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National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

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

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covid-19

What the debt-ceiling deal means for food and agriculture

May 31, 2023

Over Memorial Day weekend, President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-20) struck a “tentative” deal intended to avoid a catastrophic default on the United States’ debt. In the days since the initial announcement, more details about the deal – now known as the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, H.R. 3746 – have continued to emerge. As of posting, Congress is expected to pass H.R. 3746 without amendment before June 5, when the Treasury Department would have “insufficient resources to satisfy the government’s obligations.” In this post, NSAC examines several major components of the deal to better understand these impacts, including annual appropriations and the 2023 Farm Bill reauthorization. … Read More →

Filed Under: Budget and Appropriations, Carousel

$45 Million Available for Outreach and Assistance to Underserved Producers

May 5, 2023

The USDA announced $45 million in funding for 2501 grants, almost $10 million more than was available last year, to help organizations conduct targeted outreach and provide technical assistance to socially disadvantaged farmers. This post details the program, eligibility requirements and features some of the 2022 projects. … Read More →

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Carousel, Grants and Programs, Research, Education & Extension

Record-High Crop Insurance Subsidies Are Unsustainable

January 27, 2023

Record-high subsidies to the federal crop insurance program are unsustainable and must be curbed in the 2023 Farm Bill…. Read More →

Filed Under: Carousel, Commodity, Crop Insurance & Credit Programs, Conservation, Energy & Environment, Farm Bill, General Interest

NSAC’s Top 10 of 2022: A Year in Review

December 22, 2022

The end of a year signifies a time to reflect on all the most important accomplishments and tribulations of the past year. At NSAC, we had the opportunity to celebrate and find new reasons to expand our advocacy to support sustainable agriculture practices, small-scale producers, diversified farming, local food systems, and beginning and underserved farmers and ranchers. This post shares NSAC’s Top 10 accomplishments of 2022. … Read More →

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

162 Organizations Criticize Congress’ Move to Rescind USDA Funding Ahead of a Global Food Crisis

April 5, 2022

Farm Action, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, Rural Coalition, the Union of Concerned Scientists, and 157 signing organizations criticized a move by Congress to rescind between $1.6 and $1.65 billion of USDA funding. … Read More →

Filed Under: General Interest, Local & Regional Food Systems, Nutrition & Food Access, Press Releases

A Year in Review: Wins and Reflections for Sustainable Agriculture in 2021

December 23, 2021

As this unpredictable year comes to a close and we look to the future, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition takes a look back at our coalition’s hard-fought wins towards building a more sustainable, equitable food and farm system in 2021…. Read More →

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Budget and Appropriations, Carousel, Commodity, Crop Insurance & Credit Programs, Competition & Anti-trust, Conservation, Energy & Environment, Coronavirus, General Interest, Grants and Programs, Implementation & Rule-making, Local & Regional Food Systems, Research, Education & Extension, Rural Development, Sustainable Livestock

Over $50 Million Awarded to Train Next-Generation Farmers and Ranchers

December 7, 2021

With additional funding from recent legislation to address the impacts of the pandemic, new projects to train and educate beginning farmers and ranchers are underway…. Read More →

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Carousel, Grants and Programs

COVID Relief Funding NOW Available for Farmers Markets, Processors and Underserved Farmers

October 6, 2021

With farmers pulling long hours at the height of harvest season, and cases of the coronavirus skyrocketing across the country, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is now providing additional funding to help many in our food and farm supply chains who were left out of previous aid programs. As of October 6, USDA […]

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

NSAC Releases Brief on Financing Options for Meat Processing Infrastructure

August 24, 2021

Editor’s Note: This blog post was co-authored by Matt Kneece, S.C. Policy Coordinator for Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, the lead drafter of NSAC’s Issue Brief on Financing Options for Local/Regional Meat Processing Infrastructure and Kelly Nuckolls, Senior Policy Specialist at NSAC. As the food system begins to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, […]

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

2501 Funding Now Available for FY 2021

July 28, 2021

Historically, farmers of color have been unable to participate in or benefit from USDA programs to the same extent as their white neighbors. This presents an enormous challenge for farmers of color when they are looking to start or maintain viable and resilient careers in farming. Rising costs and limited availability of farmland, access to […]

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Carousel, Grants and Programs, Research, Education & Extension

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

New Pandemic Cover Crop Program is a First Step

June 9, 2021

Last week, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a new Pandemic Cover Crop Program (PCCP), which will offer a $5 per acre premium discount to producers who planted qualifying cover crops during the 2021 crop year and enrolled in eligible federal crop insurance policies. The PCCP is administered by the Risk Management Agency […]

Filed Under: Carousel, Commodity, Crop Insurance & Credit Programs, Conservation, Energy & Environment, Coronavirus, General Interest

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

Farm Debt Relief Now Available for BIPOC Producers

May 4, 2021

USDA recently released more information on how COVID debt relief funds would be distributed and what BIPOC farmers need to know about accessing this relief…. Read More →

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Carousel, Commodity, Crop Insurance & Credit Programs, Coronavirus

Recapping the Federal Farm and Food Policy Pandemic Response

April 29, 2021

Because so much has been happening in pandemic-related farm policy, this post recaps the federal response to the pandemic, including the new Producer Assistance Program, and looks forward towards what policies may determine the ‘new normal’ in our food system… Read More →

Filed Under: Carousel, Coronavirus

RELEASE: Farm to School Act of 2021 Will Support Child Nutrition Programs and Local Food Systems In Rebuilding From Pandemic

April 23, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contacts:Anna MullenNational Farm to School Networkanna@farmtoschool.org Wes KingNational Sustainable Agriculture Coalitionpress@sustainableagriculture.net Farm to School Act of 2021 Will Support Child Nutrition Programs and Local Food Systems In Rebuilding From Pandemic National Farm to School Network and National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition urge support for the Act, emphasizing farm to school’s proven impacts for […]

Filed Under: Carousel, Local & Regional Food Systems, Nutrition & Food Access, Press Releases

RELEASE: Last-Minute Coronavirus Relief Package Will Strengthen Our Farm and Food System

December 21, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Eric Deeble, Policy DirectorNational Sustainable Agriculture Coalitionedeeble@sustainableagriculture.net Last-Minute Coronavirus Relief Package Will Strengthen Our Farm and Food SystemThe Emergency Coronavirus Relief Act of 2020 provides additional aid to farmers, farm and food system workers, and families Washington, DC, December 20th, 2020 – Today, Congress will consider passage of the Emergency Coronavirus Relief […]

Filed Under: Press Releases

More Money Now Available to Farmers Impacted by the Pandemic

September 22, 2020

This week, USDA is launching a second round of COVID-19 relief payments that will hopefully reach more farmers who were left out of previous aid programs. In this blog, we break down what farmers need to know about USDA’s revamped Coronavirus Food Assistance Program…. Read More →

Filed Under: Carousel, Coronavirus, Grants and Programs

Calling all Researchers! Nearly $300 million in Ag Research Funding Now Available!

September 8, 2020

USDA recently announced over $290 million in research grant funding through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative – including funding for research on plant breeding, local and regional food systems, beginning farmers, farmers of color, and the impact of COVID-19 on our farmers and the food supply chain…. Read More →

Filed Under: Carousel, Grants and Programs, Research, Education & Extension

Guest Post: Farmers Markets Are Essential—And So Are the Policy Relationships They Hold

July 30, 2020

Editor’s Note: We want to thank Ben Feldman, Stephanie Fenty, and Hannah Fuller of the Farmers Market Coalition for this guest post on the challenges that farmers markets face in light of the persistent pandemic and in celebration of National Farmers’ Market Week, observed August 2nd through August 8th. No matter how you look at […]

Filed Under: Carousel, Food Safety, General Interest, Local & Regional Food Systems

USDA Programs Support Small Meat Processing Plants

July 16, 2020

There are a few existing federal programs that could be expanded to further support small, local, and regional meat and poultry processing plants and increase farmers’ access to slaughter and processing options…. Read More →

Filed Under: Budget and Appropriations, Carousel, General Interest, Local & Regional Food Systems, Sustainable Livestock

Meat and Poultry Supply Chain Complications & COVID-19

May 21, 2020

There is more meat available than it seems, and that is thanks to farmers and ranchers, plant workers, small plant operators, and others working throughout the food supply chain…. Read More →

Filed Under: Competition & Anti-trust, Local & Regional Food Systems, Sustainable Livestock

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

$3 Billion in Coronavirus Response Funds Available to Food Hubs and Distributors to Provide Fresh Food Boxes to Those in Need

April 22, 2020

Editor’s Note: The RFP has now been published and can be accessed below. We will continue to update this post as more information and resources become available. Last updated 4/27 at 5:02pm Late on a Friday night (4/17), Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the highly anticipated plan for how the U.S. Department of Agriculture […]

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

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