Have you ever considered producing an agricultural product on your farm in a non-traditional way? Have you thought about creating or expanding marketing opportunities for your ag products? What about utilizing some new technology or some on-farm renewable energies?

Any value-added effort towards generating new products, developing marketing opportunities and increasing producer income could easily provide new economic opportunities for your farming operation. A grant that could assist you in these areas would be USDA-Rural Development’s Value-Added Producers Grant Program. This grant is ideal for proposals that showcase creative uses of agricultural products. Individual farmers are eligible to apply, along with agriculture producer group, or majority-controlled producer-based business ventures. Funds can either be used for planning activities or working capital (but not both). The maximum amount awarded for a planning grant is $100,000 and the maximum for a working capital grant is $300,000. Applications are due on November 30, 2009 and more information can be found at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vadg.htm