Southern SARE offers funds for direct Farmer/Rancher training. Individuals may apply to receive training directly from a farmer.
SSARE provides financial support to farmers seeking opportunities to receive training directly from a farmer. These avenues offer valuable information crucial for sustainable agricultural practices. Farmers or producers interested in accessing training funds for direct farmer training, intending to acquire knowledge and skills beneficial to the SARE program, are encouraged to reach out to the SSARE State Coordinator in their respective state or region.
To qualify for the Farmer Training Sponsorship, applicants should primarily engage in farming or ranching, either full-time or part-time. Applicants managing farms independently, with family members, or partners, should have documented annual income of at least $1,000 from their farming operations, as defined by USDA. There are no restrictions concerning farm size or the duration of farming experience. Urban farms are also eligible for consideration. SSARE also welcomes applications from indigenous agriculturists contributing to community food systems. Such initiatives may qualify for support if the annual production activity holds a value of at least $1,000, even if the products are not marketed due to cultural reasons.
Funds are drawn from de-obligated funds on a quarterly basis and may not always be available. For additional information and application procedures, contact your State Ag Coordinator or the Southern Regional Professional Development Program Coordinator.