Ask for $30 million for the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)
SARE is an agent for change within the Land Grant University system. It is the only USDA research program that focuses on resource conservation and contribution to community.
SARE includes farmers and ranchers in research and education and in selecting projects to fund. Because SARE listens, its grants continue to address cutting edge needs. Its research has led to new production techniques, higher farm income, and greater environmental stewardship.
SARE grants today are likely to be the common agricultural practices of tomorrow. SARE supports on-farm trials on topics from farmstead cheese, community supported agriculture, on-farm bio-diesel production, grass based livestock production, organic agriculture and many other practices, bringing good ideas and practices from the fringe into the mainstream.
SARE uses its funds efficiently, with 87% going directly to the regions for their grant programs and most of the rest invested in top-notch publications and public communication and outreach.
SARE funds are always oversubscribed. Year in and year out the program is able to fund only 8% to 10% of research and education proposals submitted.
$30 million for SARE will allow it to start a federal-state matching grants program, which will help stretch federal dollars farther – a sound investment.President Obama’s $30 million request for SARE is an important first step in investing in agricultural jobs and innovation, but only comes to fruition if Congress supports the needed increase. At a time when our nation needs to build jobs, the House proposes to cut SARE by 15%!
What you can do: Please call your Senators today and urge them to ask for $30 million for SARE for Fiscal Year 2012.
The Message is Simple: I urge Senator _________ to support $30 million for the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program for Fiscal Year 2012. SARE helps spark innovation in agriculture and build new businesses, which translates into more jobs in our state.
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