FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Greg Fogel, 202-547-5754, gfogel@sustainableagriculture.net Ferd Hoefner, 202-547-5754, fhoefner@sustainableagriculture.net Grant Awards for Value-Added Business Development Highlight Local, Organic, and Niche Markets Washington, D.C., October 27, 2016 – The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) today commended the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on its recently announced Value-Added Producer Grants Program (VAPG) awards. The announcement of […]
Press Releases
COMMENT: NSAC Applauds USDA for Moving Forward with Farmer Fair Practices Rules
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Paul Wolfe, 202-547-574, pwolfe@sustainableagriculture.net Ferd Hoefner, 202-547-574, fhoefner@sustainableagriculture.net NSAC Applauds USDA for Moving Forward with Farmer Fair Practices Rules Washington, DC, Oct 14, 2016 – We thank Secretary Vilsack for moving forward on the Grain Inspection, Packers & Stockyards Administration’s (GIPSA) “Farmer Fair Practices Rules”, which were sent today by USDA to the […]
When It Comes to Food Safety, Farmers Need the Right On-Ramp
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sophia Kruszewski, 202-547-5754, skruszewski@sustainableagriculture.net Ferd Hoefner, 202-547-574, fhoefner@sustainableagriculture.net When It Comes to Food Safety, Farmers Need the Right On-Ramp For many farmers, starting with Good Agricultural Practices may be the best first step Washington, DC, Oct 13, 2016 – Following the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) finalization of its “Produce […]
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Applauds Action to Preserve Grassfed Label
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ferd Hoefner, 202-547-5754 National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Applauds Action to Preserve Grassfed Label Ongoing oversight will be needed to prevent against misleading label claims Washington, DC, September 30, 2016 – In response to significant criticism from producers and consumers of sustainable meats following their revocation of the grassfed label claim in early […]
RELEASE: Farm Credit Shortfall Must Be Addressed Swiftly
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ferd Hoefner or Juli Obudzinski, 202-547-5754 Farm Credit Shortfall Must Be Addressed Swiftly Farm and financial organizations appeal to Congress to shore up Farm Service Agency farm loan programs in both the Continuing Resolution and the final appropriations bill Washington, DC, September 15, 2016 – Farming communities and agricultural groups applauded […]
COMMENT: NSAC Applauds USDA, Congress for Filling Farm Operating Loan Gap
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ferd Hoefner, 202-547-5754 The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) applauds USDA and the congressional agriculture appropriators who have answered the call of farmers across the country and allocated up to $185 million in additional lending for direct and guaranteed farm operating loans. Thanks to this reprogramming, nearly 2,000 approved loan applicants […]
Cultivating America’s next generation of farmers and ranchers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Juli Obudzinski, 202-547-5754, JObudzinski@sustainableagriculture.net Community-based and non-profit organizations to lead cultivation of America’s next generation of farmers and ranchers USDA invests $18 million in Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program projects Washington, DC, August 18, 2016 – The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) is the only U.S. Department […]
PRESS COMMENT: OFRF Report Highlights Successes, Opportunities for Growth in Organic Research
Contact: Sarah Hackney, 202-547-5754, shackney@sustainableagriculture.net Press Comment: OFRF Report Highlights Successes, Opportunities for Growth in Organic Research August 16, 2016, Washington, DC – The following are comments from Juli Obudzinski, Senior Policy Specialist, on the release today of the Organic Farming Research Foundation’s timely report analyzing USDA organic research funding: “Demand for organic food is […]
RELEASE: NSAC Issues Special Reports on New Food Safety Rules
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sophia Kruszewski, 202-547-5754, skruszewski@sustainableagriculture.net Ferd Hoefner, 202-547-5754, fhoefner@sustainableagriculture.net National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Releases Special Reports on New Food Safety Rules Washington, DC, August 2, 2016 – Today the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) released its first two “Special Reports” on the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) new food safety rules for […]
FDA Final Rule Provides Needed Clarity for Local Food Producers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sophia Kruszewski, 810-441-9947 Ferd Hoefner, 202-547-5754 FDA Final Rule Provides Needed Clarity for Local Food Producers Washington, D.C., July 13, 2016 – The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) welcomes the issuance of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) final rule amending the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) requirements for food […]
PRESS COMMENT: Poultry Industry Reforms Must Consider Farmer Welfare, Too
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Reana Kovalcik, 202-547-5754, Rkovalcik@sustainableagriculture.net Poultry Industry Reforms Must Consider Farmer Welfare, Too In any conversation about chicken farming, there ought to be concern equally for the welfare of the chickens and for the farmers who raise them. We at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) welcome the recent news of proposed animal welfare upgrades from […]
RELEASE: Poultry Farmer Stands Up for Contract Growers, Delivers Petition on Capitol Hill
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Paul Wolfe, 202-547-5754, PWolfe@sustainableagriculture.net Ferd Hoefner, 202-547-5754 FHoefner@sustainableagriculture.net Poultry Farmer Stands Up for Contract Growers, Delivers Petition on Capitol Hill Contract Poultry Farmer Joins Ag and Government Accountability Groups to Deliver 60,000+ Signature Petition to Congress in Support of Rights for Contract Farmers Washington, DC, June 16, 2016 – Nestled […]
RELEASE: Farm Groups and Farm Lenders Appeal for Assistance During Credit Crunch
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Juli Obudzinski, 202-547-5754, jobudzinski@sustainableagriculture.net Ferd Hoefner, 202-547-5754, fhoefner@sustainableagriculture.net Farm Groups and Farm Lenders Appeal for Assistance During Credit Crunch Washington, DC, June 2, 2016 – Operating loans are the lifeblood of farming. They help farmers get crops in the ground, by financing needed supplies and equipment, and when necessary, refinancing earlier loans. The federal government […]
RELEASE: New “Farmers’ Guide” Helps Organic Producers Apply for Buffer Initiative
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition announces the publication of their Organic Farmers’ Guide… Read More →
RELEASE: FEDERAL LOW INTEREST FINANCING PROGRAM EXPANDED TO HELP FARMERS REACH LOCAL FOOD MARKETS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ferd Hoefner or Juli Obudzinski, 202-547-5754 Federal Low Interest Financing Program Expanded to Help Farmers Reach Local Food Markets Washington, DC, April 29, 2016 – Small and mid-scale family farms operating in burgeoning local and regional food markets received some welcome news from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today. USDA’s Farm […]
RELEASE: NSAC Comment on Harris Rider (“GIPSA Rider”)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ferd Hoefner, 202-547-5754 FHoefner@sustainableagriculture.net NSAC Press Statement on Passage of Harris Amendment We are deeply disturbed by the passage of the Harris amendment to prohibit USDA from protecting farmers as provided by the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 against anticompetitive, deceptive, fraudulent, retaliatory and other abusive business practices by […]
RELEASE: Proposed GIPSA Rider Aims to Silence America’s Contract Farmers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Paul Wolfe, 202-547-5754, PWolfe@sustainableagriculture.net Ferd Hoefner, 202-547-5754 FHoefner@sustainableagriculture.net Proposed GIPSA Rider Aims to Silence America’s Contract Farmers National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Speaks Out Against Anti-Farmer Maneuver Washington, DC, April 18, 2016 – Family farmers in the contract poultry industry thought their time had finally come. After years of struggling to eke […]
RELEASE: New “Farmers’ Guide” Helps Producers Apply for Value Added Producer Grants
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Wes King, 202-547-5754 WKing@sustainableagriculture.net New “Farmers’ Guide” Helps Producers Apply for Value Added Producer Grants The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition has published this free resource annually since 2012 Washington, DC, April 13, 2016 – Today, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) announced the publication of their annual Farmers’ Guide to […]
RELEASE: Funding Available through Value-Added Producer Grant Program
For farmers, adding value to their products means adding revenue to their businesses, which also means more jobs… Read More →
RELEASE: Agriculture Programs Help Veterans Launch Successful Careers in Farming
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Reana Kovalcik, NSAC, 202-547-5754, RKovalcik@sustainableagriculture.net Evan Eagan, FVC, (530) 419-6740, evan@farmvetco.org Agriculture Programs Help Veterans Launch Successful Careers in Farming U.S. Air Force Veteran and Montana Farmer Testifies Before Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Washington, DC, April 5, 2016 – Spring is not just cherry blossom season here in the capital […]
RELEASE: Food LINC Initiative Connects Rural Farmers with Urban Buyers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Wes King, 202-547-5754, wking@sustainableagriculture.net Greg Fogel, 202-547-5754, gfogel@sustainableagriculture.net Food LINC Initiative Connects Rural Farmers with Urban Buyers USDA Initiative Designed to Strengthen Local and Regional Food Systems WASHINGTON, DC, March 31, 2016 – Today, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) in partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), Delta Regional Authority (DRA), and 15 philanthropic […]
RELEASE: NFU and NSAC Join Letter Urging FSIS to Adopt Meaningful Grassfed Label Standard
A coalition of nine agricultural and consumer organizations today sent a letter urging USDA to reinstate a meaningful grassfed label… Read More →
Farmers Fly-in to Fight for Sustainable Ag Funding
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Reana Kovalcik, 202-547-5754 Farmers Fly-in to Fight for Sustainable Ag Funding National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Helps Farmers Share Their Stories with Legislators Washington, DC, March 1, 2016 – This week the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), one of the nation’s leading voices in food and agriculture policy, kicks off a month-long series […]
RELEASE: New Conservation Option for Organic Farms Unveiled
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ferd Hoefner, Paul Wolfe, 202-547-5754 New Conservation Option for Organic Farms Unveiled U.S. Department of Agriculture to assist in establishing up to 20,000 acres of new conservation buffers Washington, DC, February 26, 2016 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced a new conservation option for organic farmers–cost-share and land […]