GRIFFIN, Georgia – The Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Grant program (SSARE) is giving young researchers an opportunity to learn more about sustainable agriculture.
Through the James Harrison Hill, Sr. Young Scholar Enhancement Grant program, high school and undergraduate students are working alongside researchers on SSARE-funded projects, ranging from disease management to soil health to cover crops. Over $37,000 was funded for 2025 through the Young Scholar Enhancement Grant program to introduce students to STEM and social science activities related to sustainable agriculture.
The program was launched in 2013. Since then, 58 projects totaling $243,183 have been awarded to academic institutions throughout the region.
This year’s grant projects include:
LS22-366 Development of Sustainable Strategies for Managing Bacterial Diseases and Improving Tree Health in the Peach Production System, Clemson University
LS22-374 Cover Crop Inter-seeding in Organic Corn Production to Reduce Resource Inputs and Soil Disturbance and Enhance Farm Profitability, Clemson University
EDS23-052 Arkansas AgFoodLife Young Scholar Program, University of Arkansas
EDS24-060 Developing Resilient Agricultural Research and Education System to Enhance Sustainability, NC A&T University
EDS24-068 Extension Experiences and Training in Best Management Practices During the Kidding/Lambing Season for an Undergraduate Animal Science Student, University of Puerto Rico
LS24-395 Measuring the Impact of Sorghum on Farm Profitability and Soil Health When Incorporated into a Dryland Cropping Rotation, Clemson University
LS24-396 Allelopathic Cover Crops, Roller Crimping, and Soil Steaming as an Integrated Non-chemical Weed Management Strategy in Tomato, Mississippi State University
LS24-399 Efficacy of Biochar to Improve Water Holding Capacity of Soil: Experiential learning for an undergraduate student, Texas A&M University - Kingsville
Research and Education Grant and Education Grant recipients with open and on-going SSARE funded projects are qualified to apply for the James Harrison Hill, Sr. Young Scholar Enhancement Grant Program to hire high school or college students to participate in their research program.
Learn more about the Young Scholar Enhancement Grant Program.
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View Related SARE Grants:
- Development of Sustainable Strategies for Managing Bacterial Diseases and Improving Tree Health in the Peach Production System (LS22-366)
- Cover crop inter-seeding in organic corn production to reduce resource inputs and soil disturbance and enhance pest control and farm profitability (LS22-374)
- Cultivating Sustainable K-12 Agricultural Sciences Pathways through CommUniversity Partnerships (EDS23-052)
- Developing Resilient Agricultural Research and Education System to Enhance Sustainability (EDS24-060)
- PR-GOSHEPI - PHASE II. Hands-on Training in Best Management Practices for Sustainable Small Ruminant Production (EDS24-068)
- Empirical assessment of grain sorghum resiliency, productivity, and profitability in the southeastern USA (LS24-395)
- Allelopathic cover crops, roller crimping, and soil steaming as an integrated non-chemical weed management strategy in tomato (LS24-396)
- Fostering climate-friendly sustainable farming through integration of biochar and cover crops in Texas and Florida (LS24-399)