$37 million available to value-added producer grants

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced that $37 million is available for the Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program. A special reserve is set aside for beginning farmers and ranchers and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. The deadline to apply is August 29, 2011.

Agricultural producers, businesses majority-owned by agricultural producers, and organizations representing agricultural producers are eligible to apply for Value Added Producer Grants for business planning or working capital expenses associated with marketing value-added agricultural products. Agricultural producers include farmers, ranchers, loggers, agricultural harvesters and fishermen that engage in the production or harvesting of an agricultural commodity.

According to the Center for Rural Affairs, the program was created to help producers expand their customer base for the products or commodities they produce. This results in a greater portion of revenues derived from the value-added activity being made available to the producer of the product.

For more information on the Value-Added Producer Grants Program and how to apply, visit: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_VAPG_Grants.html.

Applicants can also contact their USDA Rural Development State Office by calling 1-800-670-6553 and pressing (1). Applicants are encouraged to contact their state USDA Rural Development offices well in advance of the deadline to discuss their projects and ask any questions about the application process.

Tags: news, vapg, grants