NYFC Launches Student Loan Campaign to Support Beginning Farmers!
Young people shouldn’t have to choose between a career in farming and paying off their student loan debt. But we’ve heard it again and again—student loan debt is keeping young people from succeeding in agriculture. Today, we’re launching a new campaign to tackle the student loan barrier for committed, career farmers. #FarmingIsPublicService is a campaign […]
VIDEO: Young Farmers Speak Up
Do you want to change food and farming in the US? Then it’s time to get with your chapter and engage elected officials. In this short video, see members of the Hudson Valley Young Farmers Coalition in action– sharing stories, building relationships and winning the change they need!
NYFC Presents at Western Governors Association Drought Forum
National Young Farmers Coalition was invited to present during the Western Governors Association forum on “Drought Impacts and Solutions in the Agricultural Sector”. Many academics and water resource managers from California were in attendance along with several ranchers and farmers. Jerry Brown, Governor of California and Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval made an appearance for opening […]
Farming is Public Service: Farmers Need Student Loan Forgiveness
This article was originally posted by Eric Hansen and Sophie Ackoff on the Food Day Blog. Click here to read the original. Student loan debt is on the rise. For our nation’s young farmers and ranchers, paying off these loans is a critical barrier to starting a career in agriculture. Young people graduating from college […]
New York's Young Farmers Ask Governor Cuomo to Support Land Access Legislation
Farmers, aspiring farmers, and organizations across New York State are rallying to urge Governor Cuomo to pass a bill that would improve land access for beginning farmers in the state. If passed, this bill could provide access to state-owned farmland for beginning farmers, bolster technical support to both beginning farmers and organizations that assist them […]
Whitehouse.gov Guest Post – Bringing Young Americans Back to the Farm
This post, by NYFC’s Lindsey Lusher Shute, was originally published on whitehouse.gov, where Lindsey has been named a Future of American Agriculture Champion of Change. With record farmland prices, climate instability, and an agricultural economy often working against them, today’s young farmers and ranchers are all Champions of Change. They are taking tremendous personal and financial […]
USDA Announces Increased Funding to Organic Growers
Last month USDA announced $13 million in Farm Bill funding will be available for organic certification cost share assistance, a win for small and beginning farmers who want to go organic. Secretary Tom Vilsack said the move is in response to an increasing consumer demand for organic products, and USDA “need[s] to make sure that […]
Check out our new land access page!
Looking to stay up to date with NYFC’s work on land access for beginning farmers? Check out our new land access page where you will find links to our Conservation 2.0 report, land access working group, policy advocacy work, and case studies of farmers getting on the land. There is also a collection of resources and reports on land […]
USDA to Release 2012 Census of Ag Data
Every five years, the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) takes a hard look at the state of US agriculture by conducting a Census of Agriculture. In a very real way, the census is one of the few opportunities farmers have to tell the USDA about their operations—who they are, and what they need. Today, […]
Tomorrow: USDA Deputy Secretary Harden Hosts an Online Workshop on Credit and Farm Finances
On Tuesday, April 1 at 4 p.m. EDT Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden will host a Google+ Hangout to discuss types of agricultural credit and ways to access them in support of your farm or ranch business.