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Rural Development

Livestock and Poultry Competition Reform on the Horizon

August 27, 2021

Livestock consolidation and concentration have been gaining traction in Washington, D.C. Last month, President Biden signed an Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy, signaling a whole of government effort to address concentration and consolidation in US markets. Several initiatives announced could have a far-reaching impact on agriculture, including the intent to strengthen […]

Filed Under: Carousel, Competition & Anti-trust, General Interest, Local & Regional Food Systems, Marketing and Labeling, Rural Development, Sustainable Livestock

RELEASE: Letter Urges Congressional Leaders to Prioritize Climate Solutions for Agriculture in Budget Reconciliation

August 25, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Laura Zaks National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition lzaks@sustainableagriculture.net  Tel. 347.563.6408 Release: Letter Urges Congressional Leaders to Prioritize Climate Solutions for Agriculture in Budget Reconciliation Washington, D. C., August 25, 2021 – Today the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) along with 62 leading farming, environmental, and rural development organizations, sent a letter to […]

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Budget and Appropriations, Conservation, Energy & Environment, General Interest, Local & Regional Food Systems, Press Releases, Rural Development

National Farmers Market Week Provides Platform for Essential Engagement with Elected Officials

July 29, 2021

Editor’s Note: This is a guest blog post authored by Ben Feldman, Executive Director of the Farmers Market Coalition, an National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition member, in honor of the 22nd annual National Farmers Market Week, August 1-7th, 2021. For over two decades, National Farmers Market Week (NFMW) has been a time of celebration for everyone […]

Filed Under: Carousel, Local & Regional Food Systems, Marketing and Labeling, Nutrition & Food Access, Organic, Rural Development

Investments and Opportunities for Input on Meat and Poultry Processing Infrastructure

July 23, 2021

USDA recently announced over $600 million in future investments to support and increase processing capacity through grants, loans, and technical assistance to address concentration within the meat and poultry sectors, as well as small plant fee relief.  On July 16th, 2021 the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a notice in the Federal Register, seeking […]

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Carousel, Food Safety, General Interest, Grants and Programs, Local & Regional Food Systems, Rural Development, Sustainable Livestock

Farmers Trapped in Unsustainable Cycle by Biotechnology, Seed Consolidation

July 9, 2021

A deep dive into the role that corporate consolidation and concentration play in the commoditization and appropriation of seed and farming practices and what this means for farmers. … Read More →

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Carousel, Commodity, Crop Insurance & Credit Programs, Competition & Anti-trust, Conservation, Energy & Environment, Farm Bill, General Interest, Local & Regional Food Systems, Organic, Research, Education & Extension, Rural Development

USDA Wants Your Comments on Racial Justice and Equity

July 1, 2021

USDA Wants Your Comments on Racial Justice and Equity… Read More →

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Carousel, Local & Regional Food Systems, Rural Development

USDA to Invest In Alternative Meat and Poultry Supply Chains

June 28, 2021

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced that they will invest more than $4 billion to strengthen the food system, with one of the four funding priority areas including small processing support. Over the next year, USDA will invest some of the $4 billion for existing processing facilities expansion, as well as new regional […]

Filed Under: Carousel, Food Safety, Grants and Programs, Local & Regional Food Systems, Rural Development, Sustainable Livestock

President Biden’s First Budget Request and Sustainable Agriculture Priorities

June 23, 2021

A closer look at President Biden’s First Budget Request and Sustainable Agriculture Priorities…. Read More →

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Budget and Appropriations, Carousel, Conservation, Energy & Environment, Local & Regional Food Systems, Research, Education & Extension, Rural Development

NSAC Report on Climate Solutions for Farmers: Invest in Proven Federal Programs

June 23, 2021

The climate crisis is reaching a crucial tipping point. The past decade was the hottest on record, rife with extreme weather events and unparalleled natural disasters that highlight economic inequity and expose instability in our food and farming systems. Now more than ever, the urgency of this crisis requires bold steps to build resiliency, responsibly manage […]

Filed Under: Carousel, Conservation, Energy & Environment, General Interest, Rural Development

Release Cross-Post: Organizations Deplore Temporary Restraining Order Stopping Relief for Black, Indigenous and People of Color Farmers and Ranchers

June 14, 2021

Organizations Deplore Temporary Restraining Order Stopping Relief for Black, Indigenous and People of Color Farmers and Ranchers… Read More →

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Coronavirus, Press Releases, Rural Development

COMMENT: USDA Announces More Than $4 Billion to Strengthen Food System

June 8, 2021

NSAC responds to today’s announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) of plans to invest more than $4 billion to strengthen critical supply chains through the Build Back Better initiative…. Read More →

Filed Under: Budget and Appropriations, Coronavirus, General Interest, Local & Regional Food Systems, Press Releases, Rural Development

Farmers Virtually Visit the Hill to Advocate for Climate Action

June 7, 2021

What do you get when you mix a pandemic context, a carbon-conscious group of farmers and advocates, and a critical window for Congressional action on the climate crisis? The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)’s latest Virtual Farmer “Fly-In” on Climate and Agriculture. Bringing farmers to Washington, D.C. to tell their stories to their lawmakers and […]

Filed Under: Conservation, Energy & Environment, General Interest, Local & Regional Food Systems, Rural Development

RELEASE: Agriculture Resilience Act Delivers Bold Vision for Net Zero Agriculture

April 22, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Eric Deeble National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Email: edeeble@sustainableagriculture.net  Agriculture Resilience Act Delivers Bold Vision for Net Zero Agriculture National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Applauds Trailblazing Climate and Agriculture Bill Washington, DC, April 22, 2021 – Today, Representative Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) introduced the Agriculture Resilience Act (ARA), which […]

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Carousel, Conservation, Energy & Environment, Local & Regional Food Systems, Organic, Press Releases, Research, Education & Extension, Rural Development, Sustainable Livestock

$76 MILLION AVAILABLE FOR VALUE-ADDED AND LOCAL FOOD PROJECTS

April 1, 2021

On March 5, 2021, USDA Rural Development announced the availability of at least $76 million in total funding for VAPG projects. The application window to apply is open now and online applications are accepted until April 29, 2020 through grants.gov, and paper applications must be postmarked by May 4, 2021. We encourage all readers to […]

Filed Under: General Interest, Grants and Programs, Local & Regional Food Systems, Rural Development

The Time is Ripe for Competition and Antitrust Reform in Agriculture

February 12, 2021

This is the first of several blogs which will explore the impacts of consolidation and concentration in the agriculture industry on farmers and the broader food system, as well as a path forward. The blog series is authored by NSAC Policy Associate Billy Hackett with meaningful contributions by farmers and experts. Read the second entry […]

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Commodity, Crop Insurance & Credit Programs, Competition & Anti-trust, Coronavirus, Farm Bill, General Interest, Local & Regional Food Systems, Rural Development, Sustainable Livestock

Government Funding Bill – Sustainable Agriculture Wins

January 15, 2021

With the country facing an imminent government shutdown, the President finally signed the $2.3 trillion Emergency Coronavirus Relief Act of 2020 on December 28th. This bill includes both badly needed emergency COVID-19 relief aid as well as regular fiscal year (FY) 2021 appropriations. For more information on the COVID-19 relief aspects of the bill check […]

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Budget and Appropriations, Carousel, Commodity, Crop Insurance & Credit Programs, Conservation, Energy & Environment, Food Safety, General Interest, Grants and Programs, Local & Regional Food Systems, Organic, Research, Education & Extension, Rural Development

Over $61 Million Invested in Value-Added Agriculture Entrepreneurs

December 21, 2020

Editor’s note: as we were preparing this blog for publication, the USDA announced the next round of funding through the program, with a 90 day application window. NSAC will be updating and publishing our farmers guide to applying for the program first thing in the new year. “Value-added” foods and goods are made from raw […]

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Carousel, Farm Bill, General Interest, Grants and Programs, Local & Regional Food Systems, Marketing and Labeling, Rural Development

$50 Million Now Available for Rural Renewable Energy Projects

November 25, 2020

As climate variability increases and energy costs continue to rise, producing on-farm, renewable energy has become an attractive option for many farmers and ranchers. In order to help producers save money and better utilize renewable energy, the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) provides grants and loans to farmers and rural businesses interested in making […]

Filed Under: Carousel, Conservation, Energy & Environment, Grants and Programs, Rural Development

Inaugural Regional Food Systems Partnership Program Awards Announced

November 18, 2020

In October, the U.S. The Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced the inaugural round of grant awards for the Regional Food Systems Partnership (RFSP) program, providing $9.3 million in competitive grant funding for 23 projects.  RFSP supports the formation of public-private partnerships working at the foodshed-level to transform local and regional food […]

Filed Under: Carousel, Farm Bill, General Interest, Grants and Programs, Local & Regional Food Systems, Nutrition & Food Access, Rural Development

Bare Minimum, Last Minute

October 8, 2020

Last Wednesday night with only a few hours to spare, Congress did what many observers and advocates for months had been citing as inevitable. They sent an appropriations Continuing Resolution (CR) to the President’s desk that puts off final decisions about Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 spending until after the November general election. The CR ensures […]

Filed Under: Budget and Appropriations, Carousel, Commodity, Crop Insurance & Credit Programs, Conservation, Energy & Environment, General Interest, Local & Regional Food Systems, Nutrition & Food Access, Research, Education & Extension, Rural Development

USDA Announces New COVID Rapid Response Research Program

April 23, 2020

The nation’s food system and agriculture supply chains have been upended by the COVID-19 pandemic. Significant impacts are being felt across the entire food and agriculture sector including the reduction in operation of restaurants, farmers markets, processing and packaging facilities, to name a few. Farmers and ranchers have voiced the strong need for intervention to […]

Filed Under: Research, Education & Extension, Rural Development

Inaugural Regional Food Systems Partnership Program Funding Opportunity Announced

March 31, 2020

Local and regional food economy entrepreneurs and organizations received some long-awaited news earlier in March – the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) finally released the Request for Applications (RFA) for the Regional Food Systems Partnership (RFSP) Program. RFSP is a new program that supports foodshed-level approaches to developing regional food economies. […]

Filed Under: Grants and Programs, Local & Regional Food Systems, Marketing and Labeling, Nutrition & Food Access, Rural Development

COVID-19 Economic Impact on Local Food Markets

March 23, 2020

The following economic impact assessment was compiled on March 18, 2020 for the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition by Dawn Thilmany, Becca Jablonski, Debra Tropp, Blake Angelo, and Sarah Low. More information about the authors can be found at the end of the document. Last updated March 21, 2020. Bottom Line Across key local and regional […]

Filed Under: Local & Regional Food Systems, Marketing and Labeling, Nutrition & Food Access, Rural Development

$37 Million Available for Value-Added and Local Food Projects

January 14, 2020

In case you missed the NSAC/USDA webinar for prospective VAPG applicants on January 23, 2020, find the recording here. “Value-added” foods and goods are made from raw agricultural products (e.g., vegetables, grains, or dairy) that are minimally processed and then transformed into products like cheese, sauces, and breads. Specially labeled or marketed goods (e.g. “organic” […]

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, General Interest, Grants and Programs, Local & Regional Food Systems, Rural Development

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