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 is previewing some of the major programs and policies advocates need to know in order to effectively engage. The second post in our series, “Path to the 2018 Farm […]
CRP
NSAC Special Report: Analysis of CCRP’s Record Breaking Enrollment
In fiscal year (FY) 2016, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CCRP) enrolled a record number of farm acres into conservation contracts. To get a better sense of how and where the continuous enrollment option is having the biggest impact, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) has put together an in-depth […]
New Conservation Initiative Will Combat Dead Zones and Help Keep Waterways Healthy
Our rivers, lakes, and oceans are teeming with life, and just like the human body they require oxygen to sustain that life and stay healthy. Many waterways in the U.S., however, suffer from hypoxia – a condition in which oxygen levels are depleted to such a degree that fish and other wildlife are stressed or […]
CRP Land Transfer Option Provides Opportunity for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers
In a 2011 survey by National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) member organization, National Young Farmers Coalition, access to land was ranked as the biggest challenge by 68% of responding farmers. With the average age of American farmers steadily rising, supporting the cultivation and success of our next generation of growers must be prioritized. The U.S. […]
RELEASE: Expanding Opportunities to Participate in CCRP Will Enhance Agricultural Conservation Efforts
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Reana Kovalcik, 202-547-5754, RKovalcik@sustainableagriculture.net Greg Fogel, 202-547-5754, GFogel@sustainableagriculture.net Expanding Opportunities to Participate in CCRP Will Enhance Agricultural Conservation Efforts Washington, DC, December 7, 2016 – The new rental rate cap for continuous CRP (CCRP) practices is a great example of USDA thinking creatively about how to improve conservation opportunities while also responding […]
USDA Grasslands Initiative Expanding in States with Highest Losses
At the end of just its second sign up period, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grasslands Initiative has enrolled over 600,000 acres of vulnerable grazing land across the country. Strong support for the Grasslands Initiative so early on is a positive sign, but high variability in participation amongst the […]
New Grasslands Conservation Opportunity for Small Dairy Operations
America’s grasslands are among our most productive natural resources, providing wildlife habitat, flood mitigation, erosion control, and helping to sequester an enormous amount of carbon dioxide. Moreover, grasslands are a critical component of our ranching and hunting economies. Unfortunately, these lands are also some of the most threatened natural resources in the country. A study […]
COMMENT: NSAC Applauds Recording-Breaking CCRP Enrollment
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Reana Kovalcik, 202-547-5754, rkovalcik@sustainableagriculture.net Greg Fogel, 202-547-5754, gfogel@sustainableagriculture.net CCRP enrolls record-breaking number of sensitive lands in FY 2016 The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) applauds the robust outreach efforts of USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), thanks to which the Continuous Conservation Reserve Program’s (CCRP) fiscal year (FY) 2016 enrollment is the highest on […]
USDA Enrolls 800,000 Acres in Long-Term Conservation Contracts
Healthy soils are the underpinning of the agricultural economy. On the most marginal, highly erodible lands, soils are best cared for by keeping them covered in grasses or trees year-round and avoiding agricultural production. On more productive fields, soils can be enhanced through the use of sustainable farming tools like conservation buffers – riparian buffers, grassed […]
USDA Makes Payments Available for Organic Field Border Buffers
Many organic farmers install conservation buffers strips around the edges of their crop fields. These ‘field border’ buffers provide multiple conservation and environmental benefits, and also help farmers meet U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic certification requirements, which include protecting soil and water quality and enhancing biodiversity and habitat). In some circumstances, the buffers can […]