New Federal Farm and Food Policy Guide Available
Earlier this week, our friends over at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) released their updated Grassroots Guide to Federal Farm and Food Programs . In the Guide, NSAC comprehensively describes each federal program supporting sustainable agriculture and how young farmers can access them. If you are looking for information on a specific program, the […]
Water Tour brings farmers together from across Southwest
Below average precipitation combined with warm and dry summers make it difficult for producers to grow enough to make a profit and forecasts of low precipitation patterns suggests this may be a new normal. With water being a critical resource for managing a successful farm, drought resiliency is an important skill. This week the National Young Farmers […]
NYFC Releases Exclusive "Vegetable Grower's Guide to Organic Certification"
Whether it’s rallying for better federal programming or providing online resources for your operation, NYFC is dedicated to helping your farm thrive. We’re excited to release a new tool for you and your farm – the Vegetable Grower’s Guide to Organic Certification.
SARE Celebrates 25th Year Anniversary
This year, the USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program celebrates its 25th anniversary. The program aims to promote sustainable farming by funding research into different areas of sustainable farming such as cover cropping and rotational grazing, as well as operating competitive grant programs for farmers. SARE was the first USDA program dedicated to […]
Notes from Plowbreak Farm in Hector, NY
Walking into the field in Hector, New York, I find two farmers cheerfully harvesting basil and hot peppers. Meet Aaron Munzer and Kara Cusolito, founders of Plowbreak Farm. Plowbreak Farm began in 2012 when Aaron and Kara leased three acres of loamy soil in the agriculturally rich Finger Lakes region. Their farming philosophy is simple: […]
NYFC to represent young farmers on multi-stakeholder group on water in the West
Open up your fridge and chances are you’ll find some of the Colorado River. Whether you’re in Florida, Wisconsin or California, or any state in between, you most likely rely on the Colorado River for part of your daily grub. Over 15% of our nation’s fruits and vegetables, much of our meat and the majority […]
Tell me more about… the Conservation Stewardship Program
This is a part of a blog series on different federal programs in the USDA and how they affect the average beginning farmer. As we work towards improving legislation and pushing for reform in the Farm Bill, we decided to create these quick tutorial pages to act as a reference. Let us know if there is […]
Colorado's young farmers ready to join Governor in conservation
Friends, please take a minute to check out my recent Op-Ed published in the Grand Junction Sentinel on Colorado River water conservation. Young farmers need to be at the forefront of the discussion of how to build a smart water future for Colorado and the Colorado River Basin! Please also note the action at the […]
A Fond Farewell to Deputy Secretary Merrigan
Last week, Kathleen Merrigan announced that she will be resigning from her position as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture in the USDA. It is a regret to see this visionary of local food and organic agriculture leave the department – we hope her replacement brings the same commitment to renewing sustainable and local farming. Merrigan has […]
Upcoming Community Initiatives in Sustainable Agriculture Conference
The Community Initiatives in Sustainable Agriculture Conference (CISA) will take place April 5-7, 2013 at Lawrence University and Riverview Gardens in Appleton, WI. The mission is to provide the necessary community, resources, and experience to establish and support new farmers. The conference will be a venue for young people to engage in conversations and educational […]