Farmers, ranchers invited to apply for SARE grants

COLUMBIA, Mo.– Farmers and ranchers with innovative ideas on improving their operations through sustainable agriculture practices can apply for funding to try out those ideas.

The USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program offers competitive grants for on-farm research, demonstration and education projects, said Debi Kelly, University of Missouri Extension SARE co-coordinator.

For the round of grants to be issued in 2014, about $400,000 will be available to farmers and ranchers in the USDA’s 12-state North Central Region, which includes Missouri.

Proposals should show how farmers and ranchers plan to use their innovative ideas to explore sustainable agriculture options and how they will share project results with other producers, Kelly said.

The deadline for grant proposals is Nov. 14.

Kelly says Missouri leads the NRC in the total number of awards since 1988 and usually receives on average 10 grants per year.

She will be conducting workshops throughout the state to help producers with grant-writing basics, choosing a project, knowing what to expect, and the keys to a successful application. For the first time, grant proposals can be submitted entirely online.

“I’m going to work with participants on using the new online submission,” says Kelly. “We’ll also look at previous grants in the SARE database and explore ways to make stronger proposals.”

Workshops

• Sept. 9: Webinar, 7-8:30 p.m. Log on to univmissouri.adobeconnect.com/debikelly and sign in as a guest with your name.
• Sept. 12: Lincoln University’s Carver Farm, Jefferson City, 4-9 p.m. Contact to register: Catherine Bohnert, 573-681-5174.
• Sept. 17: Warren County Extension Center, Warrenton, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Contact to register: Janet Hurst, 660-216-1749.
• Sept. 19: Ray County Senior Center, Richmond, 7-9 p.m. Contact to register: Susan Jaster, 816-589-4725.
• Oct. 2: Sikeston, 4-9 p.m. Contact to register: Catherine Bohnert, 573-681-5174.
• Oct. 25: MU Southwest Research Center, Mount Vernon, 4-9 p.m. Contact to register: Shon Bishop, 417-846-3948.

Detailed information is available at www.northcentralsare.org.