Funding Opportunities & Webinar

A few short things –a couple have deadlines very soon, don’t miss out!

 

Survey Results

The Florida SARE listserv reaches producers (36%), county and state Extension faculty (34%), non-profit organizations (15%), and consumers (15%). We do our best to include information in the listserv that appeals to each of these groups –but we need your help! Please forward any emails, links, resources, research, etc. that you think others receiving these emails may find useful! The most useful types of information reported on the survey were: grant details and deadlines, workshops around the state, conference announcements, new resources, and research results.

 

 

Organic Farming Research Foundation Grants –Due May 15

OFRF and Seed Matters are accepting proposals through May 15 for research or education/outreach projects in the categories of organic seed quality or crop breeding. Applicants will be notified by November 30, 2012. For more information contact the OFRF Grants Program (jane@ofrf.org) or check out their website.

 

 

Webinar: The CSA Benchmark Project: How Well Is My Operation Really Doing? –Thursday, May 17, 3:30-4:45 EST

The National Good Food Network offers free webinar’s regularly. “The basic CSA business model is now a widespread direct-to-consumer marketing strategy. But how is a farmer to know if their operation’s financial performance is adequate, or find out how they can improve their profitability? As part of their strategy to serve the needs of their farmer-members, Farm Credit East has aggregated and analyzed the data from a sample of their CSA borrowers, and has established some preliminary financial benchmarks and performance standards. This webinar will illustrate what you need to measure (the key evaluation factors), what expectations can be set from comparison to best practices (benchmarking), and what management strategies can help move financial performance to a higher level (implementation of leading edge practices).” Register free.

 

Other webinars coming up offered by the National Good Food Network are:

                May 31: The One Page Business Plan

                June 21: Grass-Based Beef

                July 19: Grass-Based Dairy

 

 

USDA National Water Quality Initiative –Due June 15

The National Water Quality Initiative will make at least $33 million available through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners to implement conservation practices to help provide cleaner water for their neighbors and communities. The funds are available for projects addressing 157 selected watersheds. In Florida, these watersheds are: Lower St. Johns River –Deep Creek & Clarks Creek, and the Lower Choctawhatchee River –Little Scurlock Creek. Producers can view an online map or check with their local NRCS office to see if they are located in a selected watershed. All eligible applications must be submitted by June 15, 2012 in order to be considered for this fiscals year’s funding opportunity –however, NRCS accepts applications for financial assistance on a continuous basis throughout the year.

 

 

EQIP Organic Initiative –Period 3 Submission Due June 1

“The $50 million EQIP Organic Initiative is providing financial and technical assistance to growers who implement innovative conservation practices. This is the final submission period. All applications are due by Friday, June 1, 2012. To apply, visit your USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) local center. You can also visit the comprehensive info site for applicants created by the Organic Farming Research Foundation.

 

 

Apply to the Fulbright NEXUS Program –Due June 15

“The deadline to apply for the Fulbright NEXUS Program is June 15, 2012. Work with 19 fellow scholars in the fields of Science, Technology and Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Energy to make a difference in the United States, Latin America, Canada and the Caribbean. Projects focusing on climate change adaptation strategies, and/or public policy focused research ventures that examine strategies to cope with climate variability, including extreme events, are particularly welcome. For details about the program, visit http://www.cies.org/NEXUS/ or contact Jake Silva at jsilva@iie.org or by phone at 202-686-4018.

 

 

 

 

Kelly Monaghan

Program Assistant, Florida SARE Program, UF/FAMU

3031 Mc Carty Hall D, PO Box 110310, Gainesville, FL 32611

Ph:(352)273-3508; Fax: (352)392-8196

kmon913@ufl.edu; www.southernsare.org/florida

 

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