The Conservation Stewardship Program, the largest conservation program in the United States, is undergoing a major overhaul, or “makeover” for the 2016 sign-up period. … Read More →
Farm Bill
Congress and White House Reach Budget Deal: What it Means for Agriculture
As the clock struck 11pm on Monday, October 26, Congress and the White House announced that they had reached an agreement on raising the United States debt limit as well as discretionary spending caps for fiscal years (FY) 2016 and 2017. Debt Limit and Spending Caps The agreement suspends the U.S. borrowing cap (also known […]
Funding Cycle Now Open for Next Year’s Community Food Project Grants
In addition to announcing awardees for the Community Food Projects Grant Program (CFP) on October 13, the USDA National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) posted on its CFP webpage the latest Request for Application for fiscal year 2016. NIFA anticipates awarding approximately $8.64 million in grants through CFP. The deadline for applications is 5:00pm EST on Monday, […]
$9 Million Awarded to Increase Community Food Security
On Tuesday, October 13, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded $8.6 million through the Community Food Projects (CFP) competitive grant program to organizations dedicated to increasing food security in underserved communities through local solutions that also build up local food systems. The Community Food Projects program seeks to address food insecurity by supporting nonprofits, tribal organizations, […]
USDA Awards Millions to Support New Farmers
Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced awards totaling $17 million through the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP). BFRDP is the only USDA program exclusively dedicated to training new farmers and ranchers, particularly in sustainable production practices. NSAC and our members who serve beginning farmers across the country originally conceptualized BFRDP nearly 15 […]
Grants Available to Incentivize SNAP Produce Purchases
USDA recently announced the availability of $16.8 million through the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentives Grant program…… Read More →
Specialty Crop Grant Awards Announced by USDA
On October 5, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced $63 million in grants for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) and over $50 million in grants for the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI). These awards help support farmers growing fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and nursery crops, also known as “specialty crops,” […]
New USDA Awards to Build Local Food Systems and Food Security
On October 2, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced nearly $35 million in awards from three grant programs to support local and regional food systems, enhance the effectiveness of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) operations at farmers markets, and improve marketing opportunities for farms through state-based research and innovation. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack made […]
Rural Businesses Get $20 Million Boost in USDA funding
On Tuesday, September 28th, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced close to $20 million in grants from the Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) Program to support the start-up or expansion of rural small businesses. The program provides competitive grants to governmental entities, Indian tribes, and nonprofit organizations for planning, technical assistance, job training, and […]
$3 Million Available in New Specialty Crop Multi-State Program – Food Safety Highlighted
Federal grant funding totaling $3 million in funding is now available through the new Specialty Crop Multi-State Program (SCMP). The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a press release on Friday, September 4, 2015 and a Request for Application this week. The SCMP will provide funds to State departments of agriculture on a competitive basis […]
Avian Flu: What About the Contract Poultry Grower?
There has been a lot of talk about the Avian Flu outbreak from the media, including many reports by outlets that don’t often don’t spend much time covering agriculture. They have covered the 34 million birds that have been euthanized and the skyrocketing cost of conventionally produced eggs. What they have not been covering is […]
Food Hub Report Series Launched by USDA
Filling a gap in information on operations and best practices from food hubs, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development mission area launched a new technical report series called Running a Food Hub with the first report, Running a Food Hub: Lessons Learned from the Field, Vol. One (hereafter Lessons Learned) on July 15. Yesterday’s release of […]
Conservation Stewardship Program Gets A Makeover
The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is a comprehensive working lands conservation program designed… Read More →
2016 Funding Bill Opens Payment Loophole, Cuts Conservation and Renewable Energy
On Thursday, June 18, the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee passed its funding bill for fiscal year (FY) 2016. Overall, the bill provides $20.65 billion in discretionary funding, $175 million less than last year’s enacted level and a whopping $1.1 billion less than the USDA request. The full House Appropriations Committee will now take up the […]
House Agriculture Committee Examines Implementation of Farm Bill Conservation Programs
On Thursday, June 11, the Conservation Subcommittee of the House Agriculture Committee held a hearing to examine the implementation of conservation programs by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA is responsible for administering conservation programs authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. These programs include the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Environmental […]
Most Want Real Farm Subsidy Reform, but Mega-Farms Want More Taxpayer Money
Our Analysis of Public Comments on USDA’s Actively Engaged in Farming Rule The public comment period on USDA’s proposed “Actively Engaged in Farming” rule recently closed. USDA will now sift through more than 80 comments received to write a final rule, that we hope will be with a commitment real reform. The draft rule, while […]
What’s all the Flapping About: What do HBO’s John Oliver, Chicken Farmers, and Congress have in Common?
There has been a lot of social media buzz lately about a piece on HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver about the plight of chicken farmers (note: does contain adult language, please use discretion) who raise birds on behalf of large integrators, aka the chicken companies (Tyson, Pilgrims Pride, Perdue, and JBS) who own […]
Release: NSAC Submits Comments on USDA Draft Rule that would continue to allow million dollar subsidy payments to mega-farms
Washington, DC, May 27, 2015 – The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to undertake a major overhaul of its “actively engaged in farming” draft rule to create fair and effective limitations on the subsidies taxpayers provide to commodity farms. Fair and effective enforcement of the farm bill’s payment […]
Strategic Economic and Community Development Rule – Open for Comment!
On Tuesday, May 19, the US Department of Agriculture published an interim rule on the Strategic Economic and Community Development program under Section 6025 of the 2014 Farm Bill. This rule, which goes into effect on June 19, sets aside up to 10 percent of funds appropriated to a handful of Rural Development (RD) programs to focus some […]
Organic Certification Cost Share Now Available for 2015
On Thursday, May 14, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the availability of approximately $11.9 million in funding for organic certification cost-share assistance for organic producers and handlers through state departments of agriculture. Payments for certification-related expenses incurred from October 1, 2014 through September 30, 2015 can cover up to 75 percent of an individual […]
USDA Now Accepting Applications for Value-Added Producer Grants
NSAC has released an updated version of its Farmers’ Guide to Value-Added Producer Grant Funding. Individual and groups of producers, as well as farmer coops and producer-controlled businesses, are eligible to apply for these grants, which help to increase income and marketing opportunities for America’s farmers and ranchers, along with fishermen, loggers, and other harvesters of agricultural commodities…. Read More →
Briefing Spotlights Local Food, Farmer Livelihoods, Community Development, and Healthy Food Access
On Tuesday, May 5th, a Congressional briefing organized by the Food and Agriculture Policy Collaborative (FAPC)* highlighted federal programs to support local and regional food and farming, economic development, improved health outcomes, and access to good food. The briefing was part of a successful and growing partnership of FAPC members, linking federal policy with place-based outcomes and […]
130 Organizations Deliver Letter Opposing Cuts to Conservation
On Tuesday, May 5, more than 130 organizations from around the country urged the House and Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittees to oppose cuts to farm bill conservation funding in fiscal year (FY) 2016 appropriations legislation. The letter was sent by a broad range of groups, including the American Seed Trade Association, National Farmers Union, American Society […]
2016 Budget Resolution and Appropriations in Process
The House and Senate passed their respective versions of the annual budget resolution at the end of March, leading to expectations that a final version might be hashed out by close to the statutory target date of April 15. Though missing that deadline, the negotiations between House and Senate Budget Committee GOP leadership are now […]