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NEWS: $2 MILLION IN SUS AG GRANTS IN THE WEST



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 7, 1996
Contact:
Kristen Kelleher, communications specialist, Western USDA SARE
(916) 752-5987; kkelleher@ucdavis.edu

TWO MILLION DOLLARS IN WESTERN SUSTAINABLE AG GRANTS REACH SELECTED
PROJECTS IN EARLY 1996

Competitively-selected universities, ag producers and organizations start
up sustainable ag efforts as funds arrive.

        LOGAN, UTAH -- About two million dollars in competitive research
and education awards are now being disbursed to universities, farmers and
ranchers and organizations in the Western U.S. to further knowledge and
adoption of sustainable agriculture.

        Grantees were selected in 1995 by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's Western Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and
Education, SARE, program, which is coordinated by soil scientist V. Philip
Rasmussen and hosted by Utah State University.

        "This is the last leg of Western SARE's eighth annual grants cycle,
when scientists, educators and producers begin to receive the support they
competed for and can start-up their projects," says Phil Rasmussen,
regional coordinator.

        Since 1988, Western SARE has supported nearly 100 research and
education grants in every state of the Western U.S. region.

        "In about a year, we'll start to see the fruits of their efforts as
projects report on their achievements in the field," says Rasmussen.

        The mission of the SARE program, authorized by Congress in the 1990
Farm Bill, is to expand knowledge and adoption of farming and ranching
practices that are environmentally sound, economically viable and socially
acceptable.

        The competitive research grants portion of SARE (which includes a
joint USDA / U.S. EPA effort, called Agriculture in Concert with the
Environment, ACE) has been funded since 1988. The professional development
program (or Chapter 3) received funding for the first time in 1994. In
1995, a grants program for farmers and ranchers was launched to to test
their "in the field" questions about sustainable practices and issues.

        Among Western SARE's four competitive grants efforts, about $1.2
million was awarded to sustainable agriculture research projects; over
$130,000 was given to projects to study agricultural practices and
pollution prevention; nearly $550,000 was allocated to professional
education efforts for extension and other agricultural personnel; and
$100,000 was split among 27 farmers and ranchers in the Western U.S. (A
state-by-state list of Western SARE grant recipients follows this news
release.)

        Grant applicants submitted project proposals that were ranked on
their merit and potential for achievement. Reviewers included scientists,
extension professionals, producers, and public and private sector
representatives from all areas of the Western region. At least half of the
review panels for the farmer/rancher research grants were area producers.

        Final selections and grant awards were made by the regional
policy-making Administrative Council and approved by the USDA.

        The SARE program is managed regionally by four councils: Western,
North Central, Northeast and Southern United States. These committees of
scientists, producers and administrators represent a variety of interests
and provide local leadership to research and training efforts. Regional
councils operate in cooperation with the USDA SARE office and the
Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service.

        Since 1988, the U.S. Congress has allocated more than $69 million
(including fiscal 1996) to the federal SARE effort; Western SARE has
received $13.6 million in funds.

        Utah State University is host to the SARE program in the Western
region, which includes Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii,
Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and
the Island Protectorates of American Samoa, Guam, Micronesia and the
Northern Mariana Islands.

        The selection process for 1996 grants is now underway. The next
grants cycle is tentatively set to begin in July, 1996. Those interested
should call the host office at (801) 797-0351 to get on the mailing list
for upcoming Calls for Proposals for all of the region's grants efforts.

###

Western Region SARE Grants Awarded in 1995 & Received in 1996
State-by-State or Island Protectorate

Included in this list are: State / Grant Recipient / Type* of Grant /  Award $$$
*Type = Type of grants program, either: Research; Professional Development
(Prof Devl); or Farmer/Rancher-directed research (Producer)


ALASKA
 Vickie Talbot, Producer $5,000

AMERICAN SAMOA
Juan Chan, Producer, $721
Malo Palesco, Producer, $2,765
Felalai Lefee, Producer, $1,400

CALIFORNIA
Frank G. Zalom, University of California (UC), Davis, Research, $122,559
Harry H. Shorey, UC Kearney Agricultural Center, Research, $120,770
Kate Scow, University of California, Research, $175,000
Charles J. Rivara, California Tomato Research Inst., Research, $40,000
Liza Lewis, Producer, $5,000
Jackelyn Lundy/Sean Swezey, UC Santa Cruz, Prof Devl, $20,000

COLORADO
Ian V. MacRae, Colorado State University, Research, $36,091
Joe Kinnie, Producer, $5,000

HAWAII
Craig Elevitch, Source Ecosystems,Research, $30,430

IDAHO
Charlotte Eberlein, University of Idaho, Research, $112,580
Patrick A. Momont, University of Idaho, Research, $42,070
Wesley W. C. Chun, University of Idaho, Research, $36,700
Larry Sorenson, Producer, $5,000
Lee R. Griffiths, Producer, $530
Janie Burns, Producer, $4,622
Jill Kohler, Producer, $2,740

MONTANA
Randy Tunby, Producer, $4,943
Helen Atthowe, Producer, $5,000
Allen Carter, Producer, $4,750
Nancy Matheson, Alternative Energy Resources Org, Prof Devl, $31,450
James E. Knight,  Montana State University, Prof Devl, $98,000
Roger L. Sheley, Montana State University, Prof Devl, $43,800

NEVADA
Hudson Glimp & Ben Bruce, Univ of Nevada, Reno, Prof Devl, $106,720

NEW MEXICO
Steve Guldan, New Mexico State University, Research, $141,602
Joe Ellington, New Mexico State University, Research, $40,000
Lonnie Roybal, Producer, $5,000
Pete Tatschi, Producer, $4,290
Matt Schneberger, Producer, $5,000
Howard Shanks, So. Central Res Conserv & Devl Cncl, Prof Devl, $24,000

OREGON
Richard Dick, Oregon State University, Research, $180,000
Glenna Wilder, Producer, $1,225
Jim Fullmer, Producer, $1,600
Thom Nelson, Producer, $5,000
J.J. Haapala, Producer, $5,000

UTAH
Randall D. Wiedmeier, Utah State University, Research, $60,000
D. Layne Coppock, Utah State University, $63,000
Ken Carter, Producer, $2,480

WASHINGTON
Fenton P. Wilkinson, Sustainable Options, Research, $59,448
Craig Boesel, Producer, $5,000
R. Bruce Gregory, Producer, $898.50
Jerry Van der Veen, Producer, $5,000

WYOMING
Michael A. Smith, University of Wyoming, Research, $155,260
Ogden Driskell, Producer, $5,000
Tom Bruce, Producer, $5,000
Stan & Mary Flitner, Producer, $5,000
Joe Hiller & Scott Cotton, University of Wyoming, Prof Devl, $20,000


Note: A high number of professional development grants have multi-state
involvement. The state named is home to the contracting institution.


*******************************
Kristen Kelleher
Senior Public Information Rep/ Communications Specialist
USDA Western Region SARE
c/o SAREP
University of California
(916) 752-5987
kkelleher@ucdavis.edu
******************************