Whether enabling dairy farmers in Nebraska to expand their line of fluid milk products or allowing an organic grain farmer in Missouri to understand the feasibility of equipment purchases for on-farm processing, the Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program has been helping thousands of farmers around the country with expanding their customer base and income by […]
Local & Regional Food Systems
Community Food Project Grantees Announced for 2013
Yesterday, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced 26 awardees from 15 states and the District of Columbia for the 2013 Community Food Project (CFP) competitive grant program. Administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and launched in 1996, the Community Food Project program seeks to fight hunger and food insecurity […]
Rural Coop Development Grants Include Local Food and Food Hubs
Continuing a busy week of announcements from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on grant awards that are building rural economies and local food production and markets, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced more than $6 million in grants to 34 organizations from 24 states through the Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) program. Established in the […]
Farm to School Grant Awards Announced for 2014
In his third communication in as many days on the importance of local and regional food systems and marketing for America’s farmers and rural communities, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the Fiscal Year 2014 awardees of the national Farm to School Grant Program. USDA awarded $5.2 million in grants to 71 funded […]
Vilsack on Developing the Local Food Economy and Beginning Farmers in the Farm Bill
In a column published on the “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food” webpage on Friday, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack emphasized the benefits of local and regional markets for America’s farmers, ranchers, and consumers and the importance of timely passage of a Farm Bill. The column, which is reprinted in its entirety below, highlights several local […]
Farm Bill is the Rural Bill Too
Today, following on the heels of yesterday’s first meeting of the Farm Bill conference, NSAC joined 28 other national, regional, and state-based organizations working to bolster rural community and economic development in a letter delivered to House and Senate conferees urging them to “provide a robust Rural Development title that promotes economic growth and stability in rural areas.” […]
As the Farm Bill Conference Kicks Off, A Reminder of What’s At Stake
Today marks the start of official conference negotiations over the farm bill, during which appointed members of the House and Senate will work reconcile two farm bills into one final conference report. By all accounts the task of reconciling the two chambers’ proposed bills will be a difficult one, but it is also critically important: […]
Growing Connections Between Local Farms and Schools
Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its first-ever census of Farm to School activities of school districts across the country, with promising results. The census revealed a rising rate of school district participation in Farm to School programs, reflecting the growing popularity of local foods in the United States. According to the […]
New Awards Support Innovative Local and Regional Food Initiatives
A recent announcement by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s CDFI Fund of its financial and technical assistance awards includes CDFI recipients who plan to focus their efforts on improving both healthy food access and local and regional food systems. Of a total of $172 million in CDFI Fund awards to 191 organizations, 10 awards totaling […]
What’s At Stake? Local Foods and Renewable Energy
Last fall, Congress allowed the farm bill to expire without a new bill to take its place. Instead, Congressional leaders cobbled together an awful and temporary extension of the old farm bill on New Year’s Eve that shut down a number of innovative programs indefinitely. As of October 1, Congress has once again allowed the […]
Now, More Than Ever: Groups Urge Full and Fair Farm Bill
At midnight this morning, after months of Congressional inaction, the Farm Bill expired – with no replacement in sight. Back in July, we reported that 240 organizations called on Congress to complete its work on a full and fair farm bill. As of today, 410 organizations from across America have signed that joint statement, uniting […]
Rural Development Financing Boosts Local Food Business Incubation
USDA Rural Development grant and loan awards announced Last week, at the White House Rural Council’s Forum on Regional Innovation, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced loan and grant awards to create jobs and support regional economic development. The White House Rural Council coordinates the Obama Administration’s efforts to improve the effectiveness of federal programs serving […]
Some Critical Farm Bill Programs Come to a Screeching Halt in 10 Days
With the House having passed a farm bill nutrition title this week, there is renewed hope that there may yet be a new five-year farm bill this year. There are multiple steps before getting to a final bill, and a number of impacts because of the delayed process in the House. Top among the impacts […]
New Survey Shows Food Hubs Poised for Further Growth
Earlier this week, the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems and the Wallace Center at Winrock International, both NSAC participating member groups, released the results of their 2013 National Food Hub Survey. A follow-up to an initial survey in 2011 of 45 food hubs by the National Good Food Network’s Food Hub Collaboration, this […]
Congressional Dear Colleague Letters Help Push NSAC Priorities
Earlier this week, two “Dear Colleague” letters in support of soil and wetlands conservation and local and regional food systems were delivered to the leaders of the House of Representatives and House Agriculture Committee, in advance of a possible House-Senate conference on the farm bill. Thanks to the leadership of Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and […]
Bill to Slash Food Stamp Funding on House Floor this Week
After a two month-long wait that began with the unprecedented split of the Farm Bill back in July, the House released text of the nutrition title-only Farm Bill (H.R. 3102) yesterday afternoon. The House Rules Committee will debate and approve the rule governing debate and voting on the bill on Wednesday afternoon, with the vote […]
Funds Available for Rural Microenterprise
Today, the USDA announced in the Federal Register the availability of funds totaling approximately $12.2 million for the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) for fiscal year 2013. RMAP, an NSAC priority program, is a USDA rural development program created by the 2008 Farm Bill that provides loans and grants to Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs), which […]
A Brightly Colored Quilt: Farmers Market Promotion Program Evaluation Reveals Wide Diversity of Activities and Impacts
Guest Post by Stacy Miller, Farmers Market Coalition Farmers markets are increasingly recognized as having multiple benefits, spurring community and economic development, encouraging healthier eating patterns, and offering a reliable outlet for innovative farmers to build lasting customer bases. The Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) was established in the 2002 Farm Bill to advance these […]
New Resource for Building a Mobile Poultry Slaughterhouse
Ali Berlow, founder of Island Grown Initiative, an NSAC member group, recently published The Mobile Poultry Slaughterhouse, a manual for building a humane, mobile chicken-processing unit. Using her experience establishing a mobile poultry slaughterhouse on Martha’s Vineyard, Berlow comprehensively describes how to adapt her methods to other communities based on their unique needs to ensure […]
Business Commitments Key to Local Meat Processing Success
Earlier this month, the USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) released a report titled “Local Meat and Poultry Processing: The Importance of Business Commitments for Long-Term Viability”. This report follows a related report, published last year by ERS, that evaluated the availability of slaughter and processing facilities for local meat production and the impact on market […]
House Rules Committee Kills Key Farm Bill Amendments
Very early on the morning of Wednesday, June 19, the House Rules Committee decided upon which amendments members of the House of Representatives will vote on during House considering of the 2013 Farm Bill today, tomorrow, and perhaps into next week. The final list includes 103 amendments, but excludes several of the most important amendments […]
Rural Enterprise Grants Include Local Food Awards
In celebration of National Small Business Week, the USDA announced the funding recipients for the Rural Business Enterprise Grants (RBEGs). The USDA awarded 54 recipients in 21 states totaling $4.7 million in investment for rural small businesses. RBEGs finance and facilitate development of small and emerging rural businesses to boost local, rural economies. This year, […]
House Subcommittee Passes 2014 Agriculture Funding Bill
The House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee yesterday approved its fiscal year (FY) 2014 agriculture appropriations bill by voice vote. The bill sets discretionary spending at $19.5 billion, which is $1.3 billion below the FY 2013 enacted level but roughly equal to the FY 2013 enacted level minus sequestration (across-the-board budget cuts imposed in FY 2013 following […]
USDA Taking Rural Business Opportunity Grant Applications
USDA has issued a notice that the Rural Development Agency is taking applications for Rural Business Opportunity Grants (RBOG). RBOG funds feasibility studies, strategic planning, leadership training and other services and activities that can foster the creation of businesses and jobs in rural areas. Eligible applicants include public entities, non-profit organizations, institutions of higher education, […]