SARE Producer Grant Program

Official Website: http://www.griffin.uga.edu/sare/producerpage.htm

Purpose: To conduct research, marketing and demonstration projects and share the results with other farmers and ranchers.

Eligible applicants: Producers or producer organizations interested in conducting research or marketing projects related to sustainable agriculture. Projects must include project cooperators. They can be other farmers, researchers, extension agents, governmental or non-governmental organizations or others who cooperate in project planning, data collection and outreach of results.

Eligible uses of funding: Costs of sampling and sample analysis, materials and supplies needed for the project, outreach expenses such as holding a field day, travel needed for the project, hired labor for things that you can’t do yourself, your labor for project activities above and beyond your normal farming duties, refreshments at field days.

Ineligible uses of funding: Starting or expanding a farm or farming operation, buying equipment, permanent improvements to a farm or ranch, lunches or other full meals at field days or large gatherings, testing of commercial products.

Funding level: Projects may be funded up to two years for a maximum of $10,000 for an individual producer or $15,000 for a producer organization.

Match requirement: None

Timing of grants: Proposals are generally due in the fall

Pros: Relatively simple application. Grants are evaluated on a regional, rather than national level.

Cons: Low funding, requires collaboration, requires you to share and publicize your results.

The SARE Producer Grant Proposal

1. What is the problem and how does it relate to, or affect, the sustainability of agriculture in the South?
   Be brief, one or two paragraphs.
2. What is your answer to the problem?
   Be brief, one or two paragraphs.
3. How will you show or demonstrate that your answer or solution works?
   What will you measure?
4. When will you do the parts of your project?
   Give us a timetable and the steps you will take to complete your project.
5. Where and how will you tell others (producers, extension, researchers) about your results?
   What is your outreach plan? Outreach plans may include workshops, field days, fact sheets, articles, presentations at agriculture meetings and more.
6. Who are you and your cooperators?
   Tell us about your farm/ranch operation or producer organization. Tell us which cooperator is responsible for the various parts of the project.

Examples of funded projects: 

A pecan grower in Texas used a SARE Producer Grant to reduce pesticide spraying for stinkbugs by testing black-eyed peas as a trap crop. For every dollar spent on peas, nine dollars of damage was prevented.

An Oklahoma cut flower grower used a SARE Producer Grant to extend the growing season by conducting trials of different flower species and greenhouse temperatures. This saved fuel and allowed the sale of cut flowers earlier in the spring and later into the fall.