On Thursday, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry will decide on whether or not funding for the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) will be included in the Farm Bill. Your outreach can directly influence the final bill. We are asking ASA, CSSA, and SSSA members and Certified Professionals to contact their legislators today and urge support for additional funding for FFAR. FFAR is one of the most effective tools Congress has to expand agricultural research funding, leveraging private investment to more than double the public investment. 
Take action now: Farm Bill priorities are being finalized this week and FFAR funding is not guaranteed. These states have Senators who are on the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry:
<ul>
<li>Alabama</li>
<li>Arkansas</li>
<li>California</li>
<li>Colorado</li>
<li>Georgia</li>
<li>Iowa</li>
<li>Illinois</li>
<li>Kansas</li>
<li>Kentucky</li>
<li>Michigan</li>
<li>Minnesota</li>
<li>Mississippi</li>
<li>Nebraska&nbsp;</li>
<li>North Dakota</li>
<li>New Jersey</li>
<li>New Mexico</li>
<li>Pennsylvania</li>
<li>South Dakota</li>
<li>Vermont</li>
<li>West Virginia</li>
</ul>
If your state is on this list, contact your Senator(s) today to ask them to support continued investment in agricultural research that benefits farmers, consumers, and rural communities. 
Your message will be sent automatically to your Senator(s) on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition &amp; Forestry based on your address, so make sure to use your home address. Please edit this message and insert a FFAR project name and 1–2 sentences on why it matters to you.
Thanks for being an advocate! &nbsp;

Contact Your Legislators: Support Agricultural Research in the Farm Bill

As a constituent of our state, I am writing to urge you to support additional mandatory funding for the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) in the Farm Bill.

FFAR is one of the most effective ways Congress can expand the impact of Farm Bill research investments because it matches every federal dollar with at least one dollar of private funding. In fact, FFAR historically exceeds the minimum match, bringing in $1.40 for every $1 of public funding, more than doubling the taxpayer’s investment. This model accelerates practical solutions and improves technology transfer so that innovations reach growers and ranchers faster. 

One project that stands out to me is the new sorghum hybrid developed with Clemson University and Carolina Seed Systems, which is projected to deliver a 10-year return of $95–$138 for every $1 FFAR invested, while improving animal health and cutting costs for farmers.
 
Therefore, I respectfully ask that you support additional Farm Bill funding for FFAR so it can operate at full capacity and continue leveraging non-federal dollars to deliver solutions for U.S. agriculture. I ask that the final bill include a mandatory investment of at least $200 million. I would also welcome the opportunity to serve as a resource on how FFAR-supported research translates into tangible benefits for producers in our state. Thank you for your consideration and for your work on behalf of our state's producers and rural communities.

Thank you for your time.