Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education

Deadlines are approaching soon for four Western SARE grant programs: Farmer/Rancher; Professional + Producer; Professional Development; and Local Education & Demonstration. Visit https://ow.ly/Cmoj50TCvRk for specific deadlines & Calls for Proposals.

Youth ‘Seed to Syrup’ sorghum project to host community night, tasting Thursday This Thursday evening, a group of local Ozark County kids (and any community members who would like to join them) will enjoy the sweet success of their hard work over the last two and a half months wh

In this week's ATTRA Voices from the Field podcast, farmer Crystal Hampton-Davis, of Pennsylvania livestock and produce farm Davis Grown, shares that school food service workers noticed kids bringing back empty lunch trays on the days they served food from Crystal's farm.

"If they're cleaning their trays, you know that they're getting a good quality product that they like, that they're going to eat."

That's one way to measure farm-to-school success! Listen to Crystal's conversation with NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Chris Lent at https://buff.ly/3C2MTdj

📷USDA photo by Lance Cheung

In Michigan, researchers and apple growers are working on a SARE project to test exclusion netting as a non-chemical thinning method. Phil Schwallier and Todd Einhorn share their research with us in this video. https://youtu.be/Dyz3o9LXXoA

A recent North Central SARE Research and Education grant in Kansas demonstrated how integrating crops, livestock and cover crops could help some producers offset revenue loss and failing crops.

Producer Partnerships Demonstrate the Benefits of Integrated Systems: Increased Profits and Soil Health Integrating crops, livestock and cover crops could help some producers offset revenue loss and failing crops.

A recent post-project evaluation of SARE projects found that investing in farmer knowledge and capacity as peer trainers was key to one project’s impressive impacts.

Investment in Farmer to Farmer Training Cuts Costs, Improves Safety A recent post-project evaluation of SARE projects found that investing in farmer knowledge and capacity as peer trainers was key to the project’s impressive impacts.

USDA Agricultural Research Service: "Diverse Crop Rotations Reduce Risk of Crop Loss Under Poor Growing Conditions" https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAARS/bulletins/3b19383

Send a message to learn more

If you're anything like some of the farmers and ranchers on our NCAT staff, phrases like "enterprise budget" and "debt-to-asset ratio" and "cash flow" might make you run for the fields (literally). The business side of farming is not what drew us to the profession in the first place - we love to be outside, not on a computer entering receipts!

We know there are exceptions, and we know MANY business-savvy farmers out there! We also know that, for some, dealing with things like spreadsheets and profit-and-loss statements is a total drag. But it really is important to keep your farm or ranch financially sustainable. This week we are going to share resources to help beginning and experienced farmers alike get a handle on their operation's finances.

The ATTRA publication, "Planning for Profit in Sustainable Farming," covers many things you should consider to make sure your books are in the black.

And remember: if you would ever like one-on-one support, we have staff with agribusiness experience here to help! You can call the ATTRA line at 1-800-346-9140 Monday through Friday, or email us at [email protected].

https://buff.ly/3X0pFeA

The Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Technical Assistance Program seeks technical assistants to help potential grantees develop successful grant proposals. We are looking for dedicated and passionate Technical Assistant contractors from communities across the Northeast region.

As a Technical Assistance Program contractor, you will play a pivotal role in connecting with local farmers, educating them about Northeast SARE programs, and providing tailored support to help them navigate the grant application process. Your efforts will directly contribute to building stronger, more sustainable farming communities.



https://northeast.sare.org/news/technical-assistants-needed/

Our Southern SARE Professional Development Program Grants Call for Proposals is now available with a submission deadline of August 30, 2024, at 4pm EST. These grants further education and outreach strategies for professionals and educators who work directly with farmers and ranchers.

Learn more and apply here: https://southern.sare.org/grants/apply-for-a-grant/professional-development-program-grants/

Professional Development Program Grants, known as train-the-trainer grants, are available to help further education and outreach strategies for ag professionals and ag educators who work directly with farmers and ranchers.

The grant funds training activities that educate ag professionals in up-to-date strategies and technologies to help farmers and ranchers increase profits and lessen environmental impacts. PDP grants support such activities as producing workshops, creating educational manuals and videos, or conducting on-farm tours and demonstrations.

Who Can Apply?
Agricultural professionals such as Cooperative Extension; NRCS; Farm Service Agency, or other USDA agency staff; ag consultants; non-governmental organizations; mentor farmers; and other ag professionals are eligible to apply for a Professional Development Program Grant. SSARE also considers proposals from organizations/institutions whose projects involve farmers from indigenous agriculture that produces products for community food systems. These enterprises may be eligible where the production activity has an annual value of less than $1,000, even if products are not sold due to cultural factors.

GRANT SCHEDULE:
•October: Selected pre-proposals are invited to submit full proposals.
•November: Full proposals are due.
•February: Full proposals are funded.

Check out our Summer 2024 Field Notes newsletter for updates on a new organic food-grade grain producer resource, livestock waterers and watering systems, chestnuts in Southeastern Ohio, a new Anishinaabe Food and Science Curriculum, Joan Benjamin's retirement, new staff members Betsy Wieland and Liz Brownlee, our 2024 Heroes Nancy Gary Lesoing and Nancy Williams, new episodes of the Farming Matters video podcast series, and more! https://northcentral.sare.org/news/newsletters/

NCR-SARE's 2025 Farmer Rancher Grant “Call for Proposals” is now available with information about how to apply for this funding.

NCR-SARE's 2025 Call for Farmer Rancher Grants - SARE North Central Proposals are due by 4pm Central Time on December 5, 2024.

Deadline approaching - due September 6! Soliciting applications to lead a consultative process and create a Sustainable Agriculture Action Plan to document the research, regulatory, infrastructure, and educational needs and priorities required to increase sustainable agriculture practices. https://ow.ly/Xsso50SYG60

NCR-SARE is now accepting proposals for the 2025 Youth Educator Grant Program. Proposals are due by 4pm
Central Time on Thursday, November 7, 2024. Learn more: https://northcentral.sare.org/Grants/Apply-for-a-Grant/Youth-Educator-Grant/

Up to $30,000 for sustainable agriculture projects led by farmers in the Northeast. The Farmer Grant Call for Proposals is NOW OPEN! Check out the full call on our website.

https://northeast.sare.org/grants/get-a-grant/farmer-grant-program/

Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education is proud to host the Cultivating Agricultural Partnerships for Sustainability (CAPS) Summit October 1-2, 2024 in Salt Lake City. This interactive and informational summit is centered on bringing together individuals, groups, and entities actively working in the sustainable agriculture field.

site.pheedloop.com

Attend an Industrial H**p Planting Density Research Trial Field Day on August 30, 2024 from 9-11am at the AST Genetics trial fields west of Topeka, KS. RSVP via email at: [email protected].

Become a Northeast SARE Grant Reviewer!

We at Northeast SARE have seen a record numbers of proposals submitted since Fall of 2023. This is AMAZING!

And, it can place some stress on our internal systems at Northeast SARE - specifically, we need more reviewers to review all those grant proposals! For example, we need SEVENTY-TWO (72!!!) reviewers for our fall/winter review cycle for the Farmer, Professional Development, Research and Education, Research for Novel Approaches grant programs.

Can you help us? We compensate reviewers at the rate of $51.60 per hour and most review processes are a total commitment (spread out over a month or more) of 20-30 hours.

Our only requirements: 1) experience with sustainable agriculture in the Northeast and 2) access to reliable internet. BONUS if a reviewer feels comfortable evaluating research methodology, but it is NOT required. We ALWAYS need more farmer reviewers!

https://northeast.sare.org/JoinNortheastTC

Before you even buy seeds in the spring, you should have a marketing plan for where you're going to sell your harvest. 🍅 🫐 🫛

We want to help you find a market that is right for your farm business!

There are pros and cons to farmers markets, restaurants, institutions (like daycares, schools, hospitals, etc.), CSAs, food hubs, and more. This week we are going to share more information about selling via some of these different outlets.

This tipsheet is a good place to start if you're wanting to sell your products to restaurants.
Read: https://buff.ly/4dq5vBO

Building Sustainable Urban Farming Capacity and Connections Purdue Extension led a four-year research and Extension project (supported by SARE and extended one year due to the pandemic) on urban farming to increase opportunities for effective and sustainable training, learning, and networking. A leadership team and advisory committee was established to admin...

Bring your grant proposal questions to our Live Office Hours. Staff will be available to assist you as you consider your Western SARE proposal. August 21 1-2 pm MT, September 17 10-11 MT, and October 10 3-4 MT. Zoom link: https://ow.ly/oe4S50SW6gz

SARE's What is Sustainable Agriculture? Now Available in Spanish ¿Qué es la Agricultura Sostenible? features short, translated primers of proven sustainable practices that can be used to complement more detailed training materials.

SARE Seeks Web Services Developer to work in the SARE National Reporting, Coordinating and Communications Office (NRCCO) located in College Park, Md. https://www.sare.org/news/sare-seeks-web-services-developer/