The North Central Region SARE (NCR-SARE) Research and Education (R&E) Grant Program is a competitive grant program for researchers and educators involved in projects that explore and promote environmentally sound, economically viable, and socially responsible food and/or fiber systems.
Donor Name: North Central Region SARE (NCR-SARE)
State: Selected States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 12/04/2025
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: 3 Years
Details:
The Research and Education (R&E) Grant Program provides funds to collaborative teams of scientists, farmers/ranchers, institutions, organizations, and educators who are exploring innovative agricultural practices and systems through research projects or education /demonstration projects.
Many projects are interdisciplinary and/or multi-institutional, involving a broad range of agricultural interests. Project coordinators in the past have explored sustainable agriculture under the following topics:
- Sustainable pest and weed mgmt.
- Marketing and local food systems
- Water quality and nutrient mgmt.
- Systems research
- High tunnels and season extension
- Crop diversification
- Cover crops and soil health
- Small ruminants/poultry/cattle
- Pastured livestock/grazing systems
- Pollinators and biodiversity
- Urban agriculture.
Funding Information
NCR-SARE anticipates that roughly $4.0 million will be available to fund approximately 16 grant projects, with individual grants not to exceed $250,000 total for projects lasting up to three years (36 months). The average size of funded grants was $234,000 and grant lengths ranged from 24 to 36 months.
Geographical Areas
The SARE program works primarily through competitive grant programs administered by four regions: North Central, Northeast, South, and West. The 12 states of North Central Region (NCR)- SARE include: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
Eligibility Criteria
Typically, proposals come from university and extension staff, the agricultural nonprofit sector, and from people who work on research farms and experiment stations. Awarded entities must complete required federal grant protocols when applicable, for example animal care and use protocol verification.
For more information, visit North Central Region SARE.
