AGRICULTURE PROJECTS FUNDED IN
SOUTH CAROLINA
by USDA's
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program
1988-2025
SOUTH CAROLINA
by USDA's
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program
1988-2025
South Carolina has been awarded $6,361,173 grants to support 93 projects, including but not limited to, 17 research and/or education projects, 14 professional development projects and 21 producer-led projects. South Carolina has also received additional SARE support through multi-state projects.
Some grant programs may have been started or ended, or both, within the selected date range. Complete information may not be available for all grant programs prior to 2016.
| RESEARCH AND EDUCATION GRANTS | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Project # | Project Title | SARE support | Project Leaders | |
| LS25-403 | Evaluating forage-based strategies to improve sustainability and resilience of perennial forage ecosystems | $396,277 | Dr.Liliane Severino da Silva Clemson University Dr.Kim Mullenix Auburn University/Alabama Cooperative Ex Erick Santos University of Alberta Dr.Carlos Garcia Clemson University Dr.William Smith Auburn University Liza Garcia University of Florida | |
| LS24-395 | Empirical assessment of grain sorghum resiliency, productivity, and profitability in the southeastern USA | $399,974 | Dr.Richard Boyles, III Clemson University Dr.Zachary Brenton Carolina Seed Systems Dr.Joseph Roberts Clemson University Anastasia Thayer Clemson | |
| LS23-379 | Flipping the cages on sustainable aquaculture: a study on oyster aquaculture technique and policy to reduce pathogens | $358,557 | Matthew Gorstein South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium Dr.Peter Kingsley-Smith South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Marine Resources Mike Marshall South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control Dr.Matthew Nowlin College of Charleston | |
| LS22-374 | Cover crop inter-seeding in organic corn production to reduce resource inputs and soil disturbance and enhance pest control and farm profitability | $371,000 | Dr.Sruthi Narayanan Clemson University Dr.Carmen Blubaugh University of Illinois Dr.Joshua Idassi South Carolina State University Dr.Dave Lamie Clemson University Dr.Meghnaa Tallapragada Temple University Dr.Rongzhong Ye Clemson University | |
| LS22-369 | Establishing an Organic Watermelon Industry in South Carolina | $369,999 | Matthew Cutulle Clemson University, CREC Dr.Bhupinder Farmaha Clemson University Dr.Shaker Kousik USDA-ARS- United States Vegetable Lab Dr.Amnon Levi USDA-ARS-United States Vegetable Lab Dr.Brian Ward Clemosn University | |
| LS22-366 | Development of Sustainable Strategies for Managing Bacterial Diseases and Improving Tree Health in the Peach Production System | $371,000 | Hehe Wang Clemson University Juan Carlos Melgar Clemson University Guido Schnabel Clemson University Dr.Michael Vassalos Clemson University Dr.Rongzhong Ye Clemson University | |
| LS21-359 | Strengthening Farmer-consumer Connections for Sustainable Agricultural Systems | $213,954 | Courtney Quinn Furman University Dr.Karen Allen Furman University Dr.John Quinn Furman University | |
| LS21-355 | Gullah/Geechee Agro-Culture: Sustaining Culture to Sustain Agriculture in the Lowcountry | $341,346 | Dr.Najmah Thomas University of South Carolina Beaufort | |
| LS19-306 | Utility of Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation and Organic Herbicides for Weed and Disease Management in Organic Solanaceous Vegetable Systems | $293,470 | Matthew Cutulle Clemson University, CREC | |
| LS19-305 | Incorporating Natural, Non-toxic Arthropod Resistant Tomato Varieties into Southern Production Systems | $299,963 | Juang-Horng Chong Clemson University | |
| LS16-273 | Improving Silvopasture Systems in the South: Identification of Suitable Forage Crops and Enhancement of Environmental Quality in Upland Forests | $135,487 | Dr.John Quinn Furman University | |
| LS09-217 | Improvement of the safety of food handling practices on small farms | $200,000 | Dr.Paul Dawson Clemson University | |
| LS06-188 | Expanding the grazing season for sustainable year-round forage-finished beef production | $163,000 | Susan Duckett Clemson University | |
| LS04-213 | Development and Integration of Sustainable Agriculture Core Curriculum Training into the Southern Region Extension Education System | $241,000 | Dr.Geoff Zehnder Clemson University | |
| LS03-155 | Creating a value chain system for local and regional farm products | $19,310 | Dr.Geoff Zehnder Clemson University | |
| LS03-157 | Suppression of weeds and other pests in fresh market vegetables using wild radish cover crop | $173,125 | Jason Norsworthy Clemson Univeristy | |
| LS93-054 | Evaluation of Low-Input, No-Till, No-Herbicide Continuous Grazing System for Dairy Cows | $118,911 | Jean Bertrand Clemson University | |
| EDUCATION ONLY GRANTS | ||||
| Project # | Project Title | SARE support | Project Leaders | |
| EDS23-047 | Young Tree Farmers Camp | $46,000 | Dr.Jennie Stephens Center for Heirs' Property Preservation Steve Patterson Center for Heirs' Property Preservation | |
| EDS23-054 | Gullah/Geechee Heir Property Initiative: Sustaining Heir Property in the Lowcountry Through Sustainable Agriculture | $40,000 | Willie Turral Gullah Geechee Initiative Foundation | |
| EDS22-43 | Wholesale Market Success For Limited Resource Gullah Farmers | $49,500 | Walter Mack Gullah Farmers Cooperative Association | |
| PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM GRANTS | ||||
| Project # | Project Title | SARE support | Project Leaders | |
| SPDP25-040 | Building educational capacity to enhance the implementation of sustainable livestock production strategies in the Southeast region | $79,165 | Dr.Liliane Severino da Silva Clemson University Dr.Matias Aguerre Clemson University Dr.Wilmer Cuervo Dr.Leanne Dillard Auburn University Dr.Carlos Garcia Clemson University | |
| SPDP23-021 | Indigo and Companion Food Crops: Opportunities for Limited Resource Farmers in the Lowcountry of South Carolina and Georgia | $79,500 | Donna Hardy ICIC | |
| SPDP22-15 | Training Educators in the Southern Region Using Aquaponics as a Sustainable Agriculture Solution | $71,322 | Dr.Lance Beecher Clemson University Ben Calhoun Greenwood Area SBDC Roland McReynolds Carolina Farm Stewardship Association | |
| SPDP21-01 | Train the Trainers: Reducing impacts from harmful algal blooms in livestock water sources in South Carolina | $79,975 | Dr.Debabrata Sahoo Clemson University Dr.Matthew Burns Clemson University Mark Nettles South Carolina State University, 1890 Research and Extension Heather Nix Clemson University Cooperative Extension Dr.Michael Vassalos Clemson University Sarah White Clemson University | |
| ES19-150 | Advanced Soil Health Training for South Carolina Agriculture Professionals | $79,847 | Kelly Flynn Clemson University | |
| ES17-137 | Wholesale Success: Building the capacity of farmers to meet demand for locally and sustainably grown produce | $78,008 | Dr.Geoff Zehnder Clemson University | |
| ES13-117 | Training in Renewable Energy Systems for Small Farms to Reduce Energy Costs and Improve Profitability | $78,128 | Dr.Geoff Zehnder Clemson University | |
| ES11-108 | Pollinator Conservation Short Course | $92,066 | Denise Ledgerwood The Xerces Society | |
| ES10-106 | On-Farm Training in Organic Pest Management Practices for Small, Diversified Farms | $83,775 | Dr.Geoff Zehnder Clemson University | |
| ES02-064 | Calhoun Fields Laboratory: A Program for Experiential Training in Organic Farming Systems | $49,926 | Dr.Geoff Zehnder Clemson University | |
| ES01-057 | South Carolina Farm and Forest Land Conservation Training | $25,428.40 | Ben Boozer Clemson Institute for Economic & Community Develop | |
| ES97-018 | The First Requirement of Agriculture Sustainability: Efficient Management of Available Resources | $60,000 | Charles Q. Artis South Carolina State University, Community and Economic Development | |
| ES97-017 | Overcoming Training Obstacles: A Realistic Cost-Effective Approach | $10,000 | Charles Q. Artis South Carolina State University, Community and Economic Development | |
| LST94-006 | Extending Sustainable Agriculture Concepts and Practices to Traditional Agricultural Advisors | $11,700 | Jim Palmer Clemson | |
| FARMER/RANCHER GRANTS | ||||
| Project # | Project Title | SARE support | Project Leaders | |
| FS23-350 | The Effectiveness in Attracting Oyster Spat on PVC versus Bamboo Stakes for Reef Restoration in the North Edisto River | $15,000 | Steve Dierkes Barrier Island Oyster Company | |
| FS22-341 | Does reduction of nitrate inputs in pasture land treated with Chlorella vulgaris result in cost savings and healthier soil and grass? | $10,975 | Dale Snyder Sweetgrass Garden Co-op | |
| FS21-330 | Does Treatment with Chlorella vulgaris Extend the Life of Tomato Plants to Increase Tomato Sales? | $14,640 | Dale Snyder Sweetgrass Garden Co-op | |
| FS20-326 | Summer Cover Crops for Organic No-till Broccoli | $14,820 | Sarah Belk Wild Hope Farm | |
| FS18-309 | Studying the Use of Copper to Raise Healthier Goats | $10,000 | Judy Langley Judy Langley | |
| FS17-300 | Scaling Indigo Production in South Carolina | $5,965 | Kathy McCullough Farmer | |
| FS16-288 | Modified Method for Roller-Crimper No Till System in the Southeast Coastal Plain | $8,327 | Mary Connor Three Sisters Farm | |
| FS14-284 | Is freshwater fish compost as effective as saltwater fish compost on vegetable production? | $10,000 | Dale Snyder Sweetgrass Garden Co-op | |
| FS13-276 | Shade cloth for fall bearing blackberry druplet abortion/malfunction problems in southeastern USA | $6,458 | Walker Miller The Happy Berry Bunch | |
| FS11-257 | Is Fish Waste Compost worth the Mess and Effort? | $9,848 | Dale Snyder Sweetgrass Garden Co-op | |
| FS11-255 | Cucumber Pollination with Bumblebees | $8,530 | David MacFawn Rawl Farms | |
| FS10-245 | Forage Chicory Use in Rotational Grazing of Sheep to Reduce Intestinal Worms, Reduce Grain Supplementation, And Maximize Growth | $9,078 | Kathy McCaskill Old McCaskill's Farm | |
| FS10-247 | Using Buckwheat to Attract Beneficial Insects for Crop Protection | $9,037 | Daniel Parson Parson Produce | |
| FS09-233 | Dual Season Organic Asparagus Production | $9,995 | Mary Connor Three Sisters Farm | |
| FS04-184 | Edamame Variety Trials for the Local Fresh Market | $4,777 | Carolyn A. Prince | |
| FS99-102 | Cattle Lane Construction Alternatives That Enhance Intensive Grazing Systems | $9,850 | Tom Trantham Trantham's Dairy Farm | |
| FS98-079 | Demonstration of a Low-Input Diversified Small Farm Operation | $9,200 | Theodore Nesmith | |
| FS98-070 | Red Plastic Mulch as an Alternative to Insecticides in Production of Seedless Watermelons | $7,390 | John Frazier | |
| FS95-033 | Cover Crops in Integrated Vegetable Production Systems | $9,285 | Charles Wingard W.P. Rawl & Sons Farms | |
| FS94-016 | Clover Cover Crops, Weed Management and Consumer Tolerance to Insect Damage | $4,710 | Horace & Shaw Skipper The Berry Patch | |
| FS94-005 | Vegetable Marketing Strategies for a Small Farm Co-op | $10,000 | Curtis Inabinett Sea Island Farmers Co-op | |
| GRADUATE STUDENT GRANTS | ||||
| Project # | Project Title | SARE support | Project Leaders | |
| GS23-283 | Potential of Cover Crop Influence on Water Repellency and the Sustainability of Southern U.S. Soils | $12,042 | Dr.Dara Park Clemson University Payton Davis Clemson University | |
| GS23-274 | Enhancing the Biological Control of the Diamondback Moth (Plutella xylostella) Through Habitat Management for Sustainable Brassica Production | $12,341 | Dr.Tom Bilbo Clemson University Amna Ghani Clemson university | |
| GS22-263 | Development and Phenotypic Evaluation of a Brassica oleracea Leafy Greens Diversity Panel | $16,500 | Dr.Sandra Branham Clemson University Khushwinder Kaur Clemson University | |
| GS22-259 | PRECISION: leveraging deeP REinforCement learnIng algorithm for Sustainable IrrigatiON scheduling | $16,500 | Dr.Vidya Samadi Clemson University Lisa Umutoni Clemson University | |
| GS18-192 | Cover Cropping to Improve Soil Moisture Content for the Following Cash Crop | $16,496 | Dr.Sruthi Narayanan Clemson University Dr.Ricardo St. Aime Clemson University | |
| GS17-174 | Optimizing Nutritional Management in Fruit Tree Production in Southern U.S. | $16,441 | Juan Carlos Melgar Clemson University Qi Zhou Clemson University | |
| GS13-126 | Weeds, Nitrogen, and Yield: Measuring the Effectiveness of an Organic No-Till System | $10,927 | Dr.Geoff Zehnder Clemson University David Robb Clemson University | |
| GS04-034 | Control of Soilborne Fungi with Biofumigation | $10,000 | Anthony Keinath Clemson University Samuel Njoroge Clemson University | |
| GS04-041 | Preliminary Investigation for Application of Supercritical Fluid Extraction Technology for Garlic Oil Extraction | $10,000 | Dr.Terry Walker Clemson University Meidui Dong Clemson University | |
| GS03-020 | The Assessment of Conservation and Traditional Tillage Systems on Weed Dynamics, Insect Abundance, and Northern Bobwhite Quail Life and Behavioral Patterns | $10,000 | William Bowerman Clemson University Derek Eggert Clemson University | |
| ON FARM RESEARCH/PARTNERSHIP GRANTS | ||||
| Project # | Project Title | SARE support | Project Leaders | |
| OS20-133 | The Potential of Inter-seeded Cover Crops for Enhancing Soil Health and Soil Moisture Content in a Row Crop Production System | $20,000 | Dr.Sruthi Narayanan Clemson University | |
| OS18-118 | Cover Cropping to Increase the Sustainability of Cropping Systems by Developing Soil Organic Matter, Improving Soil Health, and Suppressing Weed Growth | $15,000 | Dr.Sruthi Narayanan Clemson University | |
| OS17-109 | Identification of Factors Involved in Peach Skin Streaking | $15,000 | Guido Schnabel Clemson University | |
| OS16-100 | Getting to the Bottom of ‘Bronzing’, A Peach Skin Disorder Causing Severe Losses for Organic and Conventional Peach Growers | $15,000 | Guido Schnabel Clemson University | |
| OS16-093 | Increasing Sustainability of Peanut, Cotton, and Soybean Production Systems Through Innovative Interseeding Technology to Enhance Farm Profit and Reduce Pest Occurrence | $14,990 | Daniel Anco Clemson University | |
| OS16-094 | Fruit Bagging as a Strategy to Reduce Reliance on Pesticides for the Production of Peaches in the Southeast | $14,967 | Juan Carlos Melgar Clemson University | |
| OS16-096 | Cover Crop Influence on Stored Soil Water Availability to Subsequent Crops | $14,995 | Dr.Sruthi Narayanan Clemson University | |
| OS07-035 | On-Farm Use of a Hybrid Vetch Cover Crop to Reduce Fusarium Wilt in Seedless Watermelon | $9,900 | Anthony Keinath Clemson University | |
| OS03-010 | Poultry Litter Research Project | $12,600 | David Gunter Clemson Extension Service | |
| OS03-013 | Growing Organic Fruits and Vegetables for Local Farmer’s Markets | $9,925 | York Glover | |
| SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY INNOVATION GRANTS | ||||
| Project # | Project Title | SARE support | Project Leaders | |
| CS12-087 | Fighting Obesity in Schools By Changing Eating Habits of Students | $10,000 | Robert Behr Ashley Ridge High School | |
| CS10-078 | GrowFood Carolina | $10,000 | Lisa Turansky South Carolina Coastal Conservation League | |
| CS08-065 | Marshview Community Organic Farms – Young Farmers of the Lowcountry | $9,700 | Sara Reynolds Marshview Comunity Organic Farm | |
| CS08-064 | Growing the Manning Farmer’s Market | $5,050 | Rebecca Rhodes City of Manning | |
| CS07-059 | Chicora Farmers Market | $6,300 | Amanda Crump Metanoia CDC | |
| CS07-058 | Farmers Market Support Activities | $2,570 | Grady Sampson | |
| PDP STATE PROGRAM GRANTS | ||||
| The following are non-competitive awards that fund the activities of the SARE state coordinator(s) within each state. | ||||
| Project # | Project Title | SARE support | Project Leaders | |
| SSC24-001 | 2024-2025 Model State Program Proposal | $22,000 | Dr.John Andrae Clemson University Dr.Joshua Idassi South Carolina State University | |
| SSC24-A01 | 2024-2025 Model State Program Assistant - Clemson University | $33,000 | Dr.John Andrae Clemson University Dr.Joshua Idassi South Carolina State University | |
| SSC23-A001 | 2023 Model State Program Assistant - Clemson University | $33,000 | Dr.Matt Smith Clemson Pee Dee Research & Education Center | |
| SCS23-001 | 2023 Model State Program - Clemson University | $22,000 | Dr.Matt Smith Clemson Pee Dee Research & Education Center | |
| SSC22-001 | Clemson University Training Grant- MSP22 | $22,000 | Dr.John Andrae Clemson University | |
| SSSC21-A08 | MODEL STATE PROGRAM Clemson University – PROGRAM ASSISTANT 2021-2022 | $33,333 | Dr.Matt Smith Clemson Pee Dee Research & Education Center Dr.Edoe Agbodjan South Carolina State University | |
| SSC21-001 | 2021 Model State Program- Clemson University | $22,222 | Dr.John Andrae Clemson University | |
| SSC20-001 | 2020 Model State Program- Clemson University | $22,222 | Dr.Matt Smith Clemson Pee Dee Research & Education Center | |
| SSC19-001 | 2019 Model State Program- Clemson University | $22,222 | Dr.Matt Smith Clemson Pee Dee Research & Education Center | |
| SSC18-001 | SSC18-001 | $55,555 | Dr.Matt Smith Clemson Pee Dee Research & Education Center | |
| SSC17-001 | SSC17-001 Model State Program | $55,555 | Dr.Geoff Zehnder Clemson University Dr.Edoe Agbodjan South Carolina State University | |
| SSC16-001 | 2016-2017 Model State Program Clemson University | $22,222 | Dr.Geoff Zehnder Clemson University | |
For further information on projects, contact 770-412-4787 or ssare@uga.edu.
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) is funded by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).