Maine Farmland Trust Highlights Food Security Models
One consequence of the shifting balance away from small farming is food insecurity. As farms become larger and more industrialized, the food on the shelves comes from further and further away. This distance can leave some communities out in the cold. Without access to local food, more and more food insecure citizens turn to hunger […]
From Small to Large: America’s farmland shift
The societal shift from small to large farming in the United States is undeniable. As the 20th Century marched forward so did the mass-production methods of agribusiness and the destruction of the small family farm. When the majority of all farm land and water rights in the most productive regions of the nation are held […]
Dismantling Racism in the Food System: Food First’s series to address colonization of our food
We should consider how our food, the way its produced, where it’s produced, and who we buy it from contributes to the historical barriers set up in this country. We should always be thinking on these questions, but especially today, Martin Luther King Day. While the problems of the food system and the disenfranchisement of […]
Micro-loan Program Provides Options for Small Farmers
In a report released just before the New Year, the USDA’s Economic Research Service outlined the progress of the micro-loan program. Since 2013, the USDA has been granting small infusions of cash for farmers through the micro-loan program. The ERS report reveals that these loans are indeed going to their targeted group, small farms and […]
Take the National Young Farmers Survey!
Every 5 years, the National Young Farmers Coalition puts together a survey to give them better data on the needs, demographics, and policy inclinations of young farmers across the country. They use this data to inform their positions and proposals for the upcoming Farm Bill. With the next Farm Bill coming into play in 2018, […]
A Year in Review: The 16 Top wins for Sustainable Farming in 2016
2016 was a landmark year for many reasons, not all of them good. Though the election cast a dark shadow on the future of many public programs promoting sustainable agriculture, there have been some major wins for beginning farmers in our country. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition has put together a list of the best […]
Unbroken Ground: A Patagonia Provisions Film
Patagonia Provisions, Patagonia’s newest project, is focused on challenging our current food system through providing an alternative model to the conventional way that we grow and consume food. Unbroken Ground, a short film directed by Chris Malloy, provides insight into four sectors of restorative agricultural practices including regenerative agriculture, regenerative grazing, diversified crop production and restorative fishing in […]
Water Laws Crash Course: The History of Acequia
Since the dawn of agriculture on this planet, humans have been finding ways to get water to their crops. Creative solutions in what is now the Southwestern United States have harnessed the waters of the Rio Grande and other areas rivers to bring water to the once parched soils of this arid region. But when […]
USDA Helps Organic Farmers Defray Certification Cost
The United States Department of Agriculture is offering new assistance to the growing number of organic farmers across the nation. The cost burden of annual certification for organic operations can weigh down small to medium and beginning farms. While the USDA has offered assistance for years, only about half of the organic operations in the […]
USDA issues Farmer Fair Practices Rules
After decades of waiting, the enforceable follow up to the Packers and Stockyards Act has been introduced by the USDA. This comes in the form of three rules (one interim final rule, and two proposed rules awaiting public comment) hoping to help level the playing field for contract farmers working in livestock, especially poultry. The […]