In the SARE program, producers hold leadership posts, participate in all competitive grant reviews and cooperate in the majority of research efforts. According to Rasmussen, grant reviewers will be looking for proposals that clearly define local sustainable agriculture problems or issues and propose innovative solutions. On-farm tests of suggested technologies and approaches are strongly encouraged. Grant proposals are first reviewed and evaluated by a diverse group of producers, researchers, educators and administrators who are familiar with sustainable agriculture. Final selections are made by an appointed panel, at least half of which are producers.
All funding is awarded competitively.
No FAXed applications will be accepted. The federal SARE program is managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service, and directed regionally by four independent, broad-based councils. Utah State University is host to the SARE program in the Western region, which includes Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and the Island Protectorates.