Regional News

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southern.sare.org news the-role-of-black-farmer-organizers-in-promoting-healthy-and-sustainable-local-community-food-access

The Role of Black Farmer Organizers in Promoting Healthy and Sustainable Local Community Food Access

BLACKSBURG, Virginia –  Seeking answers to the critical question of how contemporary Black farmer organizers and their networks actively create sustainable food systems pathways, Nicole I. Nunoo,  at Virginia Tech, used a Southern SARE graduate student grant to employ a community-based case study of Black farmers who are at the forefront of sustainable agricultural development in […]

bags over peachessouthern.sare.org news southern-sare-releases-2025-research-and-education-grants-call-for-pre-proposals

Southern SARE Releases 2025 Research and Education Grants Call for Pre-proposals

GRIFFIN, Georgia -- The Southern region of the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program has released its Call for Pre-proposals for the 2025 Research & Education Grants program. Research pre-proposals focus on sustainable agriculture based on a systems approach to research, which aims to understand how the components of a system interact with each […]

bottles of maple syrupsouthern.sare.org news getting-the-most-sap-from-each-tap-in-black-walnut-syrup-production

Getting the Most Sap from Each Tap in Black Walnut Syrup Production

MCDOWELL, Virginia – Long before the Civil War, land on the mountainous slopes of the Allegheny Mountains in western Virginia had been cleared for logging and cattle grazing. Today, agriculture is still prominent, but in the form of syrup tapped from hardwoods – maple, hickory, elm, black walnut – that have retaken the landscape. Syrup […]

Student kneeling by vanilla plants in a containersouthern.sare.org news 2024-ssare-graduate-student-grant-call-for-proposals-now-open

2024 SSARE Graduate Student Grant Call for Proposals Now Open

GRIFFIN, Georgia – The Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SSARE) program has released the 2024 Call for Proposals for Graduate Student Grants. Southern SARE Graduate Student Grants are open to Master’s and PhD students, enrolled at accredited institutions across the Southern region, who are interested in exploring areas of sustainable agriculture through quantitative and […]

partridge peasouthern.sare.org news using-native-plants-as-a-cover-crop-for-soil-and-vegetable-production-benefits

Using Native Plants as a Cover Crop for Soil and Vegetable Production Benefits

SANDSTON, Virginia – Patches of partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata) dot Patrick Johnson’s permaculture farm, still holding on to their yellow summer flowers while setting pods to drop seed in the coming colder temperatures. Johnson is excited to see the native plant growing wild on his Airport Food Forest Farm; he believes the legume will make […]

CEFS cucumbers loaded into the bed of a trucksouthern.sare.org news sare-seeking-national-program-manager-in-support-of-food-loss-and-food-waste-initiative-in-2024

SARE Seeking National Program Manager in Support of Food Loss and Food Waste Initiative in 2024

GRIFFIN, Georgia -- In 2024, the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program will initiate a $10 million national food loss and food waste grants program to support projects that align with USDA activities aimed at reducing food loss and reducing food waste, getting surplus wholesome food to individuals, and developing linkages between food producers, […]

A handful of vermicompostsouthern.sare.org news using-aerated-compost-tea-as-a-fertilizer-alternative-in-organic-vegetable-production

Using Aerated Compost Tea as a Fertilizer Alternative in Organic Vegetable Production

LEESBURG, Virginia – With the rising costs of fertilizers, farmers are seeking alternative options to supplement soil health for crops. One microgreens farmer in Virginia is testing the validity of aerated compost tea as a viable option for small-scale vegetable growers, especially for those who wish to pursue organic production practices. In a two-year Southern […]

Sustainable Agriculture Leadership Program Logosouthern.sare.org news southern-sare-accepting-nominations-for-2024-sustainable-agriculture-leadership-program

Southern SARE Accepting Nominations for 2024 Sustainable Agriculture Leadership Program

GRIFFIN, Georgia -- The Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SSARE) program is accepting nominations for the 2024 Sustainable Agriculture Leadership Program. Application deadline is Jan. 8, 2024. Mentor farmers/ranchers, community groups, non-profits and non-governmental organizations strive to create ag community resiliency and vitality in the face of a myriad of agricultural challenges, from lack […]

University of Florida researcher and farmer tend to citrus treessouthern.sare.org news southern-sare-on-farm-research-grants-call-for-proposals-released

Southern SARE On-Farm Research Grants Call for Proposals Released

GRIFFIN, Georgia -- The Call for Proposals for the 2024 On-Farm Research Grants, intended for agricultural professionals throughout the Southern region who regularly work with farmers/ranchers, has been released by the Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SSARE) program. Proposal submission deadline is Friday, Dec. 1, 2023 at 12 p.m. (NOON) EST. Announcement of […]

Beekeeper holding honey bee frame.southern.sare.org news southern-sare-producer-grant-call-for-proposals-released

Southern SARE Producer Grant Call for Proposals Released

GRIFFIN, Georgia – The Call for Proposals for the 2024 Producer Grant Program, intended for farmers/ranchers and farmer/rancher organizations throughout the Southern region, is now available from the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SSARE) program. Proposal submission deadline is November 10, 2023 at 12 p.m. (NOON) EST.  Announcement of funded proposals will take place […]

okra plants in potssouthern.sare.org news exploring-algal-blooms-as-biofertilizer-in-vegetable-production

Exploring Algal Blooms as Biofertilizer in Vegetable Production

MIAMI, Florida – Algal blooms, which can grow excessively on lakes and other slow-flowing bodies of water, are an environmental, ecological, economic, and social problem. But Florida International University (FIU) researchers are seeking to reverse those issues by using the microscopic organisms as biofertilizer in agricultural crops. Agroecologist Krish Jayachandran and Earth and Environment post […]

cover crop trainingsouthern.sare.org news professional-development-program-grants-now-being-accepted-3

Professional Development Program Grants Now Being Accepted

GRIFFIN, Georgia – The Call for Pre-proposals for the Southern SARE Professional Development Program (PDP) Grant is now open. The Professional Development Program is a “train the trainer” program, providing funding to agricultural professionals to train Cooperative Extension agents, USDA field personnel, and other ag professionals and educators in areas of sustainable agriculture production practices. […]

a cluster of grapefruit on a treesouthern.sare.org news zeroing-in-on-nutritional-needs-to-more-effectively-manage-citrus-greening

Zeroing in on Nutritional Needs to More Effectively Manage Citrus Greening

FORT PIERCE, Florida – Maintaining optimum tree health has become the top management strategy for Florida citrus growers in combating citrus greening, and University of Florida researchers are working to hone in on a tree’s nutrient needs for more timely and targeted fertilizer applications. Lorenzo Rossi, a plant root biologist with University of Florida Indian […]

person holding peanut plantssouthern.sare.org news producer-farmer-sustainable-agriculture-southern-sare-administrative-council-southern-region

Southern SARE Seeking Nominations to Fill Vacant Producer Seat on the Administrative Council

GRIFFIN, Georgia -- Interested in sustainable agriculture and looking to have an impact on sustainable agriculture practices in your community? The Southern SARE program gives producers the opportunity to serve on the Administrative Council and provide a “voice” for the direction of sustainability across the Southern region. Southern SARE is seeking a producer to fill […]

food hub distribution warehousesouthern.sare.org news agribusiness-sustainable-agriculture-southern-sare-administrative-council-value-chain-food-marketing

Southern SARE Seeking Nominations to Fill Vacant Agribusiness Seat on the Administrative Council

GRIFFIN, Georgia – Interested in sustainable agriculture and looking to have an impact on sustainable agriculture practices in your community? The Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SSARE) program gives an agribusiness representative the opportunity to serve on the Administrative Council and provide a “voice” for the direction of sustainability across the Southern region. Southern […]

Live microalge cultured in suntubessouthern.sare.org news culturing-live-microalgae-to-improve-nutrition-in-bait-fish

Culturing Live Microalgae to Improve Nutrition in Bait Fish

FORT PIERCE, Florida – Algae, zooplankton and other microscopic organisms are such a vital component of commercial fish hatcheries as a high protein food source that aquaculturists are always looking for ways to optimize their culture for higher fish nutrition and improved growth performance. One aquaculturist in south Florida received a Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research […]

limpograss growing in a fieldsouthern.sare.org news warm-season-limpograss-bridges-the-forage-gap-for-fall-grazing-in-florida

Warm Season Limpograss Bridges the Forage Gap for Fall Grazing in Florida

MARIANNA, Florida – For Southeast ranchers interested in grazing their beef cattle year-round, winter is the most challenging season for finding supplementing feed after warm-season grasses, like bahiagrass, decline in the fall, but before cool-season forages (oats or rye) are ready in the winter. University of Florida researchers have found a perennial grass that will […]