• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

Supporting the economic and environmental sustainability of agriculture, natural resources, and rural communities.

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Our Work
  • Publications
  • Press
  • Take Action!
  • Blog
  • Donate

Search National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

Apply Today: USDA LAMP Funding Window Is Open

AMS

Apply Today: USDA LAMP Funding Window Is Open

June 5, 2025

Last month, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced $26.5 million in competitive grant funding available through the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) to develop, coordinate, and expand producer-to-consumer marketing, local and regional food markets, and local food enterprises. This year marks a notably shorter application window, but there are several resources available to support […]

Filed Under: Carousel, Grants and Programs, Local & Regional Food Systems, Marketing and Labeling

Sowing impact: Latest crop of LAMP awards continue to bolster farm economies

December 4, 2024

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced $33.5 million in awards that will strengthen and improve access to local and regional food markets by investing in a diverse range of businesses, organizations, markets, and communities.  This latest announcement of funds for 113 projects across 43 states is a part of the Agricultural Marketing Service’s […]

Filed Under: Carousel, Local & Regional Food Systems

Path to a New Farm Bill: Local and Regional Market Access

July 25, 2024

Editor’s Note: This post is the first post in a multi-part series exploring some of the key sustainable agriculture and food systems challenges that the farm bill can address. Through a series of posts comparing the House and Senate Agriculture Committees’ proposals, we provide an assessment of how each chamber’s bill would address a given […]

Filed Under: Carousel, Farm Bill, Local & Regional Food Systems, Nutrition & Food Access

How People Power Local Food Systems

May 10, 2024

This blog post is the second in a series highlighting how recent supply chain investments were unique and pivotal in expanding infrastructure to respond to growing farmer demand, reducing costly wait times, and reaching diversified operations. … Read More →

Filed Under: Carousel, Local & Regional Food Systems, Sustainable Livestock

Recent Investments Fuel Local Food Systems

March 20, 2024

This blog post is the post in a series highlighting how recent supply chain investments were unique and pivotal in expanding infrastructure to respond to growing farmer demand, reducing costly wait times, and reaching diversified operations. … Read More →

Filed Under: Carousel, Farm Bill, Grants and Programs, Local & Regional Food Systems

Expanded and Easier Access to LAMP Funding Now Available

March 14, 2024

In this blog post, NSAC shares all the details around the $26 million in grant funding currently available through the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) for projects enhancing producer-to-consumer marketing and local food enterprises, with changes aligning with advocacy priorities for better access and effectiveness. Notable changes include updated eligibility criteria for equipment purchases and prioritization of projects supporting existing partnerships. Prospective applicants are directed to attend webinars and encouraged to volunteer for grant peer review panels…. Read More →

Filed Under: Carousel, Grants and Programs, Local & Regional Food Systems, Marketing and Labeling

From the Field – Meat Processing Technical Assistance Success

February 22, 2024

The guest post from the Flower Hill Institute outlines progress made in diversifying and strengthening the meat and poultry processing industry in the US through the Biden Administration’s funding initiatives, such as cooperative expansions, regional enterprises, and tribal initiatives. Despite significant demand for resources, the post highlights challenges and emphasizes the importance of sustained funding, technical assistance, and regulatory support for small processors to ensure continued growth and resilience in the sector…. Read More →

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Carousel, Local & Regional Food Systems, Sustainable Livestock

USDA Unveils Streamlined Local Food Funding

November 16, 2023

USDA recently announced the 2023 Regional Food System Partnership, Farmers Market Promotion and Local Food Promotion program awards. This year, AMS offered a new ‘turnkey’ application process for applicants seeking funding for a specific set of marketing and promotion activities for Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion grants. This post highlights this new process and features NSAC members who were awarded a grant this year…. Read More →

Filed Under: Carousel, Grants and Programs, Local & Regional Food Systems, Marketing and Labeling

Report illustrates initial success of local food purchasing agreements 

June 28, 2023

In the short time since its inception in 2021, the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) program has demonstrated its capacity to create economic opportunities for producers, scale regional supply chains, and deliver healthy, culturally relevant food to those in need. The Wallace Center at Winrock International, an NSAC member, recently released a report highlighting the results of initial research that evaluates the preliminary impact of USDA’s Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) program in communities nationwide. … Read More →

Filed Under: Carousel, Local & Regional Food Systems

USDA ANNOUNCES LATEST ROUND OF FUNDING TO SUPPORT LOCAL AND REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEM PROJECTS

March 7, 2023

On February 14, The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced $133 million available in competitive grant funding through the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) to develop, coordinate, and expand producer-to-consumer marketing, local and regional food markets, and local food enterprises.  The deadline to apply for the FMLFPP and RFSP program is Monday, May 2, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time via  www.grants.gov…. Read More →

Filed Under: Carousel, Grants and Programs, Local & Regional Food Systems

$100 Million to Support Transitioning and Existing Organic Producers

November 11, 2022

On October 24, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced cooperative agreements in six regions across the country for the Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). TOPP will invest up to $100 million over five years in cooperative agreements with non-profit organizations to provide technical assistance to transitioning and existing organic farmers. … Read More →

Filed Under: Carousel, Organic

USDA Accepting Proposals for Regional Food Business Centers

September 15, 2022

USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) recently announced the availability of $360 million to establish at least six new Regional Food Business Centers, envisioned to provide “coordination, technical assistance, and capacity building support to small and mid-sized farm and food businesses, with the goal of creating a more resilient, diverse, and competitive food system.” Applications are due November 22, 2022…. Read More →

Filed Under: Carousel, Grants and Programs, Local & Regional Food Systems

$300 Million Invested into New Organic Transition Initiative

September 15, 2022

The Organic Transition Initiative (OTI) is USDA’s recent program aimed at helping “build new and better markets and streams of income” for organic farmers and producers, by providing producers with technical assistance, including farmer-to-farmer mentoring, financial assistance for conservation and crop insurance, and support developing markets. … Read More →

Filed Under: Carousel, Grants and Programs, Organic

Comment: NSAC Applauds USDA Investment in New Organic Transition Initiative

August 22, 2022

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) issued a comment applauding today’s announcement of an up to $300 million investment into the new Organic Transition Initiative. … Read More →

Filed Under: Conservation, Energy & Environment, Grants and Programs, Organic, Press Releases

Release: NSAC Applauds Proposed Rule to Reform Poultry Tournament Payment System

June 8, 2022

Today, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition applauded Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack for the publication of a long-awaited proposed rule regarding “Transparency in Poultry Growing Contracts and Tournaments.” This is the first of several expected rules to strengthen the century-old Packers and Stockyards Act (PSA) announced in President Biden’s Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy. … Read More →

Filed Under: Competition & Anti-trust, Implementation & Rule-making, Press Releases, Sustainable Livestock

USDA Opens Latest Round of Funding to Support Local and Regional Food Economy Development Projects

March 11, 2022

NSAC looks at USDA’s recently announced round of grant funding for the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program (FMLFPP) and Regional Food Systems Partnership (RFSP) program to build and expand local and regional food and agriculture markets. The deadline to apply for the FMLFPP and RFSP program is Monday, May 16, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. Full details on the NSAC blog. … Read More →

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

Undo the Packers and Stockyards “Undue Preference” Final Rule

February 17, 2021

In the waning days of the Trump Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a final rule on the undue or unreasonable preference provision, Section 202(b), of the Packers & Stockyards Act of 1921 (P&SA). Unfortunately, the rule fails to protect livestock and poultry farmers from the abusive and exploitative practices that have become […]

Filed Under: Competition & Anti-trust, Implementation & Rule-making, Sustainable Livestock

The Untold History of Federal Farm to School Support and its Impact on Local Food Research

October 4, 2019

Editor’s Note: This post was written by Debra Tropp, former Deputy Director, Local Food Research and Development, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Debra retired from USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service in January 2019 after 26 years of service. She continues to keep her hand in local and regional food issues through her appointments […]

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

Trump Administration Undertaking Historic Reorganizing of USDA, But to What End?

September 15, 2017

Back in May, US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue announced a USDA reorganization plan that eliminated its Rural Development Mission Area and downgraded the status of what was the Under Secretary for Rural Development to an Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development, closing the Office of the Under Secretary in the process. […]

Filed Under: Competition & Anti-trust, Food Safety, Nutrition & Food Access, Research, Education & Extension, Rural Development

Expanded Options for Organic Certification Cost Share in 2017

April 19, 2017

Late last year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) underwent some significant changes as administration of the program was shifted from the Agricultural Market Service (AMS) to the Farm Service Agency (FSA). The change was intended to expand opportunities for producers and handlers to access certification funding, as when the […]

Filed Under: Grants and Programs, Organic

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Applauds Action to Preserve Grassfed Label

September 30, 2016

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 […]

Filed Under: Press Releases

First Opportunity for Public Input on GMO Labeling Law Implementation

September 6, 2016

In late July, President Obama signed into law Congress’ much contested GMO Labeling law, creating a mandatory disclosure requirement for “bioengineered” foods and directing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to develop regulations and standards to carry out the requirement. Now that the law has been finalized, the long process of rulemaking and implementation begins. […]

Filed Under: General Interest

GroupGAP Offers Affordable Certification Option for Small and Mid-sized Farms

April 5, 2016

GAP (short for “good agricultural practices) certification is a USDA audit program… Read More →

Filed Under: Food Safety, Grants and Programs, Local & Regional Food Systems

RELEASE: NFU and NSAC Join Letter Urging FSIS to Adopt Meaningful Grassfed Label Standard

March 23, 2016

A coalition of nine agricultural and consumer organizations today sent a letter urging USDA to reinstate a meaningful grassfed label… Read More →

Filed Under: Press Releases, Sustainable Livestock

Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Categories

  • Action Alerts
  • Beginning and Minority Farmers
  • Budget and Appropriations
  • Carousel
  • Climate Change
  • Commodity, Crop Insurance & Credit Programs
  • Competition & Anti-trust
  • Conservation, Energy & Environment
  • Coronavirus
  • Farm Bill
  • Food Safety
  • General Interest
  • Grants and Programs
  • Implementation & Rule-making
  • Local & Regional Food Systems
  • Marketing and Labeling
  • NSAC Coalition
  • Nutrition & Food Access
  • Organic
  • Press Comment
  • Press Releases
  • Research, Education & Extension
  • Rural Development
  • Sustainable Livestock

Take Action

What's happening right now »

Subscribe for Updates

Footer

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
110 Maryland Avenue NE, Suite 209 Washington, DC 20002
Contact Us

Copyright © 2025 · National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition · All Rights Reserved · Website by Tomatillo Design