Producer Grant Committee Tutorial: Steps to Reviewing Proposals

Producer Grants

Southern SARE’s Producer Grant program gives farmers the opportunity to conduct their own research projects. The program is intended to help farmers and ranchers develop sustainable production and marketing practices that benefit their own farming operations, as well as those of their fellow farmers for the purpose of being more profitable, protecting the environment and preserving community quality of life.

The goal of the Producer Grant Program is simple: Allow farmers to test on a small scale an idea, practice or technology to a production or marketing problem (either as an individual or as a group), evaluate whether the results sustainably address the problem, and share how those efforts can benefit other farmers.

Producer Grant Call for Proposals open in September, generally right after Labor Day. The application deadline is in early November. Selected proposals are awarded for funding in February during the winter Administrative Council meeting.

Once the deadline for the Producer Grants close, submitted proposals are assigned for review to the Producer Grant Committee, a subcommittee of the Administrative Council. The Administrative Council is Southern SARE's governing body, which, among other duties, makes funding decisions on grant programs. The Producer Grant Committee is made of up farmers and ranchers from across the Southern region, who are tasked with reviewing Producer Grant proposals and recommending to the Administrative Council a slate of proposals for funding.

The following Producer Grant Review tutorial provides guidance for reviewing proposals so that both seasoned and new Producer Grant Committee members are prepared to put forth the most effective farmer-driven research production and marketing projects to help further sustainable agriculture practices across the Southern region.

On-Farm Research Grants

Southern SARE's On-Farm Research Grants provide opportunities for ag professionals working directly with farmers and ranchers on sustainable ag efforts. On-Farm Research Grants emphasize relationship building between the researcher and the farmer.

On-Farm Research Grants open in September with proposals due in December. Selected proposals are awarded for funding in February during the winter Administrative Council meeting.

Once the deadline for the On-Farm Research Grants close, submitted proposals are assigned for review to outside technical reviewers who score proposals based on a weighted criteria. Once the technical review process is complete, the Producer Grant Committee, a subcommittee of the Administrative Council, reads the high-scoring proposals and makes funding recommendations. The Producer Grant Committee is made of up farmers and ranchers from across the Southern region, who are tasked with reviewing On-Farm Research Grant proposals and recommending to the Administrative Council a slate of proposals for funding.

The following On-Farm Research Grant Review tutorial provides guidance for selecting proposals so that both seasoned and new Producer Grant Committee members are prepared to put forth the most effective research-driven production and marketing projects to help further sustainable agriculture practices across the Southern region.