Annual Appropriations

Each year, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) engages in the annual appropriations process through which Congress funds the basic functions of the federal government.  NSAC talks to its member groups to decide its appropriations priorities, and then advocates for those programs in D.C. and around the country.  NSAC works to bring farmer and rancher voices to Appropriations Committee decisions by encouraging citizen action, coordinating grassroots response, and organizing farmer “fly-ins” to D.C.

Although there are many Appropriations Subcommittees (e.g., Homeland Security, Energy and Water, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs), NSAC’s work primarily involves the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittees of the House and Senate, because those Subcommittees determine how farm, food, and rural development  funding will be allocated.

It is important for your Congressional Representative and Senators to hear from you about why you think a particular farm, food, or rural program should be funded and at what level in the following year’s appropriations bill.  Communication about this can happen in several ways: 1) through a phone call to your Representative’s or Senator’s office; 2) through an in-district meeting with your Representative or Senators or their staff; 3) through a letter that is faxed to their office.  See the Advocacy Toolkit for more details.

Recent Actions Taken by NSAC:

• NSAC FY 2012 Ag Appropriations Chart – Final Conference Report, November 15, 2011
• NSAC Letter to Agriculture Appropriations Conferees, November 3, 2011
• NSAC FY 2012 Ag Appropriations Chart – through Senate Committee Action, Updated September 13, 2011
• NSAC FY 2012 Ag Appropriations Chart – Full House, Updated July 6, 2011
• NSAC FY 2012 Appropriations Testimony to House Ag Approps Subcommittee, May 5, 2011.
• NSAC FY 2011 Ag Appropriations Chart – House & Senate Continuing Resolution, Updated April 15, 2011
• Groups Urge Agriculture Funding Fairness, April 26, 2010
• NSAC’s FY 2011 Agriculture Appropriations Testimony to Senate Subcommittee, March 26, 2010.
• NSAC’s FY 2011 Agriculture Appropriations Testimony to House Subcommittee, March 19, 2010.

Other Actions:

• Eighteen Senators Write in Support of the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program, March 26, 2010.
• Fourteen Senators Write in Support of the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Individual Development Account program, March 17, 2010.

• CAMPAIGNS
• Farm Bill
• Beginning Farmer Bill
• Local Food Bill
• Annual Appropriations
  • Appropriations Priorities
  • What are Appropriations?
  • Key Appropriators
• ISSUE COMMITTEES
• Conservation, Energy & Environment
• Marketing, Food Systems & Rural Development
• Farming Opportunities and Fair Competition
• Research, Extension and Education
• Grassroots Capacity Building
• MEETINGS

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition 110 Maryland Avenue NE Washington, D.C. 20002
Phone: Fax: