January 11, 1999
For applications, CONTACT:
North Central Region SARE, 402-472-7081, 402-472-0280 (fax),
or sare001@unlvm.unl.edu
For more information, CONTACT:
Ken Schneider, Producer Grant Program Coordinator, 402-472-0809, or
sare004@unlvm.unl.edu
Farmers and Ranchers: Apply for USDA Grant Funds to Explore Sustainable
Agriculture and Educate Others
Lincoln, NE — The USDA's Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
(SARE) program in the North Central Region invites producers to apply for
competitive grants to research, demonstrate or educate others about
profitable, environmentally sound, socially responsible agricultural systems.
"Our experience with the North Central SARE program has been excellent,"
said Wisconsin farmer and producer grant recipient John Cuddy. "We are
grateful for the program's support of our research effort. The SARE producer
grant program addresses a need for producer-initiated research."
This year marks the eighth cycle of producer grants awarded by the NCR SARE
program. A total of $250,000 is available for grants of up to $5,000 for
individual producers and up to $15,000 for groups of three or more producers
investigating any sustainable practice or concept.
Additional funding specifically earmarked for agroforestry projects is also
available as a result of a National Agroforestry Center initiative.
"Producers know best how to make their operations more sustainable, and many
producers will have to make changes this year to remain competitive" said
Ken Schneider, former farmer/rancher and NCR SARE's producer liaison. "Funds
from this program are available to assist farmers and ranchers who want to
implement innovative practices to help generate more income and share that
information with other producers."
Nearly 250 producer projects in 12 NCR states have been awarded at a total
of more than $1 million since 1992. Projects cover a variety of topics, such
as reducing off-farm inputs, testing technologies, improving water quality,
educating young people or consumers about agriculture, managing weeds and
pests, recycling wastes and creating viable markets for sustainable
products, among a host of other issues.
"This program is unique in the U.S. Department of Agriculture in its
approach to on-farm research and education," said Schneider. "Producers are
encouraged to initiate and carry through with their own ideas."
Applications are available from the North Central Region office beginning
February 1, 1999. Producers must reside in the 12-state North Central
Region: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri,
Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Applications are
dueApril 30, 1999. Funding decisions will be made in late-June 1999. Funds
will be available in mid-fall for the 2000 crop production season. Call
402-472-7081, fax 402-472-0280 or send e-mail to sare001@unlvm.unl.edu for
an application. You can also find the application at
http://www.sare.org/ncrsare/.
The national SARE Program began with the 1985 Farm Bill. Congress
appropriated initial funds in 1988 for grants in sustainable agriculture
research, education and demonstration. Funding goes to producers,
scientists, educators and public and private institutions and organizations
in three grant programs. The North Central Region, managed by a diverse
Administrative Council and directed by two regional coordinators, is one of
four regions in the SARE Program.
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Lisa Bauer
Communications Specialist
North Central Region SARE
University of Nebraska
13A Activities Bldg.
Lincoln, NE 68583-0840
402-472-0265
402-472-0280 (fax)
sare003@unlvm.unl.edu
www.sare.org/ncrsare
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