Building Capacity in Materials Management: Training and Expert Support

If you’ve been following Michigan’s recycling initiatives, you’ve probably heard about the Michigan Recycling Coalition’s (MRC) Materials and Recycling Management (MRM) training. It’s a premier opportunity to immerse yourself in materials management over the course of three action-packed days. From recycling and program development to industry fundamentals and data collection—it’s like drinking from a firehose of knowledge! They say immersion is the best way to learn, so what better location for this training than inside an active Materials Recovery Facility (MRF).

As valuable as this experience is, we understand that it’s a significant investment—both in time and dollars. That’s why we are sending two of our rising industry professionals to join, RRSers Katelyn Heflin and Anna Oana. We believe the insights gained from the MRM training will be invaluable to …

Funding Available to Support Underserved Farmers: A Look at USDA’s 2501 Grants

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| Sustainability

Last week, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced $ 22.3 million in funding for 2501 grants to help organizations conduct targeted outreach and provide technical assistance to socially disadvantaged farmers.

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 find success in agriculture. While 2501 typically has a 90-day application period, this year’s window is only 60 days.

All applications must be submitted via grants.gov by 11:59 pm EDT on July 5, 2024.

USDA will host two upcoming webinars to answer questions from potential grantees.

Session 1: May 22, 2024, …

Globally representative evidence on the actual and perceived support for climate action

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| Climate

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 09 February 2024; doi:10.1038/s41558-024-01925-3

Global support and cooperation are necessary for successful climate action. Large-scale representative survey results show that most of the population around the world is willing to support climate action, while a perception gap exists regarding other citizens’ intention to act.
Nature Climate Change…

Release: USDA Updates Good Farming Practice Definition, Strengthening Support for Conservation Practice Adoption

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Laura Zaks

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

lzaks@sustainableagriculture.net

Tel. 347.563.6408

Release: USDA Updates Good Farming Practice Definition, Strengthening Support for Conservation Practice Adoption

Washington, DC, December 6, 2023 – Today, USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) announced important updates to the definition of Good Farming Practices (GFPs), removing a longstanding obstacle to the adoption of Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)-approved conservation practices and enhancements for insured producers.

“The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) applauds this decision from RMA to update the definition for GFPs, which has been a priority for our coalition members for more than a decade,” said Billy Hackett, NSAC Policy Specialist. “This represents an important step that removes a persistent disincentive against the voluntary adoption of good soil health practices for farmers enrolled in the crop insurance program, or seeking enrollment.”

Previously, the …

Strengthening Local Processing Act – Critical Reasons for Support in the Farm Bill

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| Sustainability

The Strengthening Local Processing Act (SLPA) is the most comprehensive meat processing bill around, with specific provisions that address competition, demand for local products, and access to value added services in the meat processing sector. It does so by addressing acute issues for processors vital to our supply chain, and by promoting training programs that bolster the resilience of these processors, the farmers they work with, and food access for their communities. Led by Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and Jim Baird (R-IN), this comprehensive solution to some of the greatest barriers facing independent and small-scale producers and processors has garnered strong bipartisan support, in both the House and Senate.

History of Independent Small-Scale Meat Processing

Many of the companies created at the advent of mass meat processing have persisted to today, …

USDA Announces $300 Million in Awards to Support Access to Land, Capital, and Markets for Beginning and Undeserved Framers

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| Sustainability

This month, the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced more than $ 300 million in awards to 50 projects focused on increasing underserved farmers and ranchers’ access to land, markets, and capital. These projects were awarded under the Increasing Land, Capital, and Market Access (Increasing Land Access) Program (LCM). This program funds cooperative agreements or grants for projects that help move underserved producers from surviving to thriving. The awardees – which include many National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) members – proposed national, regional, and local projects that cover 40 states and territories including Washington DC, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.

Background

Land access is one of the biggest challenges for young and beginning farmers all across the country – whether small-scale dairy farmers in New England, livestock and grain …

RELEASE: Farmer Letter in Support of Agriculture Resilience Act Delivered to Bill Sponsor Representative Pingree

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| Sustainability

For Immediate Release

Contact Laura Zaks

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)

lzaks@sustainableagriculture.net

RELEASE: Farmer Letter in Support of Agriculture Resilience Act Delivered to Bill Sponsor Representative Pingree

Washington, DC, April 21, 2023 – Yesterday, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) delivered to Representative Pingree (D-ME) a letter in support of the Agriculture Resilience Act. Signed by over 1,000 farmers from 48 states and Puerto Rico, the letter outlines the fundamental threat that climate change presents to agriculture. However, it also points to the ways in which agriculture offers solutions to climate change.

“Through its support for agriculture research, conservation, pasture-based livestock, farmland preservation and viability, on-farm renewable energy, and managing food loss and waste, the Agriculture Resilience Act invests in reducing agricultural greenhouse gas emissions,” said Cathy Day, Climate Policy Coordinator. “The investments provide farmer-led and incentive-based

…

Research on public support for climate policy instruments must broaden its scope

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| Climate

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 26 January 2023; doi:10.1038/s41558-022-01593-1

The transition to net-zero emissions will be contested and could lead to political polarization and social unrest. To contribute to a transition that is accepted as legitimate while remaining effective, research on public support must evolve rapidly along several dimensions.
Nature Climate Change…

Environment.org

Tag: Support

Building Capacity in Materials Management: Training & Expert Support

Building Capacity in Materials Management: Training and Expert Support

Funding Available to Support Underserved Farmers: A Look at USDA’s 2501 Grants

Globally representative evidence on the actual and perceived support for climate action

Release: USDA Updates Good Farming Practice Definition, Strengthening Support for Conservation Practice Adoption

Release: USDA Updates Good Farming Practice Definition, Strengthening Support for Conservation Practice Adoption

Strengthening Local Processing Act – Critical Reasons for Support in the Farm Bill

History of Independent Small-Scale Meat Processing

USDA Announces $300 Million in Awards to Support Access to Land, Capital, and Markets for Beginning and Undeserved Framers

Background

Research on public support for climate policy instruments must broaden its scope