NCR-SARE Announces 2014 Farmer Rancher

Congratulations to the following Missouri farmers who received a SARE Farmer/Rancher Grant! 

The North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE) Program is pleased to announce the projects recommended for funding for the Farmer Rancher competitive grant programs. More than 50 grant projects were selected to receive a total of more than $.5 million through these two NCR-SARE grant programs, which offer competitive grants for farmers, ranchers, youth educators, organizations, and others who are exploring sustainable agriculture in America’s Midwest.

For the 2014 Farmer Rancher Grant Program, NCR-SARE awarded more than $486,000 to more than 40 projects ranging from $1,370 to $22,500. The 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. They are listed here by state/location.

•           Serena Cochrane of Stuart Farm, LLC in Gerald, Missouri was selected to receive $7,336 for the project, “Pasture Weed Control with Juglone (Black Walnut) Spray."

•           Wesley Hunter of Providence Farm in Seymour, Missouri was selected to receive $5,933 for the project, “A Comparison and Evaluation of Heritage and Broad-Breasted Turkeys on Pasture.”

•           Scott Kelly of SCARS Ag, LLC in Kearney, Missouri was selected to receive $7,470 for the project, “Integrated Wildlife Management for Sustainable Agriculture.”

•           Mary Licklider of Heartfelt LLC in Columbia, Missouri was selected to receive $22,335 for the project, “Data Management for Marketing Alpaca Products.”

•           Molly Rockamann of EarthDance in Ferguson, Missouri was selected to receive $7,500 for the project, “Growing a Pear Orchard at an Organic Farm School to Increase Supply and Demand for Organic Tree Fruit in St. Louis, MO.”

•           Tom Ruggieri of Fair Share Farm LLC in Kearney, Missouri was selected to receive $7,480 for the project, “Cover Crop-based Reduced Tillage for Fall Production of Cabbage, Cauliflower and Broccoli Using a Roller-Crimper and No-Till Planting Aid.”

•           Brian Willsey of Rockin' W Alpaca Ranch in Owensville, Missouri was selected to receive $7,481 for the project, “Fodder System for Wool Producing small Ruminants.”

Read descriptions of these projects along with the others from the North Central Region online.

NCR-SARE administers these grant programs in the North Central region, and each has specific priorities, audiences, and timelines. The focus for the NCR-SARE grant programs is on research and education. Funding considerations are made based on how well the applicant articulates the nature of the research and education components of their sustainable agriculture grant proposals.

NCR-SARE’s Administrative Council (AC) members decide which projects will receive SARE funds. A collection of farm and non-farm citizens, the AC includes a diverse mix of agricultural stakeholders in the region. Council members hail from regional farms and ranches, the Cooperative Extension Service, universities, federal agencies, and nonprofit organizations.

Since 1988, the SARE program has helped advance farming systems that are profitable, environmentally sound and good for communities through a nationwide research and education grants program. The program, part of USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture, funds projects and conducts outreach designed to improve agricultural systems.