What is EQIP?
TLDR*: The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program offers grants to help farmers, Ranchers and Educators Test new ideas, share knowledge and Advance sustainable farming practices across the US.
We are not affiliated with SARE/USDA, we’re a group helping farmers on the business side of things.
Your guide to SARE Grants
We know how hard it is for farmers to juggle daily operations while finding time and resources to apply for grants. So we’re breaking down one of the best funding programs out there: SARE, the Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education program.
SARE supports ideas that make farming more profitable and community focused. Whether you’re a grower testing a new crop, a researcher studying soil health, or an educator training farmers, SARE has grants for that.
What is SARE?
SARE offers competitive grants to fund research and education projects that advance sustainable agriculture practices in the United States. Projects can range from on-farm trials and soil experiments to outreach programs and training initiatives.
Grants are available in four regions: North Central, Northeast, South and West.
Grants like SARE give farmers room to experiment – to test new ideas without risking everything. Whether it’s a new cover crop mix or testing methods of plant disease suppression, SARE offers funding and a safety net so that a failed experiment doesn’t bring down the farm.
Who can apply
- Farmers and Ranchers
- Researchers
- Extension agents
- Grad students
SARE Grants Can’t Fund
SARE grants can’t be used to:
- Start a farm or buy land
- Purchase equipment or livestock (beyond what’s needed for research)
- Cover general business costs.
If you’re just getting started with farming, we suggest reaching out to USDA’s Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coordinators.
Producer Grants
Award: Up to $20,000 for individuals, up to $25,000 for farmer groups
Timeline: 2 years
Western SARE Deadline: Nov. 20 at noon MT
Southern SARE Deadline: Dec. 5 at noon EST
Northeast SARE Deadline: Dec. 9 at 5 p.m. EST
These grants are for farmers and ranchers testing out new practices or marketing ideas on their land. That could mean trying out new grazing techniques, testing a potential value-added product, or testing to see how cover crops can help your soil. This is based on your research, and they want to see what helps you farm (and could potentially help other farmers).
Do you have any marketing ideas? This is one of the awesome things about SARE – they’ll give you space to test a new sales channel or test market response to a new product. These projects will need to include at least one cooperator (like another farmer or extension agent). This is ideal for experienced farmers who are ready to experiment with new crops equipment or systems and want to share results with other farmers.
Note that you’ll need to set your project up like a scientific experiment. Most cooperators will be able to help you write things like a control group and data collection and analysis into your grant proposal.
This program is to give farmers the tools they need to strengthen operations.
Professional Development Program Grants
Award: Up to $100,000
Timeline: 1-2 years
Western SARE Deadline: Nov. 20 at noon MT
Southern SARE Deadline: Nov. 14 at noon EST
Northeast SARE Deadline: Feb. 2 at 5 p.m. EST
This is known as “train- the-trainer” grants, which fund educational programs for agricultural professionals – think extension agents or nonprofit educators – to help farmers adopt sustainable practices. This is ideal for educators or organizations offering workshops, field days or online training for farmers.
Research and Education Grants
Award: Up to $400,000
Timeline: 3 years
SARE Deadline: Nov. 21 at noon MT
Designed for research teams exploring sustainable systems from soil health to food processing. This project must have at least three farmers and combined research without reach or education. This is ideal for University or nonprofit collaborations that study and share new sustainable farming methods.
Eligible Projects
SARE supports a wide range of projects, including:
- On-farm renewable energy
- Pest and weed management
- Cover crops and crop rotations
- Pastured livestock and rotational grazing
- High tunnels
- Local and regional food systems
- Pollinator habitat
- Sustainable marketing
- Agroforestry and soil health
- Integrated farm systems
Deadlines
| State | EQIP Deadline |
|---|---|
Alaska (passed) | 3/14/25 |
California | 11/21/25 |
Connecticut | 10/3/25 |
Florida | 10/3/25 |
Illinois (passed) | 2/28/25 |
Kentucky (passed) | 9/26/25 |
Louisiana (passed) | 1/25/25 |
Maine (passed) | 8/22/25 |
Mississippi | 10/31/25 |
Missouri | 10/3/25 |
Montana | 10/31/25 |
Nevada (passed) | 8/14/25 |
New Hampshire (passed) | 3/28/25 |
New Jersey | 10/17/25 |
New Mexico | 10/17/25 |
New York | 10/24/25 |
North Dakota (passed) | 9/19/25 |
South Dakota | 10/3/25 |
Vermont (passed) | 8/22/25 |
Virginia | 12/12/25 |
Wisconsin | 10/31/25 |
Staying on Top of Funding Deadlines
Applications are accepted year-round, but funding is tied to state-specific ranking dates. Find information on your state here. The earlier you apply, the better your chances.
We know you’re busy. That’s why we made our Funding Match Survey. It’s quick, free, and matches you with grants, loans, carbon credits, and other funding opportunities that actually fit your farm.
Then, our weekly funding alerts break it all down by deadline, so in 5 minutes or less, you know exactly what’s available and when it’s due.
No more digging through outdated websites or guessing what’s coming up. Take the survey, sign up for the alerts, and focus on running your farm—let the deadlines come to you. Check out our other blog post on EQIP grants here.
How to Apply and Weekly Funding Email Alerts
To apply, visit https://www.sare.org/grants, select your region (dates vary based on region). We don’t write grants anymore, but if you need help, we can give you a list of our grant writing partners here. [need paywall link]
If you’d like to get weekly email alerts on funding opportunities like SARE, first take our 5-minute farm funding matching survey here and get four weeks of free alerts. After that, it’s only $3 a month.
Final Word
Tax season may come and go, but conservation is forever. EQIP is one of the best ways to get support for making improvements that strengthen both your farm and the land.
Tip: Don’t wait until the last minute. Get in touch with NRCS now so you know your deadlines and options for your state.
*TLDR means too long didn’t read; it’s the summary of this article. We know you’re busy, so we want to let you know what’s going on in 30 seconds or less.