Policy and Issues Advocacy

As a member of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), and in concert with other local and regional organizations, Future Harvest CASA monitors local, state and national policy and legislative activities. We seek to ensure that the interests of the sustainable agriculture community are represented, and we support policies that promote farmland preservation, farmer retention, protection of natural resources, and increased access to healthy food.

There are two ways for you to be a part of our growing advocacy effort. The first and most important way is to become a member of Future Harvest CASA and be counted as part of our collective voice. Members who want to contribute more are invited to join our Advocacy Group, an online Topic of Interest Group. Participation is free, and you can determine whether you want to receive emails of every post in real-time or whether you want to receive all the group's posts in one daily email digest. Please join the discussion!

Future Harvest CASA Advocacy News

Testimony in Support of Maryland Agricultural Certainty Legislation - April 2013

Future Harvest CASA Efforts Help Win New Grazing Cost-Share Eligibility in Maryland - Feb 2013

Regional Food Systems Working Group Visits Charlottesville's Local Food Hub - Read Report

Farmer Nick Maravell Testifies Before Senate Subcommitee - October 4, 2011

Important Bills Before the Maryland Legislature - February 17, 2011

*New Action Alert - November 17, 2010 - go to Alerts Page...

*MD Food Policy Group Prepares to Educate Legislators: This summer Future Harvest-CASA has been collaborating with the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Office of Chronic Disease Prevention, which organized three Food Policy Workgroup meetings. Major areas of recommendations from these workgroups will be presented at a Maryland Food Policy Summit on September 22 (read more)...

* Future Harvest-CASA Supports Comprehensive Federal Climate Change Legislation: The Board voted to be a signatory to a letter prepared by the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, urging Congress to pass a strong climate and energy bill this year. Such a bill will help protect farmers and our food supply, while moving agriculture towards a viable and sustainable future. (read more)...

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Latest News from NSAC

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition » National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

Supporting economic and environmental sustainability of agriculture, natural resources, and rural communities

USDA Publishes Country of Origin Labeling Final Rule
On Thursday, May 23, the USDA published the final rule amending the Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) regulations in the Federal Register. A pdf version of the final rule is available here. COOL was originally enacted in the 2002 Farm Bill and required retailers to notify customers of the country of origin of covered commodities. Read the Rest...
Rural Coop Development Grants Available
The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has announced the availability of $6.5 million as part of its Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) program. The Notice of Funding Availability was published in the May 23 Federal Register. The goal of RCDG is to improve the economic condition of rural areas through the use of cooperative development. Grants Read the Rest...
Rural Development Front and Center at Senate Hearing
The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a hearing this week amidst the buzz of Farm Bill activities on Capitol Hill. Subcommittee Chairman Mark Pryor (D-AR) and Ranking Member Roy Blunt (R-MO) took a break from floor action on the Farm Bill to lead Thursday’s hearing Read the Rest...

What You Can Do

Link to National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition's "take action" page

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition's advocacy toolkit

Find your representatives in the Senate, House and your state

Additional Links

National Family Farm Coalition

Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture

Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy

Center for Rural Affairs

Farm Bill Primers:

Farm Bill User Guide on NEFOOD

Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group

National Farmers Union

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