Appropriations Priorities

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition’s appropriations priorities come from its members.  Our FY11, appropriations priorities include funding for the following federal programs:

National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program
NSAC 11 Request $15.0 M + $5.0 M + $10.0 M =   $30 M total

Organic Transitions Program
NSAC 11 Request em$5.0 M

Research and Education Grants for the Study of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria
NSAC 11 Request $3.0 M

Farm Service Agency

Beginning Farmer Individual Development Account (IDA) Pilot Program
NSAC 11 Request        $5.0 M

Direct Farm Ownership and Operating Loans — Program Levels
NSAC 11 Request $650.0 M + $1000.0 M

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Conservation Technical Assistance
NSAC 11 Request $923.7 M

Rural Business and Cooperative Service

Value-Added Producer Grants
NSAC 11 Request  $30.0 M

Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program
NSAC 11 Request   $11.7 M (no limitation on Farm Bill $4 M mandatory +$7.7 M discretionary)

Regional Innovation Initiative

Rural Development*

NSAC 11 Request $1.4 M

*The Regional Innovation Initiative plans to set aside about 5% of the funding from 20 existing programs.  The request for Rural Development is for staff to provide technical assistance and support for rural communities developing regional strategic plans.

Farm Bill General Provisions – Mandatory Programs

Conservation Stewardship Program
NSAC 11 Request no limitation on farm bill direct funding

Wetlands Reserve Program
NSAC 11 Request no limitation on direct farm bill funding

We urge you to limit the practice of cutting mandatory farm bill spending and to strongly support full funding for the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative, Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, Outreach and Assistance to Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers, Farmers’ Market Promotion Program, and Community Food Grants.