SAREP has released Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to support educational events and graduate student projects. Funds will be awarded to events and projects that effectively advance SAREP’s mission and goals. The program is particularly interested in funding proposals that address the sustainability of crop and livestock systems, or the connections between farmers, consumers, and communities in sustainable food systems. Please see the RFPs for a list of suggested topics. Proposals are due April 11, 2000. Awards will be announced by June 15; funds will be available on July 1, 2000. The grants will be in the following categories:

• Grants for educational events (up to $1,200 per event) will support workshops, field days, symposia, and seminars that take place between July 1, 2000 and June 30, 2001. These grants are available to individuals affiliated with California non-profit, tax-exempt organizations, state or federal government agencies, or California public or private educational institutions.
• Sustainable Agriculture Graduate Awards (SAGA) of up to $3,000 per student are available to registered graduate students attending any accredited institution of higher learning in California.

All current RFPs are posted on SAREP’s Web site, www.sarep.ucdavis.edu. The site also describes projects and events funded in previous funding cycles. For more information, contact SAREP grants manager Bev Ransom at (530) 754-8546; Email: baransom@ucdavis.edu

Organic Research Grants

The Organic Farming Research Foundation is offering funds for research on organic farming methods, dissemination of research results to organic farmers and growers interested in making the transition to organic production, and consumer education on organic farming issues. Projects should involve farmers in design and execution, and take place on working farms when possible. Proposals of up to $10,000 are encouraged. Matching funds and/or in-kind contributions are recommended. Proposals are considered twice a year; the next round of proposals must be received by July 15, 2000. To receive copies of grant application procedures, contact Grants Program, Organic Farming Research Foundation, PO Box 440, Santa Cruz, CA 95061; Tel: (831) 426-6606; Email: research@ofrf.org; Web site: www.ofrf.org

Fertilizer Research Awards

The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) is seeking suggestions for research and education projects that will advance the environmentally safe and agronomically sound use and handling of fertilizer materials. Projects may involve research and/or education activities. Topics are being solicited in the following subject areas:

• Development, testing and demonstration of the use and benefits of practical field nutrient monitoring tools;
• Education and public information regarding the environmentally safe and agronomically sound use and handling of fertilizer materials;
• Nutrient/pest interactions;
• Irrigation interactions – water management as related to nitrogen use efficiency and the reduction of groundwater contamination;
• Fertilization practices – nutrient balance, crop nutrient uptake and partitioning foliar nutrient management, slow release fertilizers, cover crops and composting projects that involve the integrated use of composts and commercial fertilizers;
• Site specific fertilizer technology – demonstrating and quantifying applications for Precision Agriculture;
• Handling, transfer and storage of fertilizer materials with an emphasis on achieving regulatory compliance.

In 1999 FREP issued more than $550,000 in grants to university, industry and other agricultural research institutions. Research projects are funded through assessments on fertilizer sales in California. Additional information on the grant application process is available on the program’s Web site at: www.cdfa.ca.gov/inspection/frep. Any individual or group is encouraged to apply. To be considered, a project suggestion limited to two pages must be submitted by March 17, 2000 to the CDFA Fertilizer Research and Education Program, 1220 N Street, Sacramento, CA 95814. For more information contact Casey Walsh Cady or Athar Tariq, (916) 653-5340; Fax, (916) 653-2407; or Email (ccady@cdfa.ca.gov).

New USDA Funding

The USDA has announced that $113 million in new funds will be spent on competitive research grants this year, distributed through a competitive grant process under the new Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems (IFAFS). The needs of small- and medium-sized producers will be a priority. The program was authorized in the 1998 agricultural research bill with $120 million a year allocated for funding. This is the first time the money has been authorized for distribution. (Early in January an additional $60 million was released for specific Fund for Rural America research and economic development grants.) The IFAFS will fund competitive research, education, and extension grants that focus on production agriculture, natural resource management, and consumer issues. The Initiative’s priorities include:

• Agricultural genomics and biotechnology risk assessment;
• Food safety and the role of nutrition in health;
• New uses for agricultural products, including biomass fuel sources;
• Natural resources management, pest management and precision agriculture;
• Farm efficiency and profitability, with an emphasis on small- and mid-sized family farms.