Western SARE Visiting Research and Education Grant

Western SARE Sabbatical Grants provide an opportunity for faculty around the world to partner with farmers, ranchers, agricultural professionals, and researchers of the Western U.S. region for conducting research, education, and Extension activities. Projects focused on unexplored topics in underserved communities and understudied geographic locations are of special interest.

• The Visiting Researcher can be from anywhere in the world and should have the capability to conduct both research and Extension/outreach activities.

• Graduate Students are not eligible for the Visiting Researcher Program.

• Visiting Researchers could reside outside the Western region of the United States, but all research and education activities should be conducted within the Western U.S. region.

• Applications should be done in association with a Host Institution within the Western region, including universities, federal agencies, and non-governmental organizations; additional collaborating institutions and research sites in the Western U.S. region are allowed.

• All Visiting Researchers must submit a Letter of Support from the Home Institution Department Head (or equivalent) outlining that they have the support of their Home Institution and that their time will be protected for the duration of the visit to the Host Institution.

• At least one agricultural Producer at the location of the Host Institution must be involved from inception to finish in the planning, design, implementation, and educational outreach of the project.

• If more than one producer is included, each producer must be an independent and separate operator; producers associated with the same nonprofit farm operations may participate in the project, but do not count as the required producer.

• A person qualifies as a producer (farmer/rancher) if she/he has a for-profit operation and: their primary occupation is farming or ranching and has a farm/ranch taxpayer identification number (TIN); or is a part-time producer with at least $1,000 documented annual income or equivalent from farming or ranching activities.

Projects may be between 1 month and 1 year in length: a mini-visit (1 month-6 months) for up to $35,000, or a long visit (6 months-1 year) for up to $75,000. Funds to support personnel salary, travel, and supplies, where justified, are allowed. Western SARE Sabbatical grants can request up to $75,000. Sabbatical grants are non-renewable and nonextendable beyond one-year period.

To Apply, you must make an account with SARE (here) and then go to this link.

It is strongly encouraged that applicants read the entire Call for Proposals before beginning to write the proposal

• 2027 Call for Proposals (archived)

• USDA Grant Policies

• Questions about Sabbaticals?

• Informational Video