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5 takeaways from the House farm bill draft   Lawmakers are split over food assistance and climate-smart agriculture proposals, although farm groups praised Republicans' efforts to boost safety net and trade promotion funding. https://lnkd.in/g7QBHv3v

The external costs of cheap pork; it may well be true that facing one measure, GHG emissions, cheap pork out performs organic pork. But there are tradeoffs, especially in antimicrobial resistance and poor welfare. A systems approach is required to optimise multiple variables in food production. "Comparing systems that span most commercial pig production found across the world, we find that systems with low land use typically have low GHG costs but high AMU costs and poor welfare. This finding aligns with common perceptions34,35,36,37, which were until now based on assumption" https://lnkd.in/dCPrBvrN

The future of our environment and climate restoration requires attention on Soil Carbon Capture Sequestration. The next Farm Bill is critical. Climate Systems Solutions is focused on developing and using collaborative teams to take action with solutions. We invite collaborators to join us on our mission. #carbonsequestration #regenerativeagriculture #farmbill #leadership #joinus https://lnkd.in/eZxpEi8b

SENATE PASSES SPENDING BILLS FOR FDA AND USDA With substantial bi-partisan support, the U.S. Senate yesterday passed a package of three government funding bills that included money for the USDA and FDA. By a vote of 82-15, the legislation that included the Senate Agriculture, Rural Development, Food And Drug Administration, And Related Agencies bill, now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.   In addition to providing for Agriculture-related funding, the Senate's spending package combines the Fiscal Year 2024 Military Construction-VA, and Transportation-HUD appropriations bills.    Regarding food-related appropriations, the Senate bill includes $6.3 billion for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), a $615 million increase from last year’s bill. It also fully funds the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and includes investments to help underserved and impoverished families secure access to fresh, local foods grown by farmers.   Additionally, the Senate funding bill provides more than $3.8 billion for agricultural research programs and $50 million for the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program. Funding levels for several important agriculture research and advancement programs are as follows: -- Conservation Technical Assistance, $800 million -- Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, $50 million -- WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program, $20 million -- Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative, $10 million -- Office of Urban Agriculture & Innovative Production, $8.5 million  -- Organic Transition Research Program, $7.5 million Congress needs to pass 12 appropriations bills — individually, together or on a short-term basis — to fully fund the government. The federal government's Fiscal Year 2024 began on Oct. 1, 2023. Current funding is covered by temporary "continuing resolution" spending bills only, the latest of which will expire on November 17th.   The Senate's agriculture appropriations bill supports American farmers, protects and strengthens the nation's food supply, and promotes the health and well-being of children. It deserves careful, bi-partisan consideration by members of the House of Representatives. #federalappropriations #agriculture #agfunding #senateappropriationsbill

The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) President & CEO Daren Coppock released the following statement on recent progress toward a 2024 Farm Bill: "ARA is encouraged to see positive momentum to craft and pass a Farm Bill this year following the framework released by Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and Ranking Member John Boozman, R-Ark. "Agricultural producers are at the mercy of weather, markets, geopolitical events, labor shortages, and supply chain issues more than many other industries. The Farm Bill is an essential safety net that protects our food, energy and fiber supply, while investing in nutrition programs, conservation, research, rural development, trade promotion and other important priorities. "ARA thanks the House, Senate, and staffers for their progress on this critical legislation so far. We urge swift action to pass a bipartisan Farm Bill that protects and enhances the farm safety net needed to supply a healthy, safe and abundant food supply for the nation's consumers and the world." https://lnkd.in/e9Mf2nTJ

The Farmers Market Coalition (FMC) is making tremendous effort to understand the evolution of farmers armers markets over the last 50 years. FMC is seeking stories that share how individual farmers market organizations got their start. If you are a market manager or founder, please take a minute to complete our brief market history survey. We encourage markets from all backgrounds and regions within the U.S. to participate. To learn more about the survey, read our recent blog post below. To take the survey, visit: https://lnkd.in/gtkCirss Please feel free to share this survey with your networks! #FMC #sustainability #farmersmarket #farming #climatesmart #climatesmartagriculture #farmers

The FAO Food Systems Countdown Initiative has released its first annual policy brief, presenting Countdown indicators that monitor the current state of national food systems. This initiative aims to incentivize action, hold stakeholders accountable, and demonstrate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. As Marion Nestle stated in her blog "Initiatives like these are great about identifying gaps. What they can’t do is hold governments accountable. They are supposed to inspire advocacy; to the extent they do, they might have some chance at stimulating progress." #FoodSystems #SustainableDevelopment #FAOCountdown

A recently released House proposal for the overdue 2024 Farm Bill is sparking significant concerns. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack warns the bill, introduced by House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn "GT" Thompson (R-Penn.), could cause an impasse due to proposed SNAP cuts and shifting disaster relief control to Congress. The bill could lead to a $30 billion cut to SNAP over the next decade. Rep. Sharice Davids (D-Kan.), a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation and a member of the House Agriculture Committee, emphasizes the need for bipartisanship: “I'm committed to keeping it that way.” Tribal perspectives highlight the delay's impact on new opportunities for tribal producers. Abi Fain from the Intertribal Agriculture Council hopes to maintain momentum from the 2018 Farm Bill. The Native Farm Bill Coalition appreciates bipartisan efforts but urges more inclusion of tribal priorities. It’s crucial to push for a Farm Bill that supports all communities, including tribal nations. Tribal Business News has the story. #FarmBill #Agriculture #SNAP #USDA #TribalNations #Bipartisanship #FoodSecurity #SustainableAgriculture

Last week the Prime Minister announced a comprehensive support package at the Farm to Fork Summit at Downing Street. This initiative aims to enhance domestic food production, stimulate sector innovation, and attract future farming and food leaders and includes a new blueprint for growing the UK fruit and vegetable sector, encouraging industry-government collaboration to boost production and investment. The package includes: Access to affordable, sustainable energy and water. Simplified planning processes for building glasshouses. Doubling horticulture funding to £80 million through Defra, compared to the previous EU scheme. It also saw the introduction of the first draft Food Security Index to monitor and safeguard the UK’s food security. Additional measures include: Extending the Farming Recovery Fund to assist farmers affected by wet weather. Allocating £75 million to support internal drainage boards for storm recovery and infrastructure modernisation. Implementing regulations to ensure fairness in the fresh produce and egg sectors. Environment Secretary Steve Barclay emphasised the importance of food security and the role of innovative farming techniques in providing year-round British produce. Farming Minister Mark Spencer reiterated the government's commitment to supporting British farmers through investment, business advice, and reducing regulatory burdens. This second annual summit continues the collaboration between the government and the farming and food sectors to drive growth and resilience.

🚜👨🌾The new farming minister Daniel Zeichner is dedicated to enhancing Britain's food security with a new deal for farmers. Recently, over 130 MPs and Peers gathered at an NFU (National Farmers' Union) reception one day after The Labour Party outlined its priorities in the King’s Speech. During the event, Crossbench peer Lord Carrington sponsored the gathering and highlighted the importance of addressing the challenges farmers are facing. Minister Zeichner acknowledged the pressures on farmers and emphasized the need for stability in businesses as a primary goal. The new Labour government is focused on supporting the agricultural transition through environmental land management schemes and ensuring the system works effectively for farmers. Zeichner emphasized the critical link between food security and national security, aligning with Labour's mission to boost the economy. To achieve these goals, the government plans to secure a new veterinary agreement with the EU and prevent farmers from being undermined by low standards in trade agreements. NFU President Tom Bradshaw reflected on the past 18 months, noting the struggles farmers have endured due to adverse weather conditions and economic challenges. Despite these difficulties, farmers have remained resilient in keeping the nation fed. The event highlighted the public's positive perception of farmers, with a recent NFU survey revealing that 74% of the public views farmers favourably, recognizing the importance of farming to the UK economy. Lord Carrington stressed the need for concrete actions to address food security challenges and allocate a budget to support the shift towards a more secure food system. FarmingUK #farming #agriculture #foodsecurity #nfu