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 […]
Young Farmers and over 70 organizations call on Congress to include the Small Farm Conservation Act in the 2023 Farm Bill
Young farmers are on the frontlines of the climate crisis and need support to continue implementing solutions on their farms. However, they often face barriers to accessing federal conservation programs, because their farms and ranches tend to be small. Farmers should not have to choose between meeting their bottom-line and investing in conservation to protect […]
RELEASE: New bipartisan Farmer to Farmer Education Act introduced in Congress aims to advance farmer-led conservation education in the 2023 Farm Bill
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jessica Manly, Communications Director National Young Farmers Coalition press@youngfarmers.org, 518-643-3564 Washington, D.C. (July 31, 2023) Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) have introduced the bipartisan Farmer to Farmer Education Act. This bill, written in close collaboration with the American Farmland Trust (AFT) and the National Young Farmers Coalition (Young Farmers), aims to […]
RELEASE: Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) introduces legislation focused on equitable land access solutions for the next generation of farmers through the 2023 Farm Bill
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jessica Manly, Communications Director, National Young Farmers Coalition press@youngfarmers.org, 518-643-3564 ext. 722 Washington, D.C. (July 20, 2023) This afternoon, Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) introduced the Increasing Land Access, Security, and Opportunities Act in the Senate. The legislation aims to increase access to capital for underserved farmers, boost training and economic opportunity […]
Stewarding Our Water: Opportunities to Uplift the Leadership of Young Farmers
Water is essential to farmers’ success, and it does not just impact farmers—access to clean water impacts everyone, everywhere. Water stewardship in agriculture must involve far more than water conservation, it must involve holistic approaches to soil health, grazing, rangeland and forest management, watershed health, and the centering of Indigenous knowledge, also known as Traditional […]
Making Conservation Programs Accessible to Young and BIPOC Farmers: Joseluis Ortiz y Muniz
This morning, April 20th, New Mexico Water Fellow Joseluis Ortiz y Muniz travelled to Washington, D.C. to testify at the Senate Agriculture Committee’s hearing on farm bill conservation programs. He spoke to Congress about how to make these programs that can be instrumental in combatting climate change more accessible to young and BIPOC farmers. Below […]
Young Farmers Appropriations Priorities for the 2024 Fiscal Year
By Yahaira Cáceres Each year, the National Young Farmers Coalition (Young Farmers) participates in the appropriations process by submitting letters to Members of Congress. The appropriations process refers to how Congress allocates funding each year to different federal agencies and programs. By submitting letters to Members of Congress, stakeholders in the agriculture industry (including farmers, […]
The Largest Young Farmer Fly-In in History Calls for a 2023 Farm Bill that Equitably Invests in the Next Generation in Agriculture
Young and BIPOC farmers need land access NOW. Across the country, land prices are soaring, putting land access out of reach for many young farmers. As a result, many young and BIPOC farmers are leaving agriculture. That is why we launched our One Million Acres for the Future campaign and brought over 100 farmer leaders […]
Senate Agriculture Committee Hearing on 2023 Farm Bill Conservation and Forestry Programs
In early March, we submitted a letter for the record for a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing on 2023 Farm Bill conservation and forestry programs. As climate change continues to be an increasing and persistent threat to agriculture, farm bill conservation programs are tools that can assist farmers in conservation and building climate resiliency. According to […]
Farm Bill Listening Session in Colorado
On June 27th, Land Advocacy Fellow Benu Amun-Ra participated in a roundtable discussion at a farm bill listening session hosted by Senator Michael Bennet, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, in Fort Morgan, Colorado. Below is the written testimony Benu submitted that highlights the need for equitable land access in the 2023 Farm Bill. […]