By: Marty Dagoberto, NOFA/Mass Policy Director

In this issue:

Keep emailing legislators for pesticide reform bills
Are you on the bus?… Rally for Resilience in DC, March 6-8
3rd Symposium of the Northeast Healthy Soil Network, March 16-17

Keep emailing legislators for pesticide reform bills

Hopefully, everyone reading this received our “Special Alert” last week. If not, please take a few seconds now to use this form to send a quick message to your state legislators in support of our priority bills on pesticide reform. With the recent start of the two- year legislative cycle, your emails (and especially phone calls) will help your legislators prioritize pesticides reform in 2023. It’s on us to speak up for the voiceless beings we share our ecosystem with. You can read about all the bills we’re tracking and supporting – including Raw Milk Delivery and Pollinator Habitats – on our policy page, here.

Are you on the bus?… Rally for Resilience in DC, March 6-8

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and a growing coalition of advocacy groups are organizing an unprecedented farmers’ rally in Washington, DC from March 6-8, 2023 with a singular ask for policymakers: make climate change policy a priority in the 2023 Farm Bill.

The Rally for Resilience will call on Congress to acknowledge farmers and ranchers’ pivotal role in addressing climate change, and to ensure that the next farm bill prioritizes racial justice and supports farmers as they implement solutions to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to a changing climate, and ensure food security for generations to come. (Read more about the plans and partners, here.)

Who’s hungry for some action?…. IF there were an organized charter bus (or caravan) from Massachusetts to DC, would you get on it? What if we secured some funding for lodging and transport? What about attending a local satellite event? Please use this form to let us know you’re interested and to hear about details as they develop. If we reach a critical mass, we’ll make something happen!

Also, ACTION! – Farmers, please sign this letter to tell Congress: the next farm bill must be a climate bill.

3rd Symposium of the Northeast Healthy Soil Network, March 16-17

Transitioning to More Regenerative Practices in the Northeast: Towards Inclusive and Fair Compensation for Farmers and Other Soil Health Stewards

March 16-17, 2023

In-Person on the Campus of the University of New Hampshire, Durham and Virtual

Hosted by Food Solutions New England, UNH, NOFA-NH, Tufts (GDAE), and Dartmouth College with the support of the 4per1000 initiative, and the French Ministry of Agriculture

A consortium of research and farmer advocacy institutions have come together to host the next Symposium on healthy soils in the Northeast United States. This network consists of individuals across the region who are concerned about how farmers who are providing numerous ecosystem services (increasing soil health, sequestering carbon, enhancing healthy waterways) to their communities are benefitting from this service provision.

This conference is focused on the current debates about climate smart commodities, regenerative agriculture, and carbon sequestration that are shaping our farming system in the Northeast.

The key objectives of the 2023 Symposium are to:

1) Rejuvenate and reignite the network in the post-pandemic period,

2) Realign regional policy goals in light of the 2023 Farm Bill, the Inflation Reduction Plan funding, and the Climate Smart Commodities Grants,

3) Launch a plan to solidify the network with biannual meetings in conjunction with our growing partnerships with universities, NGOs, and government stakeholders.

Learn more and register here.