sustainability opportunitiesfrom a north central region perspective

ROB MYERS, PH.D.USDA-SARE

University of Missouri

SUSTAINABILITY OPPORTUNITIESFROM A

NORTH CENTRAL REGION PERSPECTIVE

Presentation Overview

Federal budget picture 2012 Farm BillSupport from USDA-

SARE for extensionSustainability

challenges

Federal Funding Picture for Extension

Budget Control Act of 2011 First round of deficit reduction

Super Congress action pending

2012 Farm Bill actionFY2012 Ag Appropriations

Federal Funding Picture for Extension

Budget Control Act of 2011 First round of cuts - $917 billion over 10 years

Super Congress – reducing deficit over 10 years

Minimum of $1.2 trillion or automatic cuts kick in

Target goal of $1.5 trillion

Deficit savings can be mix of cuts and revenue

Plan due by Nov. 23, Congress votes by Dec. 23

Focus is on federal “discretionary” budget

Budget Control Act of 2011

Federal discretionary budget FY2011 - $1.05 trillion (passed in spring of 2011) Does not include entitlement programs

Budget Control Act set budget targets: FY 2012 - $1.043 trillion

FY 2013 - $1.047 trillion




What if Super Congress Fails?

Mandatory cuts to discretionary spending of $1.2 trillion over 10 years FY 2012 - $1.043 trillion

FY 2013 - $954 billion

FY 2014 - $974 trillion

FY 2015 - $994 trillion



What if Super Congress Succeeds?

Super Congress Deal?

House and Senate Ag Committee leadership Ag committees agree to $23 billion in cuts over 10 years

In return, Super Congress accepts the $23 billion* in cuts and leaves the rest of ag budget alone

2012 Farm Bill would be included in the bill put forth by the Super Congress for passage in December

*2008 farm bill was $288 billion over five years

Current Changes to Ag Budget

Cuts of $25-27 billion (over 10 years) $15 billion from commodity programs

Most of remainder from conservation and nutrition assistance to low income families

Net cut of $23 billion, but $2-4 billion added Some programs would get an increase

Impact on extension and research? Could be a mix of cuts, increases, and level funding, with some

merger of programs

2012 Farm Bill

Current farm bill expires September 30, 2012 Many agriculture programs have a fixed period of authorization so

must be reauthorized

Normal process of developing a farm bill Hearings around the country, DC hearings, multiple bills introduced,

subcommittee action (amendments), full committees, House, Senate, conference process

Typically 12-18 months

This time – two weeks?!!!

Comments by Secretary of Agriculture

U.S. agriculture secretary says next Farm Bill must improve disaster aid, funding for research

Washington Post headline, Oct. 24, 2012

FY2012 Ag Appropriations

Congress technically should have passed FY2012 Ag Appropriations by September 30 House passed bill with 15% cut to most extension and research programs

Senate is working on a “mini-bus” bill that has mostly level funding for extension and research

Final agreement tangled up with Super Congress

Bottom line? Probably level or close to level extension funding in FY2012; prospects for

level funding after that are unclear

www.sare.org www.sare.org

Grants and outreach

to advance

sustainable

innovations to the

whole of American

agriculture.

What is SARE?


North CentralRegion SARE• Since 1988, SARE has invested

in 4,000 projects nationwide

• SARE in the North Central Region offers grants for:

• Research & Education

• Professional Development

• Graduate Student

• Farmer/Rancher

• Youth and Youth Educator

www.northcentralsare.org

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by C

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l Fla

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The SARE Model

• Four regional councils set priorities and make grants

• SARE Outreach produces practical info

• USDA-NIFA supports SARE

• Other USDA agencies and land-grant universities are partners


The SARE Model

Successful SARE grantees are engaged

in projects that simultaneously guided

by the 3 principals of sustainability…

Photo

by T

ed

Coonfield

Profit over the long

term

Stewardship of our nation’s land and water

Quality of Life for farmers, ranchers

and their communities


SARE has education

partnerships with

Extension and other ag

professionals in every state

and island protectorate.Photo

by B

ob

Nic

hols

, U

SD

A N

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The SARE Model


SARE Outreacha library of practical,

how-to books (in print or download for free)

media outreach

a portfolio of in-depth reports on current topics

conference sponsorships

countless online resources, including project reports


• Sustainable pest and weed mgmt

• Clean energy

• Marketing

• Stewardship of land and water

• Systems research

• Community development

• Crop diversification

• Soil quality

• Nutrient management

• Rotational grazing

…and much more

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by T

roy B

ishop

p

The SARE Portfolio

SARE Grants in Wisconsin (1989-2010)

$5.5 million in funding for Wisconsin, 165 total grants


Research & Education (R&E) Program

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rtesy

Wayn

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in

•Grants for up to $200,000 for up to 3 yrs

•Can be research or education projects

•Grants go primarily to organizations

•Fund 10 to 12 grants per year

•Coordinator is Beth Nelson


R&E Timeline

•Preproposals due June 9, 2011

•Invited full proposals due in October 2011

•Funding decisions made in March 2012

•Funds available late fall 2012


Stakeholder Involvement

Problem identified by farmer and researcher

Farmers involved in research and outreach


Graduate Student Grants

•Grants can be for up to $10,000

•Currently enrolled graduate students must write proposal and lead work on project

•Proposals are due in January

•12 to 16 grants are funded per year

•Funds are available in the Fall

•Coordinator is Beth Nelson

Professional Development Program (PDP)

Competitive grants Preproposals typically due in May; up to $75,000/grant

Full proposals due in August, approved in November

State activities organized by state coordinators Wisconsin SARE State Coordinator is Diane Mayerfield

Face of SARE – communicating about SARE programs

Initiatives – some change in topics from year to year Workshops, webinars, mini-grants, travel scholarships

funded

by $50,000 in annual support from the SARE program

Farmer/Rancher Grants

Directly funds farmers and ranchersUp to $7500 for individual farm, $15,000 for

partnerships, and $22,500 for groups of 3 or moreApplications due on December 2 this yearCan try out new production methods or marketing

approaches for their farmEncouraged to link with university or NGO

partnersRequired to have an outreach componentCoordinator is Joan Benjamin

Youth/Youth Educator Grants

Youth educator grants Appropriate for vo-ag teachers or other youth educators

Applications can be for up to $2000

Youth grants Appropriate for FFA, 4-H, or other youth projects

Encourages youth to learn about sustainable agriculture

Can apply for up to $400

Both types of applications are due Jan. 12, 2012Coordinator is Joan Benjamin


“Ratcheting up” with a proposed

federal-state matching grants program

Broadening outreach to the whole of

American agriculture – sponsoring

conferences, tailoring information

Regional extension training on

“Carbon, Energy, and

Climate”

September 26-28, 2012

Kellogg Biological Station,

Kalamazoo, Michigan

New and Future

Directions for

SARE

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by M

ary

Kem

pfe

rt


Bioenergy

Climate change

Nutrient

management

Conservation

Training new

farmers

Scaling up local food

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by H

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nna B

ratm

an

Some

Sustainability

Challenges


What AboutWhat AboutBioenergy?Bioenergy?

Perennial GrassesPerennial Grasses


Nutrient ManagementNutrient Management


Tillage RadishesTillage Radishes


www.sare.org