A Year Like No Other As 2025 comes to a close, we find ourselves reflecting on a year that reshaped the food and farm policy landscape: from major disruptions in federal agencies to stalled policymaking in Washington, farmers and communities continue to feel the impacts. The historic government shutdown this fall was just the most […]
NSAC Coalition
Guest Post: Remembering Michael Sligh, a champion for farmers and food justice
Editor’s Note: NSAC has been shaped for decades by creative, joyful, and smart leadership from hundreds of advocates and farmers. Today we mourn the recent loss of our longtime colleague Michael Sligh and are proud to celebrate his life and contributions to building a better world for farmers. This guest post was written by Kiki […]
Voices from the Field: The Real Costs of the Government Shutdown
While the longest federal government shutdown in US history has finally ended, its impacts on farmers, families, and communities nationwide are complex and ongoing. No two government shutdowns are identical since each Administration makes their own determination about what essential services and staff will continue to operate during the shutdown. Some federal services remain in […]
Release: NSAC Presses for More Details, Better Process on USDA Reorganization
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Laura Zaks National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition press@sustainableagriculture.net Tel. 347.563.6408 Release: NSAC Presses for More Details, Better Process on USDA Reorganization Washington, DC, October 1, 2025 – Yesterday, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) submitted a comment outlining concerns with the proposed US Department of Agriculture (USDA) reorganization plan detailed in Secretary […]
Comment: NSAC Laments Government Shutdown as It Harms Farmers, Halts Progress
Washington, DC, October 1, 2025 – Today, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) issued the following comment in response to the government shutdown after Congress failed to reach a funding agreement, attributable to Mike Lavender, NSAC Policy Director. “In a challenging moment for farmers and the farm economy, the government shutdown will further destabilize – […]
Release: Nearly 600 Groups Deliver Joint Letter to Congress Urging a Strong and Fair Farm Bill
For Immediate Release Contact: Laura Zaks National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition press@sustainableagriculture.net Release: Nearly 600 Groups Deliver Joint Letter to Congress Urging a Strong and Fair Farm Bill Washington, DC, September 22, 2025 – Today, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) and nearly 600 national, state, and local organizations delivered a joint letter to Congressional leaders […]
Creemees, Community, and Coalition: NSAC’s Summer Meeting in Stowe, Vermont
As we do every summer, NSAC coalition members recently gathered for our summer meeting, from August 4-7, in Stowe, Vermont. Located some 25 miles east of Vermont’s largest city, Burlington, and about 40 miles from the US-Canada border, we met at the Trapp Family Lodge (yes, that’s right – owned by the Von Trapp Family, […]
Farmers Speak Out on the Devastating Impact of USDA Funding Freeze
On March 6, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) hosted a virtual briefing: Impact in the Field – How the USDA Funding Freeze and Employee Layoffs are Impacting Farmers and Ranchers. Five farmers from around the country joined NSAC’s policy director, Mike Lavender, for a panel discussion to voice their concerns about the ongoing funding […]
NSAC Members Meet for Annual Winter Meeting
As in years past, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) members gathered in Washington, DC on February 10-13, 2025, for our annual winter meeting. This event offered NSAC members the opportunity to connect and work on strategy for shared priorities and collective actions. It was also a vital opportunity to take to Capitol Hill and engage […]
Funding Freeze Impacts: Farmers and Organizations Speak Out
Since January, the Trump Administration has frozen vast swathes of federal spending under a series of Executive Orders, including at the United States Department of Agriculture. Hundreds of thousands of lawful, signed, active contracts and grants – supporting critical conservation payments, farmer technical assistance, sustainable agriculture research, market infrastructure, and so much more, and representing […]
Release: Frozen Funding, Stalled Programs, Farm Bill Impacts: Farmers, Ranchers, and Advocates Elevate Urgent Priorities on Capitol Hill
For Immediate ReleaseContact: Laura ZaksNational Sustainable Agriculture Coalitionpress@sustainableagriculture.net Release: Frozen Funding, Stalled Programs, Farm Bill Impacts: Farmers, Ranchers, and Advocates Elevate Urgent Priorities on Capitol Hill Washington, DC, February 12, 2025 – Today, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) organized more than 130 farmers, ranchers, and community advocates to call for urgent action on Capitol […]
2024 Year in Review: Key Wins, Challenges, and What’s Next for Sustainable Agriculture
There’s no such thing as a ‘quiet’ year when it comes to federal food and farm policy, and 2024 proved to be no exception! As the year comes to a close, we are reflecting on the progress we have made toward building a more resilient and equitable farm and food system. Amidst endless delays in […]
Summer in Saint Paul: NSAC Members Meet, Reenergize in Minnesota
NSAC members gathered once again for our annual summer Coalition meeting, this time on the banks of the Mississippi River in Saint Paul, Minnesota on August 5-8, 2024. Over the course of the meeting, NSAC members and staff strategized collectively about current campaigns and future Coalition activities. NSAC members also had the chance to hear […]