Latest news from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition for the week of January 16-20th 2012:

USDA NEWS

USDA Taking Applications for Rural and Farm Energy Funding: On January 20, USDA announced that it is taking applications for Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) funding. For FY2012, USDA has $25.4 million in budget authority for REAP, which will support at least $12.5 million in grant funding and approximately $48.5 million in loan guarantees. Read more…

Funding Available for Organic Research: On Tuesday, January 17th, 2012, USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture announced the release of its 2012 Request for Applications (RFA) for the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI), which provides grants to academic, private, and non-profit research institutions to investigate research issues related to organic production.  Applications are due on March 9th, 2012, and approximately $19 million is available.  Read more…

USDA Announces CIG Funding for Water Quality Markets: On Friday, January 13, USDA announced the availability of $10 million for water quality credit trading projects through the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program. According to USDA’s vision of water quality credit trading, “a producer who implements conservation practices to reduce water quality pollutants can also benefit by generating water quality market credits that could be sold in an open market, which would reduce the costs of implementing and maintaining the conservation practices.”  Read more…

OTHER NEWS

New Regulatory Certainty Program Announced in Minnesota: On Tuesday, January 17, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson, Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton, and USDA’s Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service Dave White met in Minnesota to announce a new partnership between the State, USDA, and EPA.  Through the partnership, producers would receive immunity, also known as regulatory assurance or certainty, from regulation under Minnesota’s water quality standards in exchange for the implementation of certain conservation activities.  Read more…

This beginning farmer financing and loan rules update from USDA includes the announcement of SIGNIFICANT CHANGES in LOAN ELIGIBILITY RULES for beginning farmers and a new Program that encourages landowners to sell their land to beginning farmers using land contracts (seller-based financing). Beginning Farmers applauds these significant changes which will help to remove existing barriers that limit the ability of new farmers to participate in federal loan programs, and offer new opportunities for transferring land from private owners to beginning farmers! 

USDA Announces Greater Flexibility and Additional Tools for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 2012 — U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Bruce Nelson today announced today a new rule that expands loan opportunities for beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, while also establishing a new Land Contract Guarantee Program. The rule provides additional flexibility allowing FSA loan officers to consider all prior farming experience, including on-the-job training and formal education, when determining eligibility for FSA for farm operating and ownership loans. It also expands a previous pilot program, the Land Contract Guarantee Program, from six states to all 50 states. This program is designed to encourage farmers and ranchers to sell their property to beginning and socially disadvantaged (SDA) farmers and ranchers through the use of seller financing.
“USDA continues to find ways to improve our services for farmers and ranchers by streamlining processes, accelerating delivery, and using innovative solutions to 21st century agricultural challenges,” said Nelson. “These improvements demonstrate FSA’s commitment to helping the next generation of America’s farmers and ranchers participate in our nation’s agricultural economy. The new flexibility also enlarges the pool of potential farmland buyers, which is important to young, beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers who start out or operate without established credit.”
The changes in eligibility announced today will increase access for farmers and ranchers to FSA loans and credit assistance. The new rule enables landowners to sell their farmland to the next generation on a contract for deed with a 90-percent guarantee against losses to the seller. Alternatively, the agency can provide a guarantee of three years’ amortized loan installments, plus payment of real estate taxes and hazard insurance premiums for the same three-year period. Read more »

Young Farm Policy Leaders Provide Strategies for Communicating with Congress at Fresh Impact Panel

Under-35 Panel Highlights Advocacy & Grassroots Seminar at October’s Washington Public Policy Conference

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Four of the leading young minds in federal agriculture policy will provide an inside look at how produce industry members can communicate more effectively with their elected officials at the United Fresh Produce Association’s Washington Public Policy Conference, October 3-5 in Washington, D.C.

On Monday afternoon, October 3, the Fresh Impact Panel at United’s Advocacy & Grassroots seminar features four leaders—all under the age of 35—at the forefront of agricultural policy in Washington. USDA’s Anne Cannon MacMillan, Matt Perin of the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Nutrition and Horticulture, Russell & Barron’s Tyson Redpath, and Jacqlyn Schneider of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry will join United Fresh members for a fresh and unconventional look at the process of connecting with members of Congress and conveying produce industry priorities.

“These four leaders represent the new guard and next generation of policy rainmakers in Washington and, even with their youth, they have a seasoned ability to artfully communicate complex agricultural policy issues up the chain to the highest levels of government,” said United Fresh Senior Vice President of Public Policy Robert Guenther. “Our members will benefit tremendously as Anne, Matt, Tyson and Jacqlyn sit down to share their fresh take on how best to approach and work with lawmakers with the goal of getting real results and building industry success.” Read more »

 RURAL LIFE DAY 2011: Farm Policy 2012 Style – Serving the Public Interest or Misdirection

Saturday, December 3, 2011; Alphonse J. Schwartze Catholic Center – 2207 West Main, Jefferson City, Missouri; 8:30 AM to 3:40 PM

State and national leaders in the local and healthy foods, family farm, and sustainability movements will join us on Dec. 3 for the 2011 Rural Life Day. With them we will examine the misdirection, restrictions, and opportunities contained in what is perhaps the centerpiece of global food and agriculture policy – the US Farm Bill.

We will have the opportunity to hear and interact with the lived experiences of farmers and those that research and document the lives of family farm and food producers in the US.  And, we will endeavor to pull together the experiences and research with a faith that calls us to wholeness and place it into a vision and a quest for a better way to live on our fragile, abundant and fruitful, yet increasingly endangered Earth. Read more »

USDA NEWS from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition – August 29, 2011

New ERS Conservation Articles and Report

On Monday, August 22, USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) issued a new edition of its Amber Waves magazine, featuring two important agricultural conservation stories.

“Reducing Agriculture’s Nitrogen Footprint: Are New Policy Approaches Needed?” is a helpful quick review by Marc Ribaudo of earlier ERS publications on nutrient management and the array of possible policies to accelerate adoption, including financial assistance, compliance, and regulation. Read more…

Farmer Backlog for Federal Credit Addressed but Serious Gap Remains

On July 28, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) transferred unneeded Guaranteed Farm Operating Loan (GOL) funds to two credit programs with higher demand – Direct Farm Operating Loans (DOL) and Guaranteed Farm Ownership (GFO) loans.  FSA has general authority to transfer a portion of appropriated funds from one loan program to another to bring spending more in line with farmer demand for credit. Read more…

USDA Proposes New Animal ID and Tracing Regulation

On Thursday, August 11, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued a proposed rule with national official identification and documentation requirements for the traceability of livestock moving interstate.  Read more…

2011 Conservation Innovation Grant Awards Announced

On Monday, August 22, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced the 2011 recipients of the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG).  Approximately $22.5 million will be awarded to 52 non-profit, private and public organizations addressing natural resource concerns in 40 states across the country. Read more…

New USDA Report Highlights Successes of the Wetlands Reserve Program

On Monday, August 22, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) released a new publication highlighting the success of the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) over its 20-year history.  Read more…

An FDA Inspector in Arizona - Photo from FDA Flickr Photo Sharing

In a recent article from the FDA entitled The ‘Teeth’ of FDA’s Food Safety Law, the agency puts a very positive spin on the law itself and it’s implementation. Because this is a controversial issue (to say the least), I’m sure that some of you will feel that I’m being wishy washy (at best) by presenting the article without personal comment. But for those who don’t follow the Facebook page, my policy is now to present the news, and (to the best of my ability) refrain from giving editorial comment on it. I find this inspires better dialog, and lets people form and express their own opinions, which is something I want to encourage. I know that for many of you, this article will make your blood boil. But please direct your opinions toward the issue, not toward me personally. I simply thought people should know what the FDA is saying about the new law. So here goes:

EXCERPT: The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), signed into law by President Obama in January, has been called “historic” because it puts the focus of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on prevention—working to ensure that unsafe foods are not distributed in the first place. FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg says the law directs the agency to oversee food safety in a way that applies “the best available science and good common sense to prevent the problems that can make people sick.” What lends the new law additional importance is that it provides FDA with new enforcement and inspection authorities. “These new authorities are critical for the law’s success,” said Michael R. Taylor, FDA’s deputy commissioner for foods. “They give the food companies strong additional incentives for keeping their products safe, and that helps us achieve the new law’s goal, which is to protect consumers from unsafe food.”

The full article is available at: http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm267460.htm Please feel free to share your opinions using the comment link above, or on the Facebook page.

FARM NEWS from NATIONAL SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE COALITION

Friday Update: Congress Returns with Budget Front and Center: At the conclusion of the May 5 meeting at Blair House between Vice President Biden and six congressional leaders, all parties to the talks said progress had been made toward a deal that would lead both to a deficit reduction budget deal and a positive vote in Congress to raise the federal borrowing limit. Beyond general platitudes, however, it was not clear to those outside the room just what exactly constituted progress other than they met and agreed to meet again next Tuesday. Republicans leaders insisted that discretionary and entitlement spending was on the table and tax expenditures off the table, while Democratic leaders insist that everything must be on the table. Read more…

Senate Bills Take Different Routes to Phase-Out Ethanol Tax Credit: This week saw the introduction of two Senate bills with different routes to phasing out the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC) for ethanol blended with gasoline and a tariff and ad valorem tax on imported ethanol, both of which are intended to stimulate ethanol production in the U.S.  Last December, Congress approved legislation that extended until December 31, 2011, the 45 cents per gallon VEETC, as well as the 54 cents per gallon tariff and ad valorem tax of 2.5 percent on imported ethanol. Opposition to the VEETC and ethanol tariff has intensified in 2011.  Those opposed to the VEETC represent a wide array of perspectives. Read more…

Results U.S. Supreme Court Declines to Review Jury Award to Poultry Growers: On Monday, May 2, the U.S. Supreme Court declined, without comment, a petition of certiorari to review a 10th Circuit Court of Appeals decision in the case O.K. Industries v. Been.  The Appeals Court upheld a federal jury award of $14.5 million to poultry growers from a poultry processor because of the processor’s violations of Section 202(a) of the Packers & Stockyards Act (PSA). PSA Section 202(a) provides that it is unlawful for live poultry dealers, packers or swine contractors to engage in or use any unfair, unjustly discriminatory, or deceptive practice or device. Read more…

Farm Service Agency Makes Good Choice for First BCAP Project: On Thursday, May 5, USDA Secretary Vilsack announced that the first Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) project area would cover 30 counties in western Missouri and nine counties in Eastern Kansas, with biomass facilities operated by the Show Me Energy Cooperative as the biomass conversion facilities for the project.  About $15 million will be available for payments to farmers who participate in this first BCAP project. BCAP projects provide funding to farmers, ranchers, and nonindustrial forestland owners to establish and maintain bioenergy feedstocks specified in a BCAP project. Read more…

Food Desert Locator Tool Released: Following on previous efforts to make information available to the public using visual interfaces, USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) released the Food Desert Locator this week.  This new tool provides population characteristics of areas considered food deserts according the definition by the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) Working Group. The HFFI, a partnership between the Treasury Department, Health and Human Services, and the Agriculture Department (USDA), with the collaboration of ERS staff, defines a food desert as a low-income census tract where a substantial number or share of residents has low access to a supermarket or large grocery store. Read more…

Here is this week’s installment of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition’s Weekly News Roundup:

CONGRESSIONAL NEWS

Congressional Bioenergy Briefing: On On Tuesday, April 27, the Environmental and Energy Study Institute hosted a congressional briefing entitled Developing Sustainable Biomass Supplies.  Presentation slides and an audio recording of the briefing are posted on the Institute’s website. The briefing began with an overview and update on implementation of the Farm Bill Energy Title programs administered by the Rural Development Agency, as well as the Biomass Crop Assistance Program overseen by the Farm Service Agency.  Then Dr. Jeffrey Steiner, the National Program Leader for Biomass Production for the Agricultural Research Service, discussed the challenges to achieving sustainable biomass production.

USDA NEWS

NIFA Director Roger Beachy to Resign : On Friday, April 29, USDA announced that Roger Beachy, Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), will leave his post on May 20 of this year. USDA Undersecretary for Research, Education and Economics, Cathie Woteki, announced Beachy’s resignation today in a memo to her staff. Beachy intends to return to St. Louis.

USDA Releases Assessment of Natural Resources in the United States : On Wednesday, April 27, USDA released a pre-publication copy of its long-awaited 2011 Resource Conservation Act Appraisal.  The appraisal, part of USDA’s implementation of the Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act (RCA), assesses the status of soil, water, and related natural resources on non-Federal land and analyzes the effectiveness of current conservation policies and programs. The RCA also directs USDA to develop a “national conservation plan” in response to its Appraisal.  The plan is due to Congress early next year and might also serve as a vehicle for Administration ideas for the conservation title of the 2012 Farm Bill.

Results on Nationwide Analysis of Food Hubs Released : On April 19, at the Making Good Food Work Conference in Detroit, Michigan, Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan released the results of a nationwide analysis of food hubs.  Merrigan focused on the  economic opportunities of food hubs, an emerging set of business models to provide additional outlets for small and medium sized farmers and bring local food to more consumers in a region. “Food hub” is a general term that encompasses a variety of models.  Common features of food hubs are aggregation,  distribution, and marketing services for small and especially mid-sized farms.

Proposed National Leafy Green Marketing Agreement Released: On Tuesday, April 26,  USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) released its proposal for a National Leafy Green Marketing Agreement (NLGMA).  If adopted, the  program would be used to govern the production, handling, and manufacturing of leafy green vegetables, including spinach, lettuce, and cabbage, for handlers who sign on and for all the farmers who supply those participating handlers. Explaining the vision for the proposed Agreement, AMS says NLGMA “would minimize the potential for microbial contamination, thereby improving customer confidence in leafy green vegetables in the marketplace.”  The Agency adds that the Agreement “would be available to operations of all sizes, locations, and agricultural practices.” Read more »

The following notice was sent from Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. It announces the rescheduled date for the Agriculture Field Hearing on the Farm Bill to be held in Michigan with Ranking Minority Committee Member, Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS).

If you have previously sent in comments or questions you don’t have to re-send them, Stabenow’s Committee Staff has informed me. But you do need to RSVP again.

AGRICULTURE FIELD HEARING – RESCHEDULED

April 26, 2011

As the new Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, I am writing to invite you to the first official field hearing on the upcoming reauthorization of our nation’s Farm Bill. Senator Pat Roberts from Kansas, who is the Ranking Member on the Committee, will be joining me for the hearing.

Senate Agriculture Committee Field Hearing

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Kellogg Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

http://www.kelloggcenter.com/about/location.html

Congress considers the Farm Bill only once every five years. As you know, this legislation has broad implications for agriculture as well as sweeping impact on our energy, conservation, rural development, research, forestry and nutrition policies. This is your opportunity to make your voice heard and to be a part of the official record of committee debate.

You may participate in the hearing by submitting written testimony which will be included in the official record of the hearing. Three copies of your testimony can be submitted at the hearing or can be sent to the Committee no later than June 7, 2011. You may also submit questions for possible consideration by the panel members during a limited question and answer period before May 26, 2011. Send your testimony or questions to aghearing@ag.senate.gov or to US Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, 328A Russell Senate Office Bldg, Washington, D.C. 20510.  If you previously submitted testimony and questions, there is no need to resubmit.

For up-to-date information on the hearing and Farm Bill process, you can visit the Senate Agriculture Committee website at ag.senate.gov.

To RSVP for the hearing, contact the Agriculture Committee Office at 202-224-2035 or email aghearing@ag.senate.gov.

Despite a tepid response from the Senate Agriculture Committee, and actual hostility in the House, 141 agriculture organizations (see list below) signed a letter in support of USDA’s new livestock marketing competition rule (also known as GIPSA), and delivered it to legislators on Thursday, April 21st, 2011. The content of the letter is as follows:

As a result of rapid consolidation and vertical integration, the livestock and poultry markets of this nation have reached a point where anti-competitive practices dominate, to the detriment of producers and consumers. Numerous economic studies in recent years have demonstrated the economic harm of current market structures and practices, and have called for greater enforcement of existing federal laws in order to restore competition to livestock and poultry markets.

Until recently, Congress and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have largely ignored these trends. Fortunately, Congress included language in the 2008 Farm Bill to require the U.S. Department of Agriculture to write regulations, using its existing Packers and Stockyards Act authorities, to begin to restore fairness and competition in livestock and poultry markets.

On June 22, 2010, the Grain Inspection Packers and Stockyards Agency (GIPSA) issued proposed rules to implement the 2008 Farm Bill mandates, and to address related anticompetitive practices in the livestock and poultry industries. These reforms are long overdue and begin to respond to the criticisms by farm groups, consumer groups, the Government Accountability Office and USDA’s Inspector General about USDA’s past lack of enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act. The proposed GIPSA rules define and clarify terms in the Act in order to make enforcement more effective, and to provide clarity to all players in livestock and poultry markets. Read more »

The following are my recommended agriculture articles for Monday, April 25th, 2011

Peak Land Markets Don’t Deter Beginners (by Elizabeth Williams – DTN Progressive Farmer)

EXCERPT: “Getting around that land barrier takes more patience than I first envisioned,” said Cannon, “because I don’t want to get land by being the highest rental bidder and undercutting the neighboring farmers. I don’t think that relationship is sustainable in the long run. If that’s all the landowner is looking for, who’s to say down the road, someone won’t come along and out bid me,” Cannon said. “I try to build a relationship with family friends, neighboring farmers and farm managers. I don’t want to come off as pushy.”

Livestock Indemnity Program Can Benefit Producers (by By Ellen Crawford – AgWeb)

EXCERPT: The federal Livestock Indemnity Program is available to provide payments to livestock producers who lose animals as a result of adverse weather conditions this year. “With flooding this spring, this program could be very helpful to producers,” says Oliver County, North Dakota Extension agent Rick Schmidt. “But the program is not limited to livestock losses from flooding. It also applies to losses from blizzards, wildfires, and extreme heat or cold.”

It’s an Inside Job! (By Kevin Spafford – Farm Journal Legacy Project)

EXCERPT: Family farms are not destroyed by outside forces—the estate tax, government regulations or any other untoward burden—as often as they are left in ruin by a lack of communication and the natural self-interests of active and inactive family members. As a rule, most farmers are not good verbal communicators.

A new rule passed by the Food and Nutrition Service now specifically allows local food to be preferentially purchased by public institutions including schools.

The rule is referred to as the “Geographic Preference Option for the Procurement of Unprocessed Agricultural Products in Child Nutrition Programs” and it applies to any public institution which receives funding through the Child Nutrition Act – which is part of the 2008 Farm Bill. The rule which specifies that public institutions “may apply an optional geographic preference in the procurement of unprocessed locally grown or locally raised agricultural products” clears the way for local food to be preferentially purchased by schools and other public institutions including state agencies.

Though this was happening in many places already, there were concerns that “farm to school” programs and other public entities were in conflict with rules regarding interstate trade and other provisions. If you are interested in learning more about the rule, reading the summary or text, you can check it out in the Federal Register at: http://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2011/04/22/2011-9843/geographic-preference-option-for-the-procurement-of-unprocessed-agricultural-products-in-child.

Another busy week in Washington on agriculture policy means another long, but very informative summary of events from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

PUBLIC COMMENT DEADLINE – Comments on the VAPG Interim Final Rule Due Monday: On February 23, the USDA released its interim final rule (IFR) for the Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program.  The public comment period on the rule closes on Monday.  NSAC will submit its comments then.  We encourage those interested in the program to read on for information regarding the contents of the interim final rule and, if so inclined, to submit comments on Monday. We also expect USDA to issue the notice that it will be accepting new VAPG grant proposals soon, perhaps as early as next week.  There is likely to be a 60 day turnaround time for submitting proposals.  We will let readers know as soon as the notice is made public.     Read more…

CONGRESSIONAL NEWS

NSAC Submits FY 2012 Appropriations Testimony to Congress: On Thursday, April 14, NSAC submitted fiscal year (FY) 2012 appropriations testimony to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies.  The testimony includes NSAC funding requests for sustainable agriculture programs in FY 2012, and explains the importance of each program.  Click here to view a copy of the testimony.      Read more…

Letter to Congress in Support of Increased Fairness for Farmers and Ranchers: This week, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition joined a total of 144 organizations from around the country on a letter delivered to members of Congress urging them to support a fair competition rule proposed by USDA’s Grain Inspection, Packers & Stockyards Administration (GIPSA).  USDA issued the proposed rule in response to directives from Congress in the 2008 Farm Bill and to fulfill USDA’s duty to provide clear rules for implementing the Packers & Stockyards Act. The proposed rule is intended to increase fairness to farmer and ranchers in the marketplace for poultry, hogs and cattle.  Read more…

USDA NEWS

USDA Sets Deadline for Biomass Crop Assistance Program Project Proposals: On April 19, USDA’s Farm Services Agency (FSA) issued a Notice that the agency was setting a deadline for Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) project proposals.  Farmers participating in approved projects are eligible for payments to establish bioenergy crops as well as an annual payment. Project proposals must be submitted by May 27 to FSA state offices.  FSA state offices have until June 10 to review project proposals, which will then be sent to FSA’s national office for review and a determination if additional environmental review is needed for the proposed project.  FSA has until June 24 to make this determination.    Read more…

NSAC Submits Comment on Development of Guidelines to Measure GHGs and Carbon Sequestration: On Tuesday, April 19, NSAC responded to a request for comments by USDA on its intent to develop technical guidelines and methods to quantify greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and carbon sequestration for agricultural and forestry activities. The 2008 Farm Bill directed USDA to prepare technical guidelines that outline methods to measure the carbon benefits from conservation and land management activities.  USDA intends to develop measurement methods and guidelines for various types of producers and conservation and production practices.    Read more…

Final Rule for Interstate Shipment of State-Inspected Meat and Poultry Announced: On Tuesday, April 19, USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced a final rule today to broaden the market for smaller, state-inspected meat and poultry plants.  As provided in the 2008 Farm Bill, state-inspected establishments with 25 or fewer employees will be eligible to participate in a voluntary cooperative interstate shipment program, which will give them the option to ship meat and poultry products across state lines bearing an official USDA seal of inspection. FSIS  Administrator Al Almanza says of the rule, “Allowing these state-inspected establishments to ship their products across state lines has the potential to expand rural development and jobs,  increase local tax bases, strengthen rural communities, and ensure that food is safe for consumers.”   Read more…

Final Rule on Geographic Preference in Child Nutrition Programs Released: Today the Food and Nutrition Service released the final rule on geographic preference in Child Nutrition Programs, demonstrating substantial progress for local and regional food systems. As the final rule explains, “geographic preference is a tool that gives bidders in a specified geographic area a specific, defined advantage in the procurement process.” This rulemaking follows from an amendment in the 2008 Farm Bill directing the Secretary of Agriculture to encourage local sourcing by institutions in the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, and Department of Defense (DOD) Fresh program, among others.     Read more…

National Farmers Market Directory Open for Updates: On Monday, April 18, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) opened the updating process for the USDA National Farmers Market Directory, which is the official count of farmers markets in the nation.  2011 will be the first year that the directory will track markets with multiple locations and days of operation. According to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, the directory is not merely a listing of the nation’s more than 6,100 farmers markets: it is also a resource for anyone interested in local food, small producers, and policy surrounding regional food systems.     Read more…

Missourians are invited to help find answers to the question “What Does the Farm Bill Have to Do With Me?” at a public forum Tuesday, May 3, 2011.

Federal legislation determining the nation’s farm and food priorities will be the focus of a panel discussion on “America’s Local Food Future”

America‘s Local Food Future

Tuesday, May 3, 6:30 p.m.

Launer Auditorium

Columbia College

901 Rogers Street, Columbia, MO 65216

Save Your Seat. RSVP at http://moenviron.org/foodfarm.asp; or call 314-727-0600

Join national & local experts for a discussion of our food system, what it means to your budget, your health, & how to change it

Speakers:

·      Dave Andrews, Senior Representative for Food & Water Watch, and former Executive Director of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference

·      Brad Redlin, Agricultural Program Director with the Izaak Walton League and Montana farmer

·      Bill Heffernen, PhD., Emeritus, University of Missouri Dept. of Rural Sociology

·      Tim Gibbons, Political Director, Missouri Rural Crisis Center

Co-Sponsors – Izaak Walton League, Social Concerns Office Office-Diocese of Jefferson City, Missouri Association for Social Welfare, Missouri Coalition for the Environment, Missouri Rural Crisis Center, Slow Food KatyTrail, Sustain Mizzou, Main Street Opportunity Lab, Mid-Missouri Peaceworks, Missouri Association for Social Welfare

The Homegrown Minneapolis Urban Ag Policy Plan was passed by the Minneapolis City Council!

The plan is rooted in a two+ year process with extensive community input and close collaboration with the Minneapolis Departments of Health and Community Planning and Economic Development and the Homegrown Minneapolis initiative.

As Minneapolis Mayor R. T. Rybak put it, “This plan represents hundreds of hours of work of volunteers and City staff, and it’s paid off.  The plan makes it easier to be part of the local, healthy, sustainable food movement and is a giant step toward helping our city and state move closer to food independence.”

Efforts here in Minneapolis were informed and inspired by the many communities around the country who blazed the trail on urban ag.  Thanks for sharing your sage advice and helping us make this a reality here in the Heartland!

You can see the plan itself at:  http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/dhfs/homegrown-home.asp