NORTHEAST SARE: FARMER GRANT PROGRAM
CALL FOR 2026 PROPOSALS
The Northeast SARE Farmer Grant program provides funds to farmers to explore innovative concepts in sustainable agriculture conducted through experiments, surveys, prototypes, on-farm demonstrations or other research and education techniques.
Farmer Grant projects must:
Be led by a farmer who meets Northeast SARE’s definition of a farm
Collaborate with a technical advisor.
Impact both the farmer Project Leader and other farms in the region.
Explore an innovative practice and/or introduce an existing practice to a new audience of farmers.
Include outreach activities, or sharing of project impacts and results, to farmers beyond the project team and project participants.
Align with proposal criteria.
Farmer Grant projects must generate information or working relationships that are consistent with the Northeast SARE outcome statement and align with our legislative priorities: Northeast agricultural communities honor the holistic connection among land, water, air, and all living beings. Agriculture in the Northeast is accessible and sustainable so all farmers and farm employees can steward resources to ensure sustainability, resilience, economic viability, and a high quality of life.
Legislative priorities:
Maintain and enhance the quality and productivity of the soil;
Conserve soil, water, energy, natural resources, and fish and wildlife habitat;
Maintain and enhance the quality of surface and ground water;
Protect the health and safety of persons involved in the food and farm system;
Promote the well-being of animals;
Increase employment opportunities in agriculture.
The program encourages innovative solutions to challenges in farming and food systems in the Northeast USA, including but not limited to the areas of:
Marketing and business
Crop production
Raising livestock
Aquaculture
Social sustainability
Unconventional agriculture
Traditional ecological knowledge
and more
This program does not support:
Educational programs for the general public who are not involved in agriculture
Food donation efforts
General public awareness campaigns about agriculture and nutrition
Community and school gardening initiatives
Proposals are due no later than 5 p.m. on December 9, 2025.
Northeast SARE Farmer Grant Administrator, Candice Huber, will be hosting a series of drop-in Q&A sessions from Noon to 1 p.m. EST on Tuesdays in November. Sessions will take place on: November 4, 11, 18, and 25. Click here to register for the Question-and-Answer Sessions.
