Northeast Carbon Alliance and its public policy working group identifies and promotes natural climate solutions to protect, manage, and restore land and water that is essential for achieving climate goals. We work with local, state and federal government to ensure that the necessary funding to implement the work is available and accessible. Together, we are working to advance clean water, fresh food, nutrition, a healthier climate, and the rural economy. Our work touches every aspect of the agricultural economy, and we stand with our partners who are working to enhance agricultural viability, access to land, and the needs of new, beginning and historically underserved farmers.
In November 2022, NECA and Scenic Hudson kicked off our Farm Bill campaign with a Farm Bill listening session at Liberty Farm in Columbia County. It brought together a broad mix of agricultural stakeholders, including U.S. Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Robert Bonnie, agriculture commissioners of New York and Maine, respectively; and Congressman-elect Marcus Molinaro.
This event provided a meaningful opportunity for these leaders and NECA members to listen to the needs of farmers from all over the Northeast region, ranging from large, dairy producers to NYC-based growers training the next generation of urban farmers. NECA heard the calls for improvements in a wide array of agricultural programs, technical services and overall approaches to providing assistance to farmers, and it endeavors to directly address these concerns in its Farm Bill campaign.
With proper support, Northeastern farms are positioned to make investments to meet an ever-growing demand for safe, nutritious, local food while adapting their management practices to respond to changing environmental conditions and risks. They are also at the forefront of strengthening economic stability, equity and opportunity within their communities. To realize this vision of a strong food and land system at both regional and national levels, Congress can take steps to address current needs and jumpstart innovation. A wide range of programs in the Farm Bill and the Conservation Title can deliver technical support and targeted funding to farmers to achieve this forward-looking vision.
NECA has developed a set of principles, specific strategies and policy priorities, which can be accessed in our 2023 Farm Bill Flyer.
To learn more about NECA and Scenic Hudson’s Farm Bill campaign and to find ways to take action for Northeastern farmers, visit Scenic Hudson’s Defend The Valley Campaign page.
Assemblymember Didi Barrett champions pilot project for Columbia and Dutchess Counties.
This program aims to reduce the impact of agriculture on climate change and to increase New York farms' resiliency.
Supporting New York's diverse agricultural businesses in improving water quality and environmental stewardship.
A bill to provide incentives for agricultural producers to carry out climate stewardship practices, to provide for increased reforestation across the United States, to establish the Coastal and Estuary Resilience Grant Program, and for other purposes.
The ARA increases funding for existing programs and creates new programs in the areas of research, incentives to improve soil health, pasture-based livestock, on-farm renewable energy, food loss and waste, and farmland preservation and farm viability.
This bill would provide direct debt relief for small farmers around the country by providing a one-time loan forgiveness of up to $250,000 across three types of USDA FSA loans: Direct Operating, Direct Farm Ownership, and Emergency Loan.
This program supports technical assistance to socially disadvantaged and young and beginning farmers and ranchers through the community-based organizations, tribes, and minority serving educational institutions best prepared to reach and serve them.
The Justice for Black Farmers Act would enact reforms within USDA to finally end discrimination within the agency, would protect the remaining Black farmers from losing their land, and would provide land grants to create a new generation of Black farmers and begin to restore the land base that has been lost by Black farmers due to discrimination.
The 2018 Farm Bill was enacted on December 20, 2018, and provides financial and technical support for America’s farmers, ranchers, and forest stewards through a variety of safety net, farm loan, conservation, and disaster assistance programs.
