Policy and Advocacy Newsletter
Welcome to the NOFA/Mass newsletter series
Each week we publish original articles on the topics we care about most.
Read about the latest policy issues affecting Massachusetts farmers and consumers in our “Policy and Advocacy” newsletter, get insider farming and gardening tips from expert growers in our “Be a Better Grower” newsletter, learn to do it yourself, from food preservation to building fences, in our “Practical Self-Sufficiency” newsletter and see how our community is working to improve the food system in our “Food Justice” newsletter.
Climate-Smart Limbo: Farmers Face Funding Uncertainty
Liz Hamm2025-04-02T19:07:17-04:00April 2nd, 2025|Categories: Newsletters|Tags: Climate Smart, Farmers, March 2025, Policy, Policy & Advocacy|
Policy & Advocacy Newsletter Learn how the Trump administration's funding freeze disrupts the USDA’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program, leaving NOFA/Mass and organic farmers in flux. By Najee Quashie Reporting from Massachusetts Funding Freeze [...]
The Trump Administration’s Plan for Farmers
NOFA Mass2025-03-17T16:04:50-04:00February 4th, 2025|Categories: Newsletters|Tags: Farming, January 2025, Policy, Policy & Advocacy|
Policy & Advocacy Newsletter By: Najee Quashie Reporting from Massachusetts As Donald Trump takes office on January 20th, we examine his proposed policies for farmers, their impact on agriculture, and how [...]
Will Congress Pass the Farm Bill Before 2025?
NOFA Mass2025-03-11T21:53:41-04:00January 1st, 2025|Categories: Newsletters|Tags: December 2024, Farm Bill, Policy & Advocacy|
Policy & Advocacy Newsletter Najee Quashie, Interim Communications Director & Project Manager at NOFA/Mass, discusses the need for Congressional action on the Farm Bill before the year is up. Happy Holidays from [...]
What the Bird Flu Outbreak Means for You
NOFA Mass2025-03-11T21:46:20-04:00March 11th, 2025|Categories: Newsletters|Tags: Farming, February 2025, Policy, Policy & Advocacy, Raw Milk|
Policy & Advocacy Newsletter By Najee Quashie Reporting from Massachusetts Learn how the latest bird flu outbreak impacts poultry, dairy, and raw milk safety and what steps you can take to protect yourself. [...]
Aerial Spraying
NOFA Mass2024-11-18T19:56:02-05:00September 9th, 2024|Categories: Newsletters|Tags: MAPN, Pesticides, Policy, Policy & Advocacy, September 2024, Statehouse Update|
As of late August, Massachusetts health officials reported two cases of the eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus, with similar numbers in other New England states. While rare, there is no vaccine for it, and those who contract it [...]
Grants for Farmers 🤑
NOFA Mass2024-11-18T19:49:03-05:00October 8th, 2024|Categories: Newsletters|Tags: Farm Business, Farmers, Grants, October 2024, Policy, Policy & Advocacy|
Policy & Advocacy In this Policy & Advocacy newsletter edition, we dive into valuable grant opportunities designed to support and enhance your farming endeavors! Don't miss out on discovering funding that could transform your agricultural [...]
Summer updates from the statehouse
Liz Hamm2024-08-05T13:52:34-04:00August 5th, 2024|Categories: Newsletters|Tags: August 2024, MAPN, Mass Pollinator Network, Pesticides, PFAS, Policy, Policy & Advocacy, Statehouse Update|
In this edition of the Policy newsletter, we share updates from the most recent meeting of the Agriculture in the Commonwealth in the 21st Century Commission, and track our priority bills in the state [...]
How NOFA rates the 2024 Farm Bill
Liz Hamm2024-07-15T12:37:16-04:00July 15th, 2024|Categories: Newsletters|Tags: Farmers, Farming, July 2024, Policy, Policy & Advocacy, The Farm Bill|
While farmers and gardeners have been busy tending their crops and livestock this season, Congress has been busy working on the next farm bill. Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) released a farm bill framework from the Senate [...]
What is “Climate-Smart” Agriculture?
Liz Hamm2024-06-26T21:11:12-04:00June 26th, 2024|Categories: Newsletters|Tags: Climate Smart, June 2024, Policy, Policy & Advocacy|
In this edition of the Policy newsletter, we break down the USDA's "Climate-Smart Agriculture" program, and explain how NOFA/Mass is involved. The Climate-Smart Commodities Program came in response to President Biden’s January 2021 [...]
Inside the Statehouse: Ag Days 2024
Liz Hamm2024-05-11T18:15:59-04:00May 11th, 2024|Categories: Newsletters|Tags: Ag Day, Farming, Mass Pollinator Network, May 2024, Policy, Policy & Advocacy|
by Annie Sholar Early last month, NOFA/Mass had the opportunity to spend a day inside the Statehouse, connecting with legislators and staff about bills and issues facing organic farmers and growers throughout the state. [...]
Action Alert: Prevent Congress from making a huge mistake in The Farm Bill
Liz Hamm2024-04-24T16:08:49-04:00April 24th, 2024|Categories: Action Alert, Newsletters|Tags: April 2024, Policy & Advocacy, The Farm Bill|
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, of which NOFA/Mass is a coalition member, is holding its “Farm Bill For All Farmers Week of Action: Conservation Not Consolidation.” We are urging all of our members to join [...]
NOFA/Mass’s Beginning Farmer Programs
Liz Hamm2024-04-16T22:14:45-04:00April 16th, 2024|Categories: Newsletters|Tags: April 2024, Beginning Farmers Programming, Farming, Pocasset Pokanoket Land Trust, Policy & Advocacy, Soil Health|
By: Sara Riegler and Annie Sholar In this edition of the NOFA/Mass Policy & Advocacy Newsletter, we take a look at how the USDA's Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) supports new farmers [...]
A look at Healthy Soils policy wins since 2018
Liz Hamm2024-03-19T17:21:51-04:00March 19th, 2024|Categories: Newsletters|Tags: March 2024, National Healthy Soils Policy Network, Policy, Policy & Advocacy, Soil Health|
By: Renée Scott In this edition of NOFA/Mass Policy News, we’re thrilled to share the National Healthy Soils Policy Network’s 5 Year Impact Report! The National Healthy Soils Policy Network is a farmer-forward community of grassroots [...]
The latest on NOFA/Mass’s priority bills
Liz Hamm2024-02-15T23:21:30-05:00February 15th, 2024|Categories: Mass Pollinators, Newsletters|Tags: February 2024, Policy & Advocacy|
By Renée Scott, Mass Pollinator Network Coordinator February 7th, was the last day for bills to be moved through committees for the 2023/2024 legislative session. We’re proud to share that two of our priority bills [...]
Mass. Pollinator Network Call to Action on Pesticides Reform
Liz Hamm2024-01-16T16:26:07-05:00January 16th, 2024|Categories: Action Alert, Mass Pollinators, Newsletters|Tags: December 2023, MAPN, Mass Pollinator Network, Policy, Policy & Advocacy, Renee Scott|
By Renée Scott, Massachusetts Pollinator Network Coordinator Use this form to send a quick message to your legislators Use the link above to send a quick message to your legislator asking them to [...]
Action Alert
Liz Hamm2023-12-01T19:36:22-05:00December 1st, 2023|Categories: Action Alert, Mass Pollinators|Tags: Action Alert, MAPN, Massachusetts Pollinators Network, November 2023, Policy, Policy & Advocacy|
Special Policy Alert Take Action Now! The Mass. State legislature is considering several bills which would move our Commonwealth away from reliance on toxic biocides (life-killing chemicals) like glyphosate and toward [...]
Action Alert
Liz Hamm2023-11-29T16:35:54-05:00November 29th, 2023|Categories: Action Alert, Mass Pollinators|Tags: Action Alert, MAPN, Massachusetts Pollinators Network, November 2023, Policy, Policy & Advocacy|
Special Policy Alert Sharing this important message and action from our friends at the Association to Preserve Cape Cod. *** Say NO to Taking Away State & Local Authority to Restrict Pesticides! [...]
Updates from the 21st Century Ag Commission, NOSB Meeting, Film Premiere Event, and more!
Liz Hamm2023-11-14T23:34:57-05:00November 14th, 2023|Categories: Newsletters|Tags: 21st Century Ag Commission, Animal Welfare, Annie Sholar, Common Ground Film, Hannah McDonald, John Duke, National Organic Standards Board Meeting, November 2023, Policy, Policy & Advocacy, Ruben Parrilla|
21st Century Ag Commission Update By NOFA/Mass Board Member John Duke Earlier this year, NOFA/Mass was invited to appoint a representative to the Special Commission on Agriculture in the Commonwealth in the [...]
State and Federal Efforts on Pesticides and Pollinators Continue
Liz Hamm2023-10-20T13:36:01-04:00October 13th, 2023|Categories: Newsletters|Tags: Advocacy, Dago Driggs, Farming, Jim McGovern, Legislation, Mike Rice, National Organic Coalition, October 2023, Pesticides, Policy, Policy & Advocacy, Pollinators, Soil Health|
By Mike Rice, NOFA/Mass Interim Policy Director & Dago Driggs, NOFA/Mass Senior Policy Advisor Note: Deadline Extended in Search for Next NOFA/Mass Policy Director Please help us find the [...]
Action Alert
Liz Hamm2023-09-18T12:58:06-04:00September 18th, 2023|Categories: Action Alert, Mass Pollinators|Tags: Action Alert, MAPN, Massachusetts Pollinators Network, Policy, Policy & Advocacy, September 2023|
Special Policy Alert Dear friend, First, I want to share some good news: the Environment and Natural Resources Committee reported bill H.825/S.487 "An Act Relative to Pesticides" favorably to the House Ways and [...]
News from the NOFA/Mass Policy Department
Liz Hamm2023-09-11T22:50:12-04:00September 7th, 2023|Categories: Newsletters|Tags: Advocacy, Dago Driggs, Farming, Food Justice, Jim McGovern, Laura Davis, Long Life Farm, Mike Rice, Policy, Policy & Advocacy, September 2023, Soil Health, The Farm Bill|
By Mike Rice, NOFA/Mass Interim Policy Director & Dago Driggs, NOFA/Mass Senior Policy Advisor Hi friends. You might have seen the job posting for a new Policy Director and have questions about what I'm [...]
Healthy Soils Action Plan Released – Farm Bill for the Climate!
Marty Dagoberto2023-08-02T11:56:54-04:00March 3rd, 2023|Categories: Newsletters|Tags: Climate, March 2023, Policy, Policy & Advocacy|
Healthy Soils Action Plan Released ☀ Farm Bill for the Climate! RELEASED - An Action Plan for Healthy Soils In Mass. - Now let’s fund it! By Marty Dagoberto Driggs, NOFA/Mass Policy Director [...]
Action Continues, Climate Farmer Rally and Soil Symposium
NOFA Mass2023-02-27T18:24:19-05:00February 3rd, 2023|Categories: Newsletters|Tags: February 2023, Food Justice, Policy, Policy & Advocacy|
Action Continues, Climate Farmer Rally and Soil Symposium 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 [...]
New Opportunities for Progress
NOFA Mass2023-02-27T17:47:53-05:00January 5th, 2023|Categories: Newsletters|Tags: January 2023, Policy, Policy & Advocacy|
New Year, New Governor, New Session, New Opportunities for Progress By: Marty Dagoberto, NOFA/Mass Policy Director Happy 2023! With a new legislative session started two days ago and our new Governor Maura Healey [...]
Eco-Champion in the Corner Office
NOFA Mass2022-12-09T08:47:03-05:00December 9th, 2022|Categories: Newsletters|Tags: December 2022, Policy, Policy & Advocacy|
Governor-Elect Maura Healey seeks input on her priorities By Marty Dagoberto, NOFA/Mass Policy Director As Attorney General, Maura Healey proved herself to be an ally of NOFA/Mass in our common endeavors to reduce the [...]
Vote Climate, Vote Justice
NOFA Mass2022-11-03T14:56:15-04:00November 3rd, 2022|Categories: Action Alert, Newsletters|Tags: November 2022, Policy, Policy & Advocacy|
By Marty Dagoberto, NOFA/Mass Policy Director The following is an excerpt from our 2022 NOFA/Mass Climate Action Challenge educational content which is especially relevant as we approach election and voting day next week. To read [...]
The Future of Solar in Massachusetts
NOFA Mass2022-10-07T11:51:30-04:00October 7th, 2022|Categories: Newsletters|Tags: October 2022, Policy, Policy & Advocacy|
Policy Update October 2022 Farmers (and everyone): please weigh in on the future of solar in Massachusetts, letter to the next Governor Marty Dagoberto, NOFA/Mass Policy Director Hopefully everyone reading this is aware that we [...]
MA Legislative Recap
NOFA Mass2022-09-09T15:19:02-04:00September 9th, 2022|Categories: Newsletters|Tags: Policy, Policy & Advocacy, September 2022|
MA Legislative Recap: Progress toward Ecological Integrity and Justice By Marty Dagoberto, NOFA/Mass Policy Director The 2021-22 Massachusetts formal legislative session ended over the summer. While many of our priority policies will need to [...]
2022 Formal Session Ends
NOFA Mass2022-08-04T13:23:57-04:00August 4th, 2022|Categories: Newsletters|Tags: August 2022, Policy, Policy & Advocacy|
August 2022 Policy Update By Marty Dagoberto, NOFA/Mass Policy Director Formal session ends, hope remains for “non-controversial” priority bills As we head to Summer Conference, we’re still waiting for the proverbial dust to settle [...]
3 weeks left to prioritize living landscapes and food justice: Call your Legislators!
NOFA Mass2022-07-07T13:55:10-04:00July 7th, 2022|Categories: Newsletters|Tags: July 2022, Policy, Policy & Advocacy|
By Marty Dagoberto, NOFA/Mass Policy Director Watch a personal video message from Policy Director Marty Dagoberto regarding this month's policy newsletter article. Dear NOFA/Mass friends, It’s been quite a summer/year/decade so [...]
Promoting Racial Equity in Agriculture Through Policy
NOFA Mass2022-06-01T18:27:02-04:00June 1st, 2022|Categories: Newsletters|Tags: June 2022, Policy, Policy & Advocacy|
By Nichole Catsos From the land theft and genocide of Indigenous peoples, through the enslavement of Black people, to the current labor exploitation of migrant workers in the United States, our food system has [...]
Earth Day Reflection, Call to Action
NOFA Mass2022-05-05T13:49:09-04:00May 5th, 2022|Categories: Newsletters|Tags: May 2022, Policy, Policy & Advocacy|
May 2022 Policy & Advocacy update By Marty Dagoberto, NOFA/Mass Policy Director *Before you read our feature article below, “Earth Day Reflections, Call to Action,” here are a few brief updates Time to start [...]
February Policy Newsletter – Priority bills advance, Healthy Soils as Infrastructure, and more
Marty Dagoberto2022-05-02T15:41:00-04:00February 9th, 2022|Categories: Newsletters|Tags: February 2022, Policy & Advocacy|
By Marty Dagoberto, NOFA/Mass Policy Director In this month’s NOFA/Mass Policy Newsletter… NOFA/Mass Priority Bills Advance from Committee! Several pieces of NOFA/Mass priority legislation were advanced in the Massachusetts Legislature ahead of the February [...]
Budget Season! Help Shape the Future of our Food System
NOFA Mass2022-04-13T15:28:32-04:00April 6th, 2022|Categories: Newsletters|Tags: April 2022, Policy, Policy & Advocacy|
Briefing for food system advocates on April 11, 2022 The state legislature has been focused on the state’s operating budget (FY23) and the House Ways and Means Committee is expected to release its version [...]
Will our Commonwealth support protections against Chemical Trespass?
Marty Dagoberto2022-03-10T13:46:54-05:00March 10th, 2022|Categories: Newsletters|Tags: March 2022, Policy & Advocacy|
By Marty Dagoberto, NOFA/Mass Policy Director Last month, we reported with excitement and gratitude that the state’s legislative committee on the Environment and Agriculture approved several pesticide reform measures. We’d like to focus this [...]
The Farmer’s Voice in the Climate Crisis
NOFA Mass2022-01-05T16:49:40-05:00January 5th, 2022|Categories: Newsletters|Tags: Climate, Farming, January 2022, Policy, Policy & Advocacy|
How Climate Challenges Expose the Need for Regenerative Agricultural Practices By Kathleen Ernsting, Farmer and NOFA/Mass Journalism Intern It goes without saying that agriculture in the Northeast is being affected by climate change, and Massachusetts [...]
Victory for Pollinators! Retail stores to stop selling neonic pesticides in Massachusetts
Marty Dagoberto2021-12-16T13:17:38-05:00March 2nd, 2021|Categories: Newsletters|Tags: March 2021, Policy, Policy & Advocacy, Pollinators|
By Marty Dagoberto, NOFA/Mass Policy Director On March 1st 2021 the Mass. Pesticide Board Subcommittee passed a motion to protect pollinators by restricting the use of neonicotinoid pesticides (“neonics”). The new regulations, which go [...]
Be Heard on Pesticides Reform
NOFA Mass2021-12-16T12:33:12-05:00June 2nd, 2021|Categories: Mass Pollinators, Newsletters|Tags: December 2021, June 2021, Policy, Policy & Advocacy|
PUBLIC HEARING ON PESTICIDES ANNOUNCED! December 14, 2021 at 1PM - ONLINE The State legislature is considering several bills which would move our Commonwealth away from reliance on toxic biocides (life-killing chemicals) and toward [...]
Statewide outpouring of support to save Herter Community Garden
Marty Dagoberto2021-11-12T15:31:57-05:00November 3rd, 2021|Categories: Newsletters|Tags: November 2021, Policy, Policy & Advocacy|
A banner on the fence surrounding the garden, lush vegetation overflowing. (Photo by Marty Dagoberto, Oct. 21, 2021) By Marty Dagoberto, NOFA/Mass Policy Director On October 18th we received a dire call [...]
Advocacy Opportunities for October
NOFA Mass2021-10-06T11:41:19-04:00October 6th, 2021|Categories: Newsletters|Tags: October 2021, Policy & Advocacy|
By Marty Dagoberto, NOFA/Mass Policy Director Pesticides Hearing expected for Early October (?) We are still waiting for a date for the big public hearing on numerous pesticide related bills being considered by the state [...]
New funding for Healthy Soils and Glyphosate Study; Bayer to end consumer sales
Marty Dagoberto2021-09-06T13:09:58-04:00August 5th, 2021|Categories: Mass Pollinators, Newsletters|Tags: August 2021, Policy, Policy & Advocacy|
This is a good news bulletin! The FY22 state budget approved by the Massachusetts legislature on July 8, 2021 included two amendments we had been advocating for: funding for the Mass. Healthy Soils Program [...]
The Massachusetts Pollinator Network Takes Flight
NOFA Mass2021-07-01T08:31:46-04:00July 1st, 2021|Categories: Newsletters|Tags: July 2021, Policy, Policy & Advocacy, Pollinators|
By Rosemary Malfi, Massachusetts Pollinator Network Coordinator After many months of preparation, fundraising, and community building, NOFA/Mass has officially launched the Massachusetts Pollinator Network (MAPN) as part of our Policy Department. MAPN is a statewide initiative to connect and support the growing number of [...]
Call legislators to cosponsor NOFA/Mass priorities
Marty Dagoberto2021-06-07T12:18:38-04:00April 7th, 2021|Categories: Newsletters|Tags: April 2021, Policy, Policy & Advocacy|
By Marty Dagoberto, NOFA/Mass Policy Director Now is the time: we need all NOFA/Mass members and supporters to contact their state legislators to ask them to cosponsor our legislative priorities for the 2021-22 legislative [...]
New Bill to Address Eagle Poisoning… (Keep) Calling Legislators
Marty Dagoberto2021-06-07T12:15:32-04:00May 4th, 2021|Categories: Action Alert, Newsletters|Tags: May 2021, Policy, Policy & Advocacy|
By Marty Dagoberto, NOFA/Mass Policy Director Our April Policy Newsletter is still in effect - please keep calling for legislators to ask them to cosponsor our priority bills. We were successful in securing the [...]