Hey all-
We want to give out a huge Thank You! to the intrepid young farmers who came from the four corners of the country to speak with Senators and Representatives earlier this week about the importance of beginning farmer programs in the USDA budget.  (Stay tuned to the blog for a reportback on that adventure soon.)

Didn’t get a chance to be there, but want to get involved?  Well you are in luck!  News just came down the pipeline that the Senate is going to be voting on Monday on a general government budget (called a “Continuing Resolution, or C.R.”) that could also include funding for those amazing programs that were left high and dry in the New Years Eve farm bill extension.  (Read more about the whole dirty mess that was the 2012 Farm Bill here.) 

These include the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, which funds countless training programs, Organic Cost-Share, and many more*.  Take just a minute to make a call to save these programs!

Head over to the NYFC action page right now and make your call!  (Can’t do it right now?  You’ve got until Monday, so don’t forget!)

* Some of the programs currently stranded without funding include:

    Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program       
    Value-Added Producer Grant Program
    Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program
    Rural Energy for America Program
    Organic Agriculture Research & Extension Initiative
    National Organic Certification Cost Share Program
    Organic Production & Market Data Initiatives
    Farmers Market Promotion Program
    Outreach & Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers & Ranchers
    Conservation Reserve Program – Transition Incentive Program