Sustainability | Environment.org

For Immediate Release

Contact Laura Zaks

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)

lzaks@sustainableagriculture.net

Comment: NSAC Applauds Introduction of SARE Bill

Washington, DC, December 22, 2022 – Today, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) issued the following comment, attributable to Mike Lavender, NSAC Interim Policy Director, in response to the release of Representative Schrier’s H.R. 9667.

“The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) is pleased to see Congress’s continued support for the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SARE). H.R.9667 introduced yesterday by Representative Schrier (D-WA) is a positive and important step in continuing to strengthen this critical research program. SARE has been funding regionally based, farmer-driven, and outcome-oriented research and education for more than 30 years. It is the only U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)competitive research program exclusively focused on sustainable agriculture. SARE involves farmers and ranchers directly as the primary investigators

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NSAC’s 2023 Farm Bill Platform: Building a Climate-Resilient Future

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Editor’s Note: This is the fourth post in our series covering key pillars of NSAC’s 2023 Farm Bill Platform. The series begins here. You can read the platform and take action to endorse it here.

The climate crisis is a current threat to effective agricultural production, and continued greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions will substantially exacerbate these threats. However, agriculture also represents one avenue for solutions.

To prepare for a climate-challenged future and create on-farm climate solutions, we need to further develop agricultural systems in several key ways. Agricultural solutions should be farmer-driven and build upon the time-tested expertise of traditional and indigenous farmers of color, among others. Farming must be centered on building thriving communities, both urban and rural. Agricultural solutions to climate change should be holistic–addressing multiple intersecting social and ecological challenges …

Release: USDA Announces Second Round of Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities Awards

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For Immediate Release

Contact: Laura Zaks

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

lzaks@sustainableagriculture.net

Release: USDA Announces Second Round of Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities Awards

Washington, DC, December 12, 2022 – Today, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced the second-round awardees of the Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities, a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) effort to combat the climate crisis by partnering with agriculture, forestry, and rural communities to provide climate solutions that strengthen rural America. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) is pleased to see that the Administration’s latest round of awards will benefit more than 30 minority-serving institutions and more than 20 Tribal partners.

“NSAC is pleased to see that USDA is investing $ 325 million in Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodity awards to 71 projects that focus on the needs of small and underserved producers. We look forward to seeing these

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Release: Groups Share Bipartisan Principles for 2023 Farm Bill

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For Immediate Release

Contact: Laura Zaks

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

lzaks@sustainableagriculture.net

Release: Groups Share Bipartisan Principles for 2023 Farm Bill

Letter Calls on Members of Congress to Promote Farmer and Taxpayer-friendly Reforms

Washington, DC, November 29, 2022 – Today, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), R Street Institute, Taxpayers for Common Sense (TCS), and U.S. PIRG released a joint set of farm bill reform principles in preparation for the 2023 Farm Bill reauthorization.

“NSAC is grateful for our partners who recognize that this is a pivotal moment to support farmers, especially beginning, diverse, and socially disadvantaged farmers most frequently left out of farm programs.” said Billy Hackett, Policy Specialist. “We must also steward a more responsible and responsive use of public dollars which creates returns on consumer investment, including production of more nutrient-dense foods.”

This joint letter represents …

Release: NSAC Publishes Comprehensive 2023 Farm Bill Platform

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For Immediate Release

Contact: Laura Zaks

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

lzaks@sustainableagriculture.net

Release: NSAC Publishes Comprehensive 2023 Farm Bill Platform

Coalition Agenda Envisions a More Equitable and Resilient Food System

Washington, DC, November 17, 2022 – Today, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) released its comprehensive 2023 Farm Bill Platform. NSAC has been a leader in agricultural policy for more than 30 years and has been instrumental in helping to develop some of our nation’s most successful agricultural programs for conserving natural resources, advancing the next generation of farmers, supporting agricultural research, and creating sustainable market connections. The platform provides title-by-title recommendations across farm bill programs and policies detailing how Congress can better support farmers and ranchers by strengthening their bottom lines, their communities, and their resilience.

“NSAC’s member organizations span every corner of the country and countless communities in between.

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USDA Announces 2501 Grant Awards Supporting Farmers of Color and Veterans

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Military veteran beginning farmers learning to build mobile poultry unit
Photo credit: University of Arkansas

Last month, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced over $ 36 million in 2501 grants to 52 organizations across the country for outreach and technical assistance to underserved and veteran farmers and ranchers.

The Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program, more commonly known as the “2501 Program,” and administered by USDA’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE), helps to ensure that historically underserved producers have equitable access to the information, programs, and opportunities that will help them to find success in agriculture.

Spotlight on FY 2022 Grantees

NSAC congratulates all of this year’s 2501 grant recipients. We are also excited to acknowledge the hard-working and dedicated community-based organizations that provide essential support directly to socially …

Release: NSAC Applauds First Round of Investments to Expand Meat and Poultry Processing Capacity

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For Immediate Release

Contact: Laura Zaks

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

lzaks@sustainableagriculture.net

Release: NSAC Applauds First Round of Investments to Expand Meat and Poultry Processing Capacity

Key Investments Pave the Way for a Fairer Future

Washington, DC, November 3, 2022 –– Yesterday, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the first round of new, historic investments to increase competition and expand meat and poultry processing capacity. The Biden-Harris Administration is investing $ 73 million in 21 grant projects through this initial round of the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP) – a program which aims to increase options for livestock producers, promote competition across the economy, and lower costs for American families.

“The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) applauds these initial efforts to invest in our small and very small meat processing sector, and USDA’s dedication to integrating stakeholder

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Attention All Farmers: Be Represented in US Farm Policy by Participating in the 2022 Census of Agriculture

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The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is gearing up to send its survey for the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Whether or not you have participated in the past, filling out the survey is an important way for every farmer in America to influence the policies and programs that impact US agriculture every day.

The Census of Agriculture is conducted every five years to collect critical data on the status of agriculture across the United States. These data address a variety of topics, including the number and size of farms across the county, the prevalence of organic agriculture, the use of conservation and other federal programs, the number of beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers, and the average age of American farmers, all of which help to inform federal food and agriculture programs …