Welcome
The Agricultural Marketing Resource Center is an electronic, national resource for producers interested in value-added agriculture. Browse commodities and products, investigate market and industry trends, study business creation and operation, read research results and locate value-added resources.
Obtaining a Grant
AgMRC Resources
Checklist for Using Grant Funds Effectively, Media Room - View this checklist to learn more about the effective use of grants.
Grant Funding Sources for Value-Added Agriculture, Business Development - The federal government, especially the USDA, offers a host of funding opportunities for ag businesses. However, producers should also consider state programs and foundations as possible sources of funding.
Grant Opportunities and Information, Business Development - If you want to become more knowledgeable about grants and grantwriting, check out the numerous links contained on this webpage.
Guide to Federal Programs for Sustainable Agriculture Available, AgMRC Blog - This blog entry features a free guide to federal programs that provides financial and technical support for value-added and diversified agriculture and forestry as well as sustainable land management and community development.
How to Use Grants, Business Development - Grants are an important resource in developing a new business. A grant can provide seed money for exploring a business opportunity, supply working capital for a business plan or provide assistance in other ways.
VAPG Program, Business Development - The Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) Program is a competitive grants program administered by the Rural Business Cooperative Service at USDA to help producers move into value-added agricultural enterprises. This program aims to provide planning and/or capital investment for value-adding enterprises started by farmers, ranchers, foresters and fishermen.
Other Resources
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), USDA, 2010 - This memo highlights four AMS programs that work at regional, state and local levels to help farmers and processors through grants and reimbursements.
Farmer Rancher grants, North Central Region SARE - This competitive grant program for farmers, ranchers and those who work with producers has a December 2, 2010 deadline. Grant funding can be used to boost profitability, perform outreach and networking activities and improve crop and livestock production.
Grant Proposal Writing Tips, Corporation for Public Broadcasting - This article is a basic guide to the elements of grant writing, helping proposal writers through each stage of the process.
Grants.com - This website is a central storehouse for information on over 1,000 federal grant programs and provides access to approximately $500 billion in annual awards.
Guide to USDA Funding for Local and Regional Food Systems, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, April 2010 - This guide describes 15 grants and programs that are relevant to local and regional food systems development, directing users to resources that can provide help in designing a project and writing a grant.
Research, Education and Economics programs, USDA, 2009 - This memo highlights seven programs that provide producers with grants to develop, test and educate others about agricultural innovations.
Rural Development programs, USDA, 2009 - This memo highlights three programs within Rural Development: Community Facilities, Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan and Value-Added Producer Grant.
Popular Resources
Quick Links
If you want more information about the recent egg recalls, go to these resources: Egg Industry Center, (Iowa State University), Egg Safety Center (United Egg Producers) and FoodSafety.gov. You can also call the CDC toll-free at 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) 24 hours a day, every day.
Are you interested in converting to organic farming? The USDA's National Organic Program provides the name and contact information for the organic program director in your state.
Have ag-related questions and need answers? Ask an Extension expert in your state.
Funding
Renewable Energy Feasibility Studies Grants, Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), Rural Development, USDA - A recent NOFA published in the Federal Register outlines how producers can apply for funding to conduct energy audits and renewable energy feasibility studies as well as receive renewable energy development assistance. Applications must be received by the appropriate USDA Rural Development state office by October 5, 2010.
USDA Announces Initiative to Improve Agricultural Energy Conservation and Efficiency, NRCS, USDA - Approximately 1,000 on-farm energy audits in 29 states will be funded through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The energy audits will be tailored to cover each farm's main energy use such as grain drying, irrigation pumping or milk cooling.
Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) Program, Rural Development, USDA - The VAPG program was first authorized in 2001. Since then, the program has awarded almost 1,140 grants, including the 194 recipients of the 2009 VAPG Awards.
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Organic Essentials, O'Donnell, Texas - Founded in 1996, this farmer-owned company takes organic fiber from the farm to the store shelf. It manufactures nonwoven cotton products such as cotton balls and cotton swabs that carry the Organic Essentials brand.
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