Grant Description

Purpose of the Partnership Grant program

The purpose of the Partnership Grant program is to support agricultural service providers who work directly with farmers to do on-farm demonstrations, research, marketing, and other projects that will add to our understanding of sustainable agriculture.

Sustainable agriculture is understood to be agriculture that is profitable, environmentally sound, and beneficial to the community.

Note: Proposal deadlines are in December with awards announced in March. Feel free to read the 2009 application materials, but do not use outdated materials to apply for funds. A new application for 2010 will be released in the summer of 2009.

Goal of the Partnership Grant program

The overriding goal of the Partnership program is to uncover knowledge that farmers can use, to encourage the understanding and widespread use of sustainable techniques, and to strengthen partnerships between farmers and service providers.

Projects must take place on farms or directly involve farm businesses. We fund well-designed inquiries into how agriculture can enhance the environment, improve the quality of life, or be made more profitable through good stewardship.

Project topics

Partnership projects can address a variety of topics, including the development of beneficial insect habitat, alternative crops or animals, practices that make use of biological cycles for improved soil, plant, and pest management, marketing, adding value, grazing, energy, tool or technology development, agroforestry, farm management, farm labor, or water quality.

Proposals should be relevant to farming and sustainability issues in the Northeast, and should offer both research and outreach components so that results will be available to the wider farm community.

Size of awards

Starting with the 2010 award cycle, these grants will be capped at $15,000.

You may find it useful to look at a list of last year's Partnership Grant awards.