USDA SARE Farmer/Rancher Grant
USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE)
$7,500–$35,000 (by region)
Researched for this program: 6 rejection traps · 5 required documentsWhat decides this award ↓
Get paid to test sustainable farming practices
Small competitive grants for farmers and ranchers to run on-farm sustainable agriculture experiments. Projects test cover crops, integrated pest management, soil health practices, diversified crop rotations, livestock integration, and other sustainability practices — then share findings with neighbors and the agricultural community. SARE has funded over 8,000 farmer-led projects since 1988. No federal accounting experience required; simple application and reporting.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Amount range
- $7,500 – $30,000
- Realistic amount
- Most SARE farmer grants are $10,000–$22,000. Smaller projects testing a single practice (cover crop trial, IPM compariso…
- Deadline
- Annual — application deadlines vary by SARE region. North Central: typically March; Southern: typically February; Western: typically January; Northeast: typically February. Check sare.org for your region's current deadline.
- Status
- active
- States
- Nationwide
- Payment model
- advance
Who qualifies
- Active farmers and ranchers in the United States who are currently farming
- Must be conducting the project on your own farm or in collaboration with other farmers (not a research institution project)
- Projects must address sustainable agriculture — economically viable practices that are environmentally sound and socially responsible
- Must involve an on-farm experiment with measurable results that will be shared with the agricultural community
- A technical advisor (Cooperative Extension agent, NRCS resource conservationist, or experienced farmer) must agree to assist the project
- No SAM.gov registration required — SARE uses simplified procedures for farmers
- Beginning farmers, women, minority, and tribal farmers encouraged to apply and prioritized in some regions
Hard requirements
- Restricted to industry: true
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- On-farm supplies and inputs needed for the experimental treatment (cover crop seed for comparison trial, alternative pest management materials)
- Equipment rental or purchase directly needed for the experiment (soil sampling equipment, monitoring sensors)
- Hired labor for project activities beyond normal farm work
- Technical advisor time (partial compensation for time spent advising the project)
- Travel for training or sharing results (field days, conferences, extension meetings)
- Publication and communication costs for sharing results (printing, website, video)
- Soil testing and laboratory analysis costs
Ineligible expenses
- Normal farm operating expenses not related to the experiment
- Infrastructure and permanent building improvements
- Land purchase
- Tuition or academic degree programs
- Items already covered by other federal grants (no double-dipping)
- Indirect costs above the simplified de minimis rate
How to apply
-
1
Check your regional SARE program and current deadline
Identify which of the 4 SARE regions covers your state (sare.org/regions). Each has distinct deadlines, priorities, and grant caps. Some regions have pre-application consultations or letters of intent — check your regional program's requirements first.
~3 hrs
-
2
Develop your project idea
Your project must test a specific sustainable agriculture practice with a before/after or control/treatment comparison. Strong proposals answer: What practice am I testing? How will I know if it works? What will I measure? How will I share results? Talk to your local Cooperative Extension office or NRCS conservationist — they can serve as your required technical advisor.
~3 hrs
-
3
Identify a technical advisor
SARE requires a technical advisor for farmer/rancher grants — typically a Cooperative Extension agent, NRCS resource conservationist, land-grant university researcher, or experienced farmer with relevant expertise. The advisor helps design the experiment, reviews methods, and assists with reporting. Contact your local Extension office first.
~3 hrs
-
4
Complete and submit regional application
SARE applications are designed for farmers, not grant writers — typically 4–8 pages. Describe your project in plain language: the problem you're solving, what you'll test, how you'll measure success, and how you'll share results (field day, newsletter, social media, peer conversation). Budget is simple — list your costs and justify each line. Submit through your regional SARE website.
~3 hrs
-
5
Implement, document, and share results
After award, implement your project, document what you observe (photos, measurements, yields, costs), and complete annual and final reports. SARE requires a final outreach activity — a field day, written report shared with neighbors, or published article. SARE may feature successful projects in their publications and learning center.
~3 hrs
Industry & certifications
NAICS codes: 111110, 111120, 111130, 111219, 111310, 111411, 112111, 112112, 112210
SARE applications are reviewed by farmer peers, not academics — write in plain English about a real problem on your farm, not grant-speak. Applications that clearly describe a testable question and practical outcome review well.
Deadline & timing
SARE is divided into 4 regional programs (North Central, Southern, Western, Northeast) — each region runs its own grant cycle with different deadlines, typically November–March for the following year's awards. Applications submitted to your regional SARE program, not USDA centrally. Check sare.org/grants for current regional deadlines.
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