EXPLORING SARE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES 2006 National AgrAbility Project Training Workshop November , 2006 Jackson, Mississippi

What Is SARE ?  A Different Kind of Grant Program  USDA funded to expand and extend knowledge about sustainable agriculture  Regionally administered  Participatory  Inclusive  Systems approach

Southern SARE  13 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands  $2.7 million awarded in 2005  63 projects funded in 2005  7 different grants programs

Southern Region SARE Structure Host Institutions Fort Valley State University University of Georgia Administrative Council Technical Review Committee

Sustainable Agriculture  Provides more profitable farm income  Protects farm environment and natural resources  Promotes stable, prosperous rural communities

Ones Program, 7 Grant Opportunities  Research and Education Grants  Research and Education Planning Grants  Graduate Student Grants  Professional Development Grants  Producer Grants  On-Farm Research Grants  Sustainable Community Innovation Grants

Research and Education Grants  Systems oriented  Multi-institutional  Projects average $175, 000  One to three years  Multi-state  Interdisciplinary  Farmer cooperators at every stage  Next call released March 2007

Research and Education Planning Grants  Planning Grants provide funds to gather information  Plan to meet, to organize  Planning Activity Grants  Planning Research Grants  $15,000 and last for one year.  Next call released March 2007

Graduate Student Grants  Intended for full time Master’s or Ph.D students  Up to $10,000 toward supplies, equipment, salaries and travel related to the research  Up to three years of project activities  Next call released March 2007

Professional Development Grants  Trains agricultural professionals in sustainable techniques and philosophy  Next call released March 2007

SARE Producer Grants  Any Farmer or Farmer organization  Includes farmers, researchers, extension agents, NGO, etc.  Up to $10,000 for individual farmer, $15,000 for producer organization  Funded up to two years  Next call released September 2007

On-Farm Research Grants  Extension, NRCS, NGO’s who work with producers  On farm research and marketing projects that promote sustainable agriculture  Up to $15,000 Maximum  Must include at least one producer cooperator  Next call released September 2007

Sustainable Community Innovation Grants  Link community and farms  Link sustainable agriculture and rural development  Farmer trainers pass along a lifetime of learning  Project maximum of $10,000 and up to two years  Due November 28, 2006  Two Funding Categories

Know More  Sustainable Ag Network (SAN)  Bulletins – free !  Available in Quantity  Regional publications

My Role and SARE  Office of Limited Resource Farms and Minority Outreach  Help me to attract more SARE proposals NGO’s, limited resource, and minority producers  Respond to requests for AC nominations and proposal reviewers.

THANK YOU James H. Hill Southern Region SARE Fort Valley State University Cooperative Extension Program PO Box 4061 Fort Valley, GA PH: Fax: