The 2026 North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (NCR-SARE) Professional Development Program call for proposals is now available online.
Deadline
NCR-SARE will be accepting online proposal submissions using our online submission system. More information about the online submission system can be found in the call for proposals. Professional Development grant proposals are due on April 2, 2026, by 12 p.m. Central.
Grant Writing Webinar
NCR-SARE will host a webinar about the Professional Development Program on March 3, 2026, at 1pm. Registration is required. NCR-SARE intends to record the webinar and make it available on the Professional Development Program webpage.
Grant Writing Assistance
Each state in SARE's North Central region has one or more SARE State Coordinator who can provide information and assistance to grant applicants. Interested applicants can find their State Sustainable Agriculture Coordinator online and contact them with questions.
This NCR-SARE Grant How-To Video Series aims to help more people feel equipped to apply for a SARE grant.
About the Professional Development Program
NCR-SARE’s Professional Development Program (PDP) provides funds for professional development projects that provide sustainable agriculture training to agricultural professionals and educators in the Cooperative Extension Service (CES), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), other governmental agencies, and educators in the profit and non-profit sector serving the food and fiber system.
Projects can be up to three years, and the funding level is capped at $120,000 for each project, but projects requesting less than the full amount are encouraged. We expect to fund approximately 10-11 projects in this cycle of PDP competitive grants.
NCR-SARE’s Administrative Council (AC) members decide which projects will receive SARE funds. A collection of farm and non-farm citizens, the AC includes a diverse mix of regional agricultural stakeholders. Council members hail from regional farms and ranches, the Cooperative Extension Service, universities, federal agencies, and nonprofit organizations.
Since 1988, the SARE program has helped advance farming systems that are economically viable, environmentally sound, and good for communities through a nationwide research and education grants program. The program, part of USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture, funds projects and conducts outreach designed to improve agricultural systems.
Questions?
Any questions regarding the NCR-SARE Professional Development Grant Program should be addressed to PDP Regional Coordinator, Dr. Rob Myers.
Rob Myers
Regional Coordinator and Director of Professional Development (Extension) Programs
Phone: 573-882-1547
Email: myersrob@missouri.edu