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For Immediate Release

Contact: Laura Zaks

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

Release: NSAC Urges Congress to Include Popular Conservation Funding in Farm Bill Extension

Washington, DC, December 13, 2024 – Today, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), a coalition of more than 150 farm, food, conservation, and rural organizations, called on Congress to prioritize additional funding for the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) working lands conservation programs as lawmakers finalize an extension of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018.

In a letter sent today to key Congressional leaders, NSAC highlighted the widespread popularity of USDA conservation programs among farmers and ranchers, noting that many cannot access critical funding due to overwhelming demand. The letter emphasized that programs like the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) help farmers increase productivity, improve soil health, build resilience to extreme …

Stewarding Success: IRA Funding is Cultivating New Conservation Acres and Farmers

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EDITOR’S NOTE: On October 9, 2024, NSAC released Stewarding Success: CSP Under the 2018 Farm Bill, a comprehensive analysis of the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) over the course of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill). The report offers an in-depth analysis of CSP’s enrollment trends, conservation practices supported, and funding impacts, including the effects of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022. This post is the second in a series of five blog posts highlighting the key findings of the report and offering a deep dive into the success of the IRA within CSP.

The Conservation Stewardship Program

The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is a voluntary program run by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) through its Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). CSP aims to enhance natural resources while maintaining profitable agricultural production. It does this by …

Stewarding Success: Conservation Stewardship Program

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EDITOR’S NOTE: On October 9, 2024, NSAC released Stewarding Success: CSP Under the 2018 Farm Bill, a comprehensive analysis of the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) over the course of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill). The report offers an in-depth analysis of CSP’s enrollment trends, conservation practices supported, and funding impacts, including the effects of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022. This blog post is the first of a series of five posts highlighting the key findings of the report and offering a national overview of this vital farm bill conservation program.

What is the Conservation Stewardship Program?

The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is a voluntary program run by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) through its Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). CSP aims to enhance natural resources while maintaining profitable agricultural production. It does …

Promising Conservation Results in the 2022 Agricultural Census

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Editor’s Note: This post is part of a multi-part blog series. Our first post in this series explored initial themes from the Census, while this post offers a deeper dive into conservation practices. Our next post in the series will explore what the Census shows us about local and regional food systems.

In early 2024, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the results of the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Conducted every five years, the Census of Agriculture is sent to every known agricultural producer in the country to ask important questions about their farms and how they manage them. The data provided by the Census of Agriculture is an essential and comprehensive tool for all stakeholders to understand what is happening in US agriculture and food.

A Mixed But Positive Picture

The 2022 Agricultural Census paints a mixed …

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 …

Take Action: This Farm Bill Should Center Conservation, Not Consolidation

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This week, farmers, consumers, and advocates across the country are making calls to Congress with a central message: pass a farm bill for all farmers that centers conservation, not consolidation. Farm bill negotiations may be heating up once again after a standstill that has left members of Congress divided about what to prioritize. Now is the time to act.

Take Action!

This week is the Farm Bill for All Farmers Week of Action: Conservation Not Consolidation.

Farm safety net subsidies reward an industrial farming model that contributes to climate change, soil erosion, and farmland consolidation in agriculture. Increasing commodity subsidies to benefit a few farmers at the expense of popular nutrition and conservation programs would be an expensive investment that exacerbates these problems.

Make your voice heard! Tell Congress our tax dollars should fund programs that keep families fed …

Media Advisory (Cross Post): SEEC Celebrates America’s Food Producers Implementing Climate-Smart Conservation

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Washington, DC, January 8, 2024 – NSAC is pleased to announce the upcoming roundtable highlighting the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) transformational investments in climate and clean energy solutions for America’s food producers, hosted by members of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC). This briefing builds on NSAC’s work sharing farmer climate stories through its recent farmer climate media project and offers a chance to deliver those stories directly to lawmakers. For details, please see the SEEC media advisory below:

**ADVISORY FOR JANUARY 11, 2024**

THURSDAY: SEEC Celebrates America’s Food Producers Implementing Climate-Smart Conservation

Roundtable with SEEC Members & farmers that are working to secure a climate-resilient food supply chain with the help of the Inflation Reduction Act’s conservation investments.

Members of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) are hosting a roundtable highlighting the Inflation Reduction Act’s …

Release: Farmers Shine Spotlight on Vital Impact of Climate Funding at the IRA Conservation and Farmers Roundtable

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Laura Zaks

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

lzaks@sustainableagriculture.net

Tel. 347.563.6408

Release: Farmers Shine Spotlight on Vital Impact of Climate Funding at the IRA Conservation and Farmers Roundtable

Washington, DC, January 11, 2024 – Today, members of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) hosted a public roundtable highlighting the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) transformational investments in climate and clean energy solutions for America’s food producers. Farmers from across the country discussed firsthand how the IRA has provided much-needed, long-sought federal funding to bolster farmer-led conservation efforts. Farmers’ firsthand stories of how climate change is affecting their farms demonstrate the importance of protecting the federal programs helping them build resilience.

Panelists included SEEC Climate and Agriculture Task Force Co-Chair Chellie Pingree (D-ME 1, SEEC Climate and Agriculture Task Force Co-Chair Kim Schrier (D-WA 8), Lindi and Jared …