  |
 |
 |
NRCS Home
About Us
News
Programs
Technical Resources
Partnerships
Features
Contact Us |
|
|
|
|
|
Seeking funds to help livestock farmers research sustainable waste management
strategies? Want to work with farmers to test new crop varieties? The
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
(SARE) program has issued calls for proposals for many of its grant programs
throughout its four regions.
This year, Southern SARE (see map below) debuts a Sustainable
Farm Mentor grant, which is ideal for NRCS staff. The new program supports
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES), NRCS, and/or NGO organizations who want to link farmers and ranchers
interested in new conservation approaches, with farmers and ranchers who are
already using successful profit-enhancing, environmentally sound strategies or
systems. Grants will pay for experienced farmers to make one or more educational
visits throughout the year to a successful sustainable farm in order to learn
techniques and principles they can take back to improve sustainability on their
own farm.
This document requires Microsoft
Word
Sustainable
Farm Mentor grant
Some of the topics NRCS staff might consider for other grant proposals include:
• grazing systems
• water and soil quality
• animal waste management
• soil conservation
• community development/ sustaining rural communities.
• farmland protection
• agro-forestry
• improving environmental quality
• improving wildlife habitat
SARE has funded more than 3,000 projects, many of which have involved NRCS staff
as coordinators, cooperators or participants.
SARE’s competitive grants program is run through its four regions – North Central, Northeast, South, and West – under the direction of councils that include farmers and ranchers along with representatives from universities, government (including NRCS), agribusiness and nonprofit organizations.
SARE offers grants in the following categories --
Research and Education Grants (R&E) range from $30,000 to $150,000 or more
and fund projects that usually involve scientists, producers,
CSREES, NRCS and others in an interdisciplinary approach.
Innovative Grazing Program Facilitates Outreach and Implementation to New York
Livestock Producers;
NRCS,
SARE Cooperate to Create Farmer-Run Research Groups in New England; and
Goats,
Sheep Help Manage Weeds on Western Rangeland describe SARE R&E projects
involving NRCS.
Professional Development Grants (PDP) are used to spread knowledge about
sustainable concepts and practices. PDP projects educate CSREES
Service staff and other agricultural professionals. PDP projects often have NRCS
as a targeted audience and NRCS staffers can apply to run PDP programs in their
area with other cooperators.
|
|
Producer Grants allow producers to apply for grants that typically run between
$1,000 and $15,000 to conduct research, marketing, and demonstration projects
and share the results with other farmers and ranchers. NRCS conservationists and
other field staff often act as technical advisers on these grants. In many
instances, farmers who are participating in NRCS programs often seek SARE grants
to help offset the cost of trying out new production methods as they implement
NRCS cost-share programs.
Kansas
Patch Burning and
Marketing Local Products to a California Community describe SARE producer
projects involving NRCS.
Partnership/On-farm/Producer plus Professional Grants are awarded for on-farm
research and demonstration projects developed by agricultural professionals who
work directly with farmers. Grants are generally capped at $10,000.
Kentucky Cattle Watering Project describes a SARE partnership grant
involving NRCS.
2005 SARE Grant Calendar
Northeast:
Professional Development Grants. Pre-proposal required. Deadline: May 31.
Research and Education Grants. Pre-proposal required. Deadline: May 31.
Partnership Grants. Applications are due in November.
Farmer/Grower Grants. Applications are due in December
South
Graduate Student Grants. Deadline: June 1.
Professional Development Program. Pre-proposal required. Deadline: June 1.
Research and Education Grants. Pre-proposal required. Deadline: June 1.
Planning Grants/Research & Education Program. Deadline: June 1.
Farm Mentor Program. NEW! Deadline: July 1.
Producer Grant. Will be released in September.
On-Farm Research Grant. Will be released in September.
Sustainable Community Innovation Grant. Will be released in July.
West:
Research and Education Grants. Pre-proposal required. Deadline: June 6.
Professional Development Grants. Deadline: November 15.
Farmer/Rancher. Deadline: December 12.
Professional + Producer. Deadline: December 12.
North Central
Professional Development Grants. Deadline: May 27.
Research and Education Grants. Deadline: June 15.
About SARE
Since 1988, the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program
has helped advance farming systems that are profitable, environmentally sound
and good for communities through a nationwide grants program. The program,
administered by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension
Service, USDA, funds projects and conducts outreach designed to improve
agricultural systems and natural resources.
NRCS field office professionals frequently collaborate on SARE-funded projects
and are valuable partners to the SARE program. NRCS staff serve on SARE’s
national Operations Committee, on regional Administrative Councils, on State
committees and are actively engaged as technical advisers and collaborators on
SARE-funded research grants around the U.S.
For more information, visit
the SARE website.
Your contact is Diana Friedman, SARE
research associate, at 301-504-6422.
|
|
Back to Top