Young Farmers Highlight Meetings From 2022 Spring In-Districts
When Congress goes on recess each spring, legislators tend to leave Washington, D.C. and head back to their home districts for District Work Periods, or “in-districts.” In April, thirty-nine farmers held thirty-two in-district meetings with legislators across the country to share about the challenges they face on their farms, and the policy solutions they need. […]
Congress is working on the next round of COVID-19 relief funding. Our federal policy team breaks it down.
Note: This post has been updated to include amendments in the House bill as passed on Friday, May 15th. On Tuesday, May 12th, House Democrats released the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act (HEROES Act). This $3 trillion, nearly 2,000-page bill marks the first legislative language for the next round of COVID-19 relief […]
Congress passes COVID-19 relief package, providing $9.5 billion for farmers who supply local food systems
NOTE: This blog post was edited 3/31/20 to reflect changes in the implementation of the CARES Act by the Small Business Administration. On March 27, 2020, the House of Representatives passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was previously passed unanimously by the Senate late on Wednesday evening. The bill was […]
Funding Bills for 2020 Signed, Sealed, and Delivered
Just in time to avoid a government shutdown, the two appropriations packages have been signed by the President and funding for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2020 has been secured! The final bill includes the following funding levels for vital agricultural programs: Beginning farmer training and outreach to socially disadvantaged farmers at $5 million […]
RELEASE: The Coalition issues new report on challenges facing young Pennsylvania farmers and recommends creative policy solutions to support the future of agriculture
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: https://www.youngfarmers.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Screen-Shot-2021-08-17-at-2.19.49-PM-2-1.png, Communications Director, press@youngfarmers.org | View full release and contacts The Coalition’s latest report calls on the Commonwealth to protect its agricultural and economic future by investing in the success of young Pennsylvania farmers who are getting trained, working hard, and managing the risks inherent to their chosen career. The report highlights […]
“Growing Pennsylvania’s Future” with Karen Gardner
“We need to understand the challenges young farmers are facing regionally in order to create solutions.” Lindsey checks in with Karen Gardner, National Young Farmers Coalition’s Pennsylvania Policy Associate, about what she’s hearing from beginning farmers in PA, and the upcoming Pennsylvania Young Farmers Report, “Growing Pennsylvania’s Future: Challenges Facing Young Farmers and Recommendations to […]
Broken Promises: 4-H’s LGBT+ Controversy
The 4-H program’s mission statement includes “a promise to America’s kids to reflect the population demographics, vulnerable populations, diverse needs, and social conditions of the country.” In 2017, however, USDA administration pressured the national 4-H organization to retract its LGBT+ inclusion policies. Shortly after, John-Paul Chaisson-Cardenas, the progressive 4-H Youth Development Program director who had […]
Remembering a Young Farmer: From Loss to Action with the Washington Young Farmers Coalition
Warning: This episode deals with topics surrounding suicide, and may not be appropriate for all audiences. Suicide rates among farmers and farm workers are higher than in any other occupation in the United States. We start this two-part series with the story of Justin McClane, a founding member of the Washington chapter of the National […]
Farm Bill Politics 7: We Have a Deal! Listener Q&A and Young Farmer Wins with Andrew Bahrenburg
After months of waiting, we have a farm bill! Just before 10pm on December 10th, the 2018 Farm Bill dropped. The next day, the Senate passed it through in a landslide, and on Wednesday, the House followed suit. Andrew Bahrenburg, NYFC’s National Policy Director, fields some listener questions about what it all means for young […]
New year, new farm bill, climate news
On December 20th, after months of heated debate, the 2018 Farm Bill was signed into law. Though it’s by no means perfect, the bill’s passage brings some much needed relief to farmers and ranchers across the country dealing with trade wars, low market prices, and the added pressures of a changing climate. NYFC members increasingly […]