NSAC News on Census, Farm Bill, Grants…

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Blog clips from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) featuring Census News, Farm Bill Implementation News, Appropriations News, and Grant Opportunities

CENSUS NEWS  

2017 Ag Census Reveals Some Bright Spots Despite Increased Farm Consolidation – Increased consolidation and economic concentration, declines in the number of farms, land being farmed, and farm income have occurred since the last census in 2012, and similarly, over the past decade. However, the number of beginning farmers, organic farms, and local food sales continue to climb – a bright spot in an otherwise bleak farming outlook marked by continued shrinking of the “ag of the middle” and decreased farm profitability.  

FARM BILL IMPLEMENTATION 

REE Readout: Research, Education, and Extension Farm Bill Implementation Efforts – In late March, USDA’s Research, Education, and Extension (REE) Mission Area hosted its first listening session at USDA headquarters. At the REE listening session, NSAC presented formal comments, both oral and written, on our priorities for 2018 Farm Bill implementation. NSAC’s recommendations are detailed in this blog, sorted by program and/or issue area  

APPROPRIATIONS NEWS  

FY 2020 Agriculture Appropriations and Sustainable Agriculture Priorities – Members of Congress headed home this week for a two-week recess. In the weeks leading up to recess, Members (as well as food, agriculture, and other advocacy organizations) were rushing to send their complete funding requests for fiscal year (FY) 2020 to the House and Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittees. The following post highlights the appropriations advocacy efforts of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), key takeaways from recent appropriations hearings, and what’s next in the budget and appropriations process for FY 2020.  

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES USDA Releases RFA’s for Grants in Research, Local Food and Food Safety 

• Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) -.
  • Deadline: Letter of intent due June 4, 2019
• Food Safety Opportunities Program (FSOP)
  • Deadline: June 6, 2019
• Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program (FMLFPP)
  • Deadline: June 18, 2019

 

 

• Get more information about Farm Policy and Agricultural Politics at https://www.beginningfarmers.org/farm-policy-agricultural-politics/

• Find more funding resources for farmers at https://www.beginningfarmers.org/funding-resources/

• Find many other useful farming resources at https://www.beginningfarmers.org/additional-farming-resources/