Deadline: 02-Nov-20
The Administrative Council of the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program announces the Call for Proposals for Farmer/Rancher Research & Education Grants for 2021.
With a Farmer Rancher Grant, a producer and an agricultural professional work together to develop a proposal to conduct both research and outreach on a sustainable agriculture topic. Outreach activities may include on farm/ranch demonstrations, farmer-to-farmer educational activities, and other approaches to assist producer adoption of sustainable agricultural practices.
The goal of this program is to achieve results that can be communicated to producers and professionals; sustain and improve the environmental quality and natural resource base on which agriculture depends; improve the profitability of farmers/ranchers and associated agricultural businesses; and enhance the quality of life for farmers/ranchers in local communities.
The SARE grant program mission is to advance innovations that improve profitability, stewardship and quality of life in American agriculture by investing in groundbreaking research and education.
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 on-farm 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
- Up to $25,000 may be requested if one producer is involved.
- Proposals with three (3) or more producers may request up to $29,900.
Eligible Applicants
- WSARE requires that agricultural producers be involved from inception to finish in the planning, design, implementation, and educational outreach of any WSARE-funded project. Each of the WSARE-funded grant programs has slightly different requirements for the composition of the team and eligible applicant. Assemble your project team accordingly, keeping in mind the inherent interdisciplinary nature of sustainable agriculture.
- The project team must be a minimum of two (2) people and must include: A Producer (Principal Investigator and Applicant) and an Agricultural Professional. The Agricultural Professional must be independent of the Producer and should not submit the application on behalf of the Producer.
For more information, visit https://western.sare.org/grants/farmer-rancher/