Is supporting your local farmer by visiting your farmers market, CSA, food coop, or other local food source important to you? Well, this is an exceptional opportunity to make sure your local farmers have the resources they need to continue to grow the local food economy. All you have to do is write a short […]
Local & Regional Food Systems
USDA Announces New Farm To School Resources
On Tuesday, July 12, USDA announced several new resources for locally-sourced school food initiatives. At the 2011 School Nutrition Association national convention in Nashville, Tennessee, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Kathleen Merrigan addressed 4,500 school nutrition professionals about the Obama administration’s efforts to improve the health and nutrition of school and institutional meals, most notably the […]
Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program Grants Support Sustainable Agriculture
On Tuesday, July 12, USDA announced the twenty-five recipients of its Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP) grants. FSMIP will match $1.3 million worth of state grants to assist in exploring new market opportunities for U.S. agricultural products. FSMIP provides funds to state departments of agriculture or other similar state agencies to develop innovative approaches for […]
Oklahoma’s Sustainable Agriculture
Last month, NSAC Policy Associate Helen Dombalis traveled to Oklahoma where she explored the state’s many sustainable agriculture endeavors. Policy Advocacy and Research: GIPSA, Conservation, and Beyond – Yukon and Oklahoma City Helen was joined by sustainable agriculture advocate and farmer Kathy Moore of Anichini-Moore Ranch & Farm and co-founder of the Oklahoma Composting Council. […]
House Agriculture Subcommittee Specialty Crop Hearing
On Thursday, July 7, the House Subcommittee on Nutrition and Horticulture held a farm bill hearing to examine USDA specialty crop programs. Specialty crops include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, flowers, and nursery plants. The specialty crop title of the farm bill also includes organic agriculture programs. The Subcommittee heard testimony from Rayne Pegg, Administrator for USDA’s […]
Value-Added Producer Grant Program – Deadline to Apply August 29, 2011
August 29, 2011 Deadline for Farm Value-Added Grants USDA has invited applications for Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG). Two years of funding totaling more than $37 million will be awarded. Proposals are due August 29th, 2011. VAPG is a competitive grants program that awards grants to producers to help them develop farm-related businesses that add value […]
Farm Credit Seeks Public Comment On New Rule By July 25
The public has until July 25, 2011 to submit comments on the Farm Credit Administration’s (FCA) proposal to require Farm Credit System lending institutions to emphasize borrower diversity as part of their business plan, including young farmers, small farms serving local and regional food systems, and racial and ethnic diversity. The proposed rule is an […]
United Egg Producers Act to Improve Welfare
United Egg Producers (UEP), an industry association representing 80 percent of US egg producers, today announced it will join with NSAC member The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to urge Congress to enact a law that will require $4 billion in animal welfare improvements to be phased in over the next 15 to […]
Rural Business Opportunity Grants Available
On Friday, July 1, USDA announced the availability of funding for its Rural Business Opportunity Grants program (RBOG). Nonprofit corporations, public bodies, Indian Tribes, and cooperatives whose members are primarily rural residents may apply for up to $50,000 for a project in one state, or for up to $150,000 for a multi-state application. RBOG awards […]
New RMAP and RCDI Awards
Congratulations to National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition member California FarmLink! On Thursday, June 30, USDA announced the recipients of the latest round of awards for its Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) and Rural Community Development Initiative Program (RCDI). California FarmLink is one of six organizations selected to receive RMAP funding to support rural microenterprise. RMAP supports […]
An Action Packed June
It’s been a busy month at NSAC with four separate advocacy campaigns put in play. On June 28th, NSAC and a broad coalition of farm, conservation, wildlife, and forestry organizations representing millions of Americans orchestrated a National Day of Action to protest huge cuts to farm bill conservation programs and an attack on local and […]
Senate Agriculture Committee Livestock Hearing Highlights NRCS Successes
On Tuesday, June 28, Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and the Senate Agriculture Committee held a hearing entitled “The State of Livestock in America.” The hearing focused on rising feed prices due to increased worldwide demand for grains, the proposed Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyard Act that is still awaiting the issuance of a final rule […]
National Day of Action
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition For Immediate Release June 28, 2011 Contact: Ferd Hoefner 202-547-5754 National Day of Action to Preserve Conservation and Local Food Development Funding On June 28th, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) and a broad coalition of farm, conservation, wildlife, and forestry organizations representing millions of Americans are joining forces for a […]
Value-Added Producer Grant NOFA Released – 60 Day Turn Around for Applications
On Tuesday, June 28, USDA’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service will announce that its Value Added Producer Grant Program (VAPG) will be open for applications until the deadline of August 29, 2011. The Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) appears in the June 28 edition of the Federal Register. Advocates for the program are delighted the long anticipated […]
Senator Feinstein Sponsors Bill to Restrict Antibiotic Use in Livestock Industry
On Friday June 17, Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA) introduced the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act (PAMTA), S. 1211, which aims to reduce the use of antibiotics in the livestock industry. If the bill becomes law, it would: Phase out the non-therapeutic use of medically important antibiotics in the livestock industry; Require new applications […]
House Votes to Curtail Local and Regional Farm and Food Systems
A few weeks ago, the House Appropriations Committee released its FY 2012 bill for agriculture spending. The report language included attacks on USDA’s Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Initiative as well as the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) priority for local and regional food systems. The Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Initiative […]
Act Now to Rebuild the Food System
Looking for an opportunity to help rebuild the local and regional food system? The Farm Credit Administration (FCA) — the federally chartered agency that oversees the nationwide network of locally-controlled and borrower-owned cooperative lending associations that make up the Farm Credit System (FCS) — is asking the public to comment on a proposed rule that, […]
Request for Applications for Risk Management Education and Outreach Partnerships Program
On Tuesday, June 14, USDA’s Risk Management Agency released its Request for Applications (RFA) for the Risk Management Education and Outreach Partnerships Program. Approximately $3.5 million in funds is available for the program. Projects will be funded for up to one year, and will range from $20,000 to $100,000 per project. This Request for Applications […]
House Takes Up Agriculture Appropriations Next Week
The House of Representatives is scheduled to debate and vote on the agriculture appropriations bill for fiscal year 2012 on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 14 and 15. The measure will be in front of the House Rules Committee on Monday afternoon. At the Rules Committee, House Agriculture Committee Chair Frank Lucas (R-OK) and Ranking Member […]
New Value-Added Grant Cycle to Start Next Week
After many months of delay and anticipation, NSAC is excited to alert our members and readers that the Notice of Solicitation of Applications (NOSA) for the Value Added Producer Grant Program (VAPG) is expected to be published in the Federal Register mid-to-late week next week. Since the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 funds were never released […]
Pfizer Suspends Use of Poultry Arsenic Drug
The Food and Drug Administration announced on June 8 that a major drug company voluntarily agreed to suspend US sales of an arsenical drug used in poultry production. This step follows an FDA study that found higher levels of arsenic in the livers of chickens treated with 3-Nitro (Roxarsone) than in untreated chickens. Pfizer Inc. […]
Will Ideology Trump New Economic Opportunities for Farmers and Rural Communities?
We have previously reported on major funding decisions made by the House Appropriations Committee for the 2012 USDA and FDA budgets (see our Subcommittee markup report and full Committee markup report). While funding programs is the appropriations committees’ function, they also play an important oversight role and at times helps shape policy, particularly through the […]
Apply Now for 2011 Farmers’ Market Promotion Program
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is now accepting applications for the 2011 Farmers’ Market Promotion Program (FMPP). The Notice of Funding Availability appeared in the June 1 Federal Register. For 2011, $10 million dollars in competitive grant funds are available for projects that expand direct producer-to-consumer market opportunities. Grant funds may be used for the […]
Proposed FY2012 Food and Agriculture Cuts One Step Closer to Becoming Law
On Tuesday, May 31, the full House Appropriations Committee passed its fiscal year (FY) 2012 agriculture appropriations bill, which was first passed by the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee last week. If it were to become law, this bill would make truly massive cuts to conservation, extension, research, renewable energy, and rural development programs. A number […]