SARE Announces 2006/2007 Research and Education Grant Opportunities

Seeking funds to help farmers investigate alternative energy strategies? Want to work with producers to test new implements for reducing tillage and herbicides? The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program has issued calls for proposals for its 2006/2007 Research and Education grant program throughout its four regions.

SARE Research and Education (R&E) grants focus on projects that –
• enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agricultural economy depends;
• make the most efficient use of nonrenewable and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls;
• sustain the economic viability of agricultural operations and their communities; and
• enhance the quality of life for farmers and ranchers and society as a whole.

To get an idea of the type of projects that SARE funds, visit the SARE projects database and select Research and Education under the project type pull-down menu.

Ranging from $30,000 to $150,000 or more, Research and Education grants fund projects that usually involve scientists, producers, and others in an interdisciplinary approach.

Some of the topics NRCS staff might consider for proposals include –

SARE has funded more than 1000 Research and Education 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.

Visit these articles for examples of SARE R&E projects involving NRCS –

Grazing
Goats, Sheep Help Manage Weeds on Western Rangeland
Innovative Grazing Program Facilitates Outreach and Implementation to New York Livestock Producers
Grazin' Days Workshops Bring the Benefits of Rotational Grazing to Iowa Farmers
Midwest Graziers Seek to Capitalize on Nutritional Benefits of Pasture-Raised Products

Pest Management
Partnerships, Pesticides, and Potatoes

Farmer-Driven Research
NRCS, SARE Cooperate to Create Farmer-Run Research Groups in New England

Water Quality and Conservation
Developing Vegetative Barriers to Stem Soil Erosion and Improve Water Quality
New Texas Initiative Targets Water Conservation

About SARE
Since 1988, SARE has helped advance farming systems that are profitable, environmentally sound and good for communities through a nationwide grants program.  The program, administered by  CSREES and 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 or for more information about the regional SARE programs, click on the region area of the map below.

Your contact is Diana Friedman, SARE research associate, at 301-504-6422.