Southern SARE

04/21/2025

It’s been just a couple of weeks since in Memphis—and we’re still hype from connecting with previous graduate student grant awardees and meeting new potential ones!

As they put it themselves, this year’s conference, themed “I Am, Because You Are,” was a powerful reminder of the strength we draw from one another. From dynamic speakers and interactive workshops to unforgettable networking moments, MANRRS39 was a true celebration of excellence, unity, and growth."

Whenever it is hosted in the southern region, we attend the MANRRS - Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences conference to interact directly with hundreds of graduate students as well as undergraduates enrolled at accredited colleges and institutions in the southern region and their potential advisors. We also share resources about the other Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education regions since it is a national conference.

Our graduate student grant is accepting proposals until May 16, 2025, 12:00 PM (EST).

Our Graduate Student Grants, a competitive program to fund graduate student projects that address sustainable agriculture issues, provides sustainable ag research opportunities for Master's and PhD students, so if you know any who may be interested, please share this link: https://southern.sare.org/Grants/Apply-for-a-Grant/Graduate-Student-Grants

Projects must include a clear and well-defined research topic that benefits sustainable agriculture in the Southern Region.

General Info:
📌 Awards can be up to $22,000
📌 Projects are for 24 months
📌 Helps introduce sustainable ag
📌 A good introduction to grant writing
📌 Builds student research portfolio
📌 Develops a relationship between the student and SARE
📌 A faculty/researcher advisor is a requirement for students to apply

Potential Faculty or Researcher Advisors:
Master's and Ph.D. students need your guidance, as an advisor, to help them apply. Be a mentor to your shining students or those you know have the potential but could just use a little push.

Undergraduate Students:
Pursuing a post-graduate degree?
Keep this grant opportunity in mind.

Graduate student Joseph Anthony Navarro (2nd photo) thinks that sustainable agroecological practices can preserve biodiversity and was awarded a $16,491 SSARE grant to research it. He asks the question, “Can Taino be an alternative to traditional intensive Agriculture?”

Read more about his SSARE grant project here: https://southern.sare.org/news/can-indigenous-agricultural-methods-of-puerto-rico-mitigate-climate-change-and-feed-the-island/

04/16/2025

The LSU AgCenter is hosting a Beginning Organic Farming Workshop on April 26th in Baton Rouge. The workshop will be led by Daniel Parson, farmer and educator of Oxford College farm at Emory University. Cost to register is $30.

Register here: https://tinyurl.com/OrganicFarmWorkshop25

This one-day training is focused on organic farming practices for beginning farmers, ag professionals, and extension agents interested in medium to small scale sustainable vegetable production.

The Beginning Organic Farming Workshop will be held in Room 132 Julian C Miller Hall, LSU Main Campus Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Saturday, April 26th 2025 with check-in beginning at 8:30 a.m. The workshop will be from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. with a working lunch.

04/16/2025

The Small Producers Initiative is hosting a research track and poster session at the Southern Family Farmers & Food Systems Conference at Texas State University on Monday, August 4th.

We invite research from any food or agriculture-related discipline and from faculty, staff, and student researchers, as well as professional researchers. Researchers must apply and indicate their interest in delivering a 20-minute oral presentation, participating in a judged poster session, or both.

Apply here by June 18, 2025 (June 16th preferred by SSARE): https://txstate.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4SzMDZHWq2Vfeom
Direct questions to Dr. Ken Mix at [email protected]

About The Southern Family Farmers and Food Systems Conference:
The Southern Family Farmers & Food Systems Conference is held at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, on August 4-5, with pre-conference workshops taking place on August 3-4th.

A collaboration between Small Producers Initiative, Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance, and the Council for Healthy Food Systems, the conference will bring together over 600+ farmers, local food advocates, conservationists, and landowners, with a diverse representation of Texas farms and organizations.

This two-day event features high-quality educational sessions across seven unique learning tracks: Crops, Livestock, Business & Marketing, Start-up/Homesteading, The Big Picture, Research, and Niche. In addition, the conference includes an exhibit hall with 40+ exhibitors, abundant networking opportunities, and pre-conference workshops for hands-on learning.

It’s an exceptional chance for Texas farmers to learn from each other and build valuable connections. Often referred to as the "biggest small farm event in Texas," the conference aims to uplift our community of producers and advocates and foster shared success through ongoing education and renewed inspiration.

04/15/2025

The VisitRico Agroturismo Puerto Rico Professional Development Program SSARE project used grant award funding to enhance Puerto Rico's food security and economy by supporting small farms, which have declined in recent years.

Read more here: https://southern.sare.org/news/visit-rico-equipping-professionals-sustainably-empowering-puerto-rican-farmers/

04/15/2025

4 the Soil shares this series of permaculture conversations and encourages growers to follow the four principles of soil health:

1) Keep the Soil Covered -- Cover crops are our friends
2) Minimize soil disturbance -- Practice no-till or gentle tillage in your field or garden as much as possible
3) Maximize living roots year-round -- to improve biodiversity and life in the soil
4) Energize with diversity -- through crop rotation and/or livestock integration.

They also encourage you to share your stories of how you are regenerating soil on your farm, in your garden, or backyard.

In this episode, Nicky Schauder of Permaculture Gardens continues the conversation about permaculture and the ins and outs of compost tea with Mary Sketch Bryan

04/14/2025

🐑 Save the Date! 🐑
Mark your calendars and get ready to flock to Athens, GA, on May 17, 2025, for the Georgia Sheep Association Annual Membership Meeting for a day of learning, networking, and celebrating the sheep and wool industry. 🗓️

This is your chance to connect with fellow sheep producers, learn from industry experts, and become a part of Georgia’s growing sheep. Whether you’re a seasoned shepherd or just starting your flock, you won’t want to miss this day of networking, education, and fun!

📍 Where: Athens, GA
🕰️ When: May 17, 2025

More details, including agenda, guest speakers, and registration info, will be coming soon – stay tuned!

Visit: https://gasheepandwool.org/event-6041186?CalendarViewType=1&SelectedDate=5/14/2025

🐑 Save the Date! 🐑

Mark your calendars and get ready to flock to Athens, GA, on May 17, 2025 for the Georgia Sheep Association Annual Membership Meeting! 🗓️

This is your chance to connect with fellow sheep producers, learn from industry experts, and become a part of Georgia’s growing sheep. Whether you’re a seasoned shepherd or just starting your flock, you won’t want to miss this day of networking, education, and fun!

📍 Where: Athens, GA
🕰️ When: May 17, 2025

More details, including agenda, guest speakers, and registration info, will be coming soon – stay tuned!

04/11/2025

📣 Farmers, check out this free online webinar introducing MeatSuite's new free Bundle Builder tool! Bundle Builder helps you use every cut and price to make a profit.

🥩 Selling meat in bulk? Want to make it easier for your customers—and more profitable for you?

Join us for the Creating and Pricing Consumer-friendly Meat with MeatSuite webinar on April 23rd, 2025 at 6:00 PM (via Zoom) to learn how to price and bundle your meat for better customer appeal and profitability.

💡 What you’ll learn:
✅ How to make bulk meat sales approachable for first-time buyers
✅ A demo of MeatSuite’s new Bundle Builder tool
✅ Strategies for pricing all cuts to maximize value and use

🎤 Guest Speaker:
Matthew LeRoux, market strategy expert with 20+ years of experience and creator of the Cornell Meat Price & Yield Calculator

🖥️ Free online webinar | 📅 April 23rd | 6:00 PM

🔗 Register now: pafarmlink.org/creating-and-pricing-consumer-friendly-meat-with-meatsuite-april-2025

04/08/2025

The next Georgia Healthy Farmer Mindset virtual meeting, coordinated by the Georgia Agricultural Wellness Alliance, occurs on the second Friday of each month at 10:00am ET. This free, one-hour meeting focuses each month on a topic that impacts our Georgia farmers, families, and rural communities.

This Friday, April 11, we will learn about community funding opportunities and preventative care resources from the leaders of the Georgia Opioid Abatement Trust and the CWC Alliance respectively. Please see the attached flyer for more details, the link below to attend the meeting, and feel free to share with your network!

Click at the time of the meeting (no registration): http://garuralhealth.link/FarmerMindset

04/07/2025

Little Rumors Project
Department of Animal Science
Invites you to the workshop "Managing Practices in Feeding Sheep for Meat and Lamb Meat Processing"
SARE Projects
EDS24-)-068-PR-GOSHEPI - PHASE II. Hands-on Training in Best Management Practices for Sustainable Small Ruminant Production
EDS23-044- Tai Lamb Meat Marketing and Promotion Educational Program (TAILAMB-EP)
Aimed at producers and agronomists of CAPR
Register: https://forms.gle/MxrSGrcR6Ke3kHJ58 or QR
Experimental Farm Station, Slabs and Tai Hay Farm
Friday April 11, 2025
Neftali Luch
Tai Hay Farm LLC.
College of Agronomists of Puerto Rico
University of the Virgin Islands
Southern SARE

Recordatorio
Proyecto de Pequeños Rumiantes
Departamento de Ciencia Animal
Te invita al taller “Prácticas de Manejo en la Alimentación de Ovinos para Carne y Procesamiento de Carne de Cordero
Proyectos SARE
EDS24-)-068-PR-GOSHEPI - PHASE II. Hands-on Training in Best Management Practices for Sustainable Small Ruminant Production
EDS23-044- Tai Lamb Meat Marketing and Promotion Educational Program (TAILAMB-EP)
Dirigida a productores y agrónomos del CAPR
Registro: https://forms.gle/MxrSGrcR6Ke3kHJ58 o QR
Estación Experimental Agrícola, Lajas y Tai Hay Farm
viernes 11 de abril de 2025
Neftali Lluch
Tai Hay Farm LLC.
Colegio de Agrónomos de Puerto Rico
University of the Virgin Islands
Southern SARE