TAKE ACTION
SARE Outreach seeking recommendations
SARE Outreach is seeking recommendations for information products or outreach initiatives that extend research-based sustainable innovations to improve the sustainability of American agriculture. Please submit your ideas by June 1.
Opportunity to comment on competition challenges in ag inputs and retail markets by June 15
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announces a 30-day extension to the public comment period to identify the impacts of concentration and competition challenges in seed, fertilizer, other agricultural inputs, and retail markets for agricultural producers and small and medium-sized food Additional information is available at www.ams.usda.gov/about-ams/fair-competitive/rfi.
Take the Annual Virginia Market Manager Survey
Your responses will help the Virginia Cooperative Extension Family Nutrition Program, the Virginia Farmers Market Association, and the Virginia Fresh Match network better serve markets across the Commonwealth. Survey here.
POLICY NEWS
USDA Long-term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) Network
Briefing on USDA LTAR research on agricultural sustainability. For more information about the LTAR Network, please email Dr. Teferi Tsegaye at teferi.tsegaye@ars.usda.gov. Recording here. LTAR fact sheet here.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Southern SARE Education Grant deadline August 5, 2022
Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE), a grants and outreach program of the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, offers competitive grants to fund research and education projects that advance sustainable agricultural practices in the United States. Southern SARE Is offering Education Grants to conduct education and outreach activities for the benefit of the greater sustainable ag community, and promote efforts in farmer innovations, community resilience, business success, ag diversification, and best management practices. Deadline: Aug 5, 2022. Apply here.
USDA Accepting Applications to Help Cover Costs of Organic, Transitioning Producers in Virginia
Agricultural producers and handlers who are certified organic, along with producers and handlers who are transitioning to organic production, can now apply for USDA Organic and Transitional Education Certification Program (OTECP) and Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP), which help producers and handlers cover the cost of organic certification, along with other related expenses. Applications for OTECP and OCCSP are both due October 31, 2022.
USDA Emergency Relief for Commodity and Specialty Crop Producers Impacted by 2020 and 2021 Natural Disasters
Commodity and specialty crop producers impacted by natural disaster events in 2020 and 2021 will soon begin receiving emergency relief payments totaling approximately $6 billion through the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) new Emergency Relief Program (ERP) to offset crop yield and value losses. First Wave of Payments Based on Crop Insurance Data. Have questions about eligibility or need help in applying? Contact your local FSA service center.
RESOURCES
The Anti-Racist Farmers Market Tool Kit from the Farmers Market Coalition
The Anti-Racist Farmers Market Toolkit, developed by Black food systems leaders and market managers, offer ways for managers to put the concepts of anti-racism into practice and action within farmers markets.
2022 MRLA land resource areas database and handbook
USDA announces the 2022 Geographic Database of Land Resource Regions (LRR) and Major Land Resource Areas (MLRA) and explanatory USDA Agriculture Handbook 296, which informs decisions regarding education, finance, technical services, and research related to national and regional land resources and USDA conservation and land resource and management programs.
