Welcome to your November edition of E-news. Click Here to view a version of this E-newsletter on the web. Can't wait until next month's E-news to hear more about farms, food, and the environment? Be sure to check-out our new Farmland Report blog where we will be posting regular updates about our work across the country and in the nation's capital.
Take a Tip from California: Setting Climate-Land Use Targets Includes Saving Farmland
A state advisory committee has recommended a process for translating California’s greenhouse gas reduction goal (achieving 1990 levels by 2020) into local targets for curbing sprawl. Unless local governments change development patterns and encourage more walkable, transit-oriented communities, vehicle miles traveled in California could increase 70% by 2030, canceling out the benefits of improved fuel economy and low-carbon fuels. We are part of a consortium of nonprofit organizations called Climate Plan that is pushing for aggressive state and local action to stop sprawl, prevent a climate disaster and, in the process, save farmland.
Taking the Local Food Pledge from Your Home to the Market and Beyond
As of today, pledged to spend more than $1,700,000 dollars per year in support of local food from local farms. If you haven't taken the pledge, act now to show your support for farms in your area. We can do even more for local farms by taking action as consumers and telling all the places we purchase food—restaurants, grocery stores, hospitals and schools—that we want to see more local foods stocked in the shelves. Download this printable set of consumer action cards to get food merchants in your community to take a pledge of their own.
In 2009 America Votes YES for Farmland
After last Tuesday, nothing is clearer than the fact that a tough economy is no match for land protection advocates! Sixty-four percent of the 26 land conservation ballot measures across the country passed, bringing more good news on the heels of the record funding for the Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program released last month in the Agriculture Appropriations Bill. The showpiece among these measures was the New Jersey “Green Acres” bond offering $400 million for farmland protection and other land conservation efforts designed to ward-off sprawl.
New Study Touts Benefits of Clean Energy Legislation for Agriculture
A new study released this week by 25x’25 and the University of Tennessee is the latest of several studies that indicates net economic benefits to agriculture through clean energy legislation—in this case, up to $13 billion per year in new profits. To create these benefits, legislation must enact a well constructed cap-and-trade program that allows land-owners to receive credit for reducing carbon and capturing it in the soil. The study also finds that EPA regulation prescribed by the Supreme Court if Congress does not act will result in net losses across the agriculture industry.
Around the Country
California continues to work on Ag Vision, a road map for the future of agriculture
From processing free-range chickens to understanding the importance of farmland protection, New York City food professionals learned a lot this fall at Farm Camp.
The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments recently launched NationalCapitalFarms.org, a new Web site aimed at promoting and protecting local agriculture surronding the metropolitan Washington, DC region
New study in Michigan highlights the strengths of their agriculture economy
The New Partners for Smart Growth conference will be held in one of the nation’s greenest cities this year! So book your ticket to Seattle, Washington and register now for the conference.
The University of Maryland Extension and the Delaware Cooperative Extension are offering farm management classes for women at nine sites in Maryland and Delaware.
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