Funding Opportunities

The Research and Education program funds outcome-based projects offering research, education, and demonstration projects that engage farmers as cooperators in the exploration of sustainable farm practices. Projects should be directed toward research results that will translate quickly into farmer benefit, and farmers, extension staff, and other stakeholders should be involved in planning project content.

The Leopold Center’s work is organized in three initiative areas—ecology, marketing and food systems, and policy—each aimed at enhancing the condition and viability of Iowa’s natural resources in varying, yet integrated ways. Pre-proposals for projects addressing these three initiatives are being accepted. Investigators representing any Iowa nonprofit organization/agency and/or educational institution (such as soil and water conservation districts, schools and colleges, and regional development groups). The Center strongly encourages the involvement and collaboration of farmers, landowners, and farm-based businesses in the pre-proposal process.

In a unique fusion of two programs, USDA has released a request for applications for the Integrated Organic and Water Quality Program (IOWP). IOWP combines the National Integrated Water Quality and Organic Transition Programs. The combined program’s purpose is to explore the changes in water quality and/or water quantity associated with certified organic farming practices. Projects must integrate research, education, and extension. Up to $220,000 per year may be requested for projects 1-3 years in duration.

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) makes competitively awarded grants that are to qualified small businesses to support high quality, advanced concepts research related to important scientific problems and opportunities in agriculture that could lead to significant public benefit if successful. Topic areas include Forests and Related Resources; Plant Production and Protection - Biology; Animal Production and Protection; Soil and Water Resources; Food Science and Nutrition; Rural Development; Aquaculture; Biofuels and Biobased Products; Marketing and Trade; Animal Manure Management; Small Mid Size Farms; Plant Production and Protection - Engineering.

The Professional Development program funds outcome-based projects that train Cooperative Extension educators and other agricultural service providers in sustainable techniques and concepts. Projects must be directed toward increasing the skill and understanding of these service providers, and be consistent with SARE's larger goal of broad farmer adoption of sustainable practices. Preproposals are due July 31, 2009.

This grant program provides up to $25,000 in matching funds for the construction, reconstruction, improvement, expansion, or rehabilitation of farmers’ markets in New York State.

Farm Aid offers grants in three categories. Grants in this category fund organizations or projects that seek to strengthen what Farm Aid calls the Good Food Movement, the growing number of Americans reaching for and demanding family farm-identified, local, organic or humanely-raised food. These grants build connections between farmers and consumers, creating new markets for family farmers. Helping Farmers Thrive grants fund organizations or projects that assist farmers transitioning to more sustainable and profitable farming practices, find alternative markets, or start a new farming operation as well as provide support services to farm families in crisis. Taking Action to Change the System grants fund organizations or projects that promote fair farm policies and grassroots organizing campaigns to defend and bolster family farm-centered agriculture. These grants enable advocates to strengthen the voices of family farmers and promote their interests on a local, regional and national level.

Grants can be for any of the following areas that involve organics, and benefit multiple producers, processors and/or consumers: Organic Research; Organic Education; and Other ideas supporting/promoting organic agriculture. Typical grants would be in the range of $300 to $1,500, on a first come - first served basis provided projects meet requirements.

The NY Center for Dairy Excellence is offering the first program to bring Dairy Profit Teams to farms throughout the state. Dairy Profit Teams are advisors that help a farm identify issues and opportunities on the farm, develop strategies for change, and offer suggestions. Under this program, Dairy Profit Teams may receive cost share assistance of $2,400, approximately 80 percent of the costs to run a team for one year. The NYCDE has funding to launch approximately 45 teams from June-December 2009. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, until funding is exhausted.

The goal of the National Integrated Water Quality Program is to improve the quality of our Nation's surface water and groundwater resources through research, education, and extension activities. Projects funded through this program will facilitate achieving this goal by advancing and disseminating the knowledge base available to agricultural and rural communities. Funded projects should lead to science-based decision-making and management practices that improve the quality of the Nation's surface water and groundwater resources in agricultural and rural watersheds.

The Southern Region USDA Program on Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) funds systems research projects that are undertaken by interdisciplinary and often multi-institutional teams. Bringing together such teams takes both time and expense. To be effective, teams should use shared leadership and group process as the dominant mode of planning. The goal of a SSARE Planning Grant is to develop and submit a full sustainable agriculture systems research proposal to a funding institution, not necessarily Southern SARE.

The goal of RRP is to contribute to the improvement of U.S. rangeland resources and the ecosystem services they provide by supporting the development of new and emerging rangeland science methodologies which specifically address the interrelationships between multiple disciplines. The primary purpose of RRP is to provide U.S. agricultural producers, rural landowners, and land managers with integrated science strategies to make informed land management decisions with an emphasis on enhancing the restoration and sustainable integrity of rangelands.

The primary objective of this grant program is to help eligible independent producers of agricultural commodities, agricultural producer groups, farmer and rancher cooperatives, and majority-controlled producer-based business ventures develop strategies to create marketing opportunities and to help develop business plans for viable marketing opportunities. These grants will facilitate greater participation in emerging markets and new markets for value-added products.

The Native American Sustainable Agricultural Grant Program is initially funded as a one-time North Central Region-Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE) grant program. The purpose of this grant program is to fund project(s) that can help NCR-SARE reach and work with Native Americans to improve agricultural sustainability in the North Central Region.

The Administrative Council of the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program announces the Request for Sustainable Agricultural Tours Grant Applications for 2009. With a Sustainable Agricultural Tour Grant, farmers and ranchers will be able to network with other producers, researchers and other sustainable agricultural professionals in seeing and learning about sustainable agricultural production systems. These grants are targeted for producers to attend specific on-farm demonstration and/or educational outreach tours in an area of sustainable agriculture. The maximum allowed per grant application is $2,000. These funds are awarded on a first come basis.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is pleased to bring the Path to Organic Program to our farming community. Part of the $500,000 appropriation will provide technical assistance to farmers in transition to organic agriculture and the rest of the funding will be provided to participating farmers. Assistance will be available to producers who are currently in the three-year transition process as well, as those who have not yet begun the process, which is required by the USDA National Organic Program.

Quaker Oats is offering grants for projects that will help combat hunger in your community. The Quaker Go Grant program will select twenty winners each month from April through August 2009. Winners will each receive a $500 cash grant to fund their projects. Application deadlines for the monthly awards are March 31, 2009, April 30, 2009, May 31, 2009 and June 30, 2009 and July 31, 2009.

The New Ranch Network Small Grants Program provides assistance to landowners, associations and communities in making changes through collaboration. The project or activity must involve Forest Service permittees or Forest Service lands, or involve water related projects east of the Rio Grande in NM or TX. Grants range in size from $1,000 to $5,000.

SARE Educational Sponsorships provide financial support for educational events that advance SARE grantees or project results to beginning, minority, underserved and/or commodity producers and/or the extension and educational professionals that serve them. Sponsorships are available in the amount of $500-$5000. Sponsorships are available to organizations or individuals providing educational services to farmers, ranchers, or agricultural professionals. Rolling applications are accepted on a quarterly schedule with the following deadlines: December 15, April 15, July 15, October 15.

The Yes To Carrots™ Seed Fund, a U.S. 501(c)3 non-profit organization, is on a mission to make a difference in people's lives by providing under-served communities with the resources to develop and sustain an organic food source and access to healthy nutrition. The Yes To Carrots™ Seed Fund assists these communities by providing donations to help with seeds, plants, equipment, irrigation support and technical know-how. Contact them to receive a Grant Request Application form. Applications are reviewed throughout the year.