Every five years, Congress rewrites the “Farm Bill,” a key piece of legislation that impacts our food, our soil and water quality, our health, and our wallets. The “Farm Bill” is a federal omnibus bill that covers a variety of food and farm-related concerns, and provides funding and support for various federal programs. Some of…
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Title X Horticulture includes the most programs that support specialty crops including organics and local foods. These programs incentivize specialty crops, promote fresh fruit and vegetable consumption, promote organic agriculture, and provide funding for pest identification and control. One key provision is the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBG). The purpose of the grant program “is to solely enhance…
Read MoreMCE works with small farm outreach specialists, urban farmers, community development organizations, local government, social entrepreneurs and others to support local food, environmental stewardship, family farms, and nutrition and healthy equity. From our engagement with individuals and organizations about the current gaps in our food system, and research on what other cities and states are doing, we set 4 major priorities for our Local…
Read MoreFollowing the production of the 2014 St. Louis Regional Food Study, it became clear that changes were needed to our local food system. Through networking and partnership development, MCE identified several gaps in the food system that need filling. Education gap: more education about the harmful impacts of industrialized agriculture is needed for individuals to understand the benefits…
Read MoreMaisah Khan, Water Policy Coordinator Wetlands and the floodplains they are often located within are the structure for a river, they are essential for river health, its biological abundance, and to provide the buffer for the inevitable flooding. They provide many other valuable benefits to us as well. If you value rivers, you must value…
Read More// By Brad Walker, Rivers Director April 29, 2015 PDF Version Introduction: Why river restoration needs watchdogging What happens when the supposed “river guy” is actually anti-river? River restoration is important for water quality and its effect on human health, flood prevention, the economic consequences of flooding on government budgets and individual people, as…
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