It’s still springtime, but when it comes to federal funding, this is the moment when the most important fieldwork begins. In agriculture, you don’t wake up in July and decide to plant; you plan, prep and cultivate long before harvest. Federal appropriations, including Congressionally Directed Spending (earmarks) that fund hundreds of community programs, move in much the same way. There’s a season to make your case, to be visible, and to reap rewards — and another season to prepare if funding does not come through.
Late spring into summer is often when members of Congress release the lists of selected projects for the appropriations process. This year, funding priorities emphasize rural America and agricultural interests, including U.S. Department of Agriculture programs such as Farm Production and Conservation; Research, Education and Economics; and Rural Development, along with the Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration, which serves rural and underserved communities.
Organizations best positioned to win federal funds rarely write a compelling narrative at the last minute. They spend earlier seasons preparing projects, aligning them with administration priorities, and ensuring decisionmakers understand their local impact before funding decisions are made.
When summer announcements arrive, some organizations celebrate, rightly thanking member offices, notifying community partners and planning how to deliver on the award. Others discover they were passed over, with no prioritized request, no invitation to a future round and no award. Too often, those organizations treat the decision as a lost season and go quiet until the following year’s appropriations process begins.
In government affairs, that silence can severely undermine future funding prospects. Organizations are far better served by staying engaged year‑round, especially when funding does not materialize.
Like farming, the federal funding cycle rewards discipline. If funding did not come through this year, make an honest post‑season assessment. Was your request clearly defined? Did it align with what the agency or member’s office was trying to accomplish? Did it demonstrate need and measurable outcomes? Were you prepared to spend federal funds quickly if awarded? The answers usually reveal what is missing — data, partners, plans, matching funds, letters of support or a clearer narrative connecting the project to public priorities.
Next, thank the congressional offices that reviewed the request. Even without an award, assume staff engaged seriously with your materials. Request a debrief in the district or in Washington and approach the conversation with the goal of learning what would have strengthened the proposal. These discussions often become the foundation for stronger relationships in the year ahead.
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Then, stay present. Share periodic updates. Invite staff to site visits. Attend district events. Show how your organization advances shared priorities such as rural infrastructure, food security, workforce development or conservation. Consistent, professional engagement helps staff see your organization as a trusted community asset rather than just another applicant.
Preparation also requires investing in readiness. Updating cost estimates, formalizing partnerships and identifying matching resources strengthen competitiveness. When a notice of funding opportunity appears or a member’s office requests a one‑page project summary on short notice, preparedness allows organizations to respond quickly without sacrificing quality.
All of this effort helps congressional offices understand who you are, what you deliver locally, and the impact you achieve. Site visits, even informal staff‑level visits, combined with photos, local data and success stories, give members tangible examples they can reference. That visibility can result in mentions in newsletters, public remarks or hearings, keeping projects visible even during the off‑season.
Too often organizations engage decisionmakers only during application season and disappear afterward. Year‑round cultivation is essential to help staff connect local projects to national debates and priorities. Ongoing work also demonstrates transparency, competence and follow‑through — qualities that carry significant weight in appropriations deliberations.
Winning requests also bring visible local support from cities and counties, cooperatives, extension offices, school boards, chambers of commerce or regional planning organizations. Paired with sustained engagement, these types of partnerships strengthen competitiveness across both earmarks and competitive grant programs.
But a strong strategy also goes beyond the papers signed and submitted. Local media, trade outlets, newsletters and social channels help show organizations at work. Briefings — virtual or in person — help staff understand the problem, the solution and the coalition behind it. Visibility ensures work is understood before funding decisions are made.
In short, the farming seasons and federal funding follow familiar rhythms: prepare early, cultivate relationships consistently and harvest opportunities when they ripen. And if this season disappoints, don’t abandon the field. Strengthen partnerships, refine projects, stay visible and prepare for the next cycle.
Neil H. Simon is a government affairs principal at Porter Wright. He previously covered agriculture and rural America as a journalist and worked on appropriations for a member of Congress.