Doug Drury of ArchGen in Archie, MO, was awarded $17,142 for the project, "Beyond the Cone: Extracting Value from Hop Leaf Waste."
"This project evaluates whether the oil from hop leaves, normally a discarded byproduct, can serve as a useful brewing additive or a natural insect repellent for perennial berry crops. " said Drury.
Each grant was awarded as part of NCR-SARE's 2026 Farmer Rancher Grant Program, a competitive grant program for farmers and ranchers who want to explore sustainable solutions to problems through on-farm research, demonstration, and education projects.
The focus for each of the NCR-SARE grant programs is on research and education. Funding considerations are based on how well the applicant presents the problem being addressed, the project's relevance to sustainable agriculture in the 12-state North Central region, and how well it aligns with NCR-SARE's goals, among other factors specific to each grant program.
NCR-SARE's Administrative Council (AC) members decide which projects will receive SARE funds. The AC includes a mix of agricultural stakeholders in the region. Council members hail from regional farms, ranches, the Cooperative Extension Service, universities, federal agencies, and nonprofits.
Since 1988, the SARE program has helped advance farming systems that improve profitability, stewardship and quality of life through a nationwide research and education grants program. The program, part of USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture, funds projects and conducts outreach designed to bring sustainable innovations to agricultural systems.
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