2025 Producer Grant

The Southern SARE 2025 Producer Grant supports farmers and ranchers in conducting small-scale research projects that address sustainable agricultural production and marketing challenges. Individual farmers may receive up to $20,000, while farmer groups are eligible for up to $25,000. These funds are designed to allow producers to test practices, technologies, or ideas on a small scale to determine if they address specific agricultural issues sustainably, with findings intended to be shared and applicable for other farmers. Producer grants are reimbursed for allowable expenses only, excluding general operating costs for the farm. Eligible applicants include individual full- or part-time farmers, ranchers, and farmer organizations such as cooperatives. Applicants must have an annual documented farm income of at least $1,000, and projects must be farmer-led, with cooperators (e.g., other farmers, researchers) encouraged for project development, data collection, and outreach. Applicants from the Southern SARE region—which includes several states and territories such as Alabama, Florida, Texas, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands—are eligible to apply. The proposal should emphasize sustainable practices, aligning with the 1990 Farm Bill's objectives for environmental stewardship, resource efficiency, economic viability, and quality of life improvements. Projects must focus on areas like beneficial insect habitats, alternative crops, sustainable grazing, organic farming, soil health, agroforestry, or appropriate technology development for sustainable agriculture. Proposals should clearly state the problem, solution, methods, and anticipated impact on agricultural sustainability and quality of life for Southern farmers and communities. Additionally, applicants are required to include an outreach component to ensure the project benefits a broader audience; outreach activities may include workshops, field days, publications, or online educational content. Budgets should provide justification for each expense and follow guidelines for allowable costs, including supplies, equipment rentals, travel, labor beyond regular farming duties, and outreach materials. Prohibited expenses include capital improvements, purchasing equipment for long-term use, testing commercial products, and covering operational farm expenses. Limited indirect costs are permissible, with a cap of 10% of total direct costs. The deadline for proposal submission is November 8, 2024, at noon EST. Proposals will undergo technical review, evaluating alignment with Southern SARE’s sustainability goals, the feasibility of project methods, a realistic budget, and an effective outreach plan. Final funding decisions will be made by the Southern SARE Administrative Council in February 2025, with notifications issued by March. Awardees must retain project receipts for three years post-project and submit required reports to document findings and budget use. The program encourages applicants to review the SARE technical bulletin, "How to Conduct Research on Your Farm or Ranch," for guidance on research design and data collection. Applicants needing further assistance with budget specifics or application requirements can contact Southern SARE representatives for support.