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August 31, 2006 Sustainable Agriculture Grant Can Help Turn Ideas into Reality Producers may have ideas for improving their profits and the health of their farms, ranches and communities, but don’t have the finances or access to information to turn the idea into reality. Both resources are available through the North Central Region (NCR) Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program. “NCR-SARE awards competitive grants to farmers and ranchers for on-farm research, demonstrations and education projects,” says Frank Kutka, SARE coordinator and assistant director for North and South Dakota. Kutka also is a sustainable agriculture specialist at the North Dakota State University Dickinson Research Extension Center. Individuals can apply for farmer/rancher grants of up to $6,000 and groups of three or more can apply for grants of up to $18,000. Grant recipients have up to 21 months to complete their projects and must share their findings with others through reports and outreach activities, such as field days and presentations. In 2005, NCR-SARE received 182 proposals and funded 47 grants totaling $414,489. Funding since the program began in 1992 totals $3,620,564 and includes funds from the National Agroforestry Center and USDA Agricultural Marketing. To request an application, contact Joan Benjamin at the NCR-SARE office at (402) 472-0809 or jbenjamin2@unl.edu. The forms are available on the Web at www.sare.org/ncrsare/prod.htm. Proposals are due by Dec. 1, 2006. For local assistance in writing grants or exploring grant ideas that are ecologically sound, profitable and socially responsible, contact Kutka at (701) 483-2348, ext. 113, or e-mail fkutka@ndsuext.nodak.edu. You can also contact the Extension Service office in your county. Farmer/rancher grants have funded a variety of research topics, such as pest and disease management, crop production, education/outreach, networking, quality-of-life issues, livestock production, marketing, soil quality, waste management and water quality. The USDA-funded SARE program was authorized by the 1985 Farm Bill and was funded in 1988. SARE operates through four regional offices as well as a national office. The NCR serves Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Go to www.sare.org/reporting/report_viewer.asp to view reports from previous projects. ### Source: Frank
Kutka, (701) 483-2348, ext. 113; fkutka@ndsuext.nodak.edu |
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North Dakota State University |
