For grant information, contact:
Rhonda Miller, program manager
(801) 797-3537
Prepared by:
Kristen Kelleher, communications specialist
(916) 752-5987
FARMER & RANCHER RESEARCH GRANTS AVAILABLE IN THE WEST
The USDA Western Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
program releases a call for producer-directed sustainable agriculture
projects
LOGAN, UTAH -- Producers and producer groups residing in the
Western U.S. can compete for grants of up to $5,000 each to identify,
evaluate and test sustainable agriculture practices and challenges.
The USDA's Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education,
SARE, program recently released its second call for farmer/rancher research
grant proposals from agricultural producers in the thirteen-state region
and the Island Protectorates.
"This effort gives farmers and ranchers direct access to research
and education funds authorized by the U.S. Congress to further the adoption
of sustainable agriculture," says Phil Rasmussen, regional coordinator of
the Western region SARE program.
"In the SARE program, producers hold leadership posts, participate
in all competitive grant reviews and cooperate in the majority of research
efforts. Farmers and ranchers enrich the program further by posing their
"in-the-field" questions directly through this grants effort, testing
on-farm solutions to the challenges they face every day," says Rasmussen.
About $100,000 is available in the region for one-year grants of up
to $5,000. Any commercial producer or producer group is eligible to apply
for a grant, but only one award will be bestowed annually to an individual
producer, farm/ranch enterprise or producer organization.
According to Rasmussen, grant reviewers will be looking for
proposals that clearly define local sustainable agriculture problems or
issues and propose innovative solutions. On-farm tests of suggested
technologies and approaches are strongly encouraged.
Sustainable agriculture is defined as an integrated farm or ranch
system that is environmentally sound, economically viable, makes most
efficient use of non-renewable and on-farm resources, and has a positive
influence on rural communities and society as a whole.
All research proposals must be led by one or more producers,
include a professional agricultural technical advisor (an extension agent
or university researcher, for example), and provide a plan for sharing
gained information with others in the community.
Grant proposals are first reviewed and evaluated by a diverse group
of producers, researchers, educators and administrators who are familiar
with sustainable agriculture. Final selections are made by an appointed
panel, at least half of which are producers. All funding is awarded
competitively.
For more information, or to request application materials, write
grants program manager Rhonda Miller at Western Region SARE, ASTE Building,
1500 North 800 East, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 84322-2300, or via
e-mail at rlmiller@cc.usu.edu. Or, call the host office at (801) 797-3537.
Completed proposals are due at the program's administrative office
at Utah State University by 5:00 p.m., January 17, 1996. No FAXed
applications will be accepted.
The federal SARE program is managed by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service,
and directed regionally by four independent, broad-based councils.
Utah State University is host to the SARE program in the Western
region, which includes Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii,
Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and
the Island Protectorates.
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Kristen Kelleher
Senior Public Information Rep/ Communications Specialist
USDA Western Region SARE
c/o SAREP
University of California
(916) 752-5987
kkelleher@ucdavis.edu
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