Deadline: 10-Nov-21
The Administrative Council of the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program announces the call for proposals for Professional Development Program competitive grants for 2022.
Professional Development Program (PDP) Grants are aimed at helping Cooperative Extension Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service and other agricultural professionals in the Western Region increase their understanding and proficiency in sustainable agriculture.
Proposals are evaluated by a Review Panel against the criteria outlined in this call and in comparison with other PDP grant proposals. The Western SARE Administrative Council – a board of agricultural producers, scientists, educators and business leaders – will then make the final selections of projects to fund. The council typically selects proposals diverse in subject matter and geography, and that demonstrate outcomes that farmers and ranchers in the region can successfully adopt.
SARE is a USDA competitive grants program that supports agricultural systems that are economically viable, environmentally sound and socially responsible.
Goals
- Promote good stewardship of the nation’s natural resources by providing site-specific, regional, and profitable sustainable farming and ranching methods that strengthen agricultural competitiveness; satisfy human food and fiber needs; maintain and enhance the quality and productivity of soil; conserve soil, water, energy, natural resources and fish and wildlife habitat, and maintain and improve the quality of surface and ground water.
- Enhance the quality of life of farmers and ranchers and ensure the viability of rural communities, for example, by increasing income and employment, especially profitable self-employment and innovative marketing opportunities in agricultural and rural communities.
- Protect the health and safety of those involved in food and farm systems by reducing, where feasible and practical, the use of toxic materials in agricultural production, and by optimizing onfarm resources and integrating, where appropriate, biological cycles and controls.
- Promote crop, livestock, and enterprise diversification.
- Examine the regional, economic, social, and environmental implications of adopting sustainable agriculture practices and systems.
Funding Information
- Funding limit is $100,000 per project.
Additional Information
- Professional Development Program Grants are designed to educate agricultural professionals about sustainable agriculture so they, in turn, can educate and train farmers and ranchers.
- Multi-faceted proposals are encouraged. Projects using multiple techniques or methods are recommended, as are efforts whose results can be applied to wide and diverse audiences.
- Projects must improve the ability of agricultural professionals to conduct educational programs and activities in sustainable agriculture principles and systems and to respond to inquiries on the subject from farmers, ranchers and the public.
- Approaches can include, among others:
- Workshops
- Conferences
- Development of materials or curricula
- Demonstrations
- Web-based courses
- Tours
- Subject matter can include any sustainable agriculture endeavor, including animal agriculture, agronomic or horticultural crop production, or the effects of sustainable practices on quality of life for producers or rural communities.
For more information, visit https://western.sare.org/grants/professional-development-program/