Sources of Funding

Western SARE announces projects, offers funds

The Western Region USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program recently announced its selections of grants for 2003. Eleven projects were funded in California for a total of $236,587.

Research and education grants were awarded to: Kenneth Tate (UC Davis agronomy and range science) $93,184, Research and extension program on environmentally sound grazing practices; and Molly Johnson (Community Alliance with Family Farmers) $60,000, Workshops on planting and managing hedgerows on farms.

Producer Grants were also awarded to the following groups and individuals: Sonoma County Grape Growers Association; Zachary Griffin, Ventura County citrus producer; Central Coast Vineyard Team; Jill Hackett, Howe Creek Ranch; John Currey, CR Pigs; John Lagier, Bay Area Agricultural Cooperative; Warren Weber, Marin Organics; Jack Rice, Larabee Hay Ranch; Grant Poole, UC Cooperative Extension Los Angeles.

New Funding Available
Western SARE is now accepting proposals for the next round of funding. Oct. 1, 2003 is the deadline for farmer/rancher and ag professional grants; Oct. 15, 2003 is the deadline for the Professional Development Program grants. The Calls for Proposals are available on the Web at wsare.usu.edu or by calling the Western SARE office at Utah State University, 435-797-2257.

 

Organic Research & Extension Initiative
The 2002 Farm Bill mandated $15 million for the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative to be spent at $3 million a year from FY 2004 to FY 2008. The program will be managed at the USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES). CREES will be requesting applications approximately October 2003, which will be due in December, or in January 2004. Farmers may apply independently, but are strongly encouraged to have a county Extension Specialist connection to a university or other institution. For more information, see administrative recommendations at: http://ofrf.org/policy/index.html. Or contact Tom Bewick at tbewick@reeusda.gov, 202-401-3356.

 

Organic Research Grants
The Organic Farming Research Foundation is offering research grants of up to $15,000 for organic farming research and related topics. Deadlines for proposal consideration are December 15 (a change from the previous January deadline) for the spring funding cycle and July 15 for the fall funding cycle. For more information see OFRF’s Web site (www.ofrf.org), call 831-426-6606 or email research@ofrf.org.