Other Ag News:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Laura Zaks
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
press@sustainableagriculture.net
Tel. 347.563.6408
Release: Bipartisan House Bill Connects Local Farmers to Food Insecure Communities
Washington, DC, July 30, 2025 – On Tuesday, July 29, Representatives Robert Bresnahan (R-PA-8), David Valadao (R-CA-22), Chellie Pingree (D-ME-1), Josh Riley (D-NY-19), Tony Wied (R-WI-8), Dan Newhouse (R-WA-4), Zachary Nunn (R-IA-3), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13), Jim Costa (D-CA-21), Eugene Vindman (D-VA-7), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19), and Alma Adams (D-NC-12) introduced the Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act (LFFC) of 2025 (H.R. 4782). The LFFC Act would establish and expand relationships between local producers and food distribution networks that create new market opportunities for farmers and improve community food security. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) applauds House champions for their practical approach to addressing local food insecurity. This bill would provide critical access to fresh, local foods while supporting a wide range of family farmers.
“The introduction of the Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act demonstrates clear bipartisan, bicameral support for investing in local and regional supply chains nationwide. Allowing states and Tribes to make food purchases at the local level simply makes sense – it is efficient, keeps food dollars local, and families get fresh food they actually want,” commented Hannah Quigley, Policy Specialist with NSAC.
The LFFC Act creates a pathway for the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to enter into cooperative agreements with states and tribal governments to purchase unprocessed or minimally processed local food from small, mid-sized, beginning, or veteran fishers, farmers, and ranchers to distribute to organizations. These agreements will offer consistent purchasing opportunities for evolving local food distribution networks. It offers additional support for producers that may require technical assistance in food safety planning, training, and upgrades required to scale to new commercial wholesale markets.
“Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) applauds the introduction of the Local Farmers Feeding Our Communities Act and much-needed investments in California’s family-scale farmers. Access to wholesale and institutional markets is key to strong regional supply chains, and the local food purchasing model has proven successful in California since 2023. We’ve supported over 700 farms and delivered over 25 million pounds of local, nutritious food back to hungry families through our partnership with food banks and hunger-relief organizations. This new legislation would allow even more farmers to serve their communities,” said Paul Towers, Executive Director of CAFF, an NSAC member.
“Permanently funding a local food purchasing program through the Local Farmers Feeding Our Communities Act helps build a more resilient food system. This program strengthens local economies by creating stable markets for regional producers, while ensuring that nutritious food reaches families in need. It’s a commonsense investment, and one that will bring critical revenue to Pennsylvania’s vital farm businesses,” said Hannah Smith-Brubaker, Executive Director at Pasa Sustainable Agriculture, an NSAC member.
Find more details about the Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act in the House bill text and the Strengthening Local Food Security Act in NSAC’s press release.
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About the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition is a grassroots alliance that advocates for federal policy reform supporting the long-term social, economic, and environmental sustainability of agriculture, natural resources, and rural communities. Learn more: https://sustainableagriculture.net/
The post Release: Bipartisan House Bill Connects Local Farmers to Food Insecure Communities appeared first on National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.
(Washington, D.C., July 28, 2025) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today announced additional U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) assistance to help producers in the Commonwealth of Virginia recover from Hurricane Helene. Secretary Rollins signed a block grant agreement with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) that provides recovery assistance for Virginian farmers. Virginia is the second state to receive this disaster aid.
Contact: Laura Zaks
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
press@sustainableagriculture.net
Tel. 347.563.6408
Comment: Without Input from Farmers and Experts, USDA Reorganization Would Close Offices and Lead to Staff Reductions
Washington, DC, July 24, 2025 – On Thursday, July 24, the US Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, announced a reorganization of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). The reorganization, announced through a 5-page memorandum, is short on details of how its proposals would improve the circumstances of farmers. The memorandum offers no timeline for the reorganization. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition issued the following comment attributable to Mike Lavender, Policy Director:
“Without input from farmers, the proposed USDA reorganization would close offices and lead to further staff reductions – and ultimately farmers would pay the price. Improving USDA to better serve farmers and ranchers is a noble undertaking – but today’s announcement fails to connect the dots between a mass staff relocation and the resultant staff loss, and expanded economic opportunity for all farmers and ranchers. USDA should immediately pause the reorganization to gather public comment about what farmers and ranchers really need – and Congress should halt the reorganization until USDA can clearly demonstrate the benefit to farmer livelihoods from coast to coast.”
Since January 2025, nearly 2,000 employees have left USDA and an additional 15% have opted into the Deferred Resignation Program. This means a total of nearly 18,000 fewer USDA employees are now serving America’s farmers compared to earlier this year. Previous relocations of USDA offices, most notably the 2019 relocation of the Economic Research Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, led to years-long reduced output and lower staffing levels.
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About the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition is a grassroots alliance that advocates for federal policy reform supporting the long-term social, economic, and environmental sustainability of agriculture, natural resources, and rural communities. Learn more: https://sustainableagriculture.net/
The post Comment: Without Input from Farmers and Experts, USDA Reorganization Would Close Offices and Lead to Staff Reductions appeared first on National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.
(Washington, D.C., July 24, 2025) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today announced the reorganization of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), refocusing its core operations to better align with its founding mission of supporting American farming, ranching, and forestry.
(Washington, D.C., July 23, 2025) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins issued a statement congratulating President Donald J. Trump on the major trade breakthrough that gives greater access to U.S. beef producers selling to Australia:
Under the leadership of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture are accelerating federal efforts to address the growing concerns around ultra-processed foods and the current epidemic of diet-related chronic disease that is plaguing America.
(Washington, D.C., July 23, 2025) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announces the kick-off event and programming for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Great American Farmers Market on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. In celebration with America 250, the event will be hosted during National Farmers Market Week and will run this summer from Sunday, August 3 to Friday, August 8, daily from 4:00-8:00 p.m. ET.
Release: Bipartisan Senate Bill Boosts Local Farmers and Expands Access to Healthy Food for Families
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Laura Zaks
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
press@sustainableagriculture.net
Tel. 347.563.6408
Release: Bipartisan Senate Bill Boosts Local Farmers and Expands Access to Healthy Food for FamiliesWashington, DC, July 22, 2025 – On Friday, July 18, Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Jim Justice (R-WV) introduced the Strengthening Local Food Security (SLFS) Act of 2025 (S. 2338). The SLFS Act would catalyze new market opportunities for local farmers and food businesses while providing nutritious foods to communities in need. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) applauds Senators Reed and Justice for offering a bipartisan solution that readies producers with reliable markets, allowing them to invest and expand their operations.
“The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) purchases billions of dollars of food annually for federal nutrition programs, yet these purchases are mostly made from a small number of the largest businesses. By localizing purchasing decisions, buyers can work with farmers based on both their existing scale as well as the needs of the community. The Supporting Local Food Systems Act would create local channels that allow for small, mid-size, and beginning farmers to successfully secure contracts in federal nutrition programs,” said Hannah Quigley, NSAC Policy Specialist, in response to the bill’s introduction.
“The recent growth in local supply chains has demonstrated real economic benefits for agricultural communities. Farmers are establishing new relationships with institutions, diversifying their wholesale farm revenue, and investing in on-farm infrastructure to meet this new demand,” Quigley added.
The SLFS Act creates a pathway for USDA to enter into cooperative agreements with states and tribal governments to purchase locally grown and raised foods from small, mid-sized, beginning, veteran, or underserved fishers, farmers, and ranchers for distribution in school nutrition and community food assistance programs. These agreements will strengthen the burgeoning relationships between local producers and institutions. The bill also includes support for technical assistance initiatives to support farmers in food safety planning, training, and upgrades required to scale to new commercial wholesale markets.
“The double impact of this initiative puts more healthy, local foods on students’ plates, while getting more dollars directly to producers. It’s an important step toward making sure federal child nutrition programs can be market channels that strengthen the resilience of our supply chain in each community,” commented Karen Spangler, Director of the National Farm to School Network, an NSAC member.
Find more details in the bill text.
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About the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition is a grassroots alliance that advocates for federal policy reform supporting the long-term social, economic, and environmental sustainability of agriculture, natural resources, and rural communities. Learn more: https://sustainableagriculture.net/
The post Release: Bipartisan Senate Bill Boosts Local Farmers and Expands Access to Healthy Food for Families appeared first on National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.
(Washington, D.C., July 21, 2025) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today in Florida met with agricultural leaders and producers and announced additional U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) assistance to help producers recover from Hurricanes Idalia, Debby, Helene and Milton. Secretary Rollins signed a block grant agreement with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) that provides recovery assistance for Floridian farmers.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Laura Zaks
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
press@sustainableagriculture.net1
Tel. 347.563.6408
Release: Strong Farms, Strong Futures Act IntroducedWashington, DC, July 18, 2025 – On Wednesday, Representatives Lauren Underwood (D-IL) and Zach Nunn (R-IA) introduced the Strong Farms, Strong Futures Act. This bill directs NRCS to establish region and production-specific climate change mitigation bundles within CSP. This expands options available to producers and increases financial support for practices that improve climate resilience and provide additional benefits like increased soil health and water quality. These incentives will help producers expand their climate stewardship and empower more producers to be leaders of America’s ongoing efforts to build innovative conservation systems.
“The Strong Farms, Strong Futures Act provides ever greater producer choice in the Conservation Stewardship Program. This bill strengthens CSPs ability to provide robust cost-share for producers building complex, innovative conservation systems on their farms, conservation systems that will make them more resilient, profitable, and ecologically sound.” – Jesse Womack, Conservation Policy Specialist at NSAC.
The SFSFA builds on previous legislation introduced by Underwood, creating even more options for producers in CSP. The bill provides increased cost-share for important climate and conservation production systems, focusing the highest levels of cost share on producers doing the most complex conservation work within their operation. This bill ensures that producers who accept the risk of leadership in their conservation efforts are eligible for the highest levels of federal support.
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About the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition is a grassroots alliance that advocates for federal policy reform supporting the long-term social, economic, and environmental sustainability of agriculture, natural resources, and rural communities. Learn more: https://sustainableagriculture.net/
The post Release: Strong Farms, Strong Futures Act Introduced appeared first on National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.
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