What is SARE?
Over the past several years you may have heard the acronym SARE at one time or another. This is especially true if you are interested or wondered about the term sustainable agriculture. Each year SARE offers the opportunity for farmers and ranchers throughout the Midwest and United States to apply for producer grants to try out new and innovative ideas. What does SARE represent?
SARE is the acronym for Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education. The United State Department of Agriculture initiated this program to encourage the involvement of farm and non-farm citizens in the process of discovery and learning that leads to achieving a more sustainable, environmentally benign agriculture. Since 1988, the SARE program has helped advance farming systems that are profitable, environmentally sound and good for communities through a nationwide research and education grants program.
The SARE Program is divided up into regions. Nebraska is a part of the North Central Region (NCR), which includes 12 Midwestern States. Over the past 20 years, NCR SARE has awarded over 30 million dollars of competitive grants to farmers and ranchers, researchers, educators, public and private institutions, non-profit groups and others exploring sustainable agriculture in these 12 states. The values of NCR SARE are focused on the sustainability and well-being of all aspects of agriculture and those communities that support agriculture. The purpose of this program is to preserve resources, to achieve the best environment possible, to produce the highest quality of product, and to maximize quality of life.
Goals for NCR SARE are to promote site-specific integrated farming systems; satisfy human food and fiber needs; enhance environmental quality, natural resource conservation and the integration of on-farm and biological resources; enhance the quality of rural life and support owner-operated farms; protect human health and safety; and promote crop, livestock and enterprise diversity and the well-being of animals.
Why am I discussing the SARE Program? The reason is I have been appointed Nebraska State SARE Coordinator. Each of the 12 states has a coordinator that works in promoting and administering the SARE Program in their state. For me it is in addition to my duties as an Extension Educator in Nemaha County and Southeast Nebraska. The primary focus of the NCR SARE Program in Nebraska is to increase the awareness and provide educational opportunities for agricultural educators (UNL Extension Educators & Specialists, Vocational Agriculture Instructors, NRCS & NRD personnel, & Community College Agriculture Instructors) in Nebraska. The goal is to provide them with the tools needed to address sustainable agriculture questions and issues and pass this knowledge on to others interested in sustainable agriculture.
If you have questions about the NCR SARE Program, feel free to contact me at the Nemaha County Extension office at (402) 274-4755.
