The Western SARE Farmer/Rancher Research & Education Grant Program focuses on advancing on-farm sustainability solutions by funding innovative producer-driven research and outreach.
Donor Name: Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)
State: Selected States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 10/23/2024
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 3 Years
Details:
This grant program involves agricultural producers (main applicants) and technical advisor(s) implementing projects to address identified needs in sustainable agriculture.
With a Farmer/Rancher Grant, a producer and a technical advisor work together to develop a project (1-3 years in scope) that conducts both research and outreach on a sustainable agriculture topic. With the support and guidance of the technical advisor, producers must integrate research and education to conduct on-site/on-farm experiments to address social, environmental, and economic aspects of agricultural sustainability. The goal of this program is to achieve results that can be communicated to other producers and professionals; sustain and improve the environmental quality and natural resource base on which agriculture depends; improve the profitability of producers and associated agricultural businesses; and enhance the quality of life for producers in local communities. Outreach activities may include on-farm/ranch demonstrations, farmer-to-farmer educational activities, and other approaches to assist producer adoption of sustainable agricultural practices.
Funding Information
- Proposals led by one (1) or two (2) producers qualify as “Independent Producer” and can request funds up to $25,000.
- Three (3) or more independent producers working together or as part of a farmer/rancher-led cooperative qualify as a “Producer Group” and can request funds up to $29,900.
Grant Period
Projects may be 1-3 years in length and cannot exceed 36 months. Project start and end dates are chosen by the PI. Start dates must be no earlier than April 1, 2025 and no later than October 1, 2025.
Geographical Areas
The Western region includes: Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Micronesia, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.
Who can apply as Principal Investigator (PI)?
Agricultural producers in the Western region who qualify under the following USDA definition of a producer, may apply for a Farmer/Rancher grant:
A person qualifies as a producer (farmer/rancher) if they have a for-profit operation and:
- Their primary occupation is farming or ranching and have a farm/ranch taxpayer identification number (TIN); and/or
- They are a part-time producer with at least $1,000 (or equivalent) of documented annual income from farming or ranching activities.
For more information, visit SARE.
