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Schumer and Gillibrand Announce Passage of Disaster Relief Bill, Includes $40 Million for New York Farmers
Last week Senators Schumer and Gillibrand announced the final passage of legislation to fund disaster recovery efforts, with $40 Million to go to New York State farmers. The legislation, created in response to the wide-spread destruction of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, includes the Gillibrand-Schumer amendment, which directs the $40 Million to New…
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USDA Report Shows Local Farms Earned $4.8 Billion in 2008
A new report by the USDA’s Economic Research Service, “Direct and Intermediated Marketing of Local Foods in the United States,” has some important implications for those interested in farming or marketing local foods to consumers. The USDA studied local farm production and sales during 2008, then compared farms that sell directly to customers with those…
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Studies Show More Americans Are Purchasing Organic
Two recent studies show that the market for local and organic products is growing rapidly. Both reports document that the local foods movement has been growing steadily for more than a decade, and farmers’ markets have been at the forefront of this growth. Even though some of the best-known markets are in big cities like…
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Apply now for NRDC's Growing Green Award!
Do you know someone who deserves to be acknowledged for their outstanding work in the field of sustainable food? The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has put out a call for submissions to its fourth annual “Growing Green Award,” a recognition for individuals who have made contributions that advance ecologically integrated farming practices, climate stewardship,…
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Young PA Farmers pay their Congressman a visit on Behalf of Beginning Farmers
On Veterans’ Day, I had the privilege to join a small but excited group of young farmers in the State College, PA area to meet with Congressman Glenn Thompson (PA’s 5th district) to advocate for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act. Our group included five State College area farmers representing three farms. Erin McKinney…
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Workers' Comp Laws: They mean business.
The penalties for not carrying workers’ compensation insurance when required to can be massive. Whether by choice or by ignorance, not following workers’ comp laws may place everything the farmer owns at risk. What’s the situation? June has a great little farm that makes enough profit to support June and one additional employee. This season…
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USDA Risk Management Agency Awards $13.6 Million in Grants to Promote Crop Insurance Education
On October 28, 2011, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that its Risk Management Agency (RMA) awarded grants to 125 organizations that will engage in crop insurance education and outreach. The grants totaled 13.6 million dollars and were distributed to organizations in 47 states. They came from two separate programs: the “Education and Outreach” program…
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Beginning Young Farmer and Rancher Development Program at Work in Washington
Seattle Tilth Farm Works, a new farm business incubator program for immigrants, refugees, and other underserved communities, was recently awarded $483, 160 by the USDA NIFA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program. Farm incubators like Seattle Tilth Farm Works play an essential role in establishing new farmers and, importantly, support a diversity of new farmers,…
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Ohio State Study Shows Potential for Urban Agriculture
According to a new study just released by Ohio State University, “Can Cities Become Self-Reliant in Food?,” Cleveland and other major cities in the US could produce up to 100 percent of their food needs through urban agriculture. Doing this would save up to $155 million each year, boost employment, and reduce obesity. According to the…
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NYFC releases survey of 1,000 young and beginning farmers
New Survey of 1,000 Young and Beginning Farmers Reveals What the Next Generation Needs Download Report (PDF) The National Young Farmer’s Coalition released a study today showing that the nation’s young and beginning farmers face tremendous barriers in starting a farming career. Building a Future With Farmers: Challenges Faced by Young, American Farmers and a National…