers meet U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic certification requirements, which include protecting soil and water quality and enhancing biodiversity and habitat). In some circumstances, the buffers can […]
RELEASE: New Conservation Option for Organic Farms Unveiled
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ferd Hoefner, Paul Wolfe, 202-547-5754 New Conservation Option for Organic Farms Unveiled U.S. Department of Agriculture to assist in establishing up to 20,000 acres of new conservation buffers Washington, DC, February 26, 2016 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced a new conservation option for organic farmers–cost-share and land […]
Conservation Stewardship Stories: Cornelius Joe
This post is the second in a series chronicling stories from farmers and ranchers who have experienced success with the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). The first story, highlighting Alabama farmer Miguel Otero can be found here. As a third-generation farmer in Greensboro, Alabama, Cornelius Joe knows firsthand the importance of taking care of working lands today, so […]
$720 Million for Conservation Projects Generated Through Regional Conservation Partnership Program
Effective natural resource conservation often depends on the power of partnerships. Through the collaboration of governmental, non-profit, and private partners we have seen significant advances in conservation on agricultural lands over the last several years. Since the creation of the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) in the 2014 Farm Bill and its predecessors in early […]
Conservation Stewardship Stories: Miguel Otero
This piece is the first in a four-part series chronicling stories from farmers and ranchers who have experienced success with the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) Farming and ranching is more than just a job; according to Alabama farmer, Miguel Otero, it’s a way of life. “I guess farming is something you carry in your genes,” said Miguel. “If […]
Soil Health Emerges as Global Priority to Address Climate Change
Agricultural production accounts for nearly ten percent of all greenhouse gas emissions, and farmers and ranchers are among those who will most immediately and dramatically suffer the consequences of climate change. Agriculture has a substantial role to play in global mitigation efforts, and we at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) work closely with the U.S. […]
Conservation Stewardship Program 2016 Sign-Up Opens
Farmers and ranchers interested in enrolling in the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) this year have until March 31 to submit their initial applications to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). USDA will enroll 10 million acres of farm and ranch land in the program this year, with payments to farmers and […]
RELEASE: USDA Announces Conservation Stewardship Program Sign-up for 2016
Over 20 million acres of farm and ranch lands eligible for conservation support… Read More →
New Mitigation Program Will Help Offset Wetland Losses
In an effort to offset the widespread draining of wetlands for agricultural production, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has begun to fund wetland “banks” to help landowners compensate for negative impacts made to wetlands on their properties. On Thursday, January 28, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service began soliciting proposals from states, local governments and […]
Final Guidance on National Organic Program Provides Clarity for Farmers and Certifiers
Preservation of natural resources and the promotion of biodiversity and animal welfare are core principals of organic production. In order to support these principals and help farmers and certifiers to comply with organic requirements, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program (NOP) released its final guidance, Guidance on Biodiversity and Conservation, on Friday, January […]
New Guidebook Helps Farmers Promote Conservation and Food Safety at the Same Time
A brand new handbook by NSAC member organization Wild Farm Alliance (WFA) explains how farmers can implement conservation activities while also complying with new food safety regulations. The guidebook, entitled Co-Managing Farm Stewardship with Food Safety GAPs and Conservation Practices, A Grower and Conservationist’s Guidebook, addresses the misconception that conservation efforts, such as installing buffers […]
Congress Disapproves of Clean Water Rule Despite Clear Benefits for Agriculture
Turning aside the opportunity to protect clean water protections for agriculture and public health, Congress has decidedly rejected the EPA’s attempt to clarify long-confusing jurisdictional definitions within the Clean Water Act. On Wednesday, January 12, the House voted to overturn the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Clean Water Rule and prevent any similar rules from […]
Declining Wild Bee Population Worrisome for Agriculture
Wild bees pollinate many of the country’s most important farmlands, but a new national study suggests that these crucial pollinators are disappearing in the agricultural areas where their services are needed most. The study, Modeling the status, trends, and impacts of wild bee abundance in the United States, was published on December 21 in the Proceedings of […]
USDA Finds Conservation Adoption Lagging
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Economic Research Service (ERS) recently released a report on conservation practice adoption, highlighting the fairly low adoption rates for specific practices that play a critical role in mitigating environmental impacts, improving soil health, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The report, “Conservation-Practice Adoption Rates Vary Widely by Crop and Region” […]