November 26, 2013. The U.S Department of Agriculture is looking to award $10.5 million in grants to qualifying agricultural producers and farmer/rancher cooperatives. The Value-Added Producer Grant Program is designed to assist agricultural producers develop new products, expand marketing opportunities, support further processing of existing products or goods, or to develop specialty and niche products.
Under the grant program recipients can receive up to $75,000 for a planning grant or up to $200,000 for a working capital grant. To be considered an eligible applicant you must meet one of the following requirements: (1) independent agricultural producer, (2) farmer/rancher cooperative, or (3) agricultural producer groups.
The deadline for submission of grant applications is February 24, 2014. For additional information on the application process see page 70260 of the November 25 Federal Register. Also, you may contact Goosmann Law to learn more about our agricultural practice at info@goosmannlaw.com or by calling 712.226.4000.