Farmers always have new ideas for improving their operations. The problem is that those ideas usually require money. Now there is a way to help match funds with ideas to improve the economic, environmental and social sustainability of farming.
The North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program is currently accepting applications for their 2006 Farmer Rancher Grant program. NCR-SARE awards grants to farmers and ranchers for innovative on-farm research, demonstration and education projects. The program provides up to $6,000 for individual grants and up to $18,000 for grants awarded to groups of three or more farmers.
NCR-SARE grants are awarded based on how well projects will improve long-term profitability, help the environment, and advance social goals such as producing healthy foods, enhancing quality of life on the farm, and supporting communities.
Last year NCR-SARE funded 47 grants totaling $414,489. This year farmers and ranchers throughout the North Central Region will once again have the opportunity to apply for roughly $400,000 in grant assistance.
Grant proposals are due in the NCR-SARE office by Dec. 1. Interested applicants may contact NCR-SARE at (800) 529-1342.