Graziers, or producers who utilize systematic grazing management in raising livestock, are making the case for the widespread adoption of pasture based practices that demonstrate synchronous benefits for both local food systems and ecosystems. The Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI) enters the landscape provides local and regional resources for farmers and ranchers – both established and beginning – who are interested in understanding and utilizing grazing management practices…. Read More →
Action Alerts
Action Alert: Reforms for a Stronger Food & Farm System
The 2018 Farm Bill is on the move again! You helped us achieve some great progress over the past several months: this Senate version of the farm bill largely does right by sustainable agriculture, local food, beginning farmers and farmers of color, organics, and more. It is overall a step in the right direction on […]
ALERT: Farmers and American Communities Deserve a Better Farm Bill
You might have heard from us last week about the 2018 Farm Bill – thanks for making a call to your Senators to help ensure the Senate’s version of the bill invests in a better food and farm future! Today our focus turns to the other side of Capitol Hill*: the House of Representatives is […]
Expanding Farm to School Nationwide
Many of our nation’s children eat two of their meals every day (plus snacks!) at school – what better place to invest in growing healthy kids? Farm to school programs are part of the solution: they introduce children to new and healthy foods choices in the cafeteria, classroom, and garden, and encourage children to have […]
Act Now: Comments on Conservation Stewardship Program are Due January 20!
Using sustainable farming methods to grow food and fiber is nothing new – in fact, sustainable farming is the foundation of growing practices in our nation and around the world. Although many of today’s farmers know more than a thing or two about feeding our nation’s families while conserving soil for future generations, keeping our […]
Take a Stand on Food Day 2014!
Food Day 2014 is nearly here! Food Day is a day when communities all across the country are gathering to support and celebrate healthy, affordable, and sustainable food – it’s a big day for the future of our food and farms. Food Day itself is just one day – October 24 – but the reality […]
What is the “GIPSA Rider” and why is the House once again attacking farmers’ rights?
A legislative rider tacked onto the 2015 agriculture funding bill will strip USDA’s ability to protect farmers rights… Read More →
New FSMA comment deadline: November 22!
Hi Supporter – Have you heard? The FDA just announced an extension of the Food Safety Modernization Act comment period – you now have until November 22 to submit your comments! Many of you reported difficulty accessing the federal comments website Regulations.gov over the past week; NSAC and other organizations reported this issue to FDA, […]
Two days.
Dear Supporter, Two days. That’s how long you have left to make your voice heard on the Food Safety Modernization Act – new food safety regulations that will unfairly burden family farmers, target sustainable and organic farming, and reduce the availability of fresh, local food in our communities. These FSMA rules have been all over […]
Have you joined the food fight?
Dear Supporter, The comments are pouring in from around the country: from farmers worried about losing their ability to farm sustainably – and their livelihoods. From concerned consumers who don’t want to see local strawberries or salsa disappear from the neighborhood farmers’ market. Have you submitted yours yet? There’s a lot to lose if the […]
Alert: Stand up for your farmer, stand up for your food
All across the country today, communities are celebrating Food Day 2013, a day to support and celebrate healthy, affordable, and sustainable food. But much of the progress we’re making towards a better food and farm system is being threatened by the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) regulations – new rules currently proposed by the Food […]
Your Tomatoes Are On The Line
Dear Supporter, Fresh lettuce and organic blueberries from the farmers market. Spicy pickles made from local cucumbers. Juicy tomatoes in school cafeterias. If you’re anything like us, this is the kind of food you like to be able to buy in your community, have in your kitchen, and see on your kids’ lunch trays at […]
It’s Time to Fix FDA’s Proposed Food Safety Regulations
Today, NSAC launched a campaign to improve deeply flawed federal food safety regulations that will have a huge impact on farmers and the availability of high-quality local food products. The NSAC campaign provides farmers, concerned consumers, and farm, food, and public health organizations with information and resources to be able to effectively comment on the […]
How many years does it take to write a farm bill?
Dear Supporter, It should be a no-brainer: when Congress takes on our nation’s food and farm policy, they should invest in a sustainable future and support beginning farmers, on-farm conservation, and job creation through local food and farms, right? Unfortunately, politics is trumping the best interests of both farmers and people like us. For two […]
A better food and farm future, starting now
Dear Supporter, When you think about the future of food, what do you want to see? If you’re like us, you want to see thriving family farms across the countryside and your choice of fresh, healthy, affordable food in your community. Unfortunately, the House of Representatives is poised to take a giant step backwards this […]
What a Win!
Dear Supporter, Guess what? Last week, the Senate heard from us – and they listened! Because of calls from grassroots advocates like you, the Senate passed an amendment – the Durbin-Coburn amendment – that takes a bold first step towards reforming ballooning crop insurance subsidies for wealthy mega-farms in the 2013 Farm Bill! Calls from […]
What a Win!
Dear Supporter, Guess what? Last week, the Senate heard from us – and they listened! Because of calls from grassroots advocates like you, the Senate passed an amendment – the Durbin-Coburn amendment – that takes a bold first step towards reforming ballooning crop insurance subsidies for wealthy mega-farms in the 2013 Farm Bill! Calls from […]
Healthier food, successful farms: starting now.
Dear Supporter, Wherever there’s local food, there are farmers feeding communities and creating jobs. Farmers and ranchers are responding to skyrocketing demand for fresh, healthy food everywhere – at farmers’ markets, grocery stores, and in schools across the nation. At the same time, the farmers and ranchers across the country who feed us are getting […]
Agribusiness doesn’t speak for me.
Dear Supporter, The meat industry has worked tirelessly to drive independent producers out of business. Agribusiness giants like Monsanto want to overstep judicial processes and plant genetically engineered crops even if a court has ruled that the crops were approved illegally. And guess what? Some members of the Senate are on their side. The Senate’s […]
Our best chance.
Dear Supporter, Unless the Senate acts to fix the situation next week, 2013 is on track to be the worst setback for sustainable agriculture in years. Opportunities for farmers to implement smart conservation practices will be severely limited. Training opportunities for the next generation of beginning and minority farmers will dry up. Microloans to the […]
Action Alert: Where do we go from here?
This update was sent to supporters on February 1, 2013 – stay tuned for more details and opportunities to take action soon! We made major progress last year on the food and farm policy front. While they weren’t perfect, draft versions of the 2012 Farm Bill in Congress included long-overdue reforms, investments in the future […]
Isn’t it time to get back to work?
Dear Supporter, No more elections. No more endless campaign commercials, debates, and discussions. Finally, Congress is back on Capitol Hill – let’s hope they’re ready to get to work! What’s on the legislative agenda for the lame duck session? Together, we can make sure the 2012 Farm Bill is on that list. Because there’s too […]
One More Vote
Dear Supporter, Now that you’ve cast your ballot in the 2012 election, it’s time to vote once more – only this time, for a better food and farm system for our nation! We’re delivering thousands of signatures to Capitol Hill next week – will yours be one of them? By signing your name to this […]
Stories from the Field: Boosting the Economy in Rural Nebraska
Due to Congressional inaction, the 2008 Farm Bill has expired without a new bill or extension to take its place. In the absence of a farm bill, numerous innovative programs that invest in sustainable agriculture systems are shut down and left without funding. This post is part of our 10-week blog series that features both […]