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The nutrition title was first included in the 1973 farm bill. It's projected to make up 84% of total Farm Bill spending, with most of the funds going to SNAP. That's because the program helps more than 40 million low-income individuals provide food for their families each month. Some of those people are farmers. In this episode, we talk to Mark Nicholson, Senior Director of Policy at the Fair Food Network to dig into how the farm bill links farms and food access. And we'll talk to farmers about how they are uniquely positioned to directly provide nutritious food for the families in their communities. Mark Nicholson, Senior Director of Policy, Fair Food NetworkMark joined the Fair Food Network after an extensive career in leading organizations involved in national agriculture policy and specialty crop production. He is a third-generation apple farmer and spent much of his professional life co-running a New York-based family business, including developing value-added products to increase revenue to the farm. His work advocating for the specialty crop industry over the past two decades earned him national recognition as a skilled and dedicated policy expert, included roles as the Chairman of the Board and member of the Government Affairs Committee for the U.S. Apple Association (USApple). Mark also spent time in his early career working in government at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and at USApple. Mark brings multiple perspectives to the agriculture policy world, and a strong passion and understanding for the myriad issues that face family farms today. Read his full bio. Shannon Maes, Rancher, San Juan Ranch + Young Farmers Water FellowWhat's a ground-level view from a cattle ranch in southern Colorado as fall turns to winter amidst prolonged drought and as legislative work on the next Farm Bill wraps up? Shannon Maes shares some of her experiences of drought, working with water and grazing for soil health and climate resilience as well as a few thoughts on agricultural and food policy from her perspective of working on ranches and ditchriding in her home region of Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico. Shannon has worked in agriculture since 2017 and completed a Water Advocacy Fellowship through the National Young Farmer's Coalition during 2023. Currently she works with cows, dogs, horses, people, soil, grass, and weather at San Juan Ranch in the San Luis Valley. Benu Amun-Ra, Farmer and Owner, Sacred Ancestors Seed Initiative + Young Farmers Land FellowBenu Amun-Ra (We/Our/Ours) is a generational farmer, seed-keeper, and the owner of S.A.S.I (Sacred Ancestors Seed Initiative) Farms located in Centennial, CO. We teach about the importance of seeds and the reciprocal relationships we once had with Mother Nature by reinvigorating indigenous ways of knowing. We live at the intersections of being a single mother, a BIPOC farmer, LGBTQ+ community member and have over 32 years' experience as a primary caregiver for those living with disabilities. Our advocacy includes working with organizations that address these issues in the capacity of a Community Council member for Hunger Free Colorado, an alumnus of the Family Voice Council for the Colorado Department of Human Services, an alumnus of the Creative Leadership Institute with the Colorado Health Foundation, and as a Land Fellow with the National Young Farmers Coalition. Read our full bio here. To find out more about our work, visit: www.sacredecocenter.org Celina Ngozi, Farmer and Founder, Dry Bones Heal Bottomland + Young Farmers Land FellowCelina Ngozi is an agrarian of 10 years. Her experience in food production, access, and distribution has led her back to her maternal ancestral land in rural East Central Texas. There she grows a variety of herbs and culturally relevant foods along with advocating for returning to heirs' property and greater land access for Black and Brown growers. Learn more about the SNAP program here, the Healthy Food Finance Initiative here, and the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) hereCheck out Fair Food Network hereLearn more about the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program hereThe Farm Report is hosted by Leigh Ollman and Alita Kelly, produced by Leigh Ollman, Evan Flom and H Conley, and edited by Hannah Beal and H Conley. Audio engineering is by Armen Spendjian and H Conley. Music is by Breakmaster Cylinder and JangwaLearn more about the National Young Farmers Coalition here and consider becoming a member. Click here to take action on the farm bill and other important policy issues. The Farm Report is Powered by Simplecast.
Since the new administration took office, programs benefitting farmers have been slashed, frozen, paused, and canceled––and the effect is leaving agrarians in a tough position. Carolina Mueller, Associate Coalition Director of the National Young Farmers Coalition, and Leah Ricci, Interim Executive Director of Quivira Coalition join us on today's podcast to talk about what they're hearing from folks on the ground, what resources are available to help people navigate, and what ordinary citizens can do to make their voices heard.
Farmers are now dealing with the impacts of the climate crisis on a daily basis. Experts predict weather events including droughts and flooding will only get worse. Young and beginning farmers, especially BIPOC farmers, are feeling those impacts the most. Are there opportunities to advance water and climate action and justice through the Farm Bill? We interview Abi Fain, Chief Legal and Policy Officer at the Intertribal Ag Council. And we'll talk to young farmers building solutions to address water access and climate issues. Abi Fain, Chief Legal & Policy Officer, Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC)Abi works with her colleagues at IAC to develop and implement education and advocacy strategies that support the policy priorities identified by IAC's member Tribes and advance IAC's overall mission of pursuing and promoting the conservation, development and use of Tribal agriculture resources for the betterment of Tribal people. To this, Abi and IAC's policy team focus their efforts on ensuring Tribal producers have opportunities to meaningfully participate in programs administered by the United States Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs through administrative or legislative solutions. Prior to joining IAC in May 2022, Abi practiced law for seven years at Pipestem Law and specialized in the representation of tribal governments, tribal enterprises, and Native organizations. Abi is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Susan Mitchell, Owner and Operator, Cloverleigh Farms + Young Farmers Land FellowSusan Mitchell is the owner/operator of Cloverleigh Farm in Columbia, CT. As a first-generation farmer, she grows certified organic vegetables, herbs, and flowers for a robust CSA program alongside her partner Josh Carnes, who raises pastured-livestock. They landed on their “forever farm” a few years ago after leasing land for many years while searching for long-term tenure and security. Susan is one of the co-founders of the New Connecticut Farmer Alliance, the Connecticut Chapter of Young Farmers. facebookinstagram Matt Hollenbeck, Hollenbeck's Cider Mill + Young Farmers Land FellowMatt Hollenbeck lives and farms in Virgil, NY and is the 4th generation steward of Hollenbeck's Cider Mill. He has been a factory worker, cubicle jockey, geologist, outdoor adventure guide, worked on a small organic csa farm, a butcher shop, and many other varied jobs before settling into continuing his family's 90+ year old ag processing business. He's a first generation orchardist with impostor syndrome, a staunch and vocal advocate for rural issues, smallholder agriculture, and appropriate technology. Matt is also a firm believer that family is the most important part of a family business. And a luddite to boot! LeVar Eady, CEO and Founder, BluRok Farms + Young Farmers Water FellowBluRok Farm was born out of LeVar's determination to grow the best hemp/cannabis possible while building a business that helps people become business owners and heal the planet. His path started in the garden where I learned to grow roses with his grandmother. Visit BluRok Farms at https://blurokfarm.com/. Shannon Maes, Rancher, San Juan Ranch + Young Farmers Water FellowWhat's a ground-level view from a cattle ranch in southern Colorado as fall turns to winter amidst prolonged drought and as legislative work on Farm Bill 2024 wraps up? Shannon Maes shares some of her experiences of drought, working with water and grazing for soil health and climate resilience as well as a few thoughts on agricultural and food policy from her perspective of working on ranches and ditchriding in her home region of Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico. Shannon has worked in agriculture since 2017 and completed a Water Advocacy Fellowship through the National Young Farmer's Coalition during 2023. Currently she works with cows, dogs, horses, people, soil, grass, and weather at San Juan Ranch in the San Luis Valley. Check out the Intertribal Agriculture Council hereLearn more about the USDA's EQIP program here and the crop insurance agent training program Abi mentions hereMore information about the Small Farms Conservation Act and the Farmer to Farmer Education Act can be found here and hereConnect with the farmers featured in this episode. Visit Cloverleigh Farm, Hollenbeck's Cider Mill, San Juan Ranch, and BluRok FarmThe Farm Report is hosted by Leigh Ollman and Alita Kelly, produced by Leigh Ollman, Evan Flom and H Conley, and edited by Hannah Beal and H Conley. Audio engineering is by Armen Spendjian and H Conley. Music is by Breakmaster Cylinder and JangwaLearn more about the National Young Farmers Coalition here and consider becoming a member. Click here to take action on the farm bill and other important policy issues.The Farm Report is Powered by Simplecast.
Why should our next generation of farmers – and just about everyone who eats – care about the Farm Bill? Celize Christy, an Organizer at HEAL Food Alliance explains the basic details on what's in the legislation, how it gets written, and how it impacts you. Then, Young Farmers' Policy Campaigns Co-Director Vanessa Garcia Polanco lays out the path forward in terms of the most important issues this time around. And we talk to farmers KD Randall and Matt Hollenbeck about what they need from their policymakers in D.C. Celize Christy, Organizer, HEAL Food AllianceAs an Organizer at HEAL Food Alliance, Celize facilitates connections among members, campaigns, and programs building collective power through HEAL's multi-sector, multi-racial coalition. Celize comes to HEAL's campaign and policy work by coordinating farmer-led education programming, advocating for BIPOC farmers in Iowa, and coalition building and organizing with sustainable agriculture organizations. At HEAL, Celize isn't just an organizer; she's a passionate agent of change, weaving connections and networks that celebrate the multifaceted voices of our food and farm systems. Read her full bio.Vanessa García Polanco, Policy Campaigns Co-Director, National Young Farmers CoalitionVanessa García Polanco co-designs the strategy and implementation of Young Farmers' policy campaigns, ensuring we are pursuing and advocating for equity-driven, farmer-centric research, policy, and programmatic interventions. She serves as the organizational council member and co-chair of the Farming Opportunities & Fair Competition Committee of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. She has previously worked with Food Solutions New England, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems, University of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension, and the Executive Office of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. She is an alumna of Michigan State University and the University of Rhode Island. She is a James Beard Foundation Scholar, AFHVS Innovation Leader, and an Emerging Leader in Food and Agriculture. As an Afro-Dominican immigrant, she brings her experiences and identities to her policy and advocacy activities.KD Randall, Farmer, Home Grown Farm + Young Farmers Land FellowKD is a returning generation farmer who developed a deep appreciation for the land and the ways that it constantly care for us. Inspired by the stories of their family, KD decided to pursue a career in agriculture, determined to contribute to the legacy and sustainability of southern rural agriculture. Recently, KD's work has focused on healing and fostering remembrance, reconnection, and growth in all of the places they call home, grounding in their southern rural agrarian roots. This passion has inspired them to create Home Grown Farms, a small rural farm that is still blooming into its first form. A component of KD's long-term vision is to explore ways to offer a diversity of wellness experiences through food, recreation, and spiritual services.Follow KD @farmerinthekells.Matt Hollenbeck, Hollenbeck's Cider Mill + Young Farmers Land FellowMatt Hollenbeck lives and farms in Virgil, NY, and is the 4th generation steward of Hollenbeck's Cider Mill. He has been a factory worker, cubicle jockey, geologist, outdoor adventure guide, worked on a small organic CSA farm, a butcher shop, and many other varied jobs before settling into continuing his family's 90+-year-old ag processing business. He's a first-generation orchardist with impostor syndrome, a staunch and vocal advocate for rural issues, smallholder agriculture, and appropriate technology. Matt is also a firm believer that family is the most important part of a family business. And a Luddite to boot! Check out HEAL Food Alliance's farm bill priorities here.Learn more about Hollenbeck's Cider Mill here.Follow KD Randle @farmerinthekellsLearn more about the USDA's EQIP program here, and the NRCS program here.The Farm Report is hosted by Leigh Ollman and Alita Kelly, produced by Leigh Ollman, Evan Flom and H Conley, and edited by Hannah Beal and H Conley. Audio engineering is by Armen Spendjian and H Conley. Music in the original episode is by Breakmaster Cylinder and JangwaLearn more about the National Young Farmers Coalition here and consider becoming a member. Click here to take action on the farm bill and other important policy issues. The Farm Report was originally air by HRN and is Powered by Simplecast.
You may know Lindsey Lusher Shute from co-founding the National Young Farmers Coalition, but what we talk about on the pod this week is her work with GrownBy: the only cooperatively farmer-owned farm marketplace app. During her decade as the Executive Director of the NYFC, one of the needs that was identified was a flexible way for farmers to sell a wide variety of products online. That need is what led to her founding the Farm Generations Cooperative that runs GrownBy.Now, over 900 farms use GrownBy to sell vegetables, flowers, goat petting sessions (listen to the interview!) and more, straight to the public. Very competitive selling fees are made even more attractive by the fact that as soon as farmers make a sale through the platform, they are invited to join the Farm Generations Cooperative, and potentially get some of their fees back as a coop co-owner. You can also run a CSA through GrownBy; for all the details, listen to this week's Growing for Market Podcast! Connect With Guest:Website: https://grownby.appInstagram: @grownbyapp Subscribe To Our Magazine -all new subscriptions include a FREE 28-Day Trial Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:Tilth Soil makes living soils for organic growers. The base for all our mixes is NOP-compliant compost, made from the 4,000 tons of food scraps we divert from landfills each year. And the results speak for themselves. Get excellent germination, strong transplants, and help us turn these resources back into food. Try a free bag, and check our 2025 seed starter pre-sale for the best prices of the season at tilthsoil.com/gfm. PanAmerican Seed brings to market novel, high-quality vegetables for the fresh market grower and hobby farmer. This year, to help make choices for vegetable programs easier, we've grouped our assortment into four categories where these edible favorites perform their best. Look for our easy-to-identify symbols in our latest brochure! Visit panamseed.com/vegetables to learn more and find a seed supplier today. BCS two-wheel tractors are designed and built in Italy where small-scale farming has been a way of life for generations. Discover the beauty of BCS on your farm with PTO-driven implements for soil-working, shredding cover crops, spreading compost, mowing under fences, clearing snow, and more – all powered by a single, gear-driven machine that's tailored to the size and scale of your operation. To learn more, view sale pricing, or locate your nearest dealer, visit BCS America. Farmhand is the only ready-to-ride assistant made by and for farmers. Through a simple text or email to Farmhand, you can offload admin tasks, automate your CSA, update your website, and sell more to your customers. Learn more and take one of our many time-saving tasks for a test drive to see firsthand how Farmhand can help you earn more, and work less at farmhand.partners/gfm. Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse kits, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full spectrum of colors. For all that plus experienced support for everything they sell, check out Bootstrap Farmer at bootstrapfarmer.com.Subscribe To Our Magazine -all new subscriptions include a FREE 28-Day Trial
The Farm Report: Live!In collaboration with HRN and the National Young Farmers Coalition, Following a screening of the documentary "Common Ground" Leigh Ollman moderates a spirited conversation about the future of farming with guests Michelle A.T Hughes, Chirs Nickell and Leah Penniman. Chris Nickell (Finca Seremos)- Chris Nickell (they/them) is a community organizer and land steward. With previous work experience in academia, labor organizing, and state government, Chris turned to agriculture in 2022. They farmed vegetables and offered public programming at Stone Barns Center in 2022 and served as crew leader at Cropsey Community Farm in 2023. This year they founded Finca Seremos in Beacon, NY with their spouse, Brenda González. Seremos is a food justice project to grow fresh, organic, nutrient-dense produce for Chris and Brenda's community in Northern Manhattan and the Bronx as well as their new community in the mid-Hudson Valley.Leah Penniman (Soul Fire Farm)- Leah Penniman (all pronouns) is a Black Kreyol farmer, mother, soil nerd, author, and food justice activist from Soul Fire Farm in Grafton, NY. She co-founded Soul Fire Farm in 2010 with the mission to end racism in the food system and reclaim our ancestral connection to land. As Co-ED and Farm Director, Leah is part of a team that facilitates powerful food sovereignty programs – including farmer training for Black & Brown people, a subsidized farm food distribution program for communities living under food apartheid, and domestic and international organizing toward equity in the food system.Michelle A.T. Hughes (Young Farmers) - Michelle (she/her) is a former hog farmer from New Haven, Connecticut, with a background in agriculture policy. Before serving as Co-Executive Director, Michelle has served in a number of roles at the Coalition beginning as a Farm Bill Organizer in the summer of 2017. From there, Michelle served on the federal policy team as Federal Policy Associate after the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill. Working on federal farm policy reinforced Michelle's desire for equitable change for young farmers and inspired her to design a framework for the organization's racial equity transformation.SUPPORT A BRIGHTERFUTURE FOR U.S.AGRICULTURE.Help our coalition tackle the obstacles preventing talented, passionate young farmers and ranchers from building successful careers in agriculture.
Join us for a compelling live webinar interview with Briana Alfaro and Danielle Peláez from Soul Fire Farm as we dig into the rich and essential world of soil as well as the profound relationship we share with soil. This engaging discussion will cover:Is Soil Alive?: Taking a look at the composition and nature of soil and perception of soil and its vital role in sustaining life on Earth.Soul Fire Farm's Soil Practices: An in-depth look at how Soul Fire Farm's regenerative practices in caring for their soil promote biodiversity and ecological balance.Caring for and Honoring Our Soil: Practical advice and insights on nurturing and respecting the soil in our own landscapes.Briana and Danielle will share their expertise, experiences, and ways that Soul Fire Farm partners with the land to help the soil remain vibrant and life-giving. This webinar promises to be a rich exchange of knowledge, fostering a deeper connection to the Earth beneath our feet and inspiring actionable steps to support soil health in our own communities. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn from two passionate experts in regenerative agriculture and soil stewardship!About Soul Fire Farm: Soul Fire Farm is an Afro-Indigenous centered community farm committed to uprooting racism and seeding sovereignty in the food system. To learn more about Soul Fire Farm and their fantastic work, visit their website at www.soulfirefarm.org. Briana Alfaro, Soul Fire Farm Administrative Director of Programs & Partnerships, (she/her) is a multiracial, Mexican and Indigenous grower, educator, writer, and activist living in unceded Gayogohó:nǫ˺ territory, in Ithaca, NY. She co-creates educational offerings and supports coalition work as Director of Programs & Partnerships at Soul Fire Farm. Her passion for land stewardship and agriculture is rooted in a long-held infatuation with food and cooking; in her family's experience as campesino farmers and US farm workers; and in a love of nature cultivated by family camping trips as a child. She has worked with National Young Farmers Coalition, Northeast Organic Farming Association of NY, and San Diego Food System Alliance. She holds a M.S. Food Studies from Syracuse University and serves on the Board of the Youth Farm Project. Danielle Peláez, Soul Fire Farm Education Manager, (she/they || ella/elle) is a queer farmer, educator, and land tender. A lover of plantitas, fungi, human and non-human beings, Danielle dreams of serving her community through facilitating (re)connection to the soil, drawing on her roots in the western highlands of Guatemala. As the Farm Education Manager, Dani co-creates and co-leads earth-based educational offerings. They love being outside in all forms (gardening, hiking, foraging, napping in hammocks) and sharing meals with friends.Support the Show.
“We've been presented with problems today that we've never dealt with before as an agriculture industry–like climate change. And I don't think that the approach we've taken, historically, is going to work here…As long as I've heard the words ‘climate change,' I have heard that Indigenous practice is the solution.”This week on the show, a conversation with Michelle Hughes of the National Young Farmers Coalition. In 2019, the organization made a decision to put racial equity at the center of their strategic planning work. Michelle Hughes shares the story of their transformation. This story first aired in 2022, Michelle Hughes is now the co-director of the National Young Farmers CoalitionAnd Josephine McRobbie brings us a story about a new web tool that might help oyster farmers better prepare for the rainy season. [Note: This story first aired in 2022, Michelle Hughes is now co-director of the National Young Farmers Coalition.]
“We've been presented with problems today that we've never dealt with before as an agriculture industry–like climate change. And I don't think that the approach we've taken, historically, is going to work here…As long as I've heard the words ‘climate change,' I have heard that Indigenous practice is the solution.”This week on the show, a conversation with Michelle Hughes of the National Young Farmers Coalition. In 2019, the organization made a decision to put racial equity at the center of their strategic planning work. Michelle Hughes shares the story of their transformation. This story first aired in 2022, Michelle Hughes is now the co-director of the National Young Farmers CoalitionAnd Josephine McRobbie brings us a story about a new web tool that might help oyster farmers better prepare for the rainy season. [Note: This story first aired in 2022, Michelle Hughes is now co-director of the National Young Farmers Coalition.]
Join guest speaker Mari Hunt Wassink as she utilizes text from Genesis 2:4-22, CEB to speak about regenerativity as a spiritual practice. Mari Hunt Wassink is a farmer, educator, and activist. She owns and operates Black Earth Gardens, a small-scale regenerative farm that specializes in growing vegetables, herbs, and fruits that are culturally important to Black communities in Eastern Iowa, with a focus on dismantling food apartheid and expanding food sovereignty locally. She is also a Land Advocacy Fellow with the National Young Farmers Coalition, where she advocates for federal policies that promote equitable land access for beginning and BIPOC farmers. Mari grew up in Marion and graduated from Coe College. Today, she lives with her husband and their dog in Wellington Heights. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, reading, and calligraphy.
“Soil health can be complicated but it's also super simple and something that everybody can participate in.” —Sarah Wentzel Fisher Soil health is the foundation of our food systems and ecosystems. Yet many are disconnected from the living soil that sustains us. The soil is a complex web of microbial and ecological activity below our feet, working constantly to cycle nutrients, sequester carbon, and support plant life above and below ground. When soil health declines, it impacts water quality, biodiversity, our ability to grow nutritious food, and ultimately all living beings. In this episode, Justine interviews Sarah Wentzel Fisher about the transformative potential of getting more people involved in agriculture and stewarding soil health. Sarah is the Executive Director of the Quivira Coalition and a regenerative farmer. Through her work with the Carbon Ranch Initiative, she aims to improve soil health on rangelands and educate farmers and ranchers on the importance of soil stewardship. Listen in as Justine and Sarah discuss the importance of soil health for functioning ecosystems and its central role in mitigating climate change, the impact of research in providing practical solutions, ways to inspire conversation around soil health, and more. Meet Sarah: Sarah has worked in food and agriculture planning for over a decade with a focus on supporting young and beginning farmers and ranchers. She was the editor of Edible Santa Fe from 2011 to 2017. From 2013 to 2015 she worked for the National Young Farmers Coalition as an organizer and is currently on the board of the Southwest Grassfed Livestock Alliance and the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union. She is a committed champion of the local food movement and of resilient and regenerative agriculture. In her free time, you can find her feeding pigs, turkeys, and cows, checking the compost pile, or possibly weeding a patch of beans at Polk's Folly Farm where she lives. Website Facebook X Instagram LinkedIn Connect with NextGen Purpose: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Episode Highlights: 02:21 Creative Conveing and Food Systems 06:27 Soil Health and Its Impact on Ecosystems 10:40 The Importance of Understanding Soil Health 15:03 How Soil Health Impacts Climate
Melissa and Wythe were honored to join The Farm Report team for this special and important series on the Farm Bill and the politics of food. Please check out the interview, and follow The Farm Report for more critical news and analysis of what's happening across all of agriculture.Despite an increasing number of farmers growing food in cities urban agriculture wasn't acknowledged in the farm bill until 2018. Lisa Held, journalist with Civil Eats and former Farm Report host provides the scoop on how the Farm Bill will impact the future of urban ag.Melissa Metrick and Wythe Marschall, co-hosts of HRN's Fields podcast, give us some perspective on urban land-access challenges and what's happening on the ground in cities across the country. And, our very own co-host Alita Kelly shares some of the urban agriculture projects she's been working on in her community.For more information on the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovation, visit the USDA website.Learn more about the NYU Urban Farm Lab and the Map N.Y.C. projects that Wythe and Melissa mentioned.Visit Civil Eats to catch the latest food system stories. The Farm Report is hosted by Leigh Ollman and Alita Kelly, produced by Leigh Ollman, Evan Flom and H Conley, and edited by Hannah Beal and H Conley. Audio engineering is by Armen Spendjian and H Conley. Music is by Breakmaster Cylinder and JangwaLearn more about the National Young Farmers Coalition here and consider becoming a member. Click here to take action on the farm bill and other important policy issues. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Fields by becoming a member!Fields is Powered by Simplecast.
Despite an increasing number of farmers growing food in cities urban agriculture wasn't acknowledged in the farm bill until 2018. Lisa Held, journalist with Civil Eats and former Farm Report host provides the scoop on how the Farm Bill will impact the future of urban ag.Melissa Metrick and Wythe Marschall, co-hosts of HRN's Fields podcast, give us some perspective on urban land-access challenges and what's happening on the ground in cities across the country. And, our very own co-host Alita Kelly shares some of the urban agriculture projects she's been working on in her community.Check out Fields here.For more information on the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovation, visit the USDA website.Learn more about the NYU Urban Farm Lab and the Map N.Y.C. projects that Wythe and Melissa mentioned.Visit Civil Eats to catch the latest food system stories. The Farm Report is hosted by Leigh Ollman and Alita Kelly, produced by Leigh Ollman, Evan Flom and H Conley, and edited by Hannah Beal and H Conley. Audio engineering is by Armen Spendjian and H Conley. Music is by Breakmaster Cylinder and JangwaLearn more about the National Young Farmers Coalition here and consider becoming a member. Click here to take action on the farm bill and other important policy issues. The Farm Report is Powered by Simplecast.
The nutrition title was first included in the 1973 farm bill. It's projected to make up 84% of total Farm Bill spending, with most of the funds going to SNAP. That's because the program helps more than 40 million low-income individuals provide food for their families each month. Some of those people are farmers. In this episode, we talk to Mark Nicholson, Senior Director of Policy at the Fair Food Network to dig into how the farm bill links farms and food access. And we'll talk to farmers about how they are uniquely positioned to directly provide nutritious food for the families in their communities.Learn more about the SNAP program here, the Healthy Food Finance Initiative here, and the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) hereCheck out Fair Food Network hereLearn more about the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program hereThe Farm Report is hosted by Leigh Ollman and Alita Kelly, produced by Leigh Ollman, Evan Flom and H Conley, and edited by Hannah Beal and H Conley. Audio engineering is by Armen Spendjian and H Conley. Music is by Breakmaster Cylinder and JangwaLearn more about the National Young Farmers Coalition here and consider becoming a member. Click here to take action on the farm bill and other important policy issues. The Farm Report is Powered by Simplecast.
Farmers are now dealing with the impacts of the climate crisis on a daily basis. Experts predict weather events including droughts and flooding will only get worse. Young and beginning farmers, especially BIPOC farmers, are feeling those impacts the most. Are there opportunities to advance water and climate action and justice through the 2024 Farm Bill? We interview Abi Fain, Chief Legal and Policy Officer at the Intertribal Ag Council. And we'll talk to young farmers building solutions to address water access and climate issues. Check out the Intertribal Agriculture Council hereLearn more about the USDA's EQIP program here and the crop insurance agent training program Abi mentions hereMore information about the Small Farms Conservation Act and the Farmer to Farmer Education Act can be found here and hereConnect with the farmers featured in this episode. Visit Cloverleigh Farm, Hollenbeck's Cider Mill, San Juan Ranch, and BluRok FarmThe Farm Report is hosted by Leigh Ollman and Alita Kelly, produced by Leigh Ollman, Evan Flom and H Conley, and edited by Hannah Beal and H Conley. Audio engineering is by Armen Spendjian and H Conley. Music is by Breakmaster Cylinder and JangwaLearn more about the National Young Farmers Coalition here and consider becoming a member. Click here to take action on the farm bill and other important policy issues.The Farm Report is Powered by Simplecast.
Why should our next generation of farmers – and just about everyone who eats – care about the farm bill? Celize Christy, an Organizer at HEAL Food Alliance explains the basic details on what's in the legislation, how it gets written, and how it impacts you. Then, Young Farmers' Policy Campaigns Co-Director Vanessa Garcia Polanco lays out the path forward in terms of the most important issues this time around. And we talk to farmers KD Randall and Matt Hollenbeck about what they need from their policymakers in D.C. Check out HEAL Food Alliance's farm bill priorities here.Learn more about Hollenbeck's Cider Mill here.Follow KD Randle @farmerinthekellsLearn more about the USDA's EQIP program here, and the NRCS program here.The Farm Report is hosted by Leigh Ollman and Alita Kelly, produced by Leigh Ollman, Evan Flom and H Conley, and edited by Hannah Beal and H Conley. Audio engineering is by Armen Spendjian and H Conley. Music is by Breakmaster Cylinder and JangwaLearn more about the National Young Farmers Coalition here and consider becoming a member. Click here to take action on the farm bill and other important policy issues. The Farm Report is Powered by Simplecast.
Join us for a special series of The Farm Report in collaboration with The National Young Farmers Coalition that's all about The Farm Bill. Tune in to hear from farmers, policymakers, organizers, and food advocates about all the ways the farm bill directly impacts our lives - whether we realize it or not. We'll break down farm policy and talk to young farmers about what hangs in the balance for them as another Farm Bill gets made. Join our coalition to shift power and change policy for the next generation of growers and land stewards. The future of good food depends on it. The Farm Report is Powered by Simplecast.
On "Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg," Dani speaks with Michelle Hughes, Co-Executive Director of the National Young Farmers Coalition. They discuss what motivates young farmers despite the challenges they face, wins around mental health for producers, and why the National Young Farmers Coalition focuses so heavily on shifting power for a new future of agriculture. While you're listening, subscribe, rate, and review the show; it would mean the world to us to have your feedback. You can listen to “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg” wherever you consume your podcasts.
In this episode of the Speaking Out of Place podcast, Professor David Palumbo-Liu speaks with June Choi, Yannai Kashtan, and Belinda Ramírez from the Coalition for a True School of Sustainability. Amidst great fanfare, Stanford University created the Doerr School for Sustainability, which immediately said that it would accept funding from the fossil fuel industry. June, Yannai, and Belinda are helping lead the movement of students pushing back to dissociate from such funds. David asks what drives them and sustains them in building a True School of Sustainability.www.truesustainabilityschool.comwww.ejstanford.comJune Choi is a PhD candidate in Earth System Science at the Doerr School of Sustainability. Her research focuses on quantifying the impacts of climate change to inform adaptation strategies. Her previous work involved tracking global climate finance flows, setting standards for green bonds and sustainable finance integrity. She holds an MA in International Relations from John Hopkins University and BA in Sociology from Amherst College.Yannai Kashtan is a PhD candidate in Earth System Science at the Doerr School of Sustainability, where he studies health-related hazards of residential fossil-fueled appliances. His most recent project quantified benzene emissions from gas and propane stoves. He earned a BA from Pomona College, where he majored in physics and chemistry and studied organic semiconductors.Belinda Ramírez (they/them) teaches introductory liberal education courses at Stanford as a COLLEGE Fellow, including courses on environmental sustainability, food and culture, and climate/environmental/food justice. They also organize with Stanford's Environmental Justice Working Group and the Coalition for a True School of Sustainability. Trained in cultural anthropology, their research deals with the social, racial/ethnic, political, and economic dimensions of urban agriculture and other food movements situated within the modern industrialized and corporatized global food system. In researching these topics, Belinda has come to recognize the fulfillment found in experiential learning and working firsthand to change their local food system, receiving agricultural training through local farms and community gardens in southern San Diego. They have also engaged in statewide political advocacy for young farmers through the National Young Farmers Coalition, served as both Board and Food Justice Co-Chair for Slow Food Urban San Diego, and worked as a Soil Farmer for Food2Soil. They consider themselves a farmer-scholar, bridging the worlds between praxis and theory, academia and tangible, on-the-ground work.www.palumbo-liu.com https://speakingoutofplace.comhttps://twitter.com/palumboliu?s=20
In this episode of the Speaking Out of Place podcast, Professor David Palumbo-Liu speaks with June Choi, Yannai Kashtan, and Belinda Ramírez from the Coalition for a True School of Sustainability. Amidst great fanfare, Stanford University created the Doerr School for Sustainability, which immediately said that it would accept funding from the fossil fuel industry. June, Yannai, and Belinda are helping lead the movement of students pushing back to dissociate from such funds. David asks what drives them and sustains them in building a True School of Sustainability.www.truesustainabilityschool.comwww.ejstanford.comJune Choi is a PhD candidate in Earth System Science at the Doerr School of Sustainability. Her research focuses on quantifying the impacts of climate change to inform adaptation strategies. Her previous work involved tracking global climate finance flows, setting standards for green bonds and sustainable finance integrity. She holds an MA in International Relations from John Hopkins University and BA in Sociology from Amherst College.Yannai Kashtan is a PhD candidate in Earth System Science at the Doerr School of Sustainability, where he studies health-related hazards of residential fossil-fueled appliances. His most recent project quantified benzene emissions from gas and propane stoves. He earned a BA from Pomona College, where he majored in physics and chemistry and studied organic semiconductors.Belinda Ramírez (they/them) teaches introductory liberal education courses at Stanford as a COLLEGE Fellow, including courses on environmental sustainability, food and culture, and climate/environmental/food justice. They also organize with Stanford's Environmental Justice Working Group and the Coalition for a True School of Sustainability. Trained in cultural anthropology, their research deals with the social, racial/ethnic, political, and economic dimensions of urban agriculture and other food movements situated within the modern industrialized and corporatized global food system. In researching these topics, Belinda has come to recognize the fulfillment found in experiential learning and working firsthand to change their local food system, receiving agricultural training through local farms and community gardens in southern San Diego. They have also engaged in statewide political advocacy for young farmers through the National Young Farmers Coalition, served as both Board and Food Justice Co-Chair for Slow Food Urban San Diego, and worked as a Soil Farmer for Food2Soil. They consider themselves a farmer-scholar, bridging the worlds between praxis and theory, academia and tangible, on-the-ground work.www.palumbo-liu.com https://speakingoutofplace.comhttps://twitter.com/palumboliu?s=20
In this episode of the Speaking Out of Place podcast, Professor David Palumbo-Liu speaks with June Choi, Yannai Kashtan, and Belinda Ramírez from the Coalition for a True School of Sustainability. Amidst great fanfare, Stanford University created the Doerr School for Sustainability, which immediately said that it would accept funding from the fossil fuel industry. June, Yannai, and Belinda are helping lead the movement of students pushing back to dissociate from such funds. David asks what drives them and sustains them in building a True School of Sustainability.www.truesustainabilityschool.comwww.ejstanford.comJune Choi is a PhD candidate in Earth System Science at the Doerr School of Sustainability. Her research focuses on quantifying the impacts of climate change to inform adaptation strategies. Her previous work involved tracking global climate finance flows, setting standards for green bonds and sustainable finance integrity. She holds an MA in International Relations from John Hopkins University and BA in Sociology from Amherst College.Yannai Kashtan is a PhD candidate in Earth System Science at the Doerr School of Sustainability, where he studies health-related hazards of residential fossil-fueled appliances. His most recent project quantified benzene emissions from gas and propane stoves. He earned a BA from Pomona College, where he majored in physics and chemistry and studied organic semiconductors.Belinda Ramírez (they/them) teaches introductory liberal education courses at Stanford as a COLLEGE Fellow, including courses on environmental sustainability, food and culture, and climate/environmental/food justice. They also organize with Stanford's Environmental Justice Working Group and the Coalition for a True School of Sustainability. Trained in cultural anthropology, their research deals with the social, racial/ethnic, political, and economic dimensions of urban agriculture and other food movements situated within the modern industrialized and corporatized global food system. In researching these topics, Belinda has come to recognize the fulfillment found in experiential learning and working firsthand to change their local food system, receiving agricultural training through local farms and community gardens in southern San Diego. They have also engaged in statewide political advocacy for young farmers through the National Young Farmers Coalition, served as both Board and Food Justice Co-Chair for Slow Food Urban San Diego, and worked as a Soil Farmer for Food2Soil. They consider themselves a farmer-scholar, bridging the worlds between praxis and theory, academia and tangible, on-the-ground work.www.palumbo-liu.com https://speakingoutofplace.comhttps://twitter.com/palumboliu?s=20
In this episode of the Speaking Out of Place podcast, Professor David Palumbo-Liu speaks with June Choi, Yannai Kashtan, and Belinda Ramírez from the Coalition for a True School of Sustainability. Amidst great fanfare, Stanford University created the Doerr School for Sustainability, which immediately said that it would accept funding from the fossil fuel industry. June, Yannai, and Belinda are helping lead the movement of students pushing back to dissociate from such funds. David asks what drives them and sustains them in building a True School of Sustainability.www.truesustainabilityschool.comwww.ejstanford.comJune Choi is a PhD candidate in Earth System Science at the Doerr School of Sustainability. Her research focuses on quantifying the impacts of climate change to inform adaptation strategies. Her previous work involved tracking global climate finance flows, setting standards for green bonds and sustainable finance integrity. She holds an MA in International Relations from John Hopkins University and BA in Sociology from Amherst College.Yannai Kashtan is a PhD candidate in Earth System Science at the Doerr School of Sustainability, where he studies health-related hazards of residential fossil-fueled appliances. His most recent project quantified benzene emissions from gas and propane stoves. He earned a BA from Pomona College, where he majored in physics and chemistry and studied organic semiconductors.Belinda Ramírez (they/them) teaches introductory liberal education courses at Stanford as a COLLEGE Fellow, including courses on environmental sustainability, food and culture, and climate/environmental/food justice. They also organize with Stanford's Environmental Justice Working Group and the Coalition for a True School of Sustainability. Trained in cultural anthropology, their research deals with the social, racial/ethnic, political, and economic dimensions of urban agriculture and other food movements situated within the modern industrialized and corporatized global food system. In researching these topics, Belinda has come to recognize the fulfillment found in experiential learning and working firsthand to change their local food system, receiving agricultural training through local farms and community gardens in southern San Diego. They have also engaged in statewide political advocacy for young farmers through the National Young Farmers Coalition, served as both Board and Food Justice Co-Chair for Slow Food Urban San Diego, and worked as a Soil Farmer for Food2Soil. They consider themselves a farmer-scholar, bridging the worlds between praxis and theory, academia and tangible, on-the-ground work.www.palumbo-liu.com https://speakingoutofplace.comhttps://twitter.com/palumboliu?s=20
Amidst great fanfare, Stanford University created the Doerr School for Sustainability, which immediately said that it would accept funding from the fossil fuel industry. A group of students has pushed back, and built an impressive movement to dissociate from such funds. In this episode, we talk to some of the people leading the movement about what drives them and sustains them in building a True School of Sustainability.June Choi is a PhD candidate in Earth System Science at the Doerr School of Sustainability. Her research focuses on quantifying the impacts of climate change to inform adaptation strategies. Her previous work involved tracking global climate finance flows, setting standards for green bonds and sustainable finance integrity. She holds an MA in International Relations from John Hopkins University and BA in Sociology from Amherst College.Yannai Kashtan is a PhD candidate in Earth System Science at the Doerr School of Sustainability, where he studies health-related hazards of residential fossil-fueled appliances. His most recent project quantified benzene emissions from gas and propane stoves. He earned a BA from Pomona College, where he majored in physics and chemistry and studied organic semiconductors.Belinda Ramírez (they/them) teaches introductory liberal education courses at Stanford as a COLLEGE Fellow, including courses on environmental sustainability, food and culture, and climate/environmental/food justice. They also organize with Stanford's Environmental Justice Working Group and the Coalition for a True School of Sustainability. Trained in cultural anthropology, their research deals with the social, racial/ethnic, political, and economic dimensions of urban agriculture and other food movements situated within the modern industrialized and corporatized global food system. In researching these topics, Belinda has come to recognize the fulfillment found in experiential learning and working firsthand to change their local food system, receiving agricultural training through local farms and community gardens in southern San Diego. They have also engaged in statewide political advocacy for young farmers through the National Young Farmers Coalition, served as both Board and Food Justice Co-Chair for Slow Food Urban San Diego, and worked as a Soil Farmer for Food2Soil. They consider themselves a farmer-scholar, bridging the worlds between praxis and theory, academia and tangible, on-the-ground work.
In this episode, host Taylor Muglia dives into the details of a creative land access model with Poudre Valley Community Farms Executive Director Stacy Lishka and one of the program's lessees Evanne Caviness, who also happens to be the Western Organizing Manager for the National Young Farmers Coalition. The two guests talk about what can go right and wrong with cooperative land leasing, and share insights they've gained along the way. These insights can help beginning farmers and ranchers find hope for land access in extremely expensive parts of the West, and inform public and private land managers to think about leasing land with an equitable and holistic mindset.
This is the third episode of our 2023 Farm Bill series, digging into the farm policy that will affect the next generation of farmers and ranchers.We've been asking how 1,000 pages of federal policy can provide tangible benefits and support to beginning and BIPOC farmers, our communities, and the environment. And in this episode, we're joined by Mario Holguin and Julieta Saucedo of La Semilla Food Center, and Ana Moran, Water Organizer at the National Young Farmers Coalition. La Semilla Food Center, based in Anthony, New Mexico, has a mission “to foster a healthy, self-reliant, fair, and sustainable food system in the Paso del Norte region of southern New Mexico and El Paso, TX.” They do this work through a number of programs that Mario and Julieta discuss with Ana, including their Community Farm, farmer fellowships, policy and community development, and storytelling efforts.Throughout their conversation Ana, Julieta, and Mario explore some of the ways that the 2023 Farm Bill can directly address the climate crisis, and what building climate resilience looks like across the Southwest. We know young farmers across the country are motivated by conservation and social justice. In our 2022 national survey 97% or respondents said their farm or ranch was using sustainable practices, and 86% identified their practices as being regenerative.We end our episode today with a brief chat between Erin Foster-West, Policy Coordination and Management Director with the Coalition, and myself. Erin shares some exciting new bills recently introduced in Congress that would help small farms secure more accessible funding for conservation efforts and also support community support systems through farmer-to-farmer education opportunities. Find the Young Farmers Action Center here. Learn more about La Semilla Food Center here.Learn more about the Farmer-to-Farmer Education Act here and take action and learn more about the Small Farm Conservation Act here.Become a National Young Farmers Coalition member at youngfarmers.org/join for only $1/year. Produced by Jessica Manly and Evan Flom.Edited by Hannah Beal.Original podcast art by SJ Brekosky.Gratitude to Chipotle and 11th Hour for sponsoring our Young Farmers' land campaign and to the our many partner organizations for furthering this important work with us.
This is the second episode of a six-part series focused on the one thing everyone in our network – from farmers to policymakers, organizers to corporate partners – is laser-focused on right now: the 2023 Farm Bill.In this episode, we're joined by Dãnia Davy, Director of Land Retention and Advocacy for the Federation of Southern Cooperatives, and Alita Kelly, Land Organizing Director at the National Young Farmers Coalition. Throughout our conversation we'll explore some of the ways that the 2023 Farm Bill can directly address the land access crisis happening right now in the US.We end our episode with Holly Rippon-Butler, Young Farmers Land Policy Director. Holly tells us why each and every one of us should be a land advocate, how young farmers are building powerful solutions to the land access crisis across the country, and a bit about what's next for our land policy priorities in the 2023 Farm Bill. Sign up for our One Million Acres for the Future campaign here and take action by asking your Members of Congress to support the Increasing Land Access, Security, and Opportunities Act.Learn more about the Federation for Southern Cooperatives at www.federation.coop.Learn more about the LASO Act here, and the Increasing Land, Capital, Market Access Program and its recent awardees here.Become a National Young Farmers Coalition member at youngfarmers.org/join for only $1/year. Produced by Jessica Manly and Evan Flom.Edited by Hannah Beal.Original podcast art by SJ Brekosky.Gratitude to Chipotle and 11th Hour for sponsoring our Young Farmers' land campaign and to the our many partner organizations for furthering this important work with us.
This week we're talking to Vanessa García Polanco, Director of Government Relations with the National Young Farmers Coalition. Vanessa is a Dominican immigrant with her Master's Degree in Community Food and Agriculture Systems from Michigan State University, and as a teenager she rebelled by volunteering at non-profits.Thank you for joining us today on Barnyard Language. If you enjoy the show, we encourage you to support us by becoming a patron. Go to Patreon to make a small monthly donation to help cover the cost of making a show. Please rate and review the podcast and follow the show so you never miss an episode. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok as BarnyardLanguage, and on Twitter we are BarnyardPod. If you'd like to connect with other farming families, you can join our private Barnyard Language Facebook group. We're always in search of future guests for the podcast. If you or someone you know would like to chat with us, get in touch. We are a proud member of the Positively Farming Media Podcast Network.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy
This is the first episode of a new six-part series focused on the one thing everyone in our network – from farmers to policymakers, organizers to corporate partners – seems to be laser focused on right now: the 2023 Farm Bill.We're joined by Billy Hackett, Policy Specialist for the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), for a high-level overview of the farm bill. We know... 1,000 pages of federal policy, how exciting, right?! But we're here to convince you that this bill is the most important piece of legislation shaping the future of food in this country, and that it affects all of us.The farm bill influences what you eat every day, who grows your food and how they grow it, what food you can afford to buy, and even what you put in your gas tank. And we want you to know that you can help us make sure that this bill supports all of us–our families, our communities, and the next generation of farmers and ranchers. Find all the resources that Jessica and Billy mentioned during their conversation on Young Farmers' 2023 Farm Bill webpage and sign-up for NSAC's weekly newsletter here.Sign up for our One Million Acres for the Future campaign today by texting LAND to 40649 or by visiting p2a.co/land.Become a National Young Farmers Coalition member at youngfarmers.org/join for only $1/year.Produced by Jessica Manly and Evan Flom.Edited by Hannah Beal.Original podcast art by SJ Brekosky.
When farmers encounter challenges, they bring out their most creative and innovative solutions. Beginning farmers and those farming on a small scale can experience several challenges in getting started in their operations, and support is crucial. Join the conversation to learn how Liz Brownlee, farmer and past president of the Hoosier Young Farmers Coalition, found that support as a beginning Indiana farmer. She's joined by Elli Blaine, director of the Urban Soil Health Program, who talks about her work with farmers throughout the state as they rejuvenate their urban landscapes. Liz and Elli talk marketing, equipment, conservation practices, and more on this episode of the HAT Soil Health Podcast, supported by the Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative. If you'd like to read more about the survey from the National Young Farmers Coalition that Liz discusses, visit the NYFC website.
What tools do you use to reach more customers? In this Thriving Farmer podcast, we're joined by Lindsey Lusher Shute: farmer, co-founder and former executive director of the National Young Farmers Coalition, and co-owner of Hearty Roots Community Farm. An Ohio native, Lindsey first developed her love of farming on her grandfather's land in the rolling hills of Appalachia. As executive director of Young Farmers, Lindsey grew the organization from a few volunteer farmers to a nationwide network with 40 chapters in 39 states and a grassroots base of over 120,000. Lindsey edited and authored nine reports for the coalition, including Building a Future with Farmers: Challenges Faced by Young, American Farmers and a Strategy to Help Them Succeed. Lindsey is the co-founder of Farm Generations Cooperative, the makers of GrownBy, the Farmer-Owned Marketplace. Tune in to hear all about Lindsey's remarkable and unique journey in the farming world! You'll hear: How Lindsey got started in farming 2:16 How she got the idea to start the business 8:08 Overview of Hearty Roots Community Farm 13:16 What it was like for Lindsey to create a software product 25:19 New features in GrownBy 3.0 31:54 Next steps for GrownBy 39:46 About the Guest: Lindsey Lusher Shute is the co-founder of Farm Generations Cooperative, the makers of GrownBy. GrownBy is the first cooperatively-owned sales app for farms. Before co-founding Farm Generations Cooperative, Lindsey co-founded the National Young Farmers Coalition and led the organization as Executive Director for a decade. Under her leadership, Young Farmers influenced two farm bills and won change for farmers on the state and federal levels. Lindsey and her husband Ben are the owners of Hearty Roots Community Farm, an organic vegetable farm and CSA, in the Hudson Valley of New York. Resources: Website: https://grownby.app/ and https://www.farmgenerations.coop/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/farmgenerationscoop Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farmgenerationscoop/ The Thriving Farmer Podcast Team would like to thank our amazing sponsor! GrownBy is the farmer-owned online marketplace. In the last three years, their 200 farmers have sold over $2M of products to shoppers on the GrownBy app. GrownBy works for all scales and types of farm sales. Spring Plant Sale? Yup. Annual Freezer Meat Emptying? Check. Multi-season, multi-farm 300 member CSA operation? Absolutely. GrownBy supports it all. As a cooperative, farmer success is their #1 priority. They are the first farmer-owned cooperative ecommerce platform in the world. With auto-payments, built-in customer notifications, CSA subscriptions, and customers helping to pay site fees, GrownBy is a tailored fit for your farm's online sales. Upcoming, GrownBy will be the first online platform accepting SNAP/EBT with authorized farms. Startup is free, and pricing is transparent and affordable. The cooperative collects 2% of each transaction, but customers often contribute to this fee and bring down farmer costs significantly. Listeners to the Thriving Farmers Podcast get 50% off their first three months on GrownBy. Just email Grow@farmgenerations.coop to get this offer. You can learn more at GrownBy.com, or download the app on the Google Play or Apple App stores.
Quivira Coalition's Taylor Muglia sits down with Michelle Hughes, the Operations and Impact Director at National Young Farmers Coalition. Michelle speaks about her background in farming and livestock production and how she transitioned to advocacy work, then became staff at NYFC. She talks about the challenges and successes of weaving racial equity into an agricultural organization, and how accountability must be a part of that system. Michelle also speaks about her experience on the Equity Commission at USDA and how each young farmer can find their voice. Instagram @youngfarmers
Celina Ngozi is a Black/Igbo agrarian and the founder of Ala Soul Earthworks/Dry Bones Heal Bottomland, joining Hobby Farms Presents: Growing Good today to talk about her food-sovereignty work and earth-based practices. Hear about the Central Texas land that has been in Celina's family since 1876 and how she, her mother and other members of their family are coming together there. Learn about heirs property and the complexities of owning, enjoying and improving the land, particularly for Black land stewards in the South. Celina talks about her work as a Land Advocacy Fellow with National Young Farmers Coalition, land access issues in the Farm Bill and why that is so important to the future of small-scale farming. Get some advice on starting a garden from scratch with no motorized equipment, as Celina has done on land that hasn't been farmed in a few generations. Celina talks about adapting her farming practices from Colorado—where she learned about growing—to this new land, climate and community. She also talks about growing culturally relevant crops on subsistence farming and market gardening scales. Stay tuned until the end to hear about community building in rural areas and—something a lot of listeners can identify with—Celina's favorite farm meal. More about Celina Ngozi Esakawu: Celina's work with Ala Soul Earthworks/Dry Bones Heal Bottomland promotes connection to the earth through Afro-Indigenous practices, creativity and nurturing community. For a decade, Celina has grown food and worked with frontline communities to develop creative solutions to inequities in the food system. Her work includes food distribution, coordinating community agriculture programs, living on farms, promoting SNAP at farmers markets, advocating for land access, teaching African Diasporic nutrition courses and supporting local food economies across Texas. Her multi-ethnic background informs her earth-based practices. She focuses on growing culturally relevant foods of the Global South on land that has been in her family for 150 years. She is currently developing a program for people of color that promotes (re)membering ancestral knowledge in order to support future generations of agrarians. Celina is a 2022-2023 Land Advocacy Fellow with the National Young Farmers Coalition. Links: Ala Soul Earthworks/Dry Bones Heal Bottomland One Million Acres Campaign Federation of Southern Cooperatives land retention resources
U.S. agriculture policy deeply influences how we interact with food. If you have ever shopped at a farmers market, eaten a school-provided meal, or bought something using food stamps, then you have seen a massive piece of legislation known as the Farm Bill at work. This bill, which Congress is set to update next year, shapes how the U.S. farms, eats, and trades. Dan and Emma talk with Vanessa García Polanco, policy campaigns co-director of the National Young Farmers Coalition, to understand the history and impact of the Farm Bill. They are also joined by Keefe Keeley, executive director of the Savanna Institute, and Tucker Gretebeck of All Seasons Farm in Cashton, Wisconsin, to explore how a small but important aspect of the Farm Bill, planting trees on farms, can also benefit the climate. Shownotes: Farm Bill Resources: https://www.eesi.org/2023-farm-bill Agriculture and Climate Article Series: https://www.eesi.org/agriculture-and-climate-series
The future of farming must be inclusive, and the NYFC is intentionally moving agriculture towards racial diversity.
The future of farming must be inclusive, and the NYFC is intentionally moving agriculture towards racial diversity.
The National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC) Land Advocacy Fellowship is a two-year advocacy and leadership fellowship for current and aspiring young farmers and ranchers. In this episode, host Taylor Muglia sits down with Benú Amun-Ra, Tanisha Diggs, and Óscar Vital, three Fellows from right here in Colorado. They talk about their land access goals, how it can be even harder for BIPOC to access agricultural land, capital, and resources, and they share their policy suggestions for the 2023 Farm Bill as a part of the One Million Acres for the Future Campaign—an initiative to ensure that land is equitably transitioned to the next generation of farmers. Instagram - @youngfarmers Facebook youngfarmers.org Land Advocacy Fellowship NYFC National Survey Report One Million Acres for the Future Campaign
Access to affordable, quality farmland is the top challenge young farmers face, particularly BIPOC farmers, who today make up only 2% of farmland owners. Young Farmer's Land Campaign Director Holly Rippon-Butler talks with New York Times reporter Elizabeth Dunn about her recent article, “How ‘Fairy Tale' Farms Are Ruining Hudson Valley Agriculture,” about the land access crisis and how the National Young Farmers Coalition is working to transition one million acres of farmland to the next generation of farmers.The article, “How ‘Fairy Tale' Farms Are Ruining Hudson Valley Agriculture,” illustrates how “a rush of wealthy urbanites seeking fresh-air retreats in bucolic settings” has made land access for young and BIPOC farmers across the country even more challenging. Read the article here. You can hear Liz Dunn on her podcast Pressure Cooker with Liz Black here.Join the National Young Farmers Coalition here.Learn more about the One Million Acres Campaign here.
#071: Lindsey Lusher-Shute, co-founder of the National Young Farmers Coalition and the "other half" of Real Organic Project certified Hearty Roots Farm in NY, speaks to us about her next venture - the GrownBy App, a cooperative tech solution for direct sales that give farmers full control.Lindsey Lusher Shute is the co-founder and former Executive Director of the National Young Farmers Coalition (2009-2019). She lives and works from Hearty Roots Farm in NY's Hudson Valley. A longtime activist and policy advocate, Lindsey was recognized as a “Champion of Change” by President Barack Obama and was named among “ 20 Food Leaders Under 40” by Food Tank, and an “American Food Hero” by Eating Well Magazine. Lindsey helped to found Farmer Generations Coop which launched the GrownBy App in 2020/ To watch a video version of this podcast with access to the full transcript and links relevant to our conversation, please visit:https://www.realorganicproject.org/lindset-lusher-shute-tecnology-farming-cooperation-epsiode-seventy-oneThe Real Organic Podcast is hosted by Dave Chapman and Linley Dixon, engineered by Brandon StCyr, and edited and produced by Jenny Prince.The Real Organic Project is a farmer-led movement working towards certifying 1,000 farms across the United States this year. Our add-on food label distinguishes soil-grown fruits and vegetables from hydroponically-raised produce, and pasture-raised meat, milk, and eggs from products harvested from animals in horrific confinement (CAFOs - confined animal feeding operations).To find a Real Organic farm near you, please visit:https://www.realorganicproject.org/farmsWe believe that the organic standards, with their focus on soil health, biodiversity, and animal welfare were written as they should be, but that the current lack of enforcement of those standards is jeopardizing the ability for small farms who adhere to the law to stay in business. The lack of enforcement is also jeopardizing the overall health of the customers who support the organic movement; customers who are not getting what they pay for at market but still paying a premium price. And the lack of enforcement is jeopardizing the very cycles (water, air, nutrients) that Earth relies upon to provide us all with a place to live, by pushing extractive, chemical agriculture to the forefront.If you like what you hear and are feeling inspired, we would love for you to join our movement by becoming one of our 1,000 Real Friends:https://www.realorganicproject.org/real-organic-friends/To read our weekly newsletter (which might just be the most forwarded newsletter on the internet!) and get firsthand news about what's happening with organic food, farming and policy, please subscribe here:https://www.realorganicproject.org/email/
On “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg,” Dani speaks with Timothy (TemuAsyr) Martin Bey, Land Advocacy Fellow for the National Young Farmers Coalition and member of the BIPOC Advisory Committee for the California Department of Food and Agriculture. They discuss the National Young Farmer Coalition's policy goals for the 2023 Farm Bill and TemuAsyr's role in developing the California Department of Agriculture's BIPOC Advisory Committee. While you're listening, subscribe, rate, and review the show; it would mean the world to us to have your feedback. You can listen to “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg” wherever you consume your podcasts.
The National Young Farmers Coalition centers racial equity and is no longer a white-led organization. Catch our conversation with Michelle Hughes, about the organization's transformation, on this episode of Earth Eats.
The National Young Farmers Coalition centers racial equity and is no longer a white-led organization. Catch our conversation with Michelle Hughes, about the organization's transformation, on this episode of Earth Eats.
Carolina Mueller of the National Young Farmers Coalition talks about the National Young Farmer Survey and how it will help shape the 2023 Farm Bill. https://www.youngfarmers.org/22survey/ (National Young Farmers Survey) https://www.youngfarmers.org/ (YoungFarmers.org)
America's farmers are aging rapidly, and those looking to sell their land are finding no shortage of buyers. Billionaires, global corporations, investment firms, and developers are all buying up farmland for profit at a quick clip, driving up prices and making it nearly impossible for young and beginning farmers without accumulated wealth to afford their own acreage to plant and harvest. “Farmers Need Equitable Access to Land Now” is the message behind the National Young Farmers Coalition's One Million Acres for the Future Campaign. In this episode, NYFC Land Campaign Director Holly Rippon-Butler talks to host Lisa Held about the factors driving land access challenges, historic and ongoing injustices that make accessing land even more difficult for BIPOC farmers, and the long-term policy solutions NYFC is pushing for.Photo Courtesy of National Young Farmers Coalition.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Farm Report by becoming a member!The Farm Report is Powered by Simplecast.
In this episode, we talk with Vanessa García Polanco, Federal Policy Director of the National Young Farmers Coalition. Music by Josh Woodward - joshwoodward.com Tracks Used: Coffee and East Side Bar Produced by - Navgeet King Zed - nkzed.com
As a farewell to the calendar year that has been, and a welcome/seeding for the new year that will be, I am joined by seed person and agent of growing transformational change - Kellee Matsushita-Tseng. Known as Brave New Seed online, Kellee is a Yonsei (fourth generation) queer, Japanese-Chinese American, as well as the farm-garden assistant manager at the UC Santa Cruz Center for AgroEcology, and a member of the seed research and growing collective Second Generation Seeds, which specializes in seeds of the Asian Diaspora. Kellee's work focuses on sharing, education, and building a movement towards seed sovereignty as a means of cultivating community health and working for collective liberation. Kellee serves on the board of directors at the National Young Farmers Coalition and also organizes with the Asian American Farmers Alliance. Her leadership voice is one of clarity, integrity, and communal intention for a new year - and growing the world we want to live in. Cultivating Place now has a donate button! We thank you so much for listening over the years and we hope you'll support Cultivating Place. We can't thank you enough for making it possible for this young program to grow even more of these types of conversations. The show is available as a podcast on SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Podcast, and Stitcher. To read more and for many more photos please visit www.cultivatingplace.com.
Today we're coming to you with a special episode from our Hoosier Young Farmers Chapter. The Hoosier chapter just released their own podcast series which shares the voices of farmers from across the state, farmers you might not think of when you picture the farmers of Indiana. This episode features stories about the challenge of acquiring affordable, quality land for farming, and some of the creative ways these farmers have managed to get on the land. You can listen to the rest of the Hoosier Young Farmer Podcast at hoosieryfc.org/stories.Land access is the number 1 challenge young farmers across the country report in growing food for their communities and starting farm businesses. To address this barrier, Young Farmers just launched the One Million Acres for the Future Campaign. We are calling on Congress to invest $2.5 billion in the 2023 Farm Bill to facilitate equitable access to one million acres of land for the next generation of farmers. As part of the campaign, we created the Land Advocacy Fellowship, a two-year, paid advocacy and leadership fellowship that will resource 100 young farmers, growers, and land stewards to advocate for equitable land policy. Applications are open now through January 15th. To learn more about the campaign and to apply for our Land Advocacy Fellowship, visit youngfarmers.org/onemillionacres. And to join the National Young Farmers Coalition, visit youngfarmers.org/join. *Brief correction to the land transition statistic Liz states in the introduction. She meant to cite this Civil Eats article which claims, "In the next decade, 400 million acres of U.S. farmland will change hands," instead of "400,000 acres." According to American Farmland Trust, “371 million acres of farmland will change hands over the next 20 years."
Community News and Interviews for the Catskills & Northeast Pennsylvania
This episode bridges the wisdom of a Farmer Reformer and a Community Strategist to discuss grounding a global mindset in local work. The Reformer, Martín Lemos, is the Co-Executive Director of the National Young Farmers Coalition. The Strategist, Ma'raj Sheikh, is the Systems and Strategy Manager of the Chicago Food Policy Action Council. Is it possible to feed communities and the world without capitalism? What happens if people have more opportunities to encounter land and food production up close? Learn about the ways different communities look at food, the importance of developing local and global mindsets, and navigating food politics while creating a path toward a resilient & equitable local food system. More about this episode: Martín Lemos @youngfarmers youngfarmers.org Ma'raj Sheikh @maerajsheikh chicagofoodpolicy.com A Castanea Fellowship Podcast @castaneafellowship / castaneafellowship.com Conversation Guide: Aileen Suzara @aileensuzara @sariwakitchen Voice Talent: Mark Winston Griffith @mwgriffith @bkmovement Produced by: EmpathyHaus empathyhaus.com Support this podcast
Severine is the director of Greenhorns, she been an organizer and cultural worker within the young farmer movement for almost 10 years, proud co-founder of National Young Farmers Coalition, Farm Hack and Agrarian Trust, and board member of the Schumacher Center for New Economics. Her work has spanned many media to celebrate, bundle and broadcast the voices and life-ways of young agrarians, from films, radio, blog gossip, guidebooks, an anthology, 2 new farmers almanacks, and newly, a mixtape and vinyl record! This trans-media work is designed to connect individuals within the broader community of action, helping to orient the work on the land, career, stamina, and interpretation of place-based possibilities. The mission of the Greenhorns is to promote, recruit and support the rising generation in organic agriculture. Greenhorns are based on Lake Champlain in Essex, New York, a 360-mile sail-boat ride from NYC.—Recorded live at the global event in Cardigan, west Wales in 2016.Watch Severine's full talk here: www.thedolectures.com/talks/severine-von-tscharner-fleming-how-can-we-dance-in-the-commons
This week's guest on Open Mic is Andrew Bahrenburgh, National Policy Director for the National Young Farmers Coalition. The nation faces many hurdles in transitioning farms and ranches to a new generation. Identifying land, securing capital, tax reform and training are just a few of the issues potential young farmers face. In this interview, Bahrenburgh discusses young farmer and rancher needs in the new farm bill and one major obstacle that no other generation has faced before.