County Committees have deep roots The US Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency had its origins (under another name) in the 1930s as part of an effort by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help farmers during the Great Depression. County committees of farmers have been a significant means for the agency to keep … Continue reading County Urban Agriculture Committees
Author: Cindy Cotter
AB 125 Grows Up
AB 125, a major agriculture bill, was introduced on December 18, 2020, as a placeholder, saying pretty much "more to follow." Recently it's got a lot of buzz, and there seemed to be a slew special interests plumping for their little bit of what would be a notable bond measure. Well, more is here. Yesterday, … Continue reading AB 125 Grows Up
AB 125-Introduced
Yesterday, California Assemblymember Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) announced AB 125, a bill proposing a bond measure to support a variety of agriculture-related efforts. The grab-bag title is: The Equitable Economic Recovery, Healthy Food Access, Climate Resilient Farms and Worker Protection Bond Act. Right now the bill says, in its entirety: "It is the intent of the … Continue reading AB 125-Introduced
John Oliver on Meatpacking
PACE Programs
PACE programs are voluntary farmland protection programs in which landowners sell development rights on their land while retaining full ownership, thus keeping the land undeveloped. Programs can be run by federal, state, and local governments or nongovernmental organizations. San Diego County has been running a PACE program since 2012, but the Board of Supervisors has … Continue reading PACE Programs
Urban Ag
A short video from Community Alliance with Family Farmers about what urban farmers would like from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. https://www.youtube.com/embed/bNbR-qujxf0 I noticed a couple of small things... Mention of a farm ID. What's a farm ID?One of the farmers is in Long Beach, not so far from me. It would be cool to … Continue reading Urban Ag
California Budget 21-22
American Farmland Trust wants Californians to tell their legislators to fund five climate-friendly agriculture projects in the proposed state budget: Healthy Soils Program (HSP)State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP)Support for Small and Mid-Sized Farms Sustainable Groundwater ManagementSustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation The state fiscal year begins on July 1, which means work as already begun … Continue reading California Budget 21-22
Federal Farm Policy-AFT
Free Range Conversations from American Farmland Trust (AFT) talks about federal farm policy. Host: Greg Plotkin, Digital Communications Manager, AFTGuest: Tim Fink, Policy Director, AFTEmily Liss, a Federal Policy Associate, AFT Streamed live on Jan 21, 2021 https://www.youtube.com/embed/YsTKTsuVeI4 AFT's 2021 Transition Recommendations: Develop a USDA Cover Crop InitiativeEstablish a Commission on Farm TransitionsMaximize the Economic … Continue reading Federal Farm Policy-AFT
What’s the Beef?
Slow Food USA is offering a free, online panel discussion about meat that it's framing as a way to begin talking about the 2023 Farm Bill. Join us to examine the impacts of industrial-scale livestock production. We’ll hear perspectives from small-scale farmers and ranchers, humane animal husbandry, regenerative environmental practices, climate impact, and meat and … Continue reading What’s the Beef?
Progress Report-US
The whole point of this blog is that it's a work in progress. Here's my progreess so far on US policy. (Eventually I'll get around to California and local policy.) First, I'm specifically interested in food production as it relates to climate. There are two federal bodies that deal primarily with food, the Department of … Continue reading Progress Report-US
Acorns and Alligators 