Farmer-driven innovations in agriculture that improve profitability, stewardship and quality of life.

Learn More About Western SARE and Sustainable Agriculture

Our Grant Programs

Read more about our grants

We are currently holding new Call for Proposals pending notification from our funding source, USDA-NIFA. All NIFA Requests for Applications are under review. You can check back for updates or subscribe to our mailing list to be notified when our Calls are released.

Navigating Drought

Drought is an ever-present threat to Western agricultural producers. For Western agriculture to continue to thrive, farmers and ranchers will have to adapt to water-availability challenges – and Western SARE will be a critical partner in seeking effective solutions. This photo essay highlights just a sample of the innovative water-related research projects Western SARE has supported.

View Photo Essay

Hiring Deputy Director

Montana State University is taking applications for the Western SARE Deputy Director. Screening of applications will begin on July 24, 2025; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.

Learn More and Apply

Recent Publications

Read the latest issue of our magazine Simply Sustainable and download recent reports highlighting successful and innovative funded projects. Our latest report is Farmer-Rancher Research in the West: A Picture of Success

Download Publications

Grantee Spotlight

We are excited to highlight the important outreach and educational materials produced by our grantees. While conducting their research on the economic and nitrogen benefits of fava beans as both a cash and cover crop, the project leaders at California State University- Chico also created a cookbook of globally inspired fava bean recipes. Project number SW19-902

Find Tasty Fava Bean Recipes

Listen to Latest Episode

Fresh Growth: Approaches to a More Sustainable Future from Western Ag Practitioners introduces you to farmers and ranchers from around the western United States who are finding innovative sustainable practices that enrich the natural resources we all care about. These successful multi-generational operations experiment with new ideas and are making it pay. Listen in as they tell their story and provide advice for young or beginning farmers.

SARE Outreach Featured Resources

SARE Outreach regularly releases new printed and multi-media educational resources, such as controlling weeds without herbicides; managing soil life; effective marketing; tackling crucial social issues; and more. Bookmark and visit their resources page often.

Stories from the West

Soil Management

Creating Fungal Compost

A former Chicago science teacher turned Colorado farmer, Rick Bieterman isn’t afraid of a challenge. Start with the location of his Watershed Ranch near Buena Vista in central Colorado. “Soil quality out here is pretty terrible,” he said. “Organics are way low. We’re right next to the Arkansas River, so most of our fields are […]

About Western SARE

Western SARE provides competitive grants and educational opportunities in Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Federated States of Micronesia, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Northern Marianas Islands, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Farmers are very interested now, and the ag professionals who have gone through the training are educating farmers in the practice.

Dr. Gadi V.P. Reddy, Montana
Read story »

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