Anyone who has been near a computer or television during the past week is certainly aware of the chaotic negotiations in the Senate as Majority leadership works to craft their version of a fourth coronavirus pandemic response bill (C4). The House passed their $3 trillion HEROES Act (C4) more than two months ago (May 15, […]
General Interest
Latest Round of Farm to School Grants Tops $12 million as Pandemic Uncertainty Persists
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced $12.1 million in Farm to School Grants to 159 grantees in 48 states, Guam and Washington D.C. This is the largest round of awards since the grant program was first authorized and is a most welcome against the backdrop of uncertainty caused by lost markets and the possibility […]
USDA Programs Support Small Meat Processing Plants
There are a few existing federal programs that could be expanded to further support small, local, and regional meat and poultry processing plants and increase farmers’ access to slaughter and processing options…. Read More →
NSAC Adopts Updated Principles on Immigration and Agriculture
Introduction Immigrant communities have played a crucial role in the cultural, economic, and political growth of our country. The farm and dairy economy especially depend on labor from migrant and immigrant people, often labor from undocumented people, who often live in precarious situations and receive little compensation or benefits. As recent headlines have shown, both […]
Is There Help from Congress on the Horizon?
The Food Supply Protection Act Americans continue to grapple with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and can now see its impacts on every aspect of their own lives and on the lives of others in their community. An uncoordinated and inconsistent federal response to the pandemic has caused great harm to the most vulnerable among us […]
USDA Food Box Program Falls Short of Supporting Small Farms
In late April, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the highly anticipated Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), a two pronged plan the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) would implement to distribute $23.5 billion in Congressionally provided aid to farmers impacted by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. CFAP consists of two distinct programs: $16 billion in direct […]
There is No Future for Sustainable Food and Farming Without Racial Justice
Last month, the world witnessed yet another killing of a Black person in America at the hands of police. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition grieves the murder of George Floyd and stands with those calling for justice for Mr. Floyd, for Ahmaud Arbery, for Tony McDade, for David McAtee, for Breonna Taylor, and for every […]
New Hub of Activity for Good Food Policy
In May, as the country grappled with an emerging global pandemic and unprecedented demand for food assistance, a national collaboration of organizations working on food systems and healthy food access officially launched the Nutrition Incentive Hub. Funded through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the National Institute for Food and […]
Inaugural Urban Agriculture and Community Compost Funding Opportunities Announced
Americans’ interest in knowing more about where, how, and by whom their food is produced has been growing for many years and the coronavirus pandemic has shown new light on the serious shortcomings in our highly concentrated food production system. Along with the rise of the local food movement there has also been a building […]
NSAC’s Response to COVID-19
NSAC and our 130+ members are collaborating, and organizing to support farmers, food system workers, and families in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
EQIP Signups Ongoing – Reach Out to Your NRCS Office!
Signup deadlines for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) vary by state, and there are many deadlines coming up at the end of March or even later in the Spring!… Read More →
USDA Small Plant Roundtables Continue in 2020
Blog co-authored with Simone Benz, Sustainable Food Center Last month, the Niche Meat Processors Assistance Network, along with the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) and the Sustainable Food Center (SFC), hosted the first small and very small meat and poultry processing roundtable of 2020 in Austin, TX. We were excited to welcome the United States […]
NSAC’s Work Heats Up in Sunny Texas: 2020 Winter Meeting Recap
They say everything’s bigger in Texas, so what better setting to grow and strengthen as a coalition? In January 2020, members and staff of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) convened in McAllen, TX for four jam-packed days of policy and grassroots work. NSAC’s annual Winter Meeting is the Coalition’s opportunity to set our policy […]
$37 Million Available for Value-Added and Local Food Projects
In case you missed the NSAC/USDA webinar for prospective VAPG applicants on January 23, 2020, find the recording here. “Value-added” foods and goods are made from raw agricultural products (e.g., vegetables, grains, or dairy) that are minimally processed and then transformed into products like cheese, sauces, and breads. Specially labeled or marketed goods (e.g. “organic” […]
Donations to NSAC Doubled Through Patagonia’s Action Works!
*Editor’s Note: Patagonia reached their match total on December 16, 2019, which effectively ended the match. Thank you to everyone who donated to NSAC and doubled their dollars this year! You can still donate to NSAC via Patagonia Action Works as a no-fee way to give, as well as through our standard donation portal. Big […]
Senate Appropriations Bill Underfunds Priority Farm and Food Programs
With only six days left in the current fiscal year (FY), Congress is slowly but surely making progress on a final funding package for FY 2020. Last week, the Senate moved the ball forward by “marking up” and passing their agriculture appropriations bill out of both the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee and full Senate Appropriations […]
Summer in Springfield: Recap of NSAC’s 2019 Summer Member Meeting
Nearly 100 National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) members from across the country came together this month in Springfield, Illinois this month for NSAC’s annual Summer Meeting. This gathering is one of two opportunities each year for NSAC’s 130+ members to work together in person on the Coalition’s policy and grassroots priorities for the year, including: […]
USDA Updates Options for Cover Crop Termination
Cover crops are a critical tool that farmers can use to improve soil health, reduce erosion, retain moisture, and suppress weeds. Especially as farmers are up against devastating floods, drought, and unpredictable weather and pressures, cover crop adoption is an essential practice to build resilient systems and mitigate risk. Despite these clear benefits for risk […]
RELEASE: Senior Grassroots Staff Member Steps Up as New Coalition Director for National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Reana KovalcikNational Sustainable Agriculture Coalition202-547-5754, rkovalcik@sustainableagriculture.net Senior Grassroots Staff Member Steps Up as New Coalition Director for National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Washington, DC, June 17, 2019 – Chair of the Organizational Council of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), Eowyn Corral, announced today the selection of the organization’s new Coalition Director. […]
RELEASE: Kids Eat Local Act Expands School Food Options, Opportunities for Farmers
Contact:Reana KovalcikNational Sustainable Agriculture Coalition202-547-5754, rkovalcik@sustainableagriculture.net FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Anna MullenNational Farm to School Network515-210-2483, anna@farmtoschool.org Kids Eat Local Act Expands School Food Options, Opportunities for Farmers National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and National Farm to School Network welcome the introduction of legislation that will make it easier for schools to make institutional purchases from local […]
COMMENT: USDA Disregards Congress, Plans to Relocate Research Agencies to Kansas City
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Reana KovalcikNational Sustainable Agriculture Coalition202-547-5754, rkovalcik@sustainableagriculture.net USDA Disregards Congress, Plans to Relocate Research Agencies to Kansas City, MONSAC urges Senate to take a final stand against relocation of ERS and NIFA Washington, DC, June 13, 2019 – Despite ongoing opposition from core stakeholders and multiple warnings from Congress not to proceed, […]
FY 2020 Budget Update – What’s at Stake?
Congress is back from their April recess with an extensive to-do list of urgent items to be addressed. Several agenda items are tied to the annual appropriations process for fiscal year (FY) 2020, including coming to agreement on a new budget deal (no small feat!). Whether or not Congress is able to come together to […]
$41 Million for Healthy Food Access Projects Now Available
Editor’s Note: On May 9, NIFA issued a revised RFA fixing a number of discrepancies between the RFA the program’s statute. NIFA will host a free informational webinar for interested applicants on May 15, 2019 at 2:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time. An archived version will be available on NIFA’s webpage following the webinar. More information […]
2017 Ag Census Reveals Some Bright Spots Despite Increased Farm Consolidation
Delayed by the government shutdown, last week the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the long-awaited 2017 Census of Agriculture. The 2017 Census surveyed nearly three million potential U.S. farms and ranches. Spearheaded by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), the Census remains the most comprehensive source of agricultural data for state and counties across […]