EXPLORING SARE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES 2006 National AgrAbility Project Training Workshop

1. EXPLORING SARE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES 2006 National AgrAbility Project Training Workshop November 13 - 16, 2006 Jackson, Mississippi

2. 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

3. 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

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

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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

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

15. 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.

16. THANK YOUJames H. Hill Southern Region SAREFort Valley State UniversityCooperative Extension ProgramPO Box 4061Fort Valley, GA 31039PH: 478 825 6263Fax: 478 825 6299email: jhill@southernsare.orgwww.southernsare.org