Wins for Sustainable Agriculture

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National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition news featuring: Wins for sustainable agriculture in FY 2017 spending package; USDA freezes new enrollments in Conservation Reserve; Conservation programs for new farming futures; and Investing in farmer ingenuity…

CONGRESSIONAL NEWS 

Wins for Sustainable Agriculture in FY 2017 Spending Package – After three continuing resolutions, which cumulatively delayed the fiscal year (FY) 2017 appropriations package by over seven months, Congress has finally reached an agreement on funding levels for the remainder of FY 2017. Despite a particularly contentious political environment, one area on which Congress was largely able to agree in the omnibus spending bill was support for sustainable agriculture programs. This post digs into some of these wins for sustainable agriculture.

USDA NEWS  

USDA Freezes New Enrollments in Continuous Conservation Reserve Program – As of May 3, USDA’s Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CCRP) will cease enrollment of any new acres – with the exception of State Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) enrollments ­– through the remainder of fiscal year 2017. While USDA’s Farm Service Agency, which administers CCRP, will continue to accept offers for continuous enrollment, those offers will not be accepted and enrolled until FY 2018 (FY 2018 begins October 1, 2017).

STORIES FROM THE FIELD 

Conservation Programs for New Farming Futures – Part four of our “Stories from the Field” series, a blog series that brings attention to some of NSAC’s top appropriations priorities, features the story of Ryan Speer. Ryan Speer is a Kansas farmer who relies on programs like the Conservation Stewardship Program and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program to engage with sustainability on his farm and inspires those around him to do the same.

Investing in Farmer Ingenuity – In an effort to bring attention to some of NSAC’s top appropriations priorities, we are putting together a series of blogs to highlight on the ground stories of farmers using key programs that need continued funding and support. This is the third post in the series and features the story of  Clay Oliver. Oliver’s booming unrefined cooking oil business, located in Georgia, is largely thanks to his use of the Value-Added Producer Program.