The Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture
Oklahoma Producer Grant Program

Preproposal Information Packet

Call for Preproposals  |  Preproposal Information Packet

Mission Statement
The Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture offers progressive leadership and educational programs to all those interested in making farming and ranching environmentally friendly, socially equitable, and economically viable over the long term.

Introduction
The Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture invites farmers across Oklahoma to submit preproposals that test, evaluate, and adapt sustainable agriculture practices for their operations. These grants also fund educational events, field days, or demonstrations to further disseminate information to other producers.

The goal of the program is to advance the use of sustainable farming/ranching practices among Oklahoma producers. The program is based upon the recognition that farmers know their land best and are often eager to innovate if given support and encouragement. In order to capture this producer experience and enrich applied research on Oklahoma farms, the Kerr Center is requesting grant applications from producers or producer organizations interested in conducting research or demonstration projects related to sustainable agriculture.

Applicants must identify specific problems and potential solutions to these problems. The grant applications will be reviewed by a qualified technical committee that will review them for technical merit. Educational programs should be a key component of any proposal submitted. All research and demonstration projects should have a measurable outcome. Farmers will be encouraged to link up with Extension personnel, other state and federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, other farmers or specialists to assist with executing and analyzing their projects. Preference will be given to proposals that incorporate collaboration.
Sustainable agriculture The USDA definition is: An integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will, over the long-term:

$ enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agricultural economy depends;

$ make the most efficient use of non-renewable and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls;

$ sustain the economic viability of farm operations; and

$ enhance the quality of life for farmers/ranchers and society as a whole.What is a producer grant?

A producer grant funds the development of a new idea or innovative practice. These projects may be in the form of research or demonstration activities in the area of sustainable agriculture.

Who can apply?
Any active resident producer in the state of Oklahoma is eligible to receive a grant. Projects must be developed, coordinated and conducted by farmers/ranchers. Producers complete an application describing their project and how it will help other producers understand and adopt sustainable agriculture practices. Previous grant recipients are eligible to apply for a new grant, but cannot be involved in two grants simultaneously.

What types of projects will be funded?
Grant funds will be allocated for two broad categories: research or demonstration.
Research projects involve an on-farm test of an idea or technology in sustainable agriculture. An example of a research project would be a farmer receiving a grant to set up an experiment to compare compost with a conventional fertility program on a tomato crop. The farmer would work with Extension personnel, nonprofit organizations, or other state and federal agencies to design the experiment for the project. The grant would cover the cost of sampling, monitoring, additional labor, travel and costs associated with any educational programming.
Demonstration projects involve the on-farm demonstration of a proven practice or system that applies to other farmers in the state. All demonstrations should include a comparison trial and have measurable outcomes. An example of a demonstration project is the use of ridge till for growing soybeans. The farmer would set up a demonstration of a conventional tillage practice versus a ridge tillage practice and use field days, presentations, and educational materials to promote the practice to other farmers. The grant would cover the cost of additional labor, travel and costs associated with any educational programming.

How much will a producer grant fund?
Projects are funded for two or three years. Two year grants are funded up to $3500. Three year grants are funded up to a total of $7,500.

Do I have to have a cooperator?
Demonstration projects are not required to have a cooperator. Research projects will require a cooperator. The review committee will give special preference to proposals which include cooperators for demonstration projects. All project cooperators must submit a letter of commitment during the full proposal process. Letters of commitment must clearly state what duties or activities the cooperator will perform in the project. Cooperators can be other farmers, researchers, extension agents, specialists, governmental or non-governmental organizations, or other interested individuals who can assist in project planning, data collection, and communication of project results.

Do I have to own the land I am conducting the project on?
Projects being conducted on leased land must obtain a letter of support for the length of the grant from the land owner. Upon notification of a grant awarded to a recipient, a written copy of a lease containing the option to lease one year past the end of the grant and the letter of support must be submitted to the Kerr Center.

What expenses will a producer grant cover?
The producer grant will cover costs associated with the project. Funds may cover the cost of sampling and sample analysis, materials and supplies needed for the project, outreach expenses such as holding a field day, and travel if needed for the project. The grant will pay for renting specialized equipment, tractors, and other equipment that may be needed for use in the project.

Other expenses such as fencing, irrigation systems, or tree plantings that pertain to the project will be covered. An example would be fencing a riparian area to demonstrate creek bank stabilization. In certain cases, recipients may be asked to utilize Kerr Center equipment in their project.

The producer grant program will not cover costs of purchasing general equipment such as tractors, implements, or vehicles. Funds will not cover expenses related to normal farming/ranching activities. Producer grant funds are not meant to pay a farmer for farming. However, grant funds will pay for additional labor for a project.

What expenses will you be expected to cover if you get a Producer Grant?
Although the Kerr Center once required matching contributions, we no longer ask recipients to show or track matching contributions. Our experiences have shown that producer’s efforts are more than enough matching contributions.

How are grants funded from the Kerr Center?
The Kerr Center annually budgets a certain amount of money to be awarded in grants. These funds are used to fund grants at the discretion of the technical committee’s recommendations. Due to funding limitations, the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture grant program cannot fund all the projects that meet the criteria. All funding is awarded competitively. A qualified technical committee will evaluate and rank the producer grant applications.

What are the key questions that this committee uses to evaluate applications?
1) Does the proposed activity address an important problem facing agriculture in Oklahoma from a sustainable perspective?
2) Is the proposed activity an appropriate and realistic way to address the problem for a number of farmers?
3) Does the application explain how the results will be communicated to a large audience?
4) Does the application explain in detail how the project will be accomplished?
5) Is the budget realistic and appropriate for the project?
6) Are all participants and cooperators committed and contributing to the project?

The following factors will also be considered:
1) Funds are not being used primarily for personal use, to buy equipment, or make capital improvements on a farm.
2) Submission is limited to what is requested. No photos, news articles or brochures are allowed, although black and white maps of project areas highlighting important areas of the project may be submitted with the full proposal. Maps must be capable of being photocopied for review by committee members. Only the application will be reviewed, not appendices.
3) The project must be useful beyond the length of the project and applicable to similar farm and ranch operations.

What will happen if your project is selected?
You will be contacted regarding the status of your preproposal application. Unsuccessful applicants may reevaluate their preproposals and resubmit at a later call. Preproposals selected to be developed into full proposals will be contacted and provided information and a packet to complete the full proposal. Selection for development of a full proposal does not mean that you have been awarded a grant, but only that your idea was chosen for competition with other full proposals.

If you are awarded a producer grant during the full proposal competition, you will be asked to sign a Plan of Work and a contract prior to receiving the funds. The grants are awarded on a competitive basis, but once you have been selected to receive a grant, the Kerr Center specialists will provide assistance needed to help you succeed in completing your project.
Any expenses you incur prior to signing the contract cannot be reimbursed. By signing the contract and Plan of Work, you agree to conduct the activities outlined in your application and Plan of Work. Any changes in budget or activities must receive prior approval by the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture.

You will be asked to keep detailed financial and project activity records. The grantee will be expected to cover cost of purchases and submit a bill accompanied with a copy of all receipts for reimbursement on a monthly basis.

You will also be asked to submit photographs/slides and a short report detailing your activities annually and a final report at the end of the project. The final 10% payment will not be issued until annual or final reports and slides are received by the Kerr Center as stated in your contract.

How can you apply for a Producer Grant?
To apply for this grant, a farmer/rancher can request a call for preproposal containing a set of guidelines to use for completing the preproposal and an information packet from the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture or from our web page at www.kerrcenter.com.

If you have any questions about the application process or the producer grant program contact:
Alan Ware
Director of Oklahoma Producer Grant Program
The Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture
P. O. Box 588
Hwy. 271 S.
Poteau, OK 74953
Phone: (918)-647-9123
Fax: (918)-647-8712
e-mail: mailbox@kerrcenter.com

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