The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) is now offering three grants to support Indiana’s vital livestock industry: the Indiana Livestock Promotion Grant, Indiana Livestock Market Development Grant, and the brand new Youth Livestock Grant. The deadline for all livestock grants is May 1, 2012.


The Youth Livestock Grant is an opportunity for 4-H or FFA chapters to “pay it forward” to deserving students interested in the livestock sector for the purchase of breeding stock to start a livestock enterprise or add animals to an existing operation.

The Indiana Livestock Promotion Grant is for qualifying organizations to submit project proposals designed to promote the livestock industry in Indiana through shows, sales, exhibitions, conventions, or similar events and programs.

The Indiana Livestock Marketing Development Grant is for qualifying organizations to submit project proposals for value added feasibility studies, research projects, market development, or other projects that encourage the development of business and industry related to livestock production, processing and distribution.

Eligibility:

Not-for-Profit organizations, commissions, and associations with 501©3 status are eligible for all three grants. All livestock grants are 50:50 matching funds grants.

Youth Livestock Grant: Not-for-profits with a 501©3 status should solicit applications from Indiana 4-H/FFA youth. Youth applicants are reviewed by the non-for-profit and select applicants they wish to request funds for. The Not-for-profit will submit the Youth Livestock application via email to ISDA.

Indiana Livestock Promotion Grant: Not-for-profits organizations, commissions, and associations with 501©3 status are eligible to apply for this grant. The Indiana Livestock Promotion Grant entities must work to promote the livestock industry in Indiana.

Indiana Livestock Market Development Grant: Not-for-profits organizations, commissions, and associations with 501©3 status are eligible to apply for funds that will work to develop or expand business or industry related to the livestock production, processing, and distribution. The Not-for-profit will submit the Indiana Livestock Market Development Grant to be eligible for these funds.

Applications can be found on ISDA's website and the deadline for all grants is May 1, 2012.

Only electronic applications will be accepted.

Winners will be announced by May 15th, 2012

USDA is offering the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) grant which was established to solve critical industry issues through research and extension activities. SCRI will give priority to projects that are multistate, multi-institutional, or trans-disciplinary; and include explicit mechanisms to communicate results to producers and the public. Projects must address at least one of five focus areas: research in plant breeding, genetics, and genomics to improve crop characteristics; efforts to identify and address threats from pests and diseases, including threats to specialty crop pollinators; efforts to improve production efficiency, productivity, and profitability over the long term; new innovations and technology, including improved mechanization and technologies that delay or inhibit ripening; and methods to prevent, detect, monitor, control, and respond to potential food safety hazards in the production and processing of specialty crops. Applications are due January 31, 2012. Prospective applicants are asked to email a notification of intent to submit an application by close of business on November 25, 2011



Eligible Applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals, For profit organizations other than small businesses, and Small businesses.

More information is available here. 

USDA is offering the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) as a grant program to fund specialty crop industry issues through research and extension activities. Projects must address at least one of five focus areas: research in plant breeding, genetics, and genomics to improve crop characteristics; efforts to identify and address threats from pests and diseases, including threats to specialty crop pollinators; efforts to improve production efficiency, productivity, and profitability over the long term; new innovations and technology, including improved mechanization and technologies that delay or inhibit ripening; and methods to prevent, detect, monitor, control, and respond to potential food safety hazards in the production and processing of specialty crops.

Elligible applicants include: national laboratories, colleges and universities, research institutions and organizations, private organizations or corporations, State agricultural experiment stations, Cooperative Extension Services, individuals, or groups consisting of two or more of these entities.

Applications are due: January 31, 2012, but a letter of intent is requestd by November 25, 2011.  For more detailed information please visit: http://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/rfas/specialty_crop.html 

Research in agriculture is a strong component of the industry’s continued efficiencies in production, while also addressing environmentally, economically and socially responsible practices. I have become more familiar with some aspects of ag research through my husbands work, but before I get to that; I wanted to tell you about the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) grant for Research and Education Programs.

USDA’s Specialty Crop Research Initiative is a grant opportunity for research projects that focus on plant breeding, genetics, threats from pests and diseases; including pollinators; efforts to improve production, new technology, and food safety hazards in production and processing.
USDA has $47.3 million to award projects that address the critical needs of the specialty crop industry by developing and disseminating science-based tools to address needs of specific crops. Specialty crops are defined as fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and horticulture and nursery crops; including floriculture.

Eligible Applicants include; colleges and universities, research institutions, private organizations or corporations, state agricultural experiment stations, individuals or groups consisting of 2 or more of the above mentioned. Applications are due January 14, 2010 and please note there is a matching requirement. More information can be found at http://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/rfas/specialty_crop.html

Tip: Priority is given to proposals that are multi state and communicate results to producers and the public. For your proposal think about whom you could partner with and ways to perform outreach to others.

This grant should not be confused with USDA’s Specialty Crop Block Grant which is available for state departments of agriculture to apply for to carry out more marketing, distribution and nutrition type grants with not-for-profits. If you have any questions regarding either of these grants please feel free to post a comment below as I would welcome discussion on this blog.

Also, always remember to check out ISDA’s website for all the latest ag related grants http://www.in.gov/isda/2522.htm