Grants

Value-Added Producers and Technical Assistance Providers TOP
What: The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) announces the availability of approximately $18.4 million in competitive grant funds for fiscal year (FY) 2008 to help independent agricultural producers enter into value-added activities. Awards may be made for planning activities or for working capital expenses, but not for both.
When: Paper copies must be postmarked and mailed, shipped, or sent overnight no later than March 31, 2008, to be eligible for FY 2008 grant funding. Late applications are not eligible for FY 2008 grant funding. Electronic copies must be received by March 31, 2008, to be eligible for FY 2008 grant funding. Late applications are not eligible for FY 2008 grant funding.
How Much: The maximum grant amount for a planning grant is $100,000 and the maximum grant amount for a working capital grant is $300,000.
Web: An application guide and other materials may be obtained at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vadg.htm or by contacting the applicant’s USDA Rural Development State Office. The State Office can be reached by calling (202) 720–4323 and pressing ‘‘1.’’

NC Cooperative Extension Micro-Seed Grants TOP
What: In partnership with Handmade in America Inc., North Carolina Cooperative Extension has received grant funding from the Tobacco Trust Fund Commission and will award 40 micro-seed grants to area farmers and agriculturalists!
When: Completed applications must be postmarked by January 25th, 2008, in order to be eligible for funding. Grants will be awarded in early February 2008.
How Much: Farmers may apply for up to $5,000 to be used in the improvement, expansion, or beginning of a new or existing farm enterprise.
Web: Applications are available online (in both Word and PDF formats) at http://transylvania.ces.ncsu.edu/content/wholefarmplan&source=transylvania .
Contact: If you have questions, please contact Rob Hawk at robert_hawk@ncsu.edu or (828) 456-3575.

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Producer Grant TOP
What: A competitive grants program funded by USDA and EPA to promote research and education about sustainable agriculture. The Southern Region SARE Program recognizes the value and importance of on-farm, producer experience in developing solutions to agricultural production problems. In order to capture this producer experience, the Southern Region SARE Producer Grant program is requesting grant proposals from producers or producer organizations interested in conducting research or marketing projects related to sustainable agriculture.
When: Annual mid-November
How Much: Projects may be funded up to TWO years for a project maximum of $10,000 for an individual producer or $15,000 for a producer organization.
Web: http://www.southernsare.uga.edu/callpage.htm
Contact: John C. Mayne, Ph.D. - Assistant Director, Southern SARE Program - jmayne@griffin.uga.edu
Resources: Common Ground Newsletter and other publications - www.griffin.peachnet.edu/sare/pubspage.html; Southern SARE Project Summaries - www.griffin.peachnet.edu/sare/projects.html; Resources from the Sustainable Agriculture Network - www.sare.org/htdocs/pubs/

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) On-Farm Research Grants TOP
What: On-Farm Research Grant Projects must be developed, coordinated and led by Extension, NRCS and/or non-governmental organization (NGO) personnel who work with farmers/ranchers AND who will conduct the on-farm research with at least one farmer/rancher cooperator and are interested in conducting on-farm research or marketing projects related to sustainable agriculture. Applicants must complete a proposal describing their project and explaining how it will help producers understand and adopt sustainable agriculture practices.
When: Annual mid-November
How Much: Project maximum is $15,000 for up to two years.
Web: www.griffin.peachnet.edu/sare/
Contact: John C. Mayne, Ph.D. - Assistant Director, Southern SARE Program - jmayne@griffin.uga.edu
Resources: Common Ground Newsletter and other publications - www.griffin.peachnet.edu/sare/pubspage.html; Southern SARE Project Summaries - www.griffin.peachnet.edu/sare/projects.html; Resources from the Sustainable Agriculture Network - www.sare.org/htdocs/pubs/

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Sustainable Community Innovation TOP
What: Projects that strengthen both agriculture and Southern communities through explicit linkages between sustainable agriculture and community development, and that improve the understanding of the mutual benefits that result from such linkages.
When: Annual November
How Much: Project maximum is $10,000 for up to two years.
Web: www.griffin.peachnet.edu/sare/
Contact: John C. Mayne, Ph.D. - Assistant Director, Southern SARE Program - jmayne@griffin.uga.edu
Resources: Common Ground Newsletter and other publications - www.griffin.peachnet.edu/sare/pubspage.html; Southern SARE Project Summaries - www.griffin.peachnet.edu/sare/projects.html; Resources from the Sustainable Agriculture Network - www.sare.org/htdocs/pubs/

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) TOP
What: The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) was reauthorized in the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Farm Bill) to provide a voluntary conservation program for farmers and ranchers that promotes agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible national goals. EQIP offers financial and technical help to assist eligible participants install or implement structural and management practices on eligible agricultural land.
How Much: EQIP cost-shares 50- to 75 percent of the costs of certain conservation practices. Incentive payments may be provided for up to three years to encourage producers to carry out management practices they may not otherwise use without the incentive. However, limited resource producers and beginning farmers and ranchers may be eligible for cost-shares up to 90 percent. Farmers and ranchers may elect to use a certified third-party provider for technical assistance. An individual or entity may not receive, directly or indirectly, cost-share or incentive payments that, in the aggregate, exceed $450,000 for all EQIP contracts entered during the term of the Farm Bill
Web: www.nc.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/EQIP/2007Signup.html
Contact: Your county’s Natural Resource and Conservation Service (NRCS) office
Resources: Implementation, rules, county information and more at ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/NC/NCweb/Programs/EQIP/2007-Program-Guidance.pdf

Small, Limited Resource, and Beginning Farmers/Ranchers TOP
What: The purpose of this program is to ensure that NRCS programs are administered in a way that enables small, limited resource and beginning farmers and ranchers maintain and develop economic viability in farm operations; to ensure NRCS technical assistance programs and activities reach small, limited resource and beginning farmers and ranchers; and that technical practices and information are relevant to the needs of these farmers and ranchers.
When: Varies
How Much: Varies, usually cost-share.
Web: On-Line Limited Resource Self-Determination Tool
Contact: Your county’s Natural Resource and Conservation Service (NRCS) office

Grant Writing Assistance TOP
ASAP staff can offer limited assistance and consultation to farmers. Contact Kate Slattery at 828-236-1282 or kate@asapconnections.org

The NC Cooperative Extension Service offers assistance to NC Extension agents assisting producers through their Value-Added & Alternative Agriculture project. Prerequisites for assistance are 1) a field or campus CALS faculty member be a participant in the project and 2) the project have some focus or benefit to helping tobacco farm families add or transition to new enterprises. To obtain assistance or setup a workshop, contact Blake Brown, blake_brown@ncsu.edu, 919 515-4536.

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