Anyone familiar with USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program is already aware of how impactful the program’s farmer-driven research and educational outreach has been over the last 30 years. In fact, SARE has granted $327 million to more than 7,600 projects across the country since its inception. Its groundbreaking work on cover crops […]
General Interest
New Pandemic Cover Crop Program is a First Step
Last week, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a new Pandemic Cover Crop Program (PCCP), which will offer a $5 per acre premium discount to producers who planted qualifying cover crops during the 2021 crop year and enrolled in eligible federal crop insurance policies. The PCCP is administered by the Risk Management Agency […]
COMMENT: USDA Announces More Than $4 Billion to Strengthen Food System
NSAC responds to today’s announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) of plans to invest more than $4 billion to strengthen critical supply chains through the Build Back Better initiative…. Read More →
Farmers Virtually Visit the Hill to Advocate for Climate Action
What do you get when you mix a pandemic context, a carbon-conscious group of farmers and advocates, and a critical window for Congressional action on the climate crisis? The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)’s latest Virtual Farmer “Fly-In” on Climate and Agriculture. Bringing farmers to Washington, D.C. to tell their stories to their lawmakers and […]
Release: President Announces FY 2022 $6 Trillion Budget Request
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Laura Zaks, Associate Director of Communications and Development National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition lzaks@sustainableagriculture.net Tel. 347.563.6408 President Announces FY 2022 $6 Trillion Budget RequestThe request would significantly increase USDA funding and advance infrastructure and jobs Washington, DC, May 28, 2021 – Today, the Biden-Harris Administration released the President’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 budget request. […]
RELEASE: More Than 450 Organizations Urge Congress to Invest $200 Billion in Climate-Focused Agriculture Improvements in the American Jobs Plan
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Laura Zaks, Associate Director of Communications and Development National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition lzaks@sustainableagriculture.net Tel. 347.563.6408 More Than 450 Organizations Urge Congress to Invest $200 Billion in Climate-Focused Agriculture Improvements in the American Jobs Plan Letter to Congressional Leadership Addresses Agriculture, Climate and Infrastructure Needs Washington, DC, May 25, 2021 – Today […]
$15 million Now Available to Support Regional Food Economy Development Projects
On May 5, 2021 USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced the availability of $15.3 million in funding for the second ever Request for Applications (RFA) for the Regional Food Systems Partnership (RFSP) Program. RFSP is a new program that supports foodshed-level approaches to developing regional food economies. RFSP was launched in the 2018 Farm Bill […]
$76.9 million in Local and Regional Food Project Grants Now Available
On May 5, 2021 USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced the availability of $76.9 million in funding for the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program (FMLFPP). FMLFPP has two subprograms – the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) and the Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP) – with a separate Request for Applications (RFA) for each […]
RELEASE: Kids Eat Local Act Expands School Food Options, Opportunities for Farmers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contacts:Wes KingNational Sustainable Agriculture Coalitionpress@sustainableagriculture.net Anna MullenNational Farm to School Networkanna@farmtoschool.org / (515) 210-2483 Kids Eat Local Act Expands School Food Options, Opportunities for Farmers National Farm to School Network and National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition welcome this legislation, which will make it easier for school meal programs to purchase from local farmers […]
RELEASE: Annual Cynthia Hayes Memorial Scholarships Awarded to Three Rising Stars in Sustainable Agriculture
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Kelsey Watson, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition press@sustainableagriculture.net Annual Cynthia Hayes Memorial Scholarships Awarded to Three Rising Stars in Sustainable Agriculture 2021 scholars exemplify Hayes’ commitment to racial equity and advancing opportunities for farmers of color Washington, DC, April 8, 2021 –In partnership with Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS) and Southeastern […]
$76 MILLION AVAILABLE FOR VALUE-ADDED AND LOCAL FOOD PROJECTS
On March 5, 2021, USDA Rural Development announced the availability of at least $76 million in total funding for VAPG projects. The application window to apply is open now and online applications are accepted until April 29, 2020 through grants.gov, and paper applications must be postmarked by May 4, 2021. We encourage all readers to […]
Top Sustainable Ag Priorities for 2021
As a new Congress and new Administration begin moving forward their top priorities for the coming year, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition stands ready to engage our grassroots base to push for top issues – like climate change and COVID relief – facing farmers and food system leaders across our membership and the broader sustainable […]
The Climate Crisis Needs More Than a Silver Bullet
Energy and momentum to address the climate crisis is building under the Biden-Harris Administration. Many parts of the agriculture sector, previously opposed to climate action, have shifted their stance as agricultural soils come into focus as potentially powerful carbon sinks – and source of profit. Legislators, farm groups, advocates, and corporations have been churning out […]
COMMENT: Agriculture Needs Multifaceted Climate Solutions
Contact: Eric Deeble, Policy Director,National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)edeeble@sustainableagriculture.net Agriculture Needs Multifaceted Climate SolutionsCongress and USDA Should Prioritize Existing Conservation, Agricultural Research, and Rural Economic Development Programs Washington, DC, February 25th, 2021 – This comment was issued on Thursday, February 25, 2021 in response to the hearing “Climate Change and the U.S. Agriculture and Forestry […]
Contract Farmers Now Eligible for CFAP Aid
Update 3/1/21: USDA has announced that the application deadline listed below of February 26 has been eliminated and USDA’s Farm Service Agency will continue to accept applications while the agency undergoes a review of the CFAP program. Interested applicants will have at least an additional 30 days to sign up after any decision is announced. […]
The Time is Ripe for Competition and Antitrust Reform in Agriculture
This is the first of several blogs which will explore the impacts of consolidation and concentration in the agriculture industry on farmers and the broader food system, as well as a path forward. The blog series is authored by NSAC Policy Associate Billy Hackett with meaningful contributions by farmers and experts. Read the second entry […]
Funding Now Available to Help Farmers with FSMA
Farmers are working to improve food safety on the farm, and prepare for Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) inspections, but this requires both assistance and resources. We are excited that the Food Safety Outreach Program (FSOP) applications have just opened up and will provide organizations with funding to assist and help farmers and small food businesses with […]
RELEASE: Cynthia Hayes Memorial Scholarship Now Accepting Applications
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Daniela Solis, Communications and Development FellowThe National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)press@sustainableagriculture.net Cynthia Hayes Memorial Scholarship Now Accepting Applications The Cynthia Hayes Memorial Scholarship honors the co-founder of the first network for African American organic farmers in the United States. Washington, DC, February 10th, 2021, —Yesterday, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), in partnership […]
RELEASE: House Agriculture Committee Includes Needed Aid in Budget Reconciliation Provisions
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Eric Deeble, Policy DirectorNational Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) edeeble@sustainableagriculture.net House Agriculture Committee Includes Needed Aid in Budget Reconciliation ProvisionsCOVID-19 Funding Will Assist with Farm and Food System Response and Recovery February 9th, 2021, Washington, DC — Today, the House of Representatives released the Agriculture and Nutrition title of the FY2021 Budget Reconciliation […]
RELEASE: USDA Secretary of Agriculture Nominee Tom Vilsack Clears First Step Toward Senate Confirmation
Contact: Daniela Solis, Communications and Development Fellow The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) press@sustainableagriculture.net USDA Secretary of Agriculture Nominee Tom Vilsack Clears First Step Toward Senate ConfirmationNSAC Issues Comments on Secretary Vilsack’s Imminent Confirmation Washington, DC, February 2nd, 2021—Today, the Senate Agriculture Committee favorably reported out the nomination of Tom Vilsack to serve again as the Secretary […]
Government Funding Bill – Sustainable Agriculture Wins
With the country facing an imminent government shutdown, the President finally signed the $2.3 trillion Emergency Coronavirus Relief Act of 2020 on December 28th. This bill includes both badly needed emergency COVID-19 relief aid as well as regular fiscal year (FY) 2021 appropriations. For more information on the COVID-19 relief aspects of the bill check […]
Coronavirus Bill Contains Billions for Farmers and Farm Programs
The New Covid Bill On December 28th, President Trump signed the Emergency Coronavirus Relief Act of 2020, averting a looming government shutdown. This $2.3 Trillion dollar, 5,500 page, package of funding and legislation combined a $900 billion Coronavirus response bill and a $1.4 Trillion annual appropriations bill for FY21 into a single, must-pass “omnibus.” The […]
New Funding Opportunity for Organic Transition and Education Research for 2021 and 2022
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced the Request for Applications (RFA) for the Organic Transitions Program (ORG) in late 2020. Like its counterpart, the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI), ORG supports research to improve the competitiveness of organic farming. However, ORG is distinct from OREI […]
Top 20 Wins (and Fights!) for Sustainable Agriculture in 2020
The end of the year is just around the corner – and what a year it has been! In these times of pain, uncertainty, reflection, and action, two things are certain: (1) our country and our world as we know it will never quite be the same, and (2) the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) […]