Sources of Funding

Western SARE grants

Calls for proposals for farmer/rancher, marketing systems and organic systems projects are now available from the USDA’s Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (WSARE) program. Proposals are due October 1.

• Farmer/Rancher Grants target producers seeking to learn more about production, management, or marketing approaches that build the environmental and economic sustainability of their operations.
  
• Marketing Systems Grants emphasize sustainable agricultural marketing at the producer level.
  
• Organic Systems Grants emphasize some aspect of an organic agricultural system as it relates to sustainable agriculture.
  

Each project should include an agricultural professional as a technical adviser. Grants of up to $7,500 for an individual grower or $15,000 for a group of producers are available for on-farm experimentation, market research, educational events or other activities.

Also due October 1 are Agricultural Professional and Producer Grants.

Due October 15 are the Professional Development Program Grants.

Calls for proposals, as well as funded project results, are available at the program’s Web site http://wsare.usu.edu, or by contacting the Western SARE office at Utah State University at (435) 797-2257 to request an application. National SARE, mandated by Congress in the 1985 and 1990 Farm Bills and extended by the 1995 Farm Bill reauthorization, is implemented by four regional councils. Western SARE is coordinated by Utah State University soil scientist V. Philip Rasmussen and lead by an administrative council that represents diverse agricultural, business, producer, and public interests in the West. The Western Region includes Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Micronesia, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, N. Mariana Islands, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Pest Management Alliance Grants

The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) is offering funding for Pest Management Alliance grant projects. Alliance grants are provided to help commodity groups, non-agricultural groups, urban groups, and others address important pest management issues on a regional or statewide scale. The Alliance program is devoted to reducing risks associated with pesticide use, while establishing a dialogue between Alliance groups and DPR. Implementation of reduced-risk practices should be an integral part of an Alliance proposal. Groups are asked to establish a team, evaluate existing pest management systems, and develop a proposal to demonstrate alternative practices that have shown success in the field. Groups may receive up to $100,000 per year, with a required dollar-for-dollar match. A total of approximately $300,000 is available through this Request for Proposals. Proposals are due by 4 p.m., October 24, 2002. For more information on the grants, download complete Request for Proposal bid packages at the DPR Web site: www.cdpr.ca.gov/dprgrants.htm, or contact Bob Elliott at DPR, PO Box 4015, Sacramento, CA 95812-401; (916) 324-4100; belliott@cdpr.ca.gov

Organic Research grants up

The Organic Farming Research Foundation offers research grants of up to $15,000; applicants are invited for consideration in its twice-yearly funding cycle. Funds are offered for organic farming research, dissemination of research results to organic farmers and growers interested in making the transition to organic production and consumer education on organic farming issues. OFRF technical program coordinator Jane Sooby is available to work with farmers and others interested in doing on-farm research and applying for grants. The foundation’s on-farm research guide gives an overview of the research process and is accessible through OFRF’s Web site (www.ofrf.org) under “research program” or can be ordered free of charge by calling OFRF at (831) 426-6606. The deadlines for proposal consideration are January 15 for the spring funding cycle and July 15 for the fall funding cycle. Contact Sooby at OFRF, PO Box 440, Santa Cruz, CA 95061 or email research@ofrf.org or jane@ofrf.org