Release | Environment.org

For Immediate Release

Contact: Laura Zaks

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

Tel. 347.563.6408

Release: NSAC Responds to USDA Announcement on Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities Program

Widespread Farmer Support Informs USDA Decision to Rebrand Program and Restart Payments, but Overhaul Nonetheless Disregards Lawful Agreements with Farmer-Serving Organizations

Washington, DC, April 14, 2025 – Today, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) responded to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s announcement on the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities Program (PCSC) being reframed and continued for projects that meet newly created criteria, a move met with some optimism as well as significant concerns.

”After months of self-inflicted uncertainty, today’s announcement is a significant and welcome step toward the clarity that farmers, ranchers, and the organizations who support them have desperately needed, particularly the farmers who have spoken in favor of the program. Unfortunately, this

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Release: Cynthia Hayes Memorial Scholarship Now Accepting Applications

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| Sustainability

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Laura Zaks, Associate Director of Communications and Development
press@sustainableagriculture.net

Release: Cynthia Hayes Memorial Scholarship Now Accepting Applications

The Cynthia Hayes Memorial Scholarship honors the co-founder of the first network for African American organic farmers in the United States.

Washington, DC, March 28, 2025 —Last week, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) and the Southeastern African American Farmers’ Organic Network (SAAFON) opened applications for their annual scholarship in honor and memory of the late Cynthia Hayes, co-founder and former director of SAAFON.

The scholarship welcomes applications from Black and Indigenous undergraduate and Masters students from all Tribal Nations, US states, and territories. Applicants should be prepared to discuss their interest in food justice, sustainable agriculture, and how these issues impact Black and Indigenous farmer communities in the United States.

“SAAFON is proud to announce the 2025 Cynthia

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Release: NSAC Responds to Termination of Critical Local Food Funding, Envisions Future for Popular Program

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| Sustainability

For Immediate Release

Contact: Laura Zaks

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

press@sustainableagriculture.net

Release: NSAC Responds to Termination of Critical Local Food Funding, Envisions Future for Popular Program

Washington, DC, March 11, 2025 – Today, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) lamented the termination of previously announced funding for the Local Food for Schools and Child Care Cooperative Agreement (LFSCC) and Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement program (LFPA). On Friday, March 7, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) notified States, Territories and Tribes of the termination of previously announced 2025 funding for LFSCC and LFPA, stating that it no longer effectuates the Department’s priorities.

“USDA’s decision to re-initiate reimbursements on signed LFPA and LFS contracts is a welcome development, yet the termination of the LFPA25 cooperative agreements misses a key opportunity to bolster opportunities for farmers seeking financial

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Release: NSAC Holds Briefing as USDA Funding Freeze and Layoffs Threaten Farmers and Communities Nationwide

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| Sustainability

For Immediate Release

Contact: Laura Zaks

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

press@sustainableagriculture.net

Release: NSAC Holds Briefing as USDA Funding Freeze and Layoffs Threaten Farmers and Communities Nationwide

Washington, DC, March 6, 2025 – Today, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), a coalition of more than 150 farm, food, conservation, and rural organizations, held a virtual briefing on how the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding freeze and employee layoffs are affecting farmers and ranchers.

Panelists – who called on USDA to end the freeze and release funding on all signed contracts – included farmers from North Carolina, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and California. These farmers shared their own stories of how the ongoing federal funding freeze – in addition to significant layoffs at USDA – has created challenging and often dire circumstances for farmers and communities from coast to coast, threatening farm …

Comment: NSAC Responds to “First Tranche” Release of Popular Conservation Funding

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| Sustainability

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Laura Zaks
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
press@sustainableagriculture.net
Tel. 347.563.6408

Comment: NSAC Responds to “First Tranche” Release of Popular Conservation Funding

Washington, DC, February 21, 2025 – Today, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) released the following statement attributable to Mike Lavender, NSAC Policy Director, in response to USDA’s announcement that it would release a fraction of paused conservation investments.

“While USDA fires its staff and deliberates whether or not to honor its own legal contracts, tens of thousands of farmers are being left in limbo. The ‘first tranche’ released this week represents roughly one percent of the IRA funding USDA guaranteed farmers through signed contracts from CSP and EQIP alone beginning in FY2023 – meaning that from coast to coast, countless farmers are waking up today still uncertain of how they’ll make ends meet or whether

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Release: Unlawful Federal Funding Freeze Causing Confusion and Harm on Farms and in Communities Nationwide

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| Sustainability

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Laura Zaks

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

press@sustainableagriculture.net

Tel. 347.563.6408

Release: Unlawful Federal Funding Freeze Causing Confusion and Harm on Farms and in Communities Nationwide

Secretary of Agriculture nominee Brooke Rollins must quickly restore order and ensure USDA honors its legal commitments to farmers, communities

Washington, DC, February 7, 2025 – Today, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) expressed anger over the continued uncertainty and confusion borne by farmers and rural communities following weeks of mixed messages from the new Administration.

“During the past several weeks, we have heard directly from countless farmers and food system stakeholders who have been told, without explanation, that their grant or contract payments have been paused or that they cannot be reimbursed despite a signed lawful contract. Until USDA honors its commitments, farms and rural jobs will continue to be

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Release: NSAC Applauds Final Rule to Bring Fairness to Poultry Tournament System

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Laura Zaks

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

lzaks@sustainableagriculture.net

Tel. 347.563.6408

Release: NSAC Applauds Final Rule to Bring Fairness to Poultry Tournament System

Washington, DC, January 14, 2025 – The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) applauded Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack for today’s announcement of a new final rule under the Packers and Stockyards Act: Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems.

“The latest rule is a long-anticipated and necessary step toward completion of a congressional directive from the 2008 Farm Bill to strengthen the century-old Packers and Stockyards Act,” said Billy Hackett, NSAC Policy Specialist. “The rule introduces guardrails and transparency to an otherwise opaque payment system that is commonly manipulated to unfairly benefit individual growers and punish others.”

Specifically, the measures announced in the final rule:

require poultry companies to provide contract broiler

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Release: Funding Deal Delivers Disaster Relief but Fails to Support Farmers in Building Resilience Against Future Crises

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| Sustainability

For Immediate Release

Contact: Laura Zaks

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

press@sustainableagriculture.net

Release: Funding Deal Delivers Disaster Relief but Fails to Support Farmers in Building Resilience Against Future Crises

Washington, DC, December 18, 2024 – Yesterday, Congressional leaders reached an agreement to fund the government, extend the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill), and provide disaster relief funding for areas hit by natural disasters. The deal, which would extend fiscal year (FY) 2024 funding through March 14, 2025, and the 2018 Farm Bill through September 2025, does not incorporate Inflation Reduction Act conservation investments into the farm bill extension.

“While NSAC is heartened that Congressional leaders reached agreement on much-needed funding for revenue-based agriculture disaster relief that includes non-insured farms, we are deeply discouraged by the political decision to limit countless farmers’ ability to build both their

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