FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Laura Zaks
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
lzaks@sustainableagriculture.net
Tel. 347.563.6408
Release: NSAC Welcomes Farm Bill Extension, Urges Lawmakers to Pass the Next Farm Bill in Early 2024
Washington, DC, November 16, 2023 – The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) celebrates the passage of an extension to the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (the Farm Bill, which had expired on September 30) until September 2024. The Senate’s passage yesterday of the House continuing resolution means the government will avoid a shutdown and lawmakers will have time to develop a comprehensive five-year farm bill. President Biden is expected to sign the extension, which is included in the continuing resolution to fund the government, this week.
“The growing impacts from the expiration of the 2018 Farm Bill required immediate attention – we’re pleased to see an extension that fully funds key ‘orphan’ programs that help farmers access higher-value organic markets and expand access to agricultural education,” said Mike Lavender, NSAC Policy Director.
“While the extension offers a degree of stability and much-needed breathing room, we’ll soon be more than five years removed from the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill. The intervening years have been among the most tumultuous in our nation’s history – as an increasingly disruptive and changing climate, the COVID-19 pandemic and societal impacts, and a long-overdue racial justice reckoning conspired to thoroughly unveil the fragility of our current food system,” Lavender noted, adding that:
“Farmers, ranchers, and food system stakeholders deserve updated federal policy that levels the playing field, invests in a climate resilient future, and advances racial equity. We implore Congress to pass a strong, bipartisan farm bill in early 2024.”
Earlier this week, NSAC sent a letter to Senate and House Agriculture Committee leadership reaffirming the coalition’s support of the one-year bipartisan agreement to extend the 2018 Farm Bill. The letter encouraged Congress to remain focused on passing a strong, bipartisan farm bill as soon as possible, given the already burgeoning ramifications of the bill’s expiration. The full letter is here.
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About the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition is a grassroots alliance that advocates for federal policy reform supporting the long-term social, economic, and environmental sustainability of agriculture, natural resources, and rural communities. Learn more: https://sustainableagriculture.net/
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