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Editor’s Note: This is the first post in a multi-part blog series analyzing the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, which was reported out of the House Agriculture Committee on May 24. This post provides an overview of the markup process and the bill as a whole, as well as its likely (or unlikely) path to becoming law. Subsequent posts provide a deep dive analysis of the bill’s potential impacts on local and regional food systems, farmers’ access to land and capital, beginning and other underserved producers, conservation and climate resilience, and sustainable and organic research, among other issues.

In the early morning hours of Friday, May 24, 2024, the House Committee on Agriculture reported the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 (FFNSA, HR 8467) out of committee by a vote of 33-21. This vote – …

Digging into the House Farm Bill: Part 1

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Editor’s Note: This is the first post in a multi-part blog series analyzing the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, which was reported out of the House Agriculture Committee on May 24. This post provides an overview of the markup process and the bill as a whole, as well as its likely (or unlikely) path to becoming law. Subsequent posts provide a deep dive analysis of the bill’s potential impacts on local and regional food systems, farmers’ access to land and capital, beginning and other underserved producers, conservation and climate resilience, and sustainable and organic research, among other issues.

In the early morning hours of Friday, May 24, 2024, the House Committee on Agriculture reported the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 (FFNSA, HR 8467) out of committee by a vote of 33-21. This vote …

Agriculture Spending Bills Must Address Broad Demand for Research and Conservation Programs

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On June 11, 2024, the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee advanced the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2025 on a party-line vote. The bill – which provides Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 funding for the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – totals $ 25.9 billion, which is 1.35% – or nearly $ 400 million – below the FY2024 enacted level. The cuts included in the bill would have significant consequences across the US food and farm system – impacting farmers, ranchers, communities, and eaters from coast to coast.

Now more than ever farmers need research and technical assistance tailored to their operation types. Climate change makes farming harder and less predictable, underscoring the need for research and assistance that supports climate resilience. Farmers also need expanded …

Release: Senate Hearing Highlights Need for Broader View of Beginning Farmer Challenges

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For Immediate Release
Contact: Laura Zaks
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
press@sustainableagriculture.net
Tel. 347.563.6408

Release: Senate Hearing Highlights Need for Broader View of Beginning Farmer Challenges

Washington, DC, June 5, 2024 – Yesterday, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry’s Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management, and Trade held a hearing entitled, “Pathways to Farming: Helping the Next Generation of Farmers.” The almost two-hour hearing featured four witnesses who spoke to their experiences as beginning farmers and ranchers. In response to the hearing, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) and National Young Farmers Coalition (Young Farmers) issued the following statements.

“We need federal farm policy that centers equity, addresses the land access crisis, and tackles the challenges of farm viability and climate change that young farmers and ranchers struggle with daily. This Farm Bill is our best opportunity

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Comment: NSAC Responds to Senate Republicans’ Draft Farm Bill Summary

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For Immediate Release

Contact: Laura Zaks

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

press@sustainableagriculture.net

Tel. 347.563.6408

Comment: NSAC Responds to Senate Republicans’ Draft Farm Bill Summary

Washington, DC, June 11, 2024 – The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) released the following comment, attributable to Mike Lavender, NSAC Policy Director, in response to the Senate Agriculture Committee Republicans’ farm bill framework published today.

“The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) is encouraged by the continued momentum toward completing a farm bill this year. For any farm bill to cross the finish line, all four corners must be fully engaged. The high-level summary released today by the Senate Agriculture Committee Minority offers curated details suggesting significant similarities to the House’s Farm, Food, and National Security Act – a bill which should not, and has no viable path to, become law. Any final farm bill must meaningfully

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Digging into the House Farm Bill: Part 3

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Editor’s Note: This is the third post in a multi-part blog series analyzing the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 (FFNSA), which was reported out of the House Committee on Agriculture on Friday, May 24. The first post details an overview of the markup process and the bill as a whole, as well as its likely (or unlikely) path to becoming law. The second post explores the FFNSA’s impacts on local and regional food systems. This post provides a deep-dive analysis of the bill’s potential impacts on the farm safety net, farmers’ ability to access land and capital, fair competition, and treatment of food workers. The final post in the series will focus on climate resilience through the lens of how conservation, research, and organic programs fare under the FFNSA.

The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of …

Digging into the House Farm Bill: Part 2

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Editor’s Note: This is the second post in a multi-part blog series analyzing the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, which was reported out of the House Agriculture Committee on Friday, May 24. The first post provides an overview of the markup process and the bill as a whole, as well as its likely (or unlikely) path to becoming law. This post explores the FFNSA’s impacts on local and regional food systems. Subsequent posts provide a deep dive analysis of the bill’s potential impacts on farmers’ access to land and capital, beginning and other underserved producers, conservation and climate resilience, and sustainable and organic research, among other issues.

The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 (FFNSA, HR 8467) offers a number of policy reforms and authorizes new programs that seek to strengthen existing programs and …

Release: NSAC Applauds Introduction of the Save Our Small Farms Act

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Washington, DC, June 4, 2024 – Today, Connecticut Representatives Hayes (D-CT-5), Larson (D-CT-1), Courtney (D-CT-2), DeLauro (D-CT-3), and Himes (D-CT-4) teamed up with Reps. Adams (D-NC-12), Neal (D-MA-1), McGovern (D-MA-2), and Jackson (D-TX-18) to introduce the Save Our Small (SOS) Farms Act. This bill would meaningfully expand access to the farm safety net for small, diversified, and underserved farmers and ranchers who find themselves at the mercy of worsening storms but unable to access coverage.

“There is no acceptable reason that our country’s small farmers should be forced to crowdfund to stay afloat after unexpected floods and worsening droughts,” said Billy Hackett, NSAC Policy Specialist. “The SOS Farms Act represents a true commitment to building a farm safety net that supports all farmers, in sharp contrast to the House farm bill mark which recently passed from

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