The North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE) Program is seeking innovative farmers or ranchers who want to implement a new, sustainable idea to improve their operation. NCR-SARE is accepting applications for their 2009 farmer rancher grant program.

""NCR-SARE awards grants to farmers and ranchers for on-farm research, demonstrations and education projects,"" says Frank Kutka, SARE coordinator for North and South Dakota. Kutka also is a sustainable agriculture specialist at the North Dakota State University Dickinson Research Extension Center. ""By providing funds ranging from $6,000 per individual grant to up to $18,000 for grants awarded to groups of three or more, NCR-SARE helps facilitate essential agricultural research and development."

Some of the funded topics have included pest and disease management, soil conservation, local marketing, public education, waste management, agritourism and crop diversity.

NCR-SARE grants are awarded based on the applicants' ability to describe how their project will be sustainable in terms of having long-term profitability, being good for the environment, producing healthy foods, being socially responsible and supporting their community.

NCR-SARE expects to fund about 50 projects in the 12-state North Central Region. The 12 states are Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. The NCR-SARE program receives its funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

For local assistance in writing grant applications or exploring grant ideas that are ecologically sound, profitable and socially responsible, contact Kutka at (701) 483-2348, ext. 113, or e-mail frank.kutka@ndsu.edu. You also can contact the Extension Service office in your county.

Grant proposals are due in the NCR-SARE office by Dec. 3. Interested applicants may contact Joan Benjamin with NCR-SARE at (402) 472-0809 or ncrsare@umn.edu. The grant call for proposals application can be found on the NCR-SARE Web site at http://ncr.sare.org/prod.htm.

Previous project reports are made available through the national SARE Web site at http://www.sare.org.

NDSU Agriculture Communication