A major divide in the battle over the next Farm Bill could reverse progress made to support ecologically sound practices and may leave smaller farms unprotected.
Read MoreWith the federal Farm Bill set to expire on September 30th, this coming month will be a critical time to take action. Farmer and Farm Bill Campaign Organizer Lindsey Shapiro shares a few things you can do to help ensure the finalized bill supports an equitable and ecologically sound food system and includes the needs […]
Read MoreIn large omnibus legislation like the federal Farm Bill, it’s easy for good ideas to get lost. Grouping proposed legislation into small packages focused around key issues can help get the attention of lawmakers—that’s where marker bills come in! Marker bills are not intended to pass as standalone bills; they are introduced to show collective […]
Read MoreFind your voice. Join Lindsey and local organizers from the National Young Farmers Coalition at our upcoming Farmer Storytelling for Policy Change workshop at the RE Farm Cafe at Windswept Farm in State College. Farming can be an isolating profession. Even though we share many of the same challenges—like extreme weather events damaging our fields, […]
Read MoreWe’ve put together a list of sustainable agriculture policy needs based on conversations with farmers in our community.
Read MoreThe Inflation Reduction Act is a huge win for sustainable agriculture, but there is still more work to do. Fortunately this historic piece of legislation presents new opportunities for the 2023 Farm Bill.
Read MoreThe month of June roared in this year with temperatures in the 90s, a sure sign of summer but also a warning sign.
Read MoreHow a new version of a Depression-era program could work to restore and protect both public lands and private farms.
Read MoreWith broad support from Pennsylvania farmers and agricultural organizations, earlier this month Gov. Tom Wolf signed into law a bipartisan $23.1 million package of bills—collectively titled the Pennsylvania Farm Bill—making a historic investment in farmers and the local food system. According to Gov. Wolf, the Pennsylvania Farm Bill package will “grow opportunities and resources, remove […]
Read MoreThe recently released 2017 Census of Agriculture revealed some troubling numbers. We now know that, between 2012 and 2017, the total number of farms in the U.S. declined by three percent; the average age of U.S. farm producers rose from 56 to 57.5; and farms across the country are increasingly consolidating, with one percent of […]
Read MoreBy Hannah Smith-Brubaker, Executive Director On February 14th, at a dairy farm in Dauphin County, I had the great pleasure of attending Governor Tom Wolf’s release of the first-of-its kind Pennsylvania Farm Bill. Gov. Wolf’s plan aims to “invest more than $24 million in Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry to grow opportunities and resources, remove barriers to […]
Read MoreThe 2018 bipartisan farm bill passed by Congress this week makes critically needed investments in sustainable agriculture. Among other beneficial outcomes for farmers and food producers, once signed into law by the President the bill will: provide mandatory funding to support the development of regional food economies and market data initiatives focused on organic production; […]
Read MoreBy Hannah Smith-Brubaker, Executive Director We laud Governor Tom Wolf’s plan to make Pennsylvania the nation’s leading organic state. During remarks last week at Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences’ Ag Progress Days, Gov. Wolf articulated a vision for agriculture in Pennsylvania that lists propelling the growth of organic agriculture as a top strategy. “Demand […]
Read MoreBy Hannah Smith-Brubaker, Executive Director, PASA A large majority—71 percent—of Pennsylvania farmers surveyed want a farm bill that prioritizes sustainable agriculture and conserves soil and water, and nearly three-quarters would be more likely to back a candidate for public office who favors such priorities. That’s according to a new poll conducted in March by Iowa-based RABA Research […]
Read MoreFilter by
