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UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program
Sustainable Agriculture Newsletter
Summer 2004 (v16n1-2)

Sources of Funding

Organic Research Grants

The Organic Farming Research Foundation is offering research grants of up to $15,000 for organic farming research and related topics. Deadlines for proposal consideration are December 15 (a change from the previous January deadline) for the spring funding cycle and July 15 for the fall funding cycle. For more information see OFRF’s Web site (www.ofrf.org), call 831-426-6606 or email research@ofrf.org.

EPA grants for FQPA transition

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 9 (California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii, Pacific Trust Islands) is offering funding for projects under its Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program (PESP) to support to support research, public education, training, monitoring, demonstrations and studies that reduce the risks and use of pesticides in agricultural and non-agricultural settings in the U.S. Applications must be received by August 30. Send applications to Paul A. Feder (CMD-1), US-EPA Region 9, 75 Hawthorne St., San Francisco, CA 94105-3901. To view the grant application on the Web, go here.

Western SARE announces projects, offers funds

The Western Region USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program recently announced its selection of grants for 2004. Eight projects were funded in California for a total of $332,058.

Funded Projects
Research and education grants have been awarded to:

  • Steve Schwartz, California FarmLink, $93,184. Project to help farmers secure long-term land tenure in order to promote greater sustainability.
  • Molly Johnson, PlacerGROWN, $98,395. Program to encourage local shoppers to buy locally produced foods as a way to stem the spread of development onto agricultural lands.
  • Annie Eicher, UC Cooperative Extension Humboldt County, $39,377. Training program for organic dairy management.
  • Cynthia Daley, California State University, Chico, $60,000. Education program for producers and university extension personnel on the potential health benefits of grass-fed products.

Producer Grants were also awarded to the following groups and individuals: Alan Haight, Riverhill Farm, Nevada City; Deborah Walton, Petaluma; Mary Ann Vasconcellos, San Luis Obispo; and Kevin Lee, Small Farm Resource Training Center, Fresno.

New funding available
Western SARE is now accepting proposals for the next round of funding. October 1 is the deadline for farmer/rancher and ag professional-producer grants; October 15 is the deadline for the Professional Development Program grants. The Calls for Proposals are available here, or by calling the Western SARE office at Utah State University, (435) 797-2257.