Northeast SARE Grants Fund Innovative Farm Projects

By Blake Jackson

The 2026 Northeast SARE Farmer Grant recipients have been announced, recognizing a diverse group of farmer-led projects focused on advancing innovation and sustainability across agriculture.

This year’s program was highly competitive, receiving 207 applications and selecting 33 projects spanning ten states. These initiatives cover a wide range of production systems, including vegetables, livestock, poultry, fruit, hemp, mushrooms, agroforestry, aquaculture, and beekeeping.

The funded projects align with key priorities of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, including improving farm profitability, expanding markets for agricultural products, and enhancing soil health to support long-term productivity.

Each project is designed to provide practical, research-based solutions that farmers can adopt to strengthen their operations.

One standout project, titled “Converting Discarded Pork Fat into a Value-Added Moisturizer to Increase Farm Profitability and Reduce Animal Waste,” focuses on transforming unused animal byproducts into marketable goods.

Led by Julie Friend of Wildom Farm in McHenry, Maryland, the initiative aims to create a simple and scalable process that other small farms can replicate. The project will also include educational resources such as instructional videos, a workflow guide, cost analysis tools, and an on-farm demonstration.

Several projects in New York highlight innovative approaches to regional challenges. These include research on willow compounds for livestock and human health, improvements in oyster seed production efficiency, and efforts to cultivate native North American truffles using agroforestry techniques.

Additional projects explore biochar applications, native plant nursery development for urban farms, and the design of small-scale sorghum harvesting tools.

Together, these farmer-driven efforts demonstrate a strong commitment to innovation, environmental stewardship, and building resilient agricultural systems across the Northeast.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-nes