Do you have an idea that might help your farm stay in business for the long run? Be a better place to work or contribute more to the community? Conserve or improve natural resources like soil and water? Reduce use of fossil fuels? The North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program (NCR SARE) of the USDA wants to fund ideas like these and others to make agriculture more sustainable – economically, socially, and environmentally.
The 2016 Farmer Rancher Grant Program of NCR SARE offers grants for farmer-initiated projects of up to $7,500 for individuals, $15,000 for partners, and $22,500 for groups. Grant applications are due in the NCR SARE office on Thursday, December 3, 2015. To learn more about the grants and download a grant application, visit http://www.northcentralsare.org/Grants/Apply-for-a-Grant. To receive a hard copy of the application NCR-SARE, at 612-626-3113.
NCR SARE also offers Partnership Grants to fund on-farm research, demonstration, or educational projects for up to 24 months. These grants are partnerships between three or more farmers and an Agricultural Professional who applies for the grant and is the principal investigator. Partnership Grants are due on October 29, 2015. See the web site above for additional information about this grant program. If you have an idea for a Partnership Grant but need assistance in finding an Ag Professional to work with, I’d be glad to help you identify someone.
Purdue Extension is offering a webinar about how to write a grant on October 7, 10 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. EDT. To participate, log in to the WebEx meeting room at https://purdue.webex.com/join/rballard on October 7th. For more information on how to take part in this webinar, or if you have additional questions about these grant programs, please contact Roy Ballard, Purdue Extension Educator for Hancock County and Indiana SARE State Coordinator at 317-462-1113 or by e-mail at rballard@purdue.edu.