Organic Research Programs and More News

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The latest news from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) featuring Organic Research Programs Awards, Grant Programs Supporting Farmers of Color and Veterans, and National Farm to School Month Spotlight.

USDA NEWS  

Organic Research Programs Award Last Round of 2014 Farm Bill Funds

On October 19, 2018, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture announced over $21 million in FY 2018 grants in organic research programs awards to support organic research and farming. Future funding for organic research, however, remains in limbo. As one of ten “tiny but mighty” programs that support sustainable agriculture, the OREI organic research programs have neither authorization nor funding to operate following the 2014 Farm Bill’s expiration. 

Grant Program Supporting Farmers of Color and Veterans Makes Final Awards 

$9 million in FY 2018 grant funding could be the last socially disadvantaged farmers see from the Section 2501 program, which lost its authorization and future funding following the expiration of the 2014 Farm Bill. For decades, Section 2501 has served as the only farm bill program dedicated to addressing the specific needs of farmers of color. In the 2014 Farm Bill, Congress expanded Section 2501 to include military veteran farmers.
  

NSAC MEMBER NEWS  

National Farm to School Month Spotlight: Missouri Coalition for the Environment 

MCE, and many other ag-vocates and farm to school organizations, found success in connecting family farmers to local schools thanks to support from the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program (FMLFPP). Future projects, however, are currently on hold because FMLFPP is a “tiny but mighty” farm bill program that requires new funding and extended authority. With the 2014 Farm Bill expired and no extension in place (let alone an extension with new funding for the program), FMLFPP is now in limbo, along with several other tiny but mighty programs that serve the sustainable agriculture community.

 

Learn more about farm policy and ag politics and find more farm bill myth busting resources at https://www.beginningfarmers.org/farm-policy-agricultural-politics/

Find lots more farming resources at https://www.beginningfarmers.org/additional-farming-resources/