Expanding Local Meat Markets and More
Expanding Local Meat Markets, CFAP-2 Resources and Webinar Available, and USDA Local Food Project Awards in this Week’s News from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)
Guest Post: Expanding Local Meat Markets
While Iowa’s large meat packing plants made national news during the height of pandemic-related food supply disruptions, something else was afoot, brimming with potential to provide a partial antidote to challenges caused by consolidation in the livestock industry.
This May, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship adopted the Cooperative Interstate Shipment Program, which allows meat processed at state-inspected plants to be sold outside of Iowa. The program will help shape new and diverse markets for Iowa-raised meats, which will play a role in more livestock integration on our landscape, greater resiliency, and the revival of rural communities. Read more on the blog below:
CFAP-2 Resources and Webinar Available
This September, The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) began accepting applications through the newly reopened and revised Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP-2) for direct aid payments to agricultural producers affected by price declines and additional marketing costs due to the pandemic. This second iteration of CFAP retains most elements of CFAP-1, but also includes significant improvements that are certain to benefit many farmers who weren’t eligible for or fairly compensated by the original program.
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) has been working to compile resources to help those who work with farmers understand how to advise and support farmers interested in applying for direct aid.
Last week, NSAC co-hosted a webinar to cover in detail how the program works, including the different payment structures and expanded crops that are included in this program, as well as documentation that may be needed for the application process. We have also recently updated our CFAP 101 for Producers page, which you can find below:
USDA Awards $27 Million to Support Local Food Projects
Local food systems and direct-to-consumer marketing through farmers markets, farm stands, and Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs) programs have flourished across the country over the past several decades. The important work of connecting farmers and ranchers to local/regional consumers and markets has been in part driven by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) competitive grant the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program (FMLFPP).
Last week, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) awarded $27 million in grant funding to support 93 local food projects for fiscal year (FY) 2020– including to 10 NSAC members. See our breakdown of where these funds are going:
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