Supplemental and Alternative Crops Competitive Grants Program | Apply Online

Supplemental and Alternative Crops Competitive Grants (SACC) Program - FAQs

1) What is the Supplemental and Alternative Crops Competitive Grants (SACC) Program?

The Supplemental and Alternative Crops Competitive Grants (SACC) Program is a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) discretionary competitive grant opportunity focused on advancing canola as a practical supplemental and alternative crop in the United States.

2) What is the main goal of this grant opportunity?

The central purpose is to drive a meaningful increase in U.S. canola production and/or planted acreage by supporting applied research and development that removes key barriers to adoption and improves on-farm performance.

3) What crop is the program specifically focused on?

This opportunity is focused specifically on canola and on helping it fit more reliably and profitably into existing U.S. cropping systems.

4) What types of projects does SACC fund?

The program supports applied research and development aimed at improving canola adoption and performance. Examples described in the opportunity include developing and testing superior canola germplasm, improving best practices for planting and cultivation, and enhancing harvesting methods.

5) What does the opportunity mean by "applied research and development"?

Based on the description provided, the emphasis is on practical work that directly improves real-world canola production, including removing barriers that keep producers from adopting canola and improving outcomes in the field (for example, performance, reliability, and profitability within U.S. cropping systems).

6) Is canola germplasm development an eligible topic under this program?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly references work to develop and test superior canola germplasm, such as varieties or breeding lines with better yield, adaptation, stress tolerance, or other agronomic traits.

7) What agronomic improvements does the program highlight?

The program highlights refining and improving best practices for planting and cultivation, as well as enhancing harvesting methods to support more reliable and profitable integration of canola into existing systems.

8) Does the program require Extension or outreach activities?

Yes. A defining feature of the program is its emphasis on getting usable results to producers quickly. Proposals are expected to go beyond research alone by actively translating findings into practice through Extension and related outreach channels.

9) What kinds of outreach activities are expected in proposals?

The opportunity indicates that applicants should include extension, education, and communication activities that directly support the research goals. Examples mentioned include producer-facing guidance, field demonstrations, decision tools, trainings, and other methods intended to accelerate adoption of successful practices.

10) How should research and outreach be integrated in a proposal?

The framing provided makes clear that research and outreach are meant to move together, with knowledge transfer occurring as soon as practicable rather than waiting until the end of the project.

11) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) for this opportunity?

The posting indicates an award ceiling of $210,000.

12) Which agency administers this opportunity?

This is a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) grant opportunity.

13) How is this opportunity identified in USDA/NIFA listings?

Administratively, it is listed as USDA NIFA OP 005676.

14) What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA 10.200.

15) What activity category is this grant funded under?

The posting indicates it is funded through a grant mechanism within the agriculture activity category.

16) What was the closing date for the referenced cycle?

The original and current closing date for the referenced cycle was April 11, 2016.

17) When was this opportunity created and posted?

The opportunity was created and posted on February 9, 2016.

18) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described broadly as "Others." The posting indicates that applicants are expected to consult the additional eligibility language in the full notice for the specific categories that qualify.

19) Does the information provided list the exact eligible applicant categories?

No. The information provided only notes the broad eligibility label ("Others") and points applicants to the full notice for detailed eligibility definitions and qualifying categories.

20) What is the program trying to change on farms?

The stated intent is to improve the practicality of canola as a supplemental or alternative crop by removing adoption barriers and improving on-farm performance, which the description ties to increases in production and/or planted acreage.

21) Are projects expected to produce producer-ready outputs?

Yes. The opportunity emphasizes quick delivery of usable results to producers and expects active translation of findings into practice through Extension and outreach approaches such as demonstrations, tools, and trainings.

22) Does the opportunity emphasize end-of-project reporting only, or earlier knowledge transfer?

It emphasizes earlier knowledge transfer. The description notes that knowledge transfer should occur as soon as practicable, rather than waiting until the end of a project.