Press Release: More than 100 groups urge Congress to support Tester Amendment in 2013 Farm Bill

More than 100 farm organizations, scientists, businesses and nonprofits, including Organic Seed Alliance and Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA, have signed a letter urging Congress to support Senator Tester’s amendment to the Senate Farm Bill.

The proposed Farm Bill currently on the Congress floor fails to direct more research dollars to classical breeding projects that would result in the benefit of publicly owned plant cultivars and animal breeds. Continue reading

Farm Bill 2013: Where We Stand

On Monday, the Farm Bill will be brought to the Congress floor. There is no clear process, yet the issue is quickly picking up steam. Solidified amendments may be challenged and uprooted by new ones. What we do know for sure is that, as your state representatives and senators prepare to make decisions, they will be listening to their constituents. That’s you. Continue reading

How the Farm Bill cuts to SNAP affect rural communities

As people of faith who care about our hungry neighbors, we have much to be concerned about. The proposed farm bill is slated to eliminate nearly $21 billion in SNAP benefits over the next decade, eliminating access to these benefits for almost 2 million Americans. Take action by Monday. Continue reading

A Critical Moment for a Resilient Food System

The full Senate is taking up the Farm Bill debate today, and, right now, there is no language in the bill that protects funding for classical breeding and research that results in publicly owned varieties. If the Senate Farm Bill goes through in its current form, American farmers and researchers looking for publicly owned crop varieties will find themselves with almost no options. Continue reading

Press statement: RAFI-USA encouraged by new USDA initiatives for organic crop insurance

For Immediate Release Contact: Scott Marlow Phone: (919) 542-1396 x210 Email: [email protected] May 15, 2013 Yesterday, the USDA announced Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack’s “vision for U.S. organic agriculture.” According to a USDA press release, this would include new initiatives to … Continue reading

New recommendations to protect landowners in compulsory pooling debate

North Carolina’s compulsory pooling law is incomplete compared to the rest of the country. RAFI has raised strong objections to forced pooling. We believe it should not be allowed, and, if allowed, should have very high threshold requirements and low penalties. Continue reading

Proposed NC Fracking: We are at a critical point.

Over the last five months, the Mining and Energy Commission’s Compulsory Pooling Study Group (CPSG) has been studying forced pooling, known as compulsory pooling in North Carolina. (To learn more about this controversial practice, watch RAFI’s video, “Forced Pooling 101.”) … Continue reading

Feedback requested on 1st draft rule of Compulsory Pooling Study Group

   Click here to send RAFI questions or comments about this proposed rule before March 22nd The Compulsory Pooling Study Group has released its first draft rule, which was discussed at its meeting on Friday, March 1st. The proposed rule … Continue reading

Further Information About Landowners’ Rights and Fracking

Experiences in other states Hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling have been used in parts of the Midwest for years, and are now being used in Pennsylvania and New York as well. Landowners and farmers in these states have expressed concerns … Continue reading