The Administrative Council of the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program is pleased to announce that it has recently approved 29 Farmer Grant projects for funding, totaling $352,241.
The Farmer Grant Program funds farmers to explore new ideas in sustainable agriculture on production, marketing, labor, farm succession, social capital and other topics. Projects use experiments, surveys, prototypes, on-farm demonstrations or other research and education techniques. All grant proposals undergo a review by teams of farmers, researchers and educators who recommend projects that are well-designed to meet their objectives and promise the most benefit to farming communities. Northeast SARE’s Administrative Council—a 20-member governance body representing a broad constituency of the Northeast agricultural community—makes funding allocation decisions for the program.
Farmer Grant projects that will start during 2021 include the following (listed in order by state).
CT
Andrew Urbanowicz of Urbanowicz Farm in Enfield, CT was awarded $10,320 for the project, “Using Shade Cloth to Prevent Heat Damage in Summer Broccoli”.
ME
Keith Butterfield of Butterfield Shellfish in Raymond, ME was awarded $14,795 for the project, “Maine Family Sea Farm Cooperative Hatchery”.
Christopher Davis of Pemaquid Oyster Co., Inc. in Waldoboro, ME was awarded $15,000 for the project, “Assessment of Nursery Gear Technology to Optimize Growth, Survival and Economic Efficiency in Farming Atlantic Sea Scallops”.
Krista Delahunty of Aroostook Hops in Westfield, ME was awarded $12,502 for the project, “The Effect of Edge-spraying a Broad-spectrum Organically-approved Insecticide to Control Hop Arthropod Pests while Retaining Beneficial Arthropods”.
Erica Emery of Rustic Roots Farm in Farmington, ME was awarded $8,048 for the project, “Ginger Spacing in High Tunnels for Maximum Yields”.
Jordan Kramer of Winnegance Oyster Farm in Portland, ME was awarded $9,568 for the project, “Product Differentiation on a Subtidal Oyster Farm”.
Emily Lane of Vinalhaven Kelp, Inc. in Vinalhaven, ME was awarded $14,309 for the project, “Aquaculture and Land Farm Collaboration”.
Lydia Lapporte of Greenhorns in Pembroke, ME was awarded $14,979 for the project, “Alternative, Non-plastic Materials for Aquaculture and Oyster Cultivation”.
Cara O’Donnell of Aroostook Band of Micmacs in Presque Isle, ME was awarded $14,963 for the project, “Development of a De-watering System and Cost Analysis to Transform Fish Waste from Recirculating Aquaculture Systems into Value Added Garden Compost Product”.
Sarah Redmond of Springtide Seaweed, LLC in Sullivan, ME was awarded $14,949 for the project, “Development of Integrated Seaweed and Green Sea Urchin Nursery Strategies for the Northeast”.
MD
Tom Precht of Grateful Gardeners in Boyds, MD was awarded $14,518 for the project, “Growing Dahlias for Cut Flower Production via Autopots and Aquaponics”.
MA
Dale Leavitt of Blue Stream Aquaculture LLC in Ware, MA was awarded $13,570 for the project, “Managing and Monitoring Bottom Cage Placement in Deep Water Oyster Culture”.
Ronald Smolowitz of Coonamessett Farm in East Falmouth, MA was awarded $14,484 for the project, “Cardboard Chips as a Farm Input”.
Meredith Wecker of The Benson Place in Heath, MA was awarded $14,985 for the project, “Using Plant Sap Analysis to Develop an Optimal Nutrient Profile for Lowbush Blueberries”.
NJ
Sergio Campos of Merrick Farm in Long Branch, NJ was awarded $7,590 for the project, “Exotic Wild Mushroom Outdoor Cultivation”.
Sherry Dudas of Honey Brook Organic Farm in Chesterfield, NJ was awarded $14,940 for the project, “Demonstration Pilot for Composting of Manure, Wood Chips and Leaves on a Certified-Organic Produce Farm via Aerated Static Pile Composting”.
Matthew Gregg of Forty North Oyster Farms in Brick, NJ was awarded $11,912 for the project, “Testing the Efficacy of a Hybrid Floating Bag and Bottom Planting Method to Grow Oysters”.
Todd Kostka of Brigantine Oyster Company in Haddon Township, NJ was awarded $14,999 for the project, “Mobile Oyster Aquaculture Farming Unit”.
NY
Megan Burley of Burley Berries and Blooms in Warsaw, NY was awarded $14,303 for the project, “A Feasibility Study on How Affordable Micro-Creameries Can Help Manage On-farm Dairy Risks”.
Donald Caldwell of Finger Lakes Grape Program/Annelise Farms in Geneva, NY was awarded $3,420 for the project, “Low Tunnel Materials for Protection and Phenological Acceleration of Figs”.
Kama Doucoure of Big Dream Farms LLC in New Rochelle, NY was awarded $14,081 for the project, “Assessing Financial Feasibility of African Eggplant Production”.
Jacob Gigler of Salt City Harvest Farm in Kirkville, NY was awarded $14,772 for the project, “Visual Learning Media for Deaf New American Farming”.
Robert Tuori of Nook & Cranny Farm in Brooktondale, NY was awarded $5,090 for the project, “Reduced-Tillage and Tarping for Small Scale Commercial Potato Growing in New York”.
PA
Mohinderjit Sidhu of M&M Vineyards in Bangor, PA was awarded $14,996 for the project, “Prevention of Spotted Lanternfly Infestation in Vineyards Using a Physical Barrier”.
VT
Tim Harper of Cedar Circle Farm in East Thetford, VT was awarded $5,875 for the project, “Solarization or Occultation? Optimizing Tarping for Soil Health and Productivity in No-Till Vegetable Production”.
WV
Sharon Briggs of Peasant's Parcel Mushroom Farm in Capon Bridge, WV was awarded $14,356 for the project, “Trialing Cultivating Chicken of the Woods Using Standard Mushroom Farm Technology While Confirming PCR Primer Sequence Traits in Fruiting Bodies”.
Eric Grandon of Sugar Bottom Farm LLC in Ovapa, WV was awarded $7,317 for the project, “A Practical Comparison of Cold Storage and Traditional Outdoor Hive Wintering Methods in Central West Virginia”.
Northeast SARE, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture, offers competitive grants and sustainable agriculture education. More information about the Farmer Grant program and other Northeast SARE grants may be found at: www.northeastsare.org.