Editor’s Note: As a lead up to the 2018 Farm Bill, around which discussions and debate in Congress have already begun, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) is previewing some of the major programs and policies that advocates need to know in order to effectively engage. The final post in our series, “Path to the […]
Research, Education & Extension
$34 Million Available for Projects that Enhance Sustainable Usage of Water on Farms
Water is one of the building blocks of life. No one knows that better than farmers and ranchers for whom access to a consistent and clean water supply is critical. Last week (the same week that the United Nations celebrated “World Water Day”), the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA) Agriculture and Food Research […]
Appropriations on the Agenda: Farmer-Advocates Fly-in to Washington DC
Each spring, the blossoming of the district’s famous cherry blossom trees draws visitors from across the country to the nation’s capital. For a select set of dedicated advocates, however, a very different annual event brings them to DC – the annual appropriations process. Every year, Congress takes up its annual appropriations process in order to […]
Farm Bill Hearing Explores the Role of Agricultural Research
Agricultural research is little understood, but an incredibly important part of our food and agricultural economies. It is through agricultural research programs that we are able to develop more resilient seeds and crops, learn more about how to manage soil health, and conduct on-farm research experiments that help farmers and ranchers be more effective and […]
RELEASE: Appropriations on the Agenda: Farmer-Advocates Fly-in to Washington DC
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Reana Kovalcik, 202-547-5754, rkovalcik@sustainableagriculture.net Appropriations on the Agenda: Farmer-Advocates Fly-in to Washington DC National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition hosts first “farmer fly-in” of FY 2018 season Washington, DC, March 17, 2017 – This week, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) hosted its first “farmer fly-in” of the fiscal year (FY) 2018 season. Growers from […]
Report Highlights Barriers and Opportunities for Farmers Interested in Organic
Farmers enter into organic production for many reasons, chief among them are typically a concern for the conservation of natural resources and environmental protection and a desire to benefit from the higher price points that organic products typically demand. With consumer demand for organic products continuing to grow, one might expect more and more farmers […]
Farmers Testify Before House Agriculture Committee on Needs of Specialty Crop Industry
March is always a busy time in the capital. Spring in DC not only means the cherry blossom trees are about to bloom, it also means Congress and advocacy organizations are hunkering down for a frenetic policymaking schedule that starts with the annual appropriations process. In the year leading up to the expiration of the […]
RELEASE: Massachusetts Family Farmer Testifies on Importance of USDA Programs to Specialty Crop Growers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Reana Kovalcik, 202-547-5754, rkovalcik@sustainableagriculture.net Massachusetts Family Farmer Testifies Before House Agriculture Subcommittee on Importance of USDA Programs to Specialty Crop Growers Laura Davis and her family own and operate Long Life Farm in Hopkinton, MA Washington, DC, March 9, 2017 – Today, Massachusetts farmer and President of the Board of […]
The Future of Farming Depends on the Future of Farm Research
What does the future of agriculture look like? To the extent that many consumers think about this issue it is only a few months at a time – we may be wistfully thinking of that time in spring when asparagus is at its peak, or wondering how the price of milk or eggs may be […]
New Resource for Farmers and Educators Interested in Conducting On-Farm Research
As part of its ongoing commitment to helping farmers, ranchers, and educators to enhance on-farm sustainability and environmental stewardship, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program has published a newly revised version of their bulletin: How to Conduct Research on Your Farm or Ranch. Digital copies are free […]
New Guide Simplifies Federal Programs for Farmers
Which U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) agencies have programs that are tailored to meet the needs of diversified farming operations, organic growers, or beginning farmers? What resources are available for small- and mid-sized growers looking to reach expanding regional markets, and where can you find them? For most people, even many farmers and ranchers, the […]
How Sustainable Agriculture Advocates Can Take Action in 2017
With a new president and the 115th Congress recently sworn in, farmers and sustainable agriculture advocates around the country have been asking: What does this new Administration and Congress mean for agriculture and food policy? How can we most effectively advocate and continue to make change on the issues that we care about? Here at […]
NSAC’s Sweet 16: Top Wins for Sustainable Agriculture in 2016
If some years are rollercoasters, 2016 was more like the tilt-a-whirl – a lot of effort spent to turn just slightly in one direction or another, much spinning in circles, and a headache at the end for your trouble. Despite all the stop and starts, however, the sustainable agriculture community came out of the last […]
New Report Shows Continued, Dramatic Losses of American Grasslands
For years, grasslands across the country have been plowed up to make way for the production of commodity crops, such as wheat, alfalfa, corn, and soybeans. The loss of grasslands is devastating for local ecosystems, and also has long-term, negative effects for ranchers, the hunting industry, and for communities that depend on them for flood […]
RFA Roundup: Deadlines for Federal Food and Farm Program Grants
The start-up of the new fiscal year (FY) means that many food and farm programs have started to get out Requests for Applications (RFAs) for their grant programs. While a flood of grant program announcements is generally good news, with so many coming out in the midst of a busy election year, it can be […]
Over $17 Million Available for Organic Research and Extension Initiative Grants
Tis the season…for grant proposals! With the new federal budget year (FY 2017) having started October 1, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been furiously releasing grants oportunities. Just this month USDA has announced Request for Applications (RFA) for projects to help SNAP users access more healthy foods, increase energy conservation on farms and in […]
Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Awards $62.5 Million to 693 Food and Farm Projects
This week marked the final U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Fall Forum of the current administration. On October 17, 2016, local and regional food systems leaders and advocates gathered together at the New Hampshire Audubon Society to discuss how USDA can continue to support local and regional food systems. While attending the forum, USDA Agricultural […]
Plant Breeding Priorities for Organic Farmers
Editor’s Note: This article is a guest blog by Kristina Hubbard, Director of Advocacy and Communications with the Organic Seed Alliance (OSA). OSA is a non-profit organization based in Port Townsend, WA, and a close partner of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition’s (NSAC) “Seeds and Breeds” campaign work. Reports Describe Plant Breeding Priorities for Organic Organic Seed Alliance […]
Organic Farming Research Foundation Report Identifies Top Challenges Facing Farmers
Editor’s Note: This article is a guest blog by Brise Tencer, Executive Director of the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF). OFRF is a National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) member organization based in Santa Cruz and a lead partner on our organic research policy work. The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) is thrilled to announce […]
Organic Research Awards Announced
Organic farmers and the organic food sector have production, marketing, and policy research and education needs just like the rest of agriculture, yet the federal investment in such research still lags behind the size of the sector. In recent farm bills and government funding bills, however, Congress has taken some steps to begin to address […]
APPLY NOW FOR RISK MANAGEMENT EDUCATION GRANTS
Education and training to help farmers manage risks related to food production and the natural resources that underlie that production – as well as all manner of financial, marketing, and legal risks – can play a critical role in keeping farmers on the land and helping a new generation of farmers get off to a […]
Senate Questions “Tsunami” of Mergers and Acquisitions in Ag Industries
On Tuesday, September 20, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing to probe further into a series of recent proposed mergers and acquisitions in the seed and agricultural industry. The hearing was convened after news of three significant mergers of top agricultural input companies that control 60 percent of the global seed market and 64 […]
Land Tenure and Turnover: How Are Beginning Farmers Affected?
It’s no secret: farmers need land to farm, and lately they are having an increasingly difficult time obtaining it. Today, nearly half of all farmland is rented and many farmers are forced to cobble together plots of land by contracting with multiple landlords in multiple locations. Recently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Economic Research […]
New Report Highlights Successes and Opportunities For Growth In Organic Research
Research is the unsung hero underpinning every aspect of successful farming. For hundreds of years farmers have driven their own research, sharing their knowledge and experience with one another and passing down tips and techniques through the generations. Today we live in an increasingly connected world, one in which farmers are no longer limited by […]