Farmers Need Action on Climate and Land in the Next Farm Bill
By Lotanna Obodozie 2023 was one of the hottest years on record. As spring approaches across the U.S., scientists say 2024 may be even hotter! Young farmers are leaders on the frontlines of this climate crisis and are driving attention to the need for climate action globally as well as in the U.S. Unpredictable weather […]
Reflections on the Equity Commission’s Final Recommendations to USDA
By Michelle Hughes For the past two years, I’ve served as a community-based organizational representative on the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Equity Commission. When I was appointed to the Agriculture Subcommittee by the Secretary of Agriculture in late 2021, I published a blog post about how I planned to use the opportunity to […]
The Results of the USDA Census of Agriculture Are Here!
On Tuesday, February 13, 2024, the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released the results of the 2022 Census of Agriculture. The Census, conducted every five years, is a count of our nation’s farms and ranches and the people who run them, and provides a new outlook on the future […]
Spotlight on young farmers in Iowa
Young farmers in Iowa spent a day advocating for local food systems funding during the Iowa Food System Coalition’s Farm and Food Day on the Hill. The Eastern Iowa Young Farmers Chapter tabled in the rotunda, kicking off the new year with the goal of reigniting their policy and advocacy work for the first time […]
Discrimination Financial Assistance Program Update
The Discrimination Financial Assistance Program (DFAP) application period closed on Wednesday, January 17, 2024. The DFAP program was open to farmers who have experienced discrimination in USDA lending prior to January 1, 2021. As a USDA cooperator, Young Farmers made hundreds of calls to farmers, hosted social media lives, wrote several blog post articles, and […]
RELEASE: New Census of Agriculture reveals more young and beginning farmers, but less farmland and fewer small farms
Contact: Jessica Manly, Communications Director National Young Farmers Coalition jessica@youngfarmers.org, 518-643-3564 x 722 (Washington, D.C., February 16, 2024) On Tuesday, February 13, 2024, the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released the results of the 2022 Census of Agriculture. The Census, conducted every five years, is a count of our nation’s farms […]
Meet the 2024-25 Young Farmers Policy Committee Members
The results are in, and we’re excited to announce the incumbent representatives to the National Young Farmers Coalition Policy Committee for the 2024-25 term! The Policy Committee is the body of farmer representatives that most regularly collaborates with the Young Farmers Policy Team in our policy work. It was formed in line with our expressed commitment to our policy work being farmer-driven, and exists […]
Chapter Capacity Grant Feature: Hoosier Young Farmers Chapter
This is the third installment in a blog series featuring the ten recipients of our 2023 Muck Boot Chapter Capacity Grant program. Through this year’s grant program, the chapters received fundraising training and support to help them build long-term financial sustainability. — The Hoosier Young Farmer Coalition is a Young Farmers chapter based in Indiana, […]
The deadline to apply for the USDA Discrimination Financial Assistance Program is January 13th
Farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners have one more day to apply for financial assistance through Section 22007 of the Inflation Reduction Act. Applications may be submitted online through the program website at 22007apply.gov, in person at a DFAP local office, or by mail. The full list of offices and their operating hours can be found […]
Chapter Capacity Grant Feature: Southeast Tennessee Young Farmers Chapter
This is the second installment in a blog series featuring the ten recipients of our 2023 Muck Boot Chapter Capacity Grant program. Through this year’s grant program, the chapters received fundraising training and support to help them build long-term financial sustainability. — Since 2019, the Southeast Tennessee Young Farmers Chapter has worked with farmers across […]