The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program or SARE is a farmer driven research and education competitive grants program designed to help advance sustainable agriculture across the whole of American agriculture.  North Central, Northeastern, Western, and Southern regional councils — comprised of producers, researchers, educators, and government representatives — individually set SARE policies and make grants in each region.

In an earlier post, we summarized some recent SARE activities and opportunities.  This post provides an update on grant proposal deadlines for on-farm research grants in each of the four regions of the country.

South

On Monday, October 20, the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) region announced requests for proposals for its Producer Grant and On-Farm Research Grant programs.  Applicants have until November 17, 2014 to submit a proposal.

Southern SARE’s Producer Grant program offers up to $10,000 over two years for individual farmers, ranchers, or $15,000 for farmer/rancher organizations interested in testing a new sustainable agriculture idea.

Its On-Farm Research Grant provides up to $15,000 in funding for academics, government agencies, and non-government organizations interested in working with farmers on an on-farm sustainable agriculture research project.

The deadline for both programs is 11:59 p.m. EST on November 17, 2014.  Award announcements for both grants are anticipated in late February 2015.

North Central

Farmer/Rancher Grant applicants in the North Central SARE region have until 4 p.m. CST on November 20, 2014 to submit a proposal.  Up to $7,500 is available for individual grants, $15,000 for two farmers/ranchers working together, and $22,500 for grants to larger groups of farmers and ranchers.  Awards are expected in early spring 2015 and projects must be completed within 22 months.

Topics addressed by last year’s grant recipients include sustainable goat milk soap production in South Dakota and helping underserved farmers build capacity in Michigan.

Northeast

The application period for Northeast SARE’s Farmer Grant program closes at midnight on December 2, 2014.  The program encourages sustainable agricultural production and marketing practices by providing up to $15,000 for farmer-run projects.

Last year, the Northeast region’s Farmer Grant program funded 24 projects out of 54 applications.  Projects addressed a range of topics, from high-tunnel fig production in Maine to using invasive species as organic soil amendments in New York.

West

Two farmer- and producer-focused grant programs close on December 3, 2014 for those in the Western SARE region.  Proposals for the Farmer/Rancher Research & Education program are due by 1 p.m. MST.  Funding ranges from up to $15,000 for single producer-proposals to $25,000 for proposals by three or more producers.

The Professional + Producer Grant proposal period also closes at 1 p.m. MST on December 3.  The program offers up to $50,000 in funding for an agricultural professional – including an extension coordinator, government agency field staff, or nonprofit staff member – working with five producers on a sustainable agriculture research project.