Crop insurance is the cornerstone of the farm safety net, insuring farms for losses from unpredictable weather, market fluctuations, and other risks. Consequently, the federal crop insurance program (FCIP) is the costliest part of agriculture production spending, as taxpayers subsidize the program to the tune of billions of dollars each year. Despite being a cornerstone […] The post Uninsured: Federal Crop Insurance Program Leaves Most Farms Unprotected appeared first on National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition ..read more

On March 6, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) hosted a virtual briefing: Impact in the Field – How the USDA Funding Freeze and Employee Layoffs are Impacting Farmers and Ranchers. Five farmers from around the country joined NSAC’s policy director, Mike Lavender, for a panel discussion to voice their concerns about the ongoing funding […] The post Farmers Speak Out on the Devastating Impact of USDA Funding Freeze appeared first on National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition ..read more

For Immediate Release Contact: Laura Zaks National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition press@sustainableagriculture.net Comment: NSAC Responds to Government Funding Deal  Washington, DC, March 15, 2025 – Today, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) reacted following Senate approval of the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (H.R. 1968) on a vote of 54-46. Earlier this week, the […] The post Comment: NSAC Responds to Government Funding Deal appeared first on National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition ..read more

While the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has not confirmed the number of employees that have already been laid off or their plans for a forthcoming “reduction in force”, staffing chaos has reigned at the agency for the past several weeks. The firing of nearly 6,000 probationary employees was ruled illegal and extensive terminations are […] The post USDA Staffing Cuts Hurt Farmers and Rural Communities appeared first on National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition ..read more

Recent Executive Orders have led to the freezing of billions of dollars of already committed grant money, including funds for the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities (PCSC), an innovative program to support public-private partnerships to develop markets for climate-smart agricultural commodities.  Through PCSC, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has entered into agreements with 135 partner […] The post Farmers Lose When Climate-Smart Partnerships are Frozen appeared first on National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition ..read more

As in years past, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) members gathered in Washington, DC on February 10-13, 2025, for our annual winter meeting. This event offered NSAC members the opportunity to connect and work on strategy for shared priorities and collective actions. It was also a vital opportunity to take to Capitol Hill and engage […] The post NSAC Members Meet for Annual Winter Meeting appeared first on National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition ..read more

For Immediate Release Contact: Laura Zaks National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition press@sustainableagriculture.net Release: NSAC Responds to Termination of Critical Local Food Funding, Envisions Future for Popular Program Washington, DC, March 11, 2025 – Today, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) lamented the termination of previously announced funding for the Local Food for Schools and Child Care […] The post Release: NSAC Responds to Termination of Critical Local Food Funding, Envisions Future for Popular Program appeared first on National Sustainable Agriculture Coaliti ..read more

For Immediate Release Contact: Laura Zaks National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition press@sustainableagriculture.net Release: NSAC Holds Briefing as USDA Funding Freeze and Layoffs Threaten Farmers and Communities Nationwide Washington, DC, March 6, 2025 – Today, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), a coalition of more than 150 farm, food, conservation, and rural organizations, held a virtual briefing […] The post Release: NSAC Holds Briefing as USDA Funding Freeze and Layoffs Threaten Farmers and Communities Nationwide appeared first on National Sustainable Agriculture Coal ..read more

Since January, the Trump Administration has frozen vast swathes of federal spending under a series of Executive Orders, including at the United States Department of Agriculture. Hundreds of thousands of lawful, signed, active contracts and grants – supporting critical conservation payments, farmer technical assistance, sustainable agriculture research, market infrastructure, and so much more, and representing […] The post Funding Freeze Impacts: Farmers and Organizations Speak Out appeared first on National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition ..read more

The recent freeze to federal grants and loans has impacted countless federal programs and simultaneously left rural businesses and farmers in a lurch.  Among the most impacted programs has been the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). As a result, farmers and businesses alike may be on the hook for millions of dollars of energy […] The post Rural Businesses, Farmers Lose While USDA’s Rural Energy Program is Frozen appeared first on National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition ..read more