FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Laura Zaks National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition press@sustainableagriculture.net Tel. 347.563.6408 Release: Farmers Market Advocates Call for Delaying New Rule Amidst Uncertainty Washington, DC, November 3, 2026 – Today, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), alongside other farmers market advocates, delivered a letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and Acting Administrator Shiela Corley […]
USDA
FSIS Staffing Losses Put Small Meat Processing at Risk
Food safety has been in the news a lot this year, from produce to poultry. Amid these outbreaks, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) has consistently reported dwindling staffing levels at nearly all federal agencies that oversee food safety. In late 2026, the staffing situation continues to deteriorate. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) faces […]
Release: NSAC Publishes “Conservation Practices for Agricultural Resilience: A Resource Guide”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Laura Zaks National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition press@sustainableagriculture.net Tel. 347.563.6408 Release: NSAC Publishes “Conservation Practices for Agricultural Resilience: A Resource Guide” Washington, DC, October 29, 2026 – Today, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) released Conservation Practices for Agricultural Resilience: A Resource Guide, a new publication identifying the US Department of Agriculture’s […]
USDA’s New REAP Rule Puts Program Out of Reach for Most Farmers, Ranchers, and Rural Small Businesses
On October 1, 2026, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a final rule overhauling the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which took effect on October 16. Unfortunately, rather than improving REAP, this new rule flips the script on how the program has benefited small farmers, turning it into a program that drives farm […]
What’s Behind USDA’s Beef and Meat Processing Push?
Over the last several months, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has made a dizzying array of announcements about the livestock and meat processing industry. Starting in late July with the announcement of the Strengthening Processing for US Ranchers grant program through the Farm Service Agency (FSA), all the way through to September 4th, when […]
Release: New USDA Payments Offer Little Hope for a Brighter Future
Washington, DC, Tuesday, October 20, 2026 – Yesterday, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the Harvest Fuel Relief Program to distribute $8 billion through one-time payments to farmers. The newly announced program will be funded through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), though USDA provided few other details on how payments will be calculated […]
Unpacking the New SNAP Stocking Requirements
A new US Department of Agriculture (USDA) rule geared towards increasing healthy food options for families that receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits has generated confusion for farmers, farmers markets, and other local food stores that accept SNAP or plan to. The rule is currently set to take effect on November 4, 2026. This […]
The Uncertain Future of Urban Agriculture at USDA
Urban farming is often portrayed as raised wooden beds or community garden plots on overgrown vacant lots in cities around the country. The more prominent, but untold story is how urban farming provides access to land for beginning farmers or those without the means to purchase it, or how these farmers creatively manage limited resources, […]
Keeping the “Farm” in the Farm Safety Net
On Thursday, August 6, 2026, the Senate Agriculture Committee convened to consider the Agricultural Act of 2026, the farm bill draft presented by Chairman John Boozman (R-AR). The wide-ranging markup covered every title of the farm bill – from commodity programs and nutrition to research and agriculture credit – and the consideration of amendments along […]
Cyclospora, Climate, and Solutions to Strengthen Food Safety
As the old saying goes, one bad apple can rot the whole bunch. In 2026, a more appropriate twist is that a bad batch of lettuce can lead to entire harvests being lost, not to mention the public health impacts. The recent Cyclospora outbreak, produced by a confluence of international and domestic policy and business […]
Guest Post: USDA’s new “Harvest to Hallways” school food initiative falls short of needed investments
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP), an NSAC member, and was authored by Nora Shields-Cutler, IATP’s Program Associate for Community Food Systems. The original post is available on IATP’s website. While the initiative announcement makes some encouraging promises, the amount of funding doesn’t come close to the […]
The Senate Farm Bill Markup: What Happened and What’s Next
On Thursday, August 6, the Senate Agriculture Committee convened to consider the Agricultural Act of 2026, the Senate’s version of a new farm bill. The early August Committee meeting (known as a “markup”) was the Senate Agriculture Committee’s first farm bill markup since June 2018. The journey to a new farm bill is never straightforward […]
Release: NSAC Urges Reconsideration of Problematic OMB Proposed Rule
For Immediate Release Contact: Laura Zaks National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition press@sustainableagriculture.net Release: NSAC Urges Reconsideration of Problematic OMB Proposed Rule Washington, DC, July 14, 2026 – Yesterday, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) submitted detailed comments to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) citing major concerns with OMB’s proposed Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance […]
The Food Safety Outreach Program’s 10th Birthday: A Review
History The Food Safety Outreach Program (FSOP) was originally authorized with the passage of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Recognizing the importance of providing training – particularly for smaller, more economically vulnerable operations, Congress created FSOP to fund outreach, education, training, and technical assistance projects that directly assist small and mid-sized farms, beginning and […]
Proposed Grant Rules Increase Uncertainty, Risk for Farmers
Since January 2025, farmers, agricultural organizations, and the communities they serve have experienced unprecedented instability in long-standing federal partnerships with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Lengthy funding freezes, unanticipated grant terminations, full program cancellations, and a woefully understaffed USDA have detrimentally disrupted the programs, services, and resources that farmers and rural communities leverage to […]
Farmers React to House Farm Bill
“Farmers have waited far too long for a new farm bill while dealing with rising input costs, market volatility, and shrinking margins,” said Darin Von Ruden, a Wisconsin farmer and president of the state’s Farmers Union chapter. Farmers across the country agree and have been clear with Congress: they need a new farm bill that […]
USDA Staffing Crisis: Losses Reduce Local Presence in Communities Nationwide
Editor’s Note: This series draws on analysis the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) conducted in partnership with Bernie Kluger, Managing Partner at Prospect Partners, LLC. Bernie has led strategic realignments, crisis recoveries, and major capacity-building initiatives in government, higher education, and the private sector. Prior to joining Prospect Partners, Bernie served as enterprise lead for […]
450 Organizations Push Congress to Unlock Local Food Funding for Schools
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) spends roughly $4 billion buying food at the lowest price possible, and American family farmers are locked out due to high volume and complex federal contracting requirements. Yet there is a low-cost policy solution that would unlock this existing funding source for more farmers to compete. NSAC members […]
USDA Staffing Crisis: Widespread Loss of Conservation Staff
Editor’s Note: This series draws on analysis the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) conducted in partnership with Bernie Kluger, Managing Partner at Prospect Partners, LLC. Bernie has led strategic realignments, crisis recoveries, and major capacity-building initiatives in government, higher education, and the private sector. Prior to joining Prospect Partners, Bernie served as enterprise lead for […]
USDA Staffing Crisis: Nationwide Losses
Editor’s Note: This series draws on analysis the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) conducted in partnership with Bernie Kluger, Managing Partner at Prospect Partners, LLC. Bernie has led strategic realignments, crisis recoveries, and major capacity-building initiatives in government, higher education, and the private sector. Prior to joining Prospect Partners, Bernie served as enterprise lead for […]
Comment: USDA Small Processor Plan Highlights Recent Work, Future Opportunities
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Laura Zaks National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition lzaks@sustainableagriculture.net Tel. 347.563.6408 Comment: USDA Small Processor Plan Highlights Recent Work, Future Opportunities Washington, DC, June 5, 2026 – Today, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) commends the release of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Small Processors Action Plan by Secretary of Agriculture Brooke […]
USDA Sows Trust and Farm Success in Urban Communities
Urban farms not only grow food, but they also build community, create green space, and increase access to healthy food. Yet, farmers in urban and suburban areas are not immune to the pressures of higher input costs and competition for resources. These issues simply present in different ways. Farmers in more residentially dense areas feel […]
RFA Roundup: Current Funding Opportunities
After a year of funding freezes, cancellations of programs, and disruptions to grant fund distributions, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has opened applications for several sustainable agriculture grant opportunities. This blog post provides an overview of each funding program currently open, the application deadline, and eligibility criteria. This list serves as a useful reference […]
Release: Senate Bill Aims to Strengthen USDA Support for Urban and Innovative Farmers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Laura Zaks National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition press@sustainableagriculture.net Tel. 347.563.6408 Release: Senate Bill Aims to Strengthen USDA Support for Urban and Innovative Farmers Washington, DC, May 4, 2026 – Late last week, Senators John Fetterman (D-PA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Martin […]