Progress 07/01/05 to 06/30/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: 2010 marks the 17th year that Utah State University has administered the Western Regional USDA-NIFA SARE Center with Philip Rasmussen as the Director. The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, or SARE, program advances farming systems that are profitable, environmentally beneficial and good for communities. This takes place through a nationwide competitive grants program. SARE is part of USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture. SARE's funding is authorized under Subtitle B of Title XVI of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990 (FACTA). This project is one of ten ongoing UAES or Utah Extension projects that comprise the complete portfolio of the Western Regional USDA-NIFA-SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education) Program for the 13 states and 4 Pacific trust territories. Each year, a new 5-year AES cooperative agreement (Research and Education, R & E); and, a new 5-year Extension "3-d" agreement (Extension Professional Development Program, PDP) are initiated with USDA-CSREES. The Western SARE Center, at any one time is overseeing ten agreements (two agreements per year, each with a 5 year life), each of which have a complex plan of work. Each cooperative agreement represents oversight of approximately $4 million per region. This report covers the R&E cooperative agreement, initiated in 2004, that supports approximately 12 Research & Education projects, 18 Farmer/Rancher, and 7 Professional + Producer projects. To see a listing of all SARE funded projects, go to the SARE Website at http://www.sare.org (National USDA-NIFA-SARE site). For regional emphases, measurable outcomes, and research results, go to the Western SARE Website at http://wsare.usu.edu, via the World-Wide Web. PARTICIPANTS: USDA-NIFA, NSAC (National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition), APLU (Association of Public and Land-grant Universities) , US-EPA, USGS, USDA-NRCS, State Departments of Agriculture, USDA-ARS, USDA-FSA, Western SAWG, California Association for Food and Fiber, National Center for Appropriate Technology, and all Land and Sea-grant programs in the Western States (13) and island protectorates (Guam, Micronesia, American Samoa, and Northern Mariana Islands) TARGET AUDIENCES: All farmers, ranchers, agribusiness professionals, researchers, extension professionals, and allied professionals in the 13 Western states and Island protectorates (Guam, Micronesia, Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa) are addressed in this Plan of Work. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
As part of this 2005 USDA-NIFA Plan of Work, Western SARE funded 12 Research & Education Grants totaling: $1.45 million, 18 Farmer/Rancher Grants for $127,360, 7 Professional + Producer Grants for $86,500, and 8 Professional Development Program Grants for $508,920. Funding was approved for 45 grants totaling $2.26 million in 2005. This report specifically addresses ALL but the 6 funded Professional Development (Extension) projects. Western SARE has continued to contract with WSU's SESRC (Social and Economic Sciences Research Center) to give an impartial third party evaluation of the outcomes and impacts of SARE-funded projects. 2010 marks 17 years of continued funding to research/education projects throughout the Western Region. Western SARE has received commendations from USDA-CSREES for its extensive efforts to reach out to underserved populations in the far Pacific basin, Alaska, California, the Native American populations in the West, and the historical Hispanic populations in the four-corners area of the Southwest. These efforts reached their pinnacle in 2010 when Western SARE completed subregional outreach conferences in Alaska, Guam, New Mexico, Hawaii, Wyoming, Washington, and California. The data gleaned from these subregional conferences and associated surveys indicated that farmer/rancher clientele felt that Western SARE ranked as #1 in site-specific, environmentally-sensitive, farmer-lead research/education programs among all federal, state, and private efforts. 69% of SARE research/education projects reported finding new ways to effect positive impacts on the land, water, communities, and environment of the West. 74 % of farmers and ranchers who participated in SARE projects reported positive impacts that also improved their bottom line. The $52 million invested over the 17 years of the Western SARE program have yielded an estimated impact of over $985 million. This yields an impact ratio of over 19 to 1, for every dollar invested in Western SARE, or, an average increase in profits of approximately $8 for every one of the 123 million acres impacted.
Publications
- Rasmussen, P., Watts. 2010. Final Report for USDA-CSREES-SARE Project #2005-38640-15900. ($2,682,719). Western SARE Center, Logan, UT, USA, 2010.
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Progress 07/01/08 to 06/30/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: 2009 marks the 16th year that Utah State University has administered the Western Regional USDA-NIFA SARE Center with Philip Rasmussen as the Director. The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, or SARE, program advances farming systems that are profitable, environmentally beneficial and good for communities. This takes place through a nationwide competitive grants program. SARE is part of USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture. SARE's funding is authorized under Subtitle B of Title XVI of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990 (FACTA). This project is one of ten ongoing UAES or Utah Extension projects that comprise the complete portfolio of the Western Regional USDA-NIFA-SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education) Program for the 13 states and 4 Pacific trust territories. Each year, a new 5-year AES cooperative agreement (Research and Education, R & E); and, a new 5-year Extension "3-d" agreement (Extension Professional Development Program, PDP) are initiated with USDA-CSREES. The Western SARE Center, at any one time is overseeing ten agreements (two agreements per year, each with a 5 year life), each of which have a complex plan of work. Each cooperative agreement represents oversight of approximately $4 million per region. This report covers the R&E cooperative agreement, initiated in 2005, that supports approximately 12 Research & Education projects, 18 Farmer/Rancher, and 7 Professional + Producer projects. To see a listing of all SARE funded projects, go to the SARE Website at http://www.sare.org (National USDA-NIFA-SARE site). For regional emphases, measurable outcomes, and research results, go to the Western SARE Website at http://wsare.usu.edu, via the World-Wide Web. PARTICIPANTS: USDA-NIFA, NSAC (National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition), APLU (Association of Public and Land-grant Universities) , US-EPA, USGS, USDA-NRCS, State Departments of Agriculture, USDA-ARS, USDA-FSA, Western SAWG, California Association for Food and Fiber, National Center for Appropriate Technology, and all Land and Sea-grant programs in the Western States (13) and island protectorates (Guam, Micronesia, American Samoa, and Northern Mariana Islands) TARGET AUDIENCES: All farmers, ranchers, agribusiness professionals, researchers, extension professionals, and allied professionals in the 13 Western states and Island protectorates (Guam, Micronesia, Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa) are addressed in this Plan of Work. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
As part of the 2005 USDA-NIFA Plan of Work, Western SARE funded 12 Research & Education Grants totaling: $1.45 million, 18 Farmer/Rancher Grants for $127,360, 7 Professional + Producer Grants for $86,500, and 8 Professional Development Program Grants for $508,920. Funding was approved for 45 grants totaling $2.26 million in 2005. This report specifically addresses ALL but the 6 funded Professional Development (Extension) projects. Western SARE has continued to contract with WSU's SESRC (Social and Economic Sciences Research Center) to give an impartial third party evaluation of the outcomes and impacts of SARE-funded projects. 2009 marks 16 years of continued funding to research/education projects throughout the Western Region. Western SARE has received commendations from USDA-CSREES for its extensive efforts to reach out to underserved populations in the far Pacific basin, the Native American populations in the West, and the historical Hispanic populations in the four-corners area of the Southwest. These efforts reached their pinnacle in 2009 when Western SARE completed subregional outreach conferences in Guam, New Mexico, Hawaii, Wyoming, Washington, and California. The data gleaned from these subregional conferences and associated surveys indicated that farmer/rancher clientele felt that Western SARE ranked as #1 in site-specific, environmentally-sensitive, farmer-lead research/education programs among all federal, state, and private efforts. 69% of SARE research/education projects reported finding new ways to effect positive impacts on the land, water, communities, and environment of the West. 74 % of farmers and ranchers who participated in SARE projects reported positive impacts that also improved their bottom line. The $52 million invested over the 16 years of the Western SARE program have yielded an estimated impact of over $985 million. This yields an impact ratio of over 19 to 1, for every dollar invested in Western SARE, or, an average increase in profits of approximately $8 for every one of the 123 million acres impacted.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 07/01/07 to 06/30/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, or SARE, advances farming systems that are profitable, environmentally beneficial and good for communities through a nationwide competitive grants program. SARE is part of USDA's Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service. SARE's funding is authorized under Subtitle B of Title XVI of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990 (FACTA). This project is one of ten ongoing UAES projects that comprise the complete portfolio of the Western Regional USDA-CSREES-SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education) Program for the 13 states and 4 Pacific Trust Territories. Each year, a new 5-year AES cooperative agreement (Research and Education, R & E); and, a new 5-year Extension "3-d" agreement (Extension Professional Development Program, PDP) are initiated with USDA-CSREES. The Western SARE Center, at any one time is overseeing ten agreements (two agreements per year, each with a 5 year life), which have a complex plan of work. Each cooperative agreement represents oversight of approximately $4 million per region. Each set of two regional agreements supports approximately 12 Research & Education projects (including projects of USDA/EPA/Agroforestry), 15 Graduate Fellowships, 10 PDP projects, and 60 Farmer/Rancher and Professional + Producer projects. To see a listing of all SARE funded projects, go to the SARE Website at http://www.sare.org (National USDA SARE site). For regional emphases, measurable outcomes, and research results, go to the Western SARE Website at http://wsare.usu.edu, via the World-Wide Web. Rasmussen, V. P., J. Keck, R. Daines, and R. Newhall. (2007) Western Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Final Report (2001-PDP, June 1, 2007). USDA-CSREES Project# 2001-47001-01140 ($853,125). 92 pp. Rasmussen, V. P., J. Keck, R. Daines, and R. Newhall. (2007) Western Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Final Report (2001-R&E, June 1, 2007). USDA-CSREES Project# 2001-38640-10466 ($2,040,377). 61 pp. Rasmussen, V. P., J. Keck, R. Daines, and R. Newhall. (2007) Western Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Final Report (2002-R&E, June 30, 2007). USDA-CSREES Project# 2002-38640-11763 ($2,733,349). 62 pp. Rasmussen, V. P., J. Keck, R. Daines, and R. Newhall. (2007) Western Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Final Report (2001-PDP, June 30, 2007). USDA-CSREES Project# 2002-47001-01327 ($846,025). 91 pp. Daines, R.J., J. Keck, V.P. Rasmussen, and J. Freeburn. (2007) Simply Sustainable: Working to Sustain Western Agriculture. Western SARE Quarterly Newsletter. Vol. 2 Issue 1:pp. 8. Daines, R.J., J. Keck, V.P. Rasmussen, and J. Freeburn. (2007) Simply Sustainable: Working to Sustain Western Agriculture. Western SARE Quarterly Newsletter. Vol. 1 Issue 4:pp. 12. Daines, R.J., J. Keck, V.P. Rasmussen, and J. Freeburn. (2007) Simply Sustainable: Working to Sustain Western Agriculture. Western SARE Quarterly Newsletter. Vol. 1 Issue 3:pp. 12. Daines, R.J., J. Keck, V.P. Rasmussen, and J. Freeburn. (2007) Simply Sustainable-Western SARE Quarterly Newsletter. Vol. 1 Issue 2:pp.8. PARTICIPANTS: USDA-CSREES (Extension and Research units), National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture, US-EPA, USGS, USDA-NRCS, State Departments of Agriculture, USDA-ARS, USDA-FSA, Western SAWG, California Association for Food and Fiber, National Center for Appropriate Technology, and all Land and Sea-grant programs in the Western State and protectorates. TARGET AUDIENCES: All farmers and ranchers, extension and allied professionals, and agricultural researchers in the 13 Western states and associated protectorates (Guam, Micronesia, Norther Mariana Islands, and American Samoa). PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Early in 2007, the Western SARE Center awarded a contract to Washington State University's SESRC (Social and Economic Sciences Research Center) for the final Western SARE IMPACT SURVEY for the large multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional R&E (research and education) grants awarded over the last 18 years. This is the FOURTH consecutive evaluation project that Western SARE has undertaken. One evaluation (of a separate Western SARE program) has been completed in each year from 2003 to 2007. The most recent survey data were completed and tallied for PI's (principal investigators) and for cooperating farmers and ranchers (FR's) in October and December of 2007, respectively. This impartial third-party evaluation found some dramatic measurable impacts. The total impacts of research/education projects funded by Western SARE included over 84 refereed scientific journal articles. Over 235 other publications or products were also documented. In addition, the number of separate SARE-impacted farms and ranches which increased profits and/or reduced costs was documented as, at least, 1452. "Ripple effect" (adjacent farms and ranches) totaled over 3000. This would impact an average of 4,178,000 acres. Of these farms and ranches, 82% reported sustained usage of the research-based idea or practices tested. Finally, across the 5-year life-span of this Cooperative Agreement, and across the entire Western Region, a POSITIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT of over $500 million has been quantified. Specific research results are available through the Western SARE website (http://wsare.usu.edu).
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 07/01/06 to 07/01/07
Outputs
This project oversees coordination of the USDA SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education) Program for the 13 states and 4 Pacific Trust Territories in the Western Region. Each yearly agreement represents oversight of approximately $3.7 million per region. Each regional agreement supports approximately 10 Research & Education projects (including projects of USDA/EPA/Agroforestry), 6 Graduate Fellowships, 22 PDP projects, and 20 Farmer/Rancher and Professional + Producer projects. To see a listing of all SARE funded projects, go to the SARE Website at http://www.sare.org (National USDA SARE site). For regional emphases and results, go to the Western SARE Website at http://wsare.usu.edu, via the World-Wide Web.
Impacts
The Washington State University SCERC (Social and Economic Sciences Research Center) and the University of Arizona Extension Social Science Research Center have completed new IMPACT surveys for Western SARE, with a 75% response rate (417 of 556 farmers and ranchers). 39% reported reduced fertilizer costs, 37% measured reduced fuel costs, 58% observed decreased soil erosion, 79% noted improved soil quality, 54% reported improved water quality, 69% observed improved wildlife habitat, 41% declared an increase in net income, 64% cited higher gross sales, 56% observed increased yields, 54% measured higher animal production, 84% achieved the results hoped for, and 82% reported sustained usage of the idea or practices tested. However, across the 5-year life-span of this Cooperative Agreement, and across the entire Western Region, a POSITIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT of over $475 million has been quantified.
Publications
- Smith, R., J.M. Payne, and V.P. Rasmussen. 2006. Evaluation of WSARE Research and Education Grants: Utilizing Google Scholar and Science Citation Index to Obtain Citation Amounts, and thus, Measurable Impact. 98th Annual ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Meeting Abstracts. (Session 245-14, #2017b). p. 131.
- Rasmussen, V.P., R. Smith, R.L. Newhall, A. Kurki, J. Freeburn, and R. Daines. 2006. Measuring the Impacts of an Experiment in Sustainability. 98th Annual ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Meeting Abstracts. (Session 231-17, #2209b). p. 126.
- Rasmussen, V.P., R.L. Newhall, J. Freeburn, A. Kurki, and R. Daines. 2006. Gauging the Impacts of an Experiment in Sustainability. 5th Annual National ANREP Conference Abstracts. Park City, UT. P.21-22.
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Progress 07/01/05 to 06/30/06
Outputs
The Western SARE (WSARE) program has grown to involve approximately $3.7 million dollars in funding in 2006. This funding provides opportunities to encourage research for sustaining agriculture both economically and environmentally on a long term basis. The impacts of this program are felt in every part of the Western Region. Throughout the five years that it has been operative (in the CRIS system), it has continued to implement research and education projects, as directed and authorized in Subtitle B of Public Law 101-624. The program funded approximately $3.7 million dollars (through authorization from USDA-CSREES) in research and education projects across the Western Region in 2006. This funding has grown from roughly $1.1 million in 1994. The total number of grants administered by the WSARE program has grown from 3 projects transferred from California at the end of 1993 to 27 in 1994, 136 in 1996, over 454 in the current year. It continues to grow, with 78 new
projects funded in 2006 in addition to the existing, operating projects. This is a thriving multi-state, multi-agency project. Further results are available on the Web at: http://wsare.usu.edu.
Impacts
The Washington State University SCERC (Social and Economic Sciences Research Center) and the University of Arizona Extension Social Science Research Center have completed specific IMPACT surveys for Western SARE. Quantifiable Economic Impacts (positive) of SARE practices included: American Samoa=$3,000 per farm; California=$6000 per farm; Colorado= $2500 per farm per year; Hawaii=$400 per small (vegetable) farm; Idaho=$60,000 per ranch; Northern Mariana Islands=$500 per field ($2500 per typical herb farm); Montana=$10,000 per farm; New Mexico;=$500 per minor crop (basil) ($2500 per farm); Oregon=$1500 per farmstand; Utah=$100-300/acre ($3000 per small farm); Washington=$1000 per farmers market per year; and, Wyoming=$.75 per chicken (at least $7500 per range chicken operation). These are actual responses from bone fide farms and ranches. They represent conservative estimates. However, across the 5 year life of this Cooperative Agreement; and, across the entire Western
Region, a POSITIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT of over $350 million is a reasonable total.
Publications
- Daines, R., and V. P. Rasmussen. Western Region SARE Yearly Reports. 2006. Plants, Soils & Biometeorology Dept. Utah State University. (web version released) June 2006. 49 new projects. (see: http://www.sare.org).
- Berton, V. and Daines, R. SARE 2006/2007 Highlights. 2006. USDA-CSREES SARE Program Publication. USDA. Washington, DC. June 2006. (see: http://wsare.usu.edu).
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