The deadlines to apply for NCR-SARE Grants are coming up! Details for all current grants below:

The 2015 Research and Education Grant Program Text | PDF
DEADLINE: October 23, 2014

Individual grants range from $10,000 to $200,000. NCR-SARE expects to fund about seven to ten projects in the twelve-state North Central Region.

The 2015 Partnership Grant Program PDF
DEADLINE: October 30, 2014.

The SARE Partnership Grant program is new and is intended to foster cooperation between agriculture professionals and small groups of farmers and ranchers to catalyze on-farm research, demonstration, and education activities related to sustainable agriculture.

Individual grants are limited to $30,000. For the current year funding of the Partnership Grant Program, up to $200,000 of the partnership grant pool of $340,000 in funds is available for projects focused on cover crops and soil health. For consideration under the cover crops and soil health funding, applicants are asked to use cover crops and/or soil health in their project title and to make the topic of cover crops and/or soil health the main focus of the application. For the remaining funds of $140,000 or more, other project topics appropriate to the NCR-SARE program will be considered for funding.

The 2015 Youth Educator Grant Program Text | PDF
DEADLINE: November 13, 2014.

Youth Educator Grant projects provide opportunities for youth in the North Central Region to learn more about sustainable agriculture (farming and ranching that is ecologically sound, profitable, and socially responsible). Educators use the grants to encourage young people and their parents to try sustainable practices and see sustainable agriculture as a viable career option. Projects should help youth discover that sustainable farming and ranching is profitable; good for families, communities, and their quality of life; and good for the environment long term. The maximum amount for grants is $2,000, and a total of approximately $20,000 is available for this program.

The 2015 Farmer Rancher Grant Program Text | PDF
DEADLINE: November 20, 2014.

There are three types of competitive grants: individual grants ($7,500 maximum), partner grants for two farmers/ranchers from separate operations who are working together ($15,000 maximum), and group grants for three or more farmers/ranchers from separate operations who are working together ($22,500 maximum). NCR-SARE expects to fund about 45 projects in the twelve-state North Central Region with this call. A total of approximately $400,000 is available for this program.

The focus of the NCR-SARE grant programs is on research and education, and these grants are all highly competitive. Funding considerations are made based on the relevance and potential of the project to increase the sustainability of agriculture in the region, as well as how well the applicant articulates the research and education components of their sustainable agriculture grant proposals.

Contact NCR-SARE  if you have a project you would like to discuss. Please check here for a key word search of previously funded projects.

The link leads to a webinar presented by Gary Lesoing, Nebraska State SARE Coordinator, explaining the Farmer Rancher and Youth/Youth Educator grant programs, process, and past grant recipients.