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Farmer-Rancher Grants (North Central SARE) is sponsored by North Central Region - Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE). Farmer-Rancher Grants is a grant from the North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE) program that funds producer-led research and demonstration projects on farms and ranches in the North Central United States.
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Farmer Rancher Grant - SARE North Central There is no open call at this time. There is no open call at this time. Watch a recorded webinar about the Farmer Rancher program.
Each grant program has its own timeline. Check to see which programs are open at this time. NCR-SARE's Grant Programs NCR-SARE's Grant How-To Video Series This NCR-SARE Grant How-To Video Series aims to help more people feel equipped to apply for a SARE grant.
About the Farmer Rancher Grant Program Farmers and ranchers have critical insight when it comes to improving their systems. Whether they need to limit off-farm inputs, reduce erosion , create more time for family or community activities, learn marketing skills, or find other ways to enhance their livelihoods, farmers and ranchers can turn to the North Central Region SARE (NCR-SARE) Program for grant opportunities and information.
In 1992, NCR-SARE began a competitive Farmer Rancher Grant Program exclusively to fund farmers and ranchers striving for agricultural sustainability. NCR-SARE’s Farmer Rancher Grant Program is a competitive grants program for farmers and ranchers who want to explore sustainable solutions to problems through on-farm research, demonstration, and education projects.
Details and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Farmer Rancher grants are for ideas initiated by farmers and ranchers and are offered as individual grants ($15,000 maximum) or team grants for two or more farmers/ranchers who are working together ($30,000 maximum). Projects may last up to 23 months. About 40 projects are funded each year.
Grants support producers who are protecting natural resources, enhancing communities, and boosting economic viability. Outreach and networking multiply farmer and rancher project results. NCR-SARE uses an online grant application system for this program.
More information is available in the call for proposals. The NCR-SARE Administrative Council makes grant-making decisions. A sample call for proposals is available throughout the year, but you should always consult the current call for proposals when applying.
Grant applications are reviewed and awarded on an annual timeline. Take a look at grants that have been previously funded at https://projects. sare.
org/search-projects/ . Review the projects funded in the last grant cycle . View a map of Farmer Rancher grants that have been funded in the North Central region.
Check out these Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Farmer Rancher Grant program for more information. This NCR-SARE Grant How-To Video Series aims to help more people feel equipped to apply for a SARE grant. This eligibility quiz will help you decide if this program is a good fit for your idea.
Farmer Rancher grants have funded various topics, including pest/disease management, crop, and livestock production, food sovereignty, education/outreach, networking, quality of life issues, marketing, soil quality, energy, and more. NCR-SARE’s regional Administrative Council makes funding decisions after receiving feedback from a review committee.
The Administrative Council is a collection of farmers, ranchers, university representatives, nonprofit representatives, Extension and NRCS people, other government employees, and agribusiness representatives. This group sets grant program priorities and recommends projects for funding. Before writing a grant proposal, determine a clear project goal and explore previous research.
It often helps to contact NCR-SARE, local agriculture groups, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and/or Extension educators to share ideas and invite participation. NCR-SARE can provide grant applications, reports from other projects, lists of funded projects, or other sustainable agriculture information. Current calls will be posted in the "Open Grant Programs" box on the upper right side of this page.
Contact the NCR-SARE office to learn more about the NCR-SARE Farmer Rancher Grant Program proposal process and timeline. This grant program's timeline has changed for the 2025-2026 funding cycle. See the Call for Proposals for details, or contact NCR-SARE at ncrsare@umn.
edu . NCR-SARE prepared this Farmer Rancher Grant Program presentation. This presentation explains the Farmer Rancher grant program and the process for applying for this grant.
Download a presentation about applying for a Farmer Rancher grant. PDF Watch a recorded Farmer Rancher grant writing webinar. A unique aspect of NCR-SARE is our personal contact with grantees involved in the program.
If you have any questions about this program, feel free to contact Liz Brownlee. Farmer Rancher and Youth Educator Grant Program Coordinator Click on the links below to access lists of funded project information. You can also view lists of projects that have been funded in your state .
2025 Professional Development Program Projects Research and Education 2025 Research and Education Projects Youth Educator 2025 Youth Educator Projects Graduate Student 2025 Graduate Student Projects Farmer Rancher 2025 Farmer Rancher Projects Partnership 2025 Partnership Projects North Central SARE Farmer/Rancher Grants projects funded since 1988 Totals reflect available data.
Complete information may not be available for all grant programs prior to 2016. Take a look at this map to see the Farmer Rancher Grant projects that have been funded in the North Central region. Zoom in and use the project number to learn more about our Farmer Rancher grants.
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Individual farms or groups of two or more farms working together in the North Central region. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
The current listing shows up to $15,000 (individual), up to $30,000 (groups). Verify award ceilings, matching requirements, and allowable costs in the official notice.
Farmer-Rancher Grants (North Central SARE) is funded by North Central Region - Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE). Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
Applications go through the funder's official portal — the Apply Now link on this page goes there directly.
Partnership Grant Program (North Central SARE) is sponsored by North Central Region - Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE). A competitive grant program for cooperative projects between agriculture professionals and small groups of farmers and ranchers in the North Central region (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin) to advance sustainable agricultural practices.
Research and Education Grant Program (North Central Region SARE) is sponsored by North Central Region - Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE). This competitive grant program funds research and education projects that advance sustainable agricultural practices in the North Central region, promoting economic viability, stewardship of the land, air, and water, and quality of life for farmers, ranchers, and their communities.
Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities (PARC) Grant Program is a grant from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs that funds the acquisition and development of public parkland and outdoor recreational facilities. Eligible applicants include Massachusetts cities of any size and towns with 35,000 or more year-round residents that have an established park or recreation commission and an approved Open Space and Recreation Plan. Smaller communities may qualify under small town, regional, or statewide provisions. Awards reach up to $425,000, with a deadline of July 8, 2025. The program supports community green space, conservation, and recreational access across the Commonwealth.
Bats for the Future Fund is a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, that funds efforts to slow or halt the spread of white-nose syndrome (WNS) disease and support the recovery of affected bat populations in North America. Funded projects may address disease treatment, habitat conservation, population monitoring, or public education strategies that contribute to bat species survival. Additional support is provided by NextEra Energy Resources through its charitable foundation. Eligible applicants include researchers, nonprofits, universities, and government agencies with relevant conservation expertise. Awards range from $50,000 to $250,000, with the 2025 deadline on August 14, 2025.
Northern California Environmental Grassroots Fund is a grant from Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment that funds small and emerging grassroots organizations in California building climate resilience and advancing environmental justice. The fund prioritizes groups rooted in historically marginalized communities, including BIPOC, frontline, and low-income populations, with strong advocacy, organizing, and outreach components. Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations or fiscally-sponsored groups with annual income or expenses of $150,000 or less; government agencies, colleges, and universities are not eligible. Awards typically range from $4,000 to $7,500, with a maximum of $7,500.
Western SARE's 2026 Research & Education grant cycle uses a pre-proposal gate before full proposals are invited. The June 15 deadline determines who gets to compete for up to $350,000 over three years — and the pre-proposal is graded on different criteria than the full proposal. Here's what that asymmetry means for sustainable-ag teams across thirteen Western states and four territories.
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