Missouri Sustainable Agriculture
Demonstration Award Application 2005

Sponsors: The Demonstration Award Program is sponsored by the Missouri Department of Agriculture with support from the Community Food Systems and Sustainable Agriculture Extension Program of the University of Missouri. For 2005, the state of Missouri allocated $33,000 for sustainable agriculture grants. A cooperative agreement with the University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry will provide an additional $9,000 to target agroforestry projects (integration of trees and shrubs into agriculture systems).

Eligibility: Any Missouri farmer or agricultural producer may apply for this grant. Groups of producers may apply, although the maximum grant is $3,000. Only one proposal will be awarded to any individual each year. The grant reviewers will select projects from throughout the state, in order to represent as many agricultural areas of Missouri as possible. The reviewers will be looking for projects that use innovative sustainable agriculture practices.

To apply, complete and submit:

1. Application. Be sure to give a clear explanation of your project and how it promotes sustainable agriculture. Please include enough details so the grant reviewers can easily understand your project. Use an additional page if necessary.
2. Letter of support. Proposals must include a letter of support from a representative of an agricultural agency or group in your community (e.g. University Extension, Vocational Agriculture Department, Missouri Department of Conservation, community or state college, or a producer group that conducts educational activities). The letter should include:
   1. Supporter's address and phone number,
   2. A statement on the need for this kind of work in the community, and
   3. A statement on the Supporter's plans to help carry out educational activities

Important Information for 2005:

• There will be at least 14 grants available with a maximum amount of $3,000 each. Three of the grants are sponsored by the University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry to highlight the integration of trees and shrubs into sustainable agriculture systems. The agroforestry grants are reserved for farms in counties surrounding these University Farms and Centers:

  Greenley Memorial Center in Novelty (Adair, Clark, Knox, Lewis, Macon, Scotland, and Shelby counties)	Southwest Center in Mount Vernon (Barry, Christian, Dade, Greene, Jasper, Lawrence, Newton, and Stone counties)
  Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Center in New Franklin (Boone, Chariton, Cooper, Howard, Randolph, and Saline counties)	Wurdack Farm in Cook Station (Crawford, Dent, Franklin, Gasconade, Iron, Phelps, and Washington counties)

• For an electronic application, or more information about the Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Award Program, please visit the Sustainable Agriculture Website at: http://agebb.missouri.edu/sustain/
• E-mail applications will be accepted, but you must send the original signature page.
• Faxed applications will not be accepted since they are too difficult to read.

Guidelines:

1. Projects must be completed within three years.

2. Grant funds may be used to pay 50 percent of labor costs, and 50 percent of the costs of equipment or other permanent purchases (up to the $3,000 maximum). Grant funds may be used to pay for 100 percent of annual expenses such as feed, livestock, minerals, seed, travel, etc. (up to the $3,000 maximum).

3. Funds are for one project. For additional funding, please reapply.

4. Grant recipients are responsible for record keeping and should keep labor records and copies of receipts for tax purposes. Unspent funds must be returned.

Criteria: Applications will be reviewed by a six-member selection committee made up of farmers and representatives from the Missouri Department of Agriculture, the Community Food Systems and Sustainable Agriculture Program of the University of Missouri, and Lincoln University. The selection committee looks for the following elements when they consider proposals:

1. A well-identified problem and a specific plan to test possible solutions,
2. Potential to reduce reliance on non-renewable resources,
3. Projects that are repeatable, useful beyond one year and not specific to only one farm,
4. Potential profitability of project,
5. Environmental benefits project provides,
6. Positive affects within local community,
7. Involvement of others in the community, who could contribute to the project,
8. Ability to share findings with others via field days, publications, workshops etc.

Missouri Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Award Application 2005 Project Title:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Producer/Project Leader:                                                                                                           Address:                                                                             Phone:                                             City:                                                             State:                 Zip Code:                                     County where farm is located:                                                                                                     Have you previously received a Missouri Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Award? Yes ____       No ____ Was the project successfully completed? Yes_____ No_____. If no, please explain:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Please indicate how many years it will take to complete your project, starting in January 2005. Project length:_____years. 1. Describe the problem your project will address. Please include the objectives of your project and how this will help you to farm more sustainably. Sustainable farming is ecologically sound (it reduces your reliance on non-renewable resources), economically viable (it helps you make a good living on your farm), and socially responsible (it helps support family farms and rural communities).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     2. Describe in detail how you would use this grant to address the problem. Include A. timetable and B. record keeping plans. A. Timetable of Work activities:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           B. List production and financial information you will document (e.g. Soil tests; crop yields; animal weight gains; equipment, feed, and building expenses; sales; profits):                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         3. How will you measure your project's success?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         4. How will you share information from your project with other producers?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         5. Describe your farm operation (include total farm acreage, amount of land involved in project, number of head of livestock, crops raised, etc.).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         6. Budget Instructions: Grant funds may be used to pay for up to 50% of labor and durable assets (items which will be used beyond the length of the grant). Durable assets include items such as: computer programs, equipment, fencing, water systems. Grant funds may be used to pay for 100% of annual expenses (items which will be used up or sold during the project). Annual expenses include items such as: feed, livestock, minerals, seed, travel. See the example budget on pages 9 and 10 for details. LABOR BUDGET (See below) Use the first column, Labor Expenses, to list all of the people participating in your project and the role they will play. Include name, address, and telephone number for each participant whether they are receiving grant funds or not. Use the second column, Grant Funds Requested, to list the amount of grant dollars you are requesting for each person. Use the third column, Other Contributions, to list the amount of dollars, other than grant funds, that will be spent on your project. Include donations, your own funds, and in-kind contributions of labor. To figure the amounts for in-kind contributions, calculate what the labor would be worth if you had to pay to have it done. For example, operator labor per year at $10/hour. SUPPLY & EQUIPMENT BUDGET (See below) Use the first column, Supplies, Equipment & Other Expenses, to describe the items you will use or travel that is required for your project. Outreach costs include expenses for a field day, workshop, reports, publicity, refreshments, etc. Use the second column, Grant Funds Requested, to list the amount of grant dollars you are requesting for each item. Use the third column, Other Contributions, to list the amount of dollars, other than grant funds, that will be spent on your project. Include donations, your own funds, and in-kind contributions of facilities, supplies, etc. To figure the amounts for in-kind contributions, calculate what the facilities, supplies, etc. would cost you if you had to pay for them in cash. For example, $75/acre cash rent, $10/acre or $15/hour equipment rental, $.30/mile for travel. Please Note: Grant recipients are paid for actual project expenses only. Two-thirds of the funds you request will be available to start your project. Be sure to keep copies of receipts from purchases and record labor involved in your project (you will need these records when you pay taxes). The remaining one-third of the funds will be made available when you complete your project and turn in your final report. Any unspent grant funds must be returned. LABOR BUDGET Labor Expenses (50% match required) Please list everyone who is working on the grant project. Grants Funds Requested Other Contributions Name and role: Address: Phone: E-mail:     Name and role: Address: Phone: E-mail:     Name and role: Address: Phone: E-mail:     Name and role: Address: Phone: E-mail:     Name and role: Address: Phone: E-mail:     Name and role: Address: Phone: E-mail:     Subtotal $_______________ $_______________ SUPPLY & EQUIPMENT BUDGET Supplies, Equipment, Other Expenses Grant Funds Requested Other Contributions ANNUAL EXPENSES: items to be used up or sold during the project (no match required)           Operating expenses and supplies                             Lease of land and equipment                 Outreach                 Travel           Other     DURABLE ASSETS: items to be used beyond the length of the grant (50% match required)           Building supplies                       Equipment purchases                       Other           Subtotal (from above items) $_______________ $_______________ Subtotal (from Labor Budget) $_______________ $_______________ Total Grant Funds Requested $_______________   Total Other Contributions   $_______________ 7. If your proposed project requires assistance from a financial institution, please enclose a letter from them indicating their commitment. 8. I agree to provide a project summary which includes: general description of the project; summary of activities: what, where, when, and how activities were completed; number of people who received information about this project; production information (yield, head of livestock, number produced or saved); financial information (expenses and income). ___________________________________________________________________________ Signature of Applicant ___________________________________________________________________________ Applicant Name (please print) Submit applications to: Joan Benjamin Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Awards Missouri Department of Agriculture P.O. Box 630, 1616 Missouri Blvd. Jefferson City, MO 65102 Telephone: 573-522-8616 or 573-751-5505 E-mail: Joan.Benjamin@mda.mo.gov Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m., November 30, 2004. EXAMPLE LABOR BUDGET Labor Expenses (50% match required) Please list everyone who is working on the grant project. Grants Funds Requested Other Contributions Name and role: Joe Producer, farmer: conduct trials, take samples, record findings, evaluate test results Address: 2468 Uphill Road Downhome, MO 64788 Phone: 660-444-1111 E-mail: producerj@send.news.com $200 $2,400 Name and role: Joann Producer, farmer: plant fields, care for chickens, conduct trials, direct market plants and chickens Address: See above Phone: E-mail: $500 $500 Name and role: Jerri Producer, daughter: input data into computer Address: see above Phone: E-mail: producerje@mo.more.edu $50 $150 Name and role: Ida Teach, extension agent: assist with field day and help evaluate test results Address: Prairie County Extension Courthouse, Room 314 Livemore, MO 65432 Phone: 816-555-6789 E-mail: TeachI@missouri.edu   $250 Name and role: I. C. Bugg, private crop consultant: scouting Address: 123 Ladybug Street Beneficial, MO 54321 Phone: 314-234-5678 E-mail: BuggIC@findbug.com $275 $300 Name and role: Suzy Seller, marketing consultant: conduct market survey, develop marketing plan, develop website Address: 789 Market Street Sales, MO 67890 Phone: 573-456-6789 E-mail: Icansell@sellmore.com $175 $500 Subtotal $      $1,200             $      $4,100             EXAMPLE SUPPLY & EQUIPMENT BUDGET Supplies, Equipment, Other Expenses Grant Funds Requested Other Contributions ANNUAL EXPENSES: items to be used up or sold during the project (no match required)           Operating expenses and supplies               Seed $150             Fertilizer $75             Chickens $275         Lease of land and equipment               Lease 10 acres at $10/acre $100         Outreach               Film & developing $24         Travel               Attend Sustaining People through           Agriculture Mtg.           (250 miles @ .30/mile) $75             Pick up supplies: seed, fertilizer,           fencing materials           (147 miles @ .30/mile) $44         Other               Lab tests (analyze feed) $277   DURABLE ASSETS: items to be used beyond the length of the grant (50% match required)           Building supplies               Fencing $130 $700       Equipment purchases               Feed grinder $650 $7,000       Other           Subtotal (from above items) $      $1,800             $      $7,700             Subtotal (from Labor Budget) $      $1,200             $      $4,100             Total Grant Funds Requested $      $3,000               Total Other Contributions   $      $11,800

Questions? Comments? Please contact Joan Benjamin at: Joan.Benjamin@mda.mo.gov