For Farmers & Ranchers
Grants
Grants listed below are for farmers and/or community farmer associations.
Farmer Grants are for commercial producers who have an innovative idea they want to test using a field trial, on-farm demonstration, or other technique. A technical advisor—often an extension agent, crop consultant, or other service professional—is required as a project participant. Projects should seek results other farmers can use, and all projects must have the potential to add to our knowledge about effective sustainable practices. Proposal deadline is
December 1, 2011.
Sustainable Community Grants make a direct connection between community revitalization and farming. Projects must address specific key issues such as farm finance, marketing, land use, water use, enterprise development, value-added product development, or other delineated topic areas.
SARE National Database
Search the SARE National Database to see if your topic of interest has been funded already.
Grant Writing Tips
Applying for a grant can seem very intimidating, particularly if you are inexperienced at grant writing, however, the process does not need to be a daunting experience. Here are a few general tips on how to get started and be successful!
- Make sure your idea fits in with the funding agencies mission, that you’re not trying to adapt the grant to meet your needs
- If you are eligible for the grant, you should go for it. Consider this, the money is there, and it is going to be given to somebody. So why not you?
- Carefully read and follow all guidelines and instructions. Many times applications are turned down for not following directions
- Take a systematic approach to writing a grant
- Remember grants are highly competitive, have good data to establish a strong baseline and support your proposal
- Make sure your idea is feasible, keep in mind the grant reviewers are your peers and professionals in the industry
- Reviewers will be looking for the Why, What, Where, When and How
- Think like a reviewer “is/does your proposal ?”
- Too long or too short
- Have an attention grabbing title
- Clear and concise
- have at least one attribute that stands out
- maintain the attention of the reviewer
- describe itself as a tool for change
- Have your proposal reviewed prior to submitting
- Make sure you submit your application before the deadline, proposals submitted after the deadline are not considered
- Overall, if you have a good idea, have credible data to support it, don’t write a lot of jargon, have a reasonable budget, use good language writing skills and are able to clearly demonstrate what you are trying to accomplish then you are on your way to submitting a successful proposal
There are resources available that can help support you through the grant writing process. To learn more about writing a SARE Farmer grant, visit the NE SARE website.
If you have questions about the SARE Farmer grant contact your County Extension Agent, Dee Singh-Knights, WVU SARE Coordinator Dee Sing-Knights, SARE Outreach Leader Nola Wilson , or SARE Farmer Grant Specialist Carol Delaney .
