Welcome to Illinois SARE Program
Since 1988, the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program has advanced profitable and environmentally sound farming systems that are good for communities through a nationwide research and education grants program.
What can SARE do for you?
SARE offers grants for travel to educational programs and mini grants to advance knowledge and skills in the agricultural professional. There are also regional and national grant opportunities.
How do I find more information?
Search the SARE Learning Center for sustainable agriculture information-searchable by type of product and topic. These products cover the gamut of sustainable agriculture practices, from books on cover crops and building soil health to bulletins on managing rangeland and water resources to online courses for ag educators around the country.
Funding Updates
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
Four Major Conservation Initiatives Deadlines vary (see below)
NRCS accepts applications for financial assistance on a continuous basis throughout the year.
Applications will be ranked for each initiative in the following periods:
Seasonal High Tunnel: February 3, March 30 and June 1, 2012
Organic: February 3, March 30 and June 1, 2012
On-Farm Energy: February 3, March 30 and June 1, 2012
Air Quality Initiative: February 3 and March 30, 2012
At the end of a ranking period, NRCS ranks all submitted proposals for funding consideration. NRCS will notify all applicants of the results of the rankings and begin developing contracts with selected applicants.
Seasonal High Tunnel Pilot Initiative: NRCS helps producers plan and implement high tunnels, steel-framed, polyethylene-covered structures that extend growing seasons in an environmentally safe manner. High tunnel benefits include better plant and soil quality, fewer nutrients and pesticides in the environment, and better air quality due to fewer vehicles being needed to transport crops. More than 4,000 high tunnels have been planned and implemented nationwide through this initiative over the past two years.
Organic Initiative: NRCS helps certified organic growers and producers working to achieve organic certification install conservation practices for organic production. New for fiscal year 2012, applicants will be evaluated continuously during the ranking periods. Applications meeting or exceeding a threshold score may be approved for an EQIP contract before the end of the ranking period. Applications rating below the threshold score will be deferred to the next period. A new threshold score will be established at the beginning of each ranking period. This new scoring process allows organic producers to implement conservation practices in a timelier manner.
On-Farm Energy Initiative: NRCS and producers develop Agricultural Energy Management Plans (AgEMP) or farm energy audits that assess energy consumption on an operation. NRCS then uses audit data to develop energy conservation recommendations. Each AgEMP has a landscape component that assesses equipment and farming processes and a farm headquarters component that assesses power usage and efficiencies in livestock buildings, grain handling operations, and similar facilities to support the farm operation.
Air Quality Initiative: NRCS helps producers address air quality concerns on their operations. Assistance includes establishing cover crops, planting windbreaks, implementing nutrient management practices and applying other conservation measures that mitigate and prevent air quality problems. Conservation practices installed through this initiative reduce airborne particulate matter and greenhouse gases and conserve energy.
Visit the NRCS National Web site for more information on how to apply for these initiatives and connect with an NRCS office near you.
Organic Agriculture Research & Extension Initiative
Deadline: March 9, 2012
The Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) is USDA's flagship competitive grants program specific to organic systems. OREI funds research, education, and extension projects that enhance the ability of producers and processors to grow and market high quality organic agricultural products. State agricultural experiment stations, all colleges and universities, other research institutions and organizations, Federal agencies, national laboratories, private organizations, corporations, and individuals are eligible to apply to receive these grants.
Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)
Deadlines vary see below
USDA taking applications for Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) funding. For FY2012, USDA has $25.4 million in budget authority for REAP, which will support at least $12.5 million in grant funding and approximately $48.5 million in loan guarantees.
USDA is taking applications for all components of the REAP program with the following deadlines:
- Renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement grant applications and combination grant and guaranteed loan applications until March 30, 2012;
- Renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement guaranteed loan only applications on a continuous basis up to June 29, 2012;
- Renewable energy system feasibility study applications through March 30, 2012;
- Energy audits and renewable energy development assistance applications through February 21, 2012.
Agricultural producers and rural small businesses are eligible for the grants and loans for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements. USDA announced that applicants who applied for these grants and loans in FY2011 and were determined to be eligible, but were not funded, may submit a written request to USDA to consider the FY2011 application for FY2012 funds.
Additional information on REAP is available at the USDA website for the program.
The Frontera Farmer Foundation
Deadline: March 31, 2012.
The Frontera Farmer Foundation is committed to promoting small, sustainable Midwestern farms serving the Chicago area, by providing them with capital development grants. Small local farms, which often struggle financially, are more likely to promote biodiversity by planting a wide range of produce and operate using organic practices. By their artisanal approach to agriculture, the freshness of their product and the variety of their offerings, these farmers insure the highest quality food while they add immeasurably to the fabric of their local rural community.
Eligibility requirements
The Frontera Farmer Foundation will award grants for capital improvements of up to $12,000 to small and medium-size, individually owned farms that sell their food products to customers in the Chicago area at farmers markets and otherwise. Farmers must have been in business for at least three years and must demonstrate how the grant will improve both their farm's viability and the availability of locally grown food products in the Chicago area. Grant applicants will be judged on the basis of demonstrated need, long-term dedication to sustainable farming, creative and business acumen, and commitment to sustainability.
You can download the application (Adobe PDF), or call Jeff Maimon at Frontera Grill (312-334-3661) to have an application mailed or faxed to you.
Grant applications can be submitted by mail (Frontera Farmer Foundation, 445 N. Clark, Chicago, IL), email (jmaimon@fronteragrill.net) or fax (312-661-1830). All applications must be received by February 28, 2012. Recipients of grants will be notified on or before March 31, 2012.
Food Animal Concerns Trust Healthy & Humane Farm Funds
Deadline: April 1, 2012
Attention all livestock farmers: $1,500 grants available to improve animal welfare on your farm.
FACT is now accepting applications for the Healthy & Humane Farm Funds to be awarded in June 2012. Applications are due by April 1, 2012. FACT is committed to funding at least five farms each year, with the anticipated grant size of ranging from $500 to $1,500 per farm. Review our grant guidelines for more information about eligibility requirements, types of grants and project examples.
Download Grant Guidelines
Download Grant Application
To apply, mail your completed application to:
Food Animal Concerns Trust
Attn. Healthy & Humane Farm Funds Project
3525 W. Peterson Avenue, Suite 213
Chicago IL, 60659
You may also email a digital application to grants@foodanimalconcerns.org with a subject line of "Healthy & Humane Farm Funds Application." Please contact Lisa Isenhart at grants@foodanimalconcerns.org or at 773-525-4952 with any questions you may have about the application.
Education Highlight
Did you know that most of the books that SARE sells can be downloaded for FREE?
For example: You can buy Building Soils for Better Crops (a one-of-a-kind, practical guide to ecological soil management, now expanded and in full color). For $20.95, or you can Download the File (13.89 MB) at no charge.
Building Soils for Better Crops
SARE's Learning Center offers a variety of sustainable agriculture information including:
- Production and marketing
- Practical handbooks
- Free bulletins
- Online courses
- How-to fact sheets based on SARE research projects
Greenhouse Energy Conservation Strategies and Alternative Fuels