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USDA Programs Freeze: What We Know

LFPA

USDA Programs Freeze: What We Know

April 30, 2025

Last Updated: April 29, 2025 For more than three months, billions of dollars of lawfully obligated USDA funding have been frozen or terminated. While the agency has still not made public the full scope of what remains frozen or targeted for termination, the harms to communities, farmers, and organizations are already clear. This blog post […]

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

Release: NSAC Responds to Termination of Critical Local Food Funding, Envisions Future for Popular Program

March 11, 2025

For Immediate Release Contact: Laura Zaks National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition press@sustainableagriculture.net Release: NSAC Responds to Termination of Critical Local Food Funding, Envisions Future for Popular Program Washington, DC, March 11, 2025 – Today, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) lamented the termination of previously announced funding for the Local Food for Schools and Child Care […]

Filed Under: Local & Regional Food Systems, Press Releases

Release: NSAC Holds Briefing as USDA Funding Freeze and Layoffs Threaten Farmers and Communities Nationwide

March 6, 2025

For Immediate Release Contact: Laura Zaks National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition press@sustainableagriculture.net Release: NSAC Holds Briefing as USDA Funding Freeze and Layoffs Threaten Farmers and Communities Nationwide Washington, DC, March 6, 2025 – Today, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), a coalition of more than 150 farm, food, conservation, and rural organizations, held a virtual briefing […]

Filed Under: General Interest, Grants and Programs, Press Releases

Census of Agriculture Reveals the Promise of Regional Food Systems

December 4, 2024

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has promoted the sale of foods locally for over two decades via business and community investments made by Value-Added Producer Grants, Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Grants, and most recently Regional Food System Partnership grants. However, the impact of these investments has only recently been better understood […]

Filed Under: Carousel, Local & Regional Food Systems

A Regional Approach Creates Fairer Competition

November 1, 2024

Editor’s Note: This blog post is the third in a series taking a deeper look at how federal market opportunities support the success of efficient regional food systems. Part one details USDA’s recent supply chain infrastructure investments and how they have equipped regional processors and distributors. Part two describes the essential role that community partners […]

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

Release: NSAC Members and National Stakeholders applaud USDA’s commitment to local and regional supply chains

October 1, 2024

For Immediate Release Contact: Laura Zaks National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition press@sustainableagriculture.net Release: NSAC Members and National Stakeholders applaud USDA’s commitment to local and regional supply chains Secretary Vilsack’s recent announcement for additional funding for local food purchases ensures farmers, food pantries, and schools don’t experience an abrupt cutoff  Washington, DC, October 1, 2024 – The […]

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

Release: Farmers and Food Pantries Seek Secretary Vilsack’s Help Avoiding a Funding Cliff

September 19, 2024

For Immediate Release Contact: Laura Zaks National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition lzaks@sustainableagriculture.net Release: Farmers and Food Pantries Seek Secretary Vilsack’s Help Avoiding a Funding Cliff  Groups Urge USDA to Sustain Local Food Purchase Assistance Program Funding Washington, DC, September 19, 2024 – Today, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) delivered a letter to Secretary of Agriculture […]

Filed Under: Local & Regional Food Systems, Press Releases

Path to a New Farm Bill: Increasing Access and Affordability in Local Food Systems

September 5, 2024

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

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

Release: NSAC Welcomes Pragmatic Senate Proposal as a Concrete Step Toward a Bipartisan Farm Bill Reauthorization

May 1, 2024

NSAC applauded the renewed momentum toward a bipartisan farm bill reauthorization prompted by the Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow’s (D-MI) release of a detailed section-by-section description of its farm bill reauthorization proposal. The Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act framework charts a path for completing a farm bill this year. NSAC is extremely encouraged to see a pragmatic Senate farm bill proposal that includes numerous bipartisan policies. The proposal takes meaningful steps to build a fair and accessible farm safety net for farmers and ranchers, protect conservation and climate spending, and invest in local and regional food systems…. Read More →

Filed Under: Farm Bill, Press Releases

Senate Bill Offers a Pathway to Sustain Local Food Purchasing Program

April 12, 2024

Senator Jack Reed introduced the EAT Local Foods Act of 2024, aiming to sustain the USDA’s Local Food Purchase Assistance program, which supports local food systems and addresses food insecurity. The bill, endorsed by various organizations, farms, and businesses, seeks to continue the LFPA’s success in investing in local food systems and creating economic opportunities for producers. The LFPA program, which has already proven popular and impactful, strategically leverages funding to support small and midsize growers nationwide, benefiting both farmers and low-income families, and the bill proposes improvements and a pathway for its permanence…. Read More →

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

Release: NSAC Praises Expanding Access to Local Foods Act of 2024 Introduced in the Senate

March 21, 2024

Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Laphonza R. Butler (D-CA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Angus King Jr. (D-ME), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tina Smith (D-MN), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), John Fetterman (D-PA), and Peter Welch (D-VT) introduced the Expanding Access to Local Foods Act of 2024 (EAT Local Foods Act) in the Senate (S. 3982). The EAT Local Foods Act would create a permanent program to sustain the efforts of the United States Department of Agriculture’s Local Food Purchase Assistance (USDA’s LFPA) Program. The program would empower States and Tribal Nations to strengthen regional food supply chains by providing funding to purchase and distribute locally grown and produced foods to vulnerable communities and provide tailored technical assistance to help growers scale production. … Read More →

Filed Under: Local & Regional Food Systems, Press Releases

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

Riders in the Night: Harmful Provisions in the House Spending Bill

February 27, 2024

Funding for USDA and three other federal departments is set to expire at midnight March 1, absent congressional approval of a FY24 appropriations bill, or an extension of current funding. Amidst final-hour congressional negotiations to fend off a shutdown, several policy “riders” have emerged as sticking points in reaching a deal on agriculture spending in particular. This post examines several proposed policy riders as Congress seeks to conclude FY24 appropriations negotiations…. Read More →

Filed Under: Budget and Appropriations, Carousel, Competition & Anti-trust

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

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

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