Western SARE Professional Development Grant

Professional Development Program (PDP) Grants are aimed at helping Cooperative Extension Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service and other agricultural professionals in the Western Region increase their understanding and proficiency in sustainable agriculture. Western SARE is funded by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Applications are closed; the program says it opens in 2027.

Professional Development Program Grants are designed to educate agricultural professionals about sustainable agriculture so they, in turn, can educate and train farmers and ranchers. Funded PDP grants must achieve this longterm outcome:

Cooperative Extension, Natural Resource Conservation Service and other agricultural professionals are knowledgeable in sustainable agriculture principles and systems. They have ready access to resources that can help producers make informed decisions about adopting sustainable approaches with greater certainty and less risk.

Projects must improve the ability of agricultural professionals to conduct educational programs and activities in sustainable agriculture principles and systems and to respond to inquiries on the subject from farmers, ranchers and the public.

In the archived 2027 call, each team had to have producers and agricultural professionals meaningfully involved, and project work had to be conducted in the Western SARE region.

Approaches can include, among others:

• Workshops

• Conferences

• Development of materials or curricula

• Demonstrations

• Web-based courses

• Tours

Multi-faceted proposals are encouraged. Projects using multiple techniques or methods are recommended, as are efforts whose results can be applied to wide and diverse audiences. Subject matter can include any sustainable agriculture endeavor, including animal agriculture, agronomic or horticultural crop production, or the effects of sustainable practices on quality of life for producers or rural communities.

Projects with a scope beyond a single state or area are encouraged. Projects may be 1-to-3 years in length. Funding is capped at $100,000 total costs per project.

Payment. The archived 2027 call describes cost-reimbursable grants, with 10% withheld until the final report is approved.

Match. Matching funds are not required.

Reporting. An annual report is required for each year the project is ongoing.

Applications are closed; Western SARE says the program opens in 2027. The most recent proposals were due October 28, 2026, at noon Mountain Daylight Time.

Proposals are submitted online at: projects.sare.org

You must make an account to apply.

Project basic information, project cooperators’ information, summary, narrative, and budget and budget justification must be entered on-line; while other supporting documents must be attached as PDF documents in the online system.

• Archived 2027 call for proposals — example only

• Information Page