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ATTRA
National Sustainable
Agriculture Information Service

Providing free technical information to producers and information providers on a wide
variety of sustainable farming topics

Project Overview ATTRA, also called the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, provides sustainable agriculture information to those engaged in or serving commercial agriculture, such as farmers, ranchers, extension agents, farm organizations, and farm-based businesses. Clients can call in requests on a toll-free telephone line, visit the website that features publications, breaking sustainable agriculture news, and funding opportunities, and learn about relevant workshops and web-based presentations.

ATTRA offers a wide variety of information on sustainable agriculture, from horticultural and agronomic crops to livestock and farming systems. ATTRA’s services seek to help U.S. farmers increase profitability and provide more healthful food for consumers while they become better stewards of the natural resources and environment of America’s farmlands.

Since its inception in 1987, the agriculture program specialists working on the ATTRA project have responded to more than 300,000 requests from callers on a variety of topics:

• Improve farm income with a diversity of crops and livestock
• Reduce dependence on costly off-farm inputs
• Assess new marketing methods
• Produce alternative crops and livestock
• Institute organic farming practices
• Incorporate value-added and farm-processed products
• Improve soil fertility and water quality
• Rejuvenate rural America through agricultural enterprises

A third-party evaluation of ATTRA conducted in 2008 found that the majority (88%) of the farmers/ranchers who contacted ATTRA changed some part of their operation based on the information received.

Information Available ATTRA specializes in responding to questions about specific sustainable enterprises or practices. Agriculture program specialists working on the ATTRA project will research the specific questions, summarize findings in writing, and compile supporting literature as appropriate to accompany the response. Publications based on frequently requested topics are also available. ATTRA also provides more than 300 topic-specific publications on its website, covering a wide variety of topics related to organic and sustainable agriculture.

ATTRA also provides a free weekly electronic newsletter on national events and advances in sustainable agriculture. A bimonthly newsletter on a specific sustainable agriculture topic is also available. Both of these newsletters may be subscribed to at no charge via the ATTRA website (www.attra.ncat.org).

Financial and Management Information Funding for fiscal year 2009 of approximately $2.5 million is administered through a cooperative agreement with USDA’s Rural Development Business and Cooperative Program. This funding supports the informational and educational work of more than 30 staff assigned to the ATTRA program. The program is managed by the nonprofit National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT), with offices in Montana, Arkansas, California, Pennsylvania, and Iowa. NCAT’s organizational website is www.ncat.org

Eligibility, Uses, and Restrictions ATTRA provides technical assistance and information to anyone involved in U.S. commercial agriculture. This includes farmers, ranchers, extension agents, farm organizations, farm-based businesses, information providers, and others who serve farmers. All of ATTRA’s publications and multimedia information (including webinar broadcasts) are available for free download to anyone with internet access.

Contact Information People involved in commercial agriculture in the United States may request information by calling (800) 346-9140 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Central Time) Monday through Friday, or by visiting the ATTRA website (www.attra.ncat.org)