Conservation Reserve Program Expanded
Conservation Reserve Program Expanded and Renewed, Agriculture Resilience Act Released, NSAC is Hiring, Farm to School Act of 2021, and NSAC Appropriations Fly-In in the latest news from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
Comment: Conservation Reserve Program Expanded and Renewed
On Wednesday, the USDA announced changes to the Conservation Reserve Program. The reversal of the previous Administration’s reduction in the CCRP Practice Incentive Payments and rental rate bonus, together with the new climate smart practice incentive, will put the CCRP and CLEAR back on track, sending a clear signal to farmers that enrollments of high payoff practices like riparian buffers, prairie strips, and grass waterways will be worth their while. This is very welcome news for Earth Day and NSAC applauds Secretary Vilsack for moving quickly to reverse the tide,” said Eric Deeble, Policy Director at NSAC.
Head to our blog to read the full comment about Conservation Reserve Program Expanded and Renewed.
Release: Agriculture Resilience Act Delivers Bold Vision for Net Zero Agriculture
Yesterday, Representative Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) introduced the Agriculture Resilience Act (ARA), which outlines a farmer-focused, research-driven path to net zero agriculture. This Earth Week, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) is proud to endorse a bill delivering a bold vision for the future of agriculture. The ARA will refocus federal conservation, research, renewable energy, and rural economic development programs on climate resilience and empower farmers and ranchers eager to drive climate change solutions on the ground.
The ARA utilizes existing farm bill programs to keep farmers on the land and in business, while equipping them with the tools and resources they need to be active partners in our efforts to mitigate the climate crisis by doubling funding for conservation programs and tripling agricultural research funding. Check out our blog to learn more.
NSAC Is Hiring a Climate Policy Coordinator!
Passionate about addressing the climate crisis? Love working in a collaborative context? The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) is seeking a Climate Policy Coordinator to coordinate our Coalition’s climate change policy work. Learn more and apply online by May 9.
Release: Farm to School Act of 2021 Will Support Child Nutrition Programs and Local Food Systems in Rebuilding from Pandemic
Yesterday, a bipartisan group of Senate leaders introduced the Farm to School Act of 2021 which will support our nation’s schools, farmers and communities in building back equitably from the Covid-19 pandemic. The bill, sponsored by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Susan Collins (R-ME), will expand funding for and programmatic scope of the highly successful USDA Farm to School Grant Program, while also ensuring that more communities – specifically those serving racially diverse and high-need student populations, as well as engaging with beginning, veteran and socially disadvantaged farmers – have a competitive opportunity to benefit from this valuable program. A similar bill (H.R. 1768) was introduced in the House by Representatives Stacey Plaskett (D-VI), Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) and Alma Adams (D-NC) in March.
Farmers Care About SARE: NSAC Hosts Virtual Annual Appropriations Fly-In
Marking one year since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, NSAC gathered last month to host our third virtual farmer fly-in with farmers, ranchers, and researchers from ten states to discuss agriculture appropriations for the 2022 fiscal year (FY) with their Congressional delegations. The topic of discussion this year? The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Extension (SARE) program!
Many of our fly-in farmers have utilized SARE to address environmental degradation and the impact of poor soil management practices on their operation. As one of the first USDA grant programs to fund projects that directly address climate change and provide research and education on soil health and carbon sequestration management practices, SARE has had contributed to building climate resilience in communities throughout the country. Read more at our blog!
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