You did it! Farmer training + land access win in Farm Bill
Our coalition was founded in 2010 in large part to help ensure that our needs as new, young and sustainable farmers are represented in public policy. And today, although we’re not happy with all aspects of the new farm bill, we are proud to say that many of the challenges that we face in starting […]
Thank you for speaking up! Reporting back on Farmer Programs in the Senate
First of all, a huge thank you to everyone who took the time last week to sign the petition, make calls, tell friends, etc. about the Senate’s budget vote. As a refresher, there were three big pushes we had: to push funding for the beginning farmer programs that had been left high and dry in […]
Update on pro-farmer Tester amendments – it's not too late to take action!
First, a gigantic thank you to those who made calls and signed the petition supporting the Tester amendments this week! As a quick refresher, the two amendments are to remove two hideous riders to the Senate Continuing Resolution bill (in layman’s terms, they are mini-bills tacked on to the 6-month budget proposal that the Senate […]
Take Action Now to Help Independent Livestock Producers
Independent meat producers and farmers everywhere need your help right now to defeat some terrible language that was included in the Senate’s Continuing Resolution. As Wes reported earlier today, the Senate’s bill to fund government programs through the rest of 2013 (known as a Continuing Resolution) includes two provisions that support large meat industries and […]
Updates from DC: Victories on Conservation, Action Needed Today on Loans, GMO's, and Meat
Thank you all so much for making calls over the past week regarding the Senate vote on funding farmer programs! We have some news to report, and one more thing to ask of you, so read on: The proposed Continuing Resolution (the government’s 6-month budget plan) that was announced on Monday did indeed fix the […]
GIPSA Begins Investigation of Sheep Price Manipulation
Sheep farmers: have you seen problems with lamb prices recently? The USDA’s Grain Inspection Packers & Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) has opened an investigation of the U.S. sheep market in response to a recent dramatic price decreases. The investigation aims to reveal whether there is market manipulation by processors that is affecting prices. At the heart […]
An Update on GIPSA
The USDA has published the Final Rule implementing the 2008 Farm Bill provisions in order to help protect livestock and poultry producers under the Grain Inspection, Packers, and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA), according to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. These provisions were required under the 2008 Farm Bill and have been modified from the rule proposed on […]
GIPSA Rule Survives Senate Appropriations Committee
One small victory for small-scale agriculture has been achieved on the legal front. Two weeks ago, the Senate Appropriations Committee did not include language previously proposed in the House of Representatives’ 2012 Agriculture Appropriations Bill that would prevent the USDA’s Grain Inspection, Packers, and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) from enacting a competition rule known as the […]