“Water is Scarce, Water is Rare”
“If we don’t start doing things differently, there won’t be agriculture to pass down.” Climate change is a hot-button political issue, but in the Western U.S., no one can deny that the drought and above average temperatures are real. Mike Nolan, a young farmer in Mancos, Colorado, gives an insider perspective on farming in extreme […]
Beginning Farmer and Rancher Training Programs in Danger of Farm Bill Cuts
Kelly Wilson got the confidence to start her own small, diversified vegetable farm after taking a training program at Michigan State University. Her farm, Simple Gifts Farm, is outside Oxford, Michigan, where she grows vegetables that she sells wholesale to local restaurants. The program she took is one of hundreds of training programs for young […]
Young Farmers Rely on the Organic Cost Share Program to Afford Organic Cred
The National Organic Certification Cost Share Program (NOCCSP) is a nationwide rebate program that, as its name suggests, helps farmers cover the cost of becoming USDA Certified Organic. Juan Raygoza of Terra Preta Farm in Weslaco, TX describes the necessity of the NOCCSP for his operation: “In very simple words, if we were not […]
Bonus Episode: Vets Need Farm Bill Action
Today’s bonus episode is about an important program in the 2018 Farm Bill that needs your support: Farming Opportunities Training and Outreach (FOTO). Tiffany Washington, Navy Veteran from Austin, Texas, shares her personal journey to farming, and how farm bill programs are helping her find success. Take action: Text “Farm” to 40649 to join NYFC’s […]
Talking Crop Insurance and Commodities with Ferd Hoefner: Farm Bill Politics 3
Ferd Hoefner, the senior strategic advisor to the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, schools us on how crop insurance and commodity programs work and why they’re causing problems. This podcast is critical listening for anyone looking to understand the farm bill. Lindsey Lusher Shute interviews; Andrew Bahrenburg walks and records; Hannah Beal edits; music Lee Rosevere.
Senate Passes the Farm Bill: Farm Bill Politics 2
How do you pass a bipartisan bill these days? Lindsey Lusher Shute interviews Andrew Bahrenburg on the passage of the Senate farm bill. They cover the nutrition debate and midterms, an unexpected Cuba wrinkle, and what’s next in the political process.
From Colorado to Washington, DC, How one NYFC Member’s farm bill proposal made it to the Senate
When the Senate Agriculture Committee passed their draft farm bill out of committee on June 13, they also passed an amendment with a programmatic tweak to the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). This tweak creates a “microEQIP” pilot program to make it easier for small farms to access this conservation program. Although it’s a small […]
Senate Agriculture Committee Passes Farm Bill with Additional Wins for Young Farmers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Kate Bittman | View full release and contacts Senate Agriculture Committee Passes Farm Bill with Additional Wins for Young Farmers NYFC celebrates adoption of beginning farmer and land access amendments as Farm Bill heads for Senate floor WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 13, 2018) – The National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC) celebrated additional […]
Senate Farm Bill Committee Draft Reflects Young Farmer Needs
Senate introduces farm bill draft with the Young Farmer Agenda in mind
On Friday afternoon, the Senate Agriculture Committee released its long-awaited draft of the 2018 Farm Bill. In stark contrast to the hyper-partisan approach of their House counterparts, Senate Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) offered a bipartisan alternative, the product of months of negotiations and consensus-building. The result is a bill that, despite a challenging fiscal and political climate, contains significant wins for young farmers and ranchers.
RELEASE: Senate introduces bipartisan farm bill with big wins for young farmers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Kate Bittman | View full release and contacts Senate introduces bipartisan farm bill with big wins for young farmers NYFC praises investments in farmer training, farmland protection, and racial equity WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 8, 2018) – The National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC) praised the bipartisan farm bill draft released by the […]