Sean McGovern, Author at SARE

Showing 1-10 of 98 results

Gaining New Insights into Alley Cropping to Share with Farmers in Western Washington

Posted on September 11, 2026September 14, 2026 by Sean McGovern

Today, many farmers and ranchers are diversifying crops to invest in the long-term production capacity of their land. Some research suggests that alley cropping offers promising benefits for soil health, water management, and farm productivity. But when Nichlos Pate of Raising Cane Ranch in Snohomish, Wash., attempted to expand fruit production on his beef and hay operation, he found very little information available about the benefits of growing hay in between the trees of his cider apple orchard.

Pate wanted to understand whether alley cropping, the practice of growing annual crops between rows of fruit trees or other perennials, could maintain hay yields while improving his operation’s soil health and long-term profitability. With support from a Western SARE Farmer/Rancher grant, he studied the ecological and economic impacts of expanding an existing cider apple and hay alley cropping system.

Since 2021, over 1,700 farmers and ranchers have participated in research funded by Western SARE to advance innovative practices that improve profitability, stewardship, and quality of life in American agriculture.

Working with local farm advisors, Pate tracked establishment and maintenance costs, annual hay yields, and soil health indicators. He compared results from the new alley cropping field to both a previously established hay-apple field and a conventional hay field.

“SARE allowed me to take on that risk of an experiment, to do alley cropping,” says Pate.

Although the two-year project did not capture the long-term impacts of established orchard production, it provided a valuable baseline to guide future decision making. Pate shared results through farm tours, fact sheets, and outreach, reaching dozens of farmers and service providers. Several producers reported increased knowledge and interest in agroforestry practices, with some indicating plans to consider alley cropping systems based on what they learned.

Read Gaining New Insights into Alley Cropping to Share with Farmers in Western Washington for more information on this project.

Gaining New Insights into Alley Cropping to Share with Farmers in Western Washington is just one of 12 stories featured in SARE’s 2025/2026 Report from the Field. Download or order your free print copy at https://sare.org/report or by calling (301) 779–1007. 2025/2026 Report from the Field is available in quantity for free to educators for use in educational workshops, classes or tours.

For information on grants and resources available from SARE, visit www.sare.org.

New SARE Bulletin: 10 Steps for Conducting Research on Your Farm or Ranch

Posted on September 3, 2026September 11, 2026 by Sean McGovern

Innovative farmers and ranchers often try new production practices and management strategies. But change can involve significant risk, requiring producers to carefully test and research their ideas before making big decisions.

SARE’s newest bulletin, 10 Steps for Conducting Research on Your Farm or Ranch, provides a practical framework that can help producers design and carry out on-farm research projects.

10 Steps for Conducting Research on Your Farm or Ranch can help producers turn ideas into well-designed research projects, create detailed plans for implementation, and generate meaningful results that can improve decision-making and be shared with others. The bulletin serves as a companion to SARE’s How to Conduct Research on Your Farm or Ranch, which provides more in-depth guidance on technical topics such as experimental design, statistical analysis and on-farm research methods.

A group of men standing around a shovel in a field — Farmers at a field day learn about a research project that explored perennial crop alternatives to corn silage for Vermont dairy farms. Photo courtesy of Scott Cleveland (SARE grant FNE23-042)

Sandra Dietz, of Whitewater Gardens Farm in Altura, Minn., used a North Central SARE Farmer/Rancher grant (FNC23-1370) to compare the impacts of no-till and traditional tilling on soil health and weed pressure in mixed vegetable production. “The results helped us plan for and modify no-till methods on our farm and provided valuable, practical results to share with other vegetable growers,” says Dietz.

Developed for farmers, ranchers and agricultural educators, the workbook walks users through 10 essential steps in conducting on-farm research:

Download or order your free print copy of 10 Steps for Conducting Research on Your Farm or Ranch at www.sare.org/10-steps or by calling (301) 779-1007. 10 Steps for Conducting Research on Your Farm or Ranch is available in quantity for free to educators for use in educational workshops, classes or tours.

For information on grants and resources available from SARE, visit www.sare.org.

2026 National Cover Crop Report Shows Continued Expansion of Cover Crop Use

Posted on September 1, 2026September 1, 2026 by Sean McGovern

Farmers with 10+ years of experience help provide insights into incentive program design, monetization, and management practices that drive returns on investment.

Results of the 2026 National Cover Crop Report released Sept. 1 at the Farm Progress Show indicate strong interest in cover crops among many farmers who produce a wide range of crops and livestock. Among respondents to the survey, the average acreage planted with cover crops was 397.9, and their projections anticipate crossing the 400-acre mark by next year. Almost half of the cover crop users in the survey had 10+ years of experience with cover crops.

The 2026 survey was conducted by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, and American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) and is the ninth National Cover Crop Report published by CTIC and SARE since 2013.

Cover crops are of great interest to USDA, notes Farm Production and Conservation Under Secretary Richard Fordyce.

“We work closely with agricultural producers to implement conservation practices – like cover crops – that strengthen soil health and ensure long-term productivity and profitability of our nation’s agricultural operations,” says Fordyce. “USDA is putting farmers first through our conservation programs and technical assistance, and we thank farmers for their voluntary efforts to conserve our nation’s natural resources while feeding, fueling and clothing our nation.”

That emphasis by farmers and policymakers makes the survey especially important, notes Dr. Rob Myers at the University of Missouri, who has led the survey program since its inception.

"The National Cover Crop Report has become a benchmark in tracking not only the growing use of cover crops, but also the growing appreciation of cover crops' benefits and understanding of how farmers succeed with the practice," Myers says. "Data from these surveys has been used in farmer outreach programs on cover crops and conservation policy development. Every time we conduct one of these surveys, we gather new insights to share, and this year was no exception."

This year's survey was completed online by 657 farmers in 46 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. Farmers who used cover crops in the past were grouped as "intermittent users" instead of “former users” to acknowledge the role that cover crops play in adaptive management systems, notes Ryan Heiniger, executive director of CTIC and Iowa farmer. Of those intermittent users, 28.6% said they were definitely or probably open to considering cover crops again, and another 34.7% said "maybe" they would consider the practice.

Cover Crop Use Isn’t Binary
"Though many fans of cover crops can't imagine not using them, other farmers choose whether or not to plant covers based on economics, field conditions, crop rotations, or other factors," says Heiniger, who uses cover crops on his southeast Iowa farm. "In the past, research had a tendency to group people as 'users' or 'non-users.' We've learned — and through this survey, confirmed — that intermittent use of cover crops can be a dynamic decision, not an abandonment of the practice or its principles. Better data showing a positive return on investment and incentive programs to help cover the costs of cover crop establishment could bring cover crops back to many of those acres."

More than 60% of cover crop users said in this year's survey that there are years when they do not use cover crops on certain fields. Late harvest of cash crops accounted for non-use among 41.8% of the respondents, followed by "conditions too dry or wet to plant covers" selected by 38.6%, and "not enough time or labor to plant covers," which was selected by 38%. In addition, 73.5% of the respondents who reported never using cover crops indicated that they were open to trying the practice.

Incentives Can Help
This year's survey indicated that although many cover crop users or intermittent users have not received payments to try cover crops, incentive programs can play a significant role in encouraging adoption of the practice — particularly if they are well-designed programs.

Of 256 cover crop users in the survey who reported receiving an incentive payment for cover crops in 2025, 81.6% said they probably or definitely would continue. Only 4.7% said they probably would not continue using cover crops beyond the term of their incentive program.

Just 21.6% of the previous or intermittent cover crop users in the survey reported receiving cover crop incentive payments of some sort. Of those, 70% said they were inspired to try cover crops because the incentive payments reduced financial risk or helped offset direct costs of the practice. None of the past users who had received payments indicated that any issue with the incentive program contributed to their decision not to use cover crops later.

The survey indicated that programs that offer easy enrollment and clear terms were most attractive to growers. Competition for enrollment did not dissuade most of the respondents, but lack of familiarity with carbon markets or other program details — together accounting for 48.4% of cover crop users who had not participated in an incentive program — was the most dissuasive factor in signing up for an incentive. Concern about long-term commitments dissuaded 32.4%, insufficient payment was cited by 19.6%, eligibility was a barrier for 14.7%, and unpredictable payments discouraged 11.9%. Just 13.8% said lack of interest drove the decision not to participate in an incentive program.

Procurement, Application, and Integrated Livestock
The survey asked farmers about details on how cover crop users purchase or grow their own cover crop seed.

“The cover crop survey is an invaluable resource for the seed industry," says Andy LaVigne, president and CEO of ASTA. "It helps seed producers understand trends and ensure a reliable supply of high-quality, professionally produced cover crop seed. By utilizing the information in this survey, the seed industry can help support conservation efforts by ensuring growers have access to the right seed, at the right time, to achieve their conservation goals, leading to a more secure and reliable food supply and a healthier environment."

Among other insights in the 2026 National Cover Crop Report are:

A mean yield increase of 3.5 bushels per acre of corn and 1.4 bushels of soybeans per acre following cover crops.
Better weed control following cover crops was reported by 31.2% of all cover crop users, and by 87% of the growers who "planted green" into live, standing covers.
One in three cover crop users reported grazing cover crops or harvesting them for consumption by livestock, and 77% of the ones who grazed said it increased their profit. Also, 85% of respondents who reported an interest in virtual fencing said the technology would increase their use of cover crop grazing.
With two-thirds of cover crop users not grazing their cover crops, there is plenty of acreage to help rebuild America's beef herd. Farmers can team up with cattle producers to graze cover crops.
Interest in using drones for cover crop seeding or termination is off to a strong start — 16.3% of cover crop users reported working with drones in their cover crops. As recently as the 2023 National Cover Crop Report, only one in 553 cover crop users reported seeding covers with a drone.

Visit www.sare.org/covercropsurvey to download the CTIC/SARE/ASTA 2026 National Cover Crop Report or read previous reports dating back to 2013.

About Conservation Technology Information Center: Founded in 1982, CTIC champions, promotes, and provides information on technologies and sustainable agricultural systems that conserve and enhance soil, water, air and wildlife resources, and are productive and profitable. It is one of the oldest nonprofit membership organizations solely dedicated to the advancement of conservation agriculture research, policies, and program delivery for producers.

About Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education: The SARE program is a producer-driven, decentralized competitive grants and education program operating in every state and island protectorate. Funded by the United States Department of Agriculture's National Institute for Food and Agriculture, the program is run by four regions (North Central, Northeast, South and West) hosted by land grant institutions. SARE Outreach provides communication and technical support at the national level.

About the American Seed Trade Association: Founded in 1883, ASTA is one of the oldest trade organizations in the United States. Its membership consists of over 650 companies involved in seed production and distribution, plant breeding, and related industries in North America. As an authority on plant germplasm, ASTA advocates science and policy issues of industry-wide importance. ASTA’s mission is to be an effective voice of action in all matters concerning the development, marketing and movement of seed, associated products and services throughout the world.

Turning Woodlots into Revenue Streams with Silvopasture

Posted on August 24, 2026August 24, 2026 by Sean McGovern

Across the Northeast, many farms include wooded or brushy acreage that isn’t suitable for crop production. The landowner pays property taxes and maintenance costs with very little financial return. Some farmers are turning to silvopasture, the practice of raising livestock among trees, to recover today’s higher production costs.

Since 2021, over 4,200 farmers have participated in research funded by Northeast SARE to improve the sustainability of their operations. One of those farmers, Charles Lafferty, of Skyline Pastures in Morshville, Penn., saw potential in the wooded section of his family’s 12-acre farm. Lafferty was determined to understand which forage species and tree cultivars would allow pigs, trees, and soils to thrive together profitably.

With support from a Northeast SARE Farmer grant, Lafferty experimented with rotational grazing of pigs on his farm’s woodlot. He established temporary electric fencing to create paddocks and installed essential infrastructure such as water troughs and shelters. To provide animal nutrition and long-term forest productivity, he planted a variety of fodder and nut tree species. Lafferty tracked costs and revenue, collected soil data, and worked with a professional forester to conduct tree and plant inventories.

Despite startup costs and the labor required to manage fencing and rotations, Lafferty found that the system generated returns while improving forest conditions. He noted there was a 90% survival rate among the fodder and nut trees planted, along with improved control of invasive species within the woodlot. He shared his findings with more than 50 farms through field days and farm walks, helping other producers see how silvopasture would fit into their own operations.

“The project successfully demonstrated that pigs can be raised profitably in wooded areas,” says Lafferty.

Read Turning Woodlots into Revenue Streams with Silvopasture for more information on this project.

Turning Woodlots into Revenue Streams with Silvopasture is just one of 12 stories featured in SARE’s 2025/2026 Report from the Field. Download or order your free print copy at https://sare.org/report or by calling (301) 779–1007. 2025/2026 Report from the Field is available in quantity for free to educators for use in educational workshops, classes or tours.

For information on grants and resources available from SARE, visit www.sare.org.

SARE is Hiring a Business Manager

Posted on August 10, 2026August 10, 2026 by Sean McGovern

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) invites applications for a 12-month, renewable, full-time Business Manager to work with its National Reporting, Coordinating, and Communications Office (NRCCO) located in College Park, Md. SARE is a program of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) that offers farmer-driven, grassroots grants and education programs. SARE’s NRCCO operates under cooperative agreements from the USDA through the University of Maryland (UMD) in its College of Agriculture and Natural Resources’ Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station. More information can be found at: https://www.sare.org/.

Apply by August 28

The NRCCO is primarily responsible for creating nationally focused print and digital technical guides and educational resources for farmers, ranchers, and agricultural service providers, and managing the distribution and sale of these materials. Additionally, the NRCCO supports SARE's regional grant and outreach programs by directing national program efforts and providing opportunities for cross-regional information sharing. This support includes maintaining a digital grant management system, developing the SARE websites, providing communication resources, and coordinating national SARE workshops and outreach initiatives.

The Business Manager will directly support the SARE Associate Director in overseeing the administrative responsibilities associated with the functions of the NRCCO. Typically, this includes managing five 5-year cooperative agreements (approx. $1.5M to $2.0M each), about 50 supplier/subaward/employee/service contracts, material distribution, 2 to 3 national in-person workshops, and assisting with 2 to 3 virtual meetings, annually. Occasionally, the NRCCO also manages special projects and national SARE initiatives. The Business Manager will also ensure that NRCCO activities and resources comply with USDA NIFA and university procedures through engagement with the UMD College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. This position provides ample opportunities to engage with UMD and NRCCO colleagues and other national partners, who enthusiastically support sustainable agriculture, farms, and ranches. This role requires annual out-of-state travel.

Overall, the Business Manager will enhance the efficiency and effectiveness for which the NRCCO manages its administrative activities in support of its program efforts. This position reports to the SARE Associate Director at UMD and requires collaboration and frequent communication with NRCCO and UMD colleagues and SARE national partners.

Employment Eligibility

The successful candidate must complete employment eligibility verification (on Form I-9) by presenting documents that establish identity and work authorization within the timeframe required by federal immigration law, and where applicable, to demonstrate renewed employment authorization. Failure to complete employment eligibility verification or reverification within the timeframe set forth by law may result in suspension or termination of employment.

EEO Statement

The University of Maryland, College Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment. Please read the University’s Equal Employment Opportunity Statement of Policy.

For more information about qualifications, duties and application guidelines, visit https://umd.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/UMCP/job/SARE-Business-Manager_JR103785.

SARE is Hiring a Sustainable Agriculture Program Manager

Posted on August 10, 2026August 10, 2026 by Sean McGovern

The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program invites applications for a 12-month, renewable, full-time Program Manager to work with its National Reporting, Coordinating, and Communications Office (NRCCO) located in College Park, Md. SARE is a program of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) that offers farmer-driven, grassroots grants and education programs. SARE’s NRCCO operates under cooperative agreements from the USDA through the University of Maryland (UMD) in its College of Agriculture and Natural Resources’ Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station. More information can be found at: https://www.sare.org/.

Apply by August 28

The NRCCO is primarily responsible for creating and managing the distribution of print and digital technical guides and educational resources for U.S. farmers, ranchers, and agricultural service providers. The office manages five ongoing work plans simultaneously, typically completing around 8 to 10 written and digital outreach products focused on various topics within Sustainable Agriculture, annually. Additionally, the NRCCO supports SARE's regional grant and outreach programs by directing national program efforts and providing opportunities for cross-regional information sharing among its partners. This support includes maintaining a digital grant management system, developing the SARE websites, providing communication resources, and coordinating national SARE workshops, program meetings, and outreach initiatives.

The Program Manager will be a key member of a collaborative, supportive team, responsible for developing written and digital educational and outreach resources focused on various sustainable agriculture topics. This role also involves assisting to develop promotion plans, write press releases, and identify effective outreach channels and new educational formats. Additionally, the Program Manager will assist with creating engaging online and in-person educational opportunities for national SARE partners and stakeholders. These include contributions to programs like SARE Fellows and National Continuing Education, as well as occasional workshops, conferences, or meetings. This position provides ample opportunities to engage with NRCCO colleagues and other national partners, who enthusiastically support sustainable agriculture, farms, and ranches. The role requires annual out-of-state travel.

Overall, the Program Manager will provide a creative and professional perspective to sustainable agriculture outreach while balancing daily operational tasks and long-term program objectives. This position reports to the SARE Associate Director at UMD and requires collaboration and frequent communication with NRCCO and UMD colleagues and national SARE partners.

Employment Eligibility

EEO Statement

For more information about qualifications, duties and application guidelines, visit https://umd.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/UMCP/job/Sustainable-Agriculture-Program-Manager_JR103786.

Reducing Pest Damage and Increasing Profitability for Delaware Bay Oyster Farmers

Posted on June 24, 2026 by Sean McGovern

Today, erratic prices and soaring costs for labor and inputs make it difficult for American farmers to stay profitable. Since it was established, Northeast SARE has funded over $129 million in farmer-driven research and education exploring sustainable strategies to improve profitability and help farmers thrive in today’s uncertain markets.

One of those projects was led by Lisa Calvo of Sweet Amalia Oyster Farm, located in New Jersey on the Delaware Bay. Calvo wanted to find a better way to manage mud worms, a costly shellfish pest common to the coastal Northeast. Mud worms settle on the outside of oyster shells and reduce growth or cause blemishes that make the oysters unmarketable.

With support from a Northeast SARE Farmer grant, Calvo examined how changing the height of oyster racks in the commonly used “rack and bag” system would affect her system’s performance. Calvo experimented with raising the standard 15” rack to 20” or 30”, increasing the oysters’ exposure to air while reducing their exposure to mud worm damage.

The results? Calvo found that multiple rack heights could work financially, giving oyster farmers new options for minimizing losses due to mud worms. While higher racks increased labor costs and required more time to bring the oysters to market, they produced higher yields and improved overall profits. Since finishing her project, Calvo has begun converting more of the racks in her system to 20”.

“The project was eye opening and exceeded our expectation of how it will inform our future farm operations,” said Calvo.

Visit Reducing Pest Damage and Increasing Profitability for Delaware Bay Oyster Farmers for more information on this project.

Reducing Pest Damage and Increasing Profitability for Delaware Bay Oyster Farmers is just one of 12 stories featured in SARE’s 2025/2026 Report from the Field. Download or order your free print copy at https://sare.org/report or by calling (301) 779–1007. 2025/2026 Report from the Field is available in quantity for free to educators for use in educational workshops, classes or tours.

For information on grants and resources available from SARE, visit www.sare.org.

Using Cover Crops in Wide Row Corn

Posted on June 17, 2026June 17, 2026 by Sean McGovern

Farmers and ranchers know that their livelihoods depend on managing soil health to protect the long-term productivity of their land. Since 1988, SARE’s Farmer/Rancher grant program has followed their lead by investing over $38 million dollars in producer-led research to sustain American agriculture and those who rely on it.

North Central SARE’s Farmer Rancher grant program has supported nearly 1,500 projects exploring producer innovations in sustainability. One of those projects started when Bob Recker, a farmer and consultant in Iowa, challenged conventional thinking by asking whether wider corn rows could allow cover crops to thrive without sacrificing farm profitability.

Recker was interested in understanding how significantly widening corn rows might affect yields, soil health and overall system performance. While wider spacing runs counter to standard practice, he believed that increased sunlight could unlock new benefits from inter-row plantings. To test this idea, he partnered with other farmers willing to experiment with a nontraditional approach.

With support from two SARE Farmer/Rancher grants, Recker collaborated with three farmers near Waterloo, Iowa, to compare corn planted in 60- and 90-inch rows with standard 30-inch rows. They tested a range of inter-row plantings, from single cover crop species to diverse mixes, as well as farmer-designed treatments that included grazing cover crops or adding marketable vegetables. Plant populations per acre were kept consistent across treatments, and data were collected on crop growth, weed suppression, biomass, runoff and yield.

The results showed that wider-row systems can deliver meaningful benefits when paired with clear management goals. Yields in some treatments were slightly lower but resulted in improved water infiltration, rapid gains in soil organic matter and new income opportunities. In one case, a farmer still turned a profit during a crop failure year by harvesting turnips grown between rows. The project demonstrated that, with thoughtful planning, wider corn rows can support innovative cover cropping strategies that enhance resilience and profitability.

“There are a number of growers and landowners who have taken a great interest in my work. It is intriguing to them because it is so different from their traditional practices,” says Bob Recker.

Visit Utilizing Cover Crops in Wide Row Corn for more information on this project.

Utilizing Cover Crops in Wide Row Corn is just one of 12 stories featured in SARE’s 2025/2026 Report from the Field. Download or order your free print copy at https://sare.org/report or by calling (301) 779–1007. 2025/2026 Report from the Field is available in quantity for free to educators for use in educational workshops, classes or tours.

For information on grants and resources available from SARE, visit www.sare.org.

Using an Alternative Feed to Bring Stability in the Face of Drought and Rising Costs

Posted on May 28, 2026June 4, 2026 by Sean McGovern

Since 1988, SARE has funded over 10,000 farmer-focused grants to improve the sustainability of U.S. agriculture. In the last five years alone, SARE grantees report that thousands of farmers and ranchers have participated in projects funded by Southern SARE.

This producer leadership means every SARE grant focuses on innovations that help farmers and ranchers better manage production and market volatility while improving the resilience of American agriculture as a whole.

One of those farmers, Diana Padilla, produces vegetables and lamb in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, where persistent drought and inflationary pressures have made it challenging to find cost-effective supplemental livestock feed. Hoping to stabilize her bottom line, Padilla secured a Producer Grant from Southern SARE to investigate whether farm-grown moringa oleifera, a rapidly growing, drought resistant tree native to India, could serve as a practical and sustainable feed substitute.

Padilla compared the cost of bringing lambs to market on a diet of pasture and alfalfa pellets with a diet of pasture supplemented with a range of alfalfa/moringa replacement rates. An examination of the costs of production revealed that the moringa supplements:

Required additional labor to produce and pelletize
Resulted in a comparable weight gain for lambs
Showed a slight cost advantage over the alfalfa pellets

Padilla’s initial experiments showed promising results and she plans to continue refining her approach to contribute to the long-term sustainability of her farm. “This study highlights moringa as a feasible, cost-effective alternative to alfalfa for lamb feed,” said Padilla. “If we had to purchase hay, it would be beneficial to grow the moringa because it saves at least one third of the cost of feed [with] no change in weight.” Taste testings were planned to share both the product and project results with potential customers and other producers.

Visit Using an Alternative Feed to Bring Stability in the Face of Drought and Rising Costs for more information on this project.

Using an Alternative Feed to Bring Stability in the Face of Drought and Rising Costs is just one of 12 stories featured in SARE’s 2025/2026 Report from the Field. Download or order your free print copy at https://sare.org/report or by calling (301) 779–1007. 2025/2026 Report from the Field is available in quantity for free to educators for use in educational workshops, classes or tours.

For information on grants and resources available from SARE, visit www.sare.org.

SARE Seeks Outreach Products to Advance Sustainable Agriculture

Posted on May 28, 2026May 28, 2026 by Sean McGovern

Do you have an idea for an outreach product or educational resource that could help farmers or ranchers improve their profitability, environmental stewardship or quality of life? Maybe a suggestion for filling an information gap that is preventing the adoption of sustainable agriculture practices? If so, we want to hear from you!

SARE Outreach is seeking recommendations for information products that we can develop to extend practical, research-based innovations to improve the sustainability of American agriculture. Please submit your ideas using the link below by June 15th.

Submit your ideas by June 15!

SARE’s outreach resources should advance SARE-funded research or projects and help farmers solve their most pressing challenges. Based on a strong interest in the following topics by recent SARE grantees, we encourage ideas in these categories:

Farm Business Management: Practices that expand domestic farm markets, especially those that include value-added processing, e-commerce, or development of facilities or new enterprises.
Crop Production: Water use strategies that relieve farming systems from stress like drought or flooding. Topics can also include efficient irrigation, precision technologies, or general conservation management.
Pest Management: Integrated techniques to manage pests using low-input, full-system approaches in crops.
Aquaculture: Marine or freshwater production of fish, shellfish or aquatic plants for food or other commercial purposes.

Submissions from these priority areas are preferred, but publishing ideas on other sustainable agriculture topics are welcome. Please submit any ideas that meet our broader criteria below. (Visit https://projects.sare.org to browse other topics funded by SARE.)

Proposed products should:

Support SARE’s mission to advance practical innovations that improve profitability, stewardship and quality of life
Extend SARE-funded research or projects
Address a critical gap in the information needs of farmers, ranchers and/or the educators who serve them
Illustrate principles of sustainable management that can be adapted for widespread practice

Previous SARE Outreach products have included manuals, bulletins, fact sheets and videos demonstrating sustainable practices at work.

Submit your ideas by June 15!

Non-English Language Publishing Projects: We welcome submissions for projects that seek to develop educational materials in a language other than English. The target audience must be U.S. farmers, ranchers and/or educators that serve them. Due to our limited linguistic and cultural capacities, we recommend that any submission includes a bilingual partner (individual or organization) who is prepared to collaborate on developing and distributing the proposed materials. Submissions must be in English to be considered.

Note: This is not a competitive grants program. Submissions will be prioritized and selected by the SARE Outreach Steering Committee based on their alignment with SARE Outreach’s criteria and capacities. Submissions are intended to assess information needs and opportunities only, and do not constitute a request for funding. Submitting a project idea does not guarantee its selection. Ideas may be modified by SARE Outreach staff or its steering committee. While SARE Outreach often collaborates with the submitters of selected projects during development, we do not guarantee involvement in all cases. Competitive grant opportunities are offered regularly by the four SARE regional programs and may be better suited for project requests that involve direct participation. Information about regional SARE grants can be found at www.sare.org/grants.