Graduate Students Invited to Apply for SARE Ag Grants

By Andi Anderson

Graduate students in agriculture have a new opportunity to fund their sustainable farming research through the North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE) program.

The SARE Graduate Student Grants offer up to $20,000 per project and are open to master's and PhD students at accredited universities. Proposals are due by May 29, 2025.

The grants are designed to support innovative research that addresses sustainable agriculture issues within the North Central region, which includes states like Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, and others.

Projects should align with three main goals: long-term farm profitability, natural resource stewardship, and improved quality of life for farmers and communities.

Michigan SARE Coordinator Sarah Zeiler and Katie Brandt of the MSU Organic Farmer Training Program are offering free support for applicants. They can help students, farmers, and educators by reviewing proposals and discussing ideas. Interested applicants can email szeiler@msu.edu or brandtk7@msu.edu for assistance or to schedule consultations.

SARE supports multiple grant types, and this graduate program is one of six available through North Central SARE. Michigan also offers mini-grants for sustainable agriculture initiatives.

In addition to funding, SARE provides a wide range of free educational resources on sustainable and innovative farming practices. These include techniques aimed at improving environmental sustainability, farm profitability, and community health.

Graduate students passionate about building a more sustainable future for agriculture are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity. More details about the grants and how to apply are available on the MSU Extension and SARE websites.

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