Grants for training farm educators and graduate student research

Sarah Fronczak<froncza3@msu.edu> and Katie Brandt<brandtk7@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Extension -

Grant-writing support is available free of charge for all six North Central SARE grants and for Michigan SARE mini-grants.

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Sustainable agriculture educators and graduate students researching sustainable farming are encouraged to apply this April for two grant programs, USDA North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE). SARE Professional Development Grants fund up to $120,000 for “training agricultural educators, using farmers as educators and addressing emerging issues in the farm community.” Proposals are due by April 3, 2024. Masters and PhD students at accredited colleges & universities can apply until April 18, 2024 for SARE Graduate Student Grants of up to $20,000 to “address sustainable agriculture issues” in the North Central region.

Michigan SARE Coordinator, Sarah Fronczak and Katie Brandt from the MSU Organic Farmer Training Program are glad to advise applicants, review proposals and support farmers, educators and students applying for NCR-SARE grants. Grant-writing support is available free of charge for all six North Central SARE grants and for Michigan SARE mini-grants. Email froncza3@msu.edu or brandtk7@msu.edu with questions, to have a proposal reviewed or to set up a time to discuss your proposal idea.

Here is a full list of SARE grants available in Michiganm

  • Professional Development Grants – Up to $120,000 for “training agricultural educators, using farmers as educators and addressing emerging issues in the farm community” (Due April 3, 2024)
  • Graduate Student Grants – Up to $15,000 for Masters’ and PhD students at accredited colleges & universities to “address sustainable agriculture issues” in the North Central region (Due April 18, 2024)
  • Farmer Rancher Grants – Up to $15,000 for 1 farm or $30,000 for two+ farms to design and lead research, demonstration, and education projects in sustainable farm practices. (Due December)
  • Research & Education Grants - $10,000 to $250,000 for on-farm research, farmer education and other projects that “explore and promote environmentally sound, profitable, and socially responsible food and/or fiber systems.” (Pre-proposals due October)
  • Partnership Grants – Up to $50,000 for farm educators and agriculture professionals who partner with 3 or more farmers to research, demonstrate, educate or collaborate on issues important to sustainable farming. (Due October)
  • Youth Educator Grants – Up to $6,000 for projects that teach youth about sustainable agriculture and careers in sustainable agriculture. (Due November)
  • Michigan SARE Mini-Grant – Up to $2,000 to organize a conference or workshop addressing environmental, social and financial sustainability for Michigan or regional farmers and educators. (Always open for proposals)

SARE funding supports three common goals:

  • Profit over the long term
  • Stewardship of our nation’s land, air and water
  • Quality of life for farmers, ranchers, farm employees and our communities

Farmers, ranchers, educators, farm advocacy organizations, MSU Extension staff, researchers and agriculture professionals are welcome to apply. North Central Region SARE has distributed more than $87 million to fund projects in Michigan since 1988.

SARE also distributes numerous resources focused on innovative farming techniques for environmental sustainability, economic viability and farmer/community well-being. For more information about SARE grants and resources, visit MSU Extension or SARE.

The program aims to support an inclusive mix of farmers and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program or political beliefs.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

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