Sustainable Agriculture: Ohio State Announces On-farm Research Grant Program

WOOSTER, Ohio -- Ohio State University’s Sustainable Agriculture Team and Agroecosystems Management Program are now accepting proposals for grants for on-farm research in sustainable agriculture. Support for the grants comes from the university’s Paul C. and Edna H. Warner Endowment Fund.

Proposals must focus on production systems for crops or livestock for human consumption; must involve a team of university and non-university collaborators, specifically including farmers; and are due by March 2.

The principal investigator (PI) must be a faculty member or scientist with Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, including its Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center; or an educator or specialist with the college’s outreach arm, Ohio State University Extension.

At the same time, collaborating with a farmer or farmers is required, and farmers, graduate students, and members of agricultural or environmental organizations are strongly encouraged to contact a potential PI to suggest or initiate a project.

Grants are for up to $5,000 for one year. In the past, average awards have been $2,000. Longer-term projects may be considered for additional funding.

Organizers say the program “is intended to identify and publicize sustainable agricultural practices and systems that are profitable, socially responsible and energy efficient and improve water quality and other environmental concerns relevant to Ohio farmers.”

Complete guidelines and the application form are online at http://go.osu.edu/HWJ.

For more information, contact Megan Shoenfelt, 330-202-3537, shoenfelt.9@osu.edu; or Casey Hoy, 330-263-3611, hoy.1@osu.edu.

Writers

Kurt Knebusch

knebusch.1@osu.edu

330-263-3776

Sources

Megan Shoenfelt

shoenfelt.9@osu.edu

330-202-3537

Casey Hoy

hoy.1@osu.edu

330-263-3611