I have two funding opportunites to pass along to you today for your community and local school.

The Monsanto Fund is launching their America’s Farmers Grow Communities program in which farmers may select their favorite non-profit organization to receive $2,500 within their county. Counties are chosen to participate in the basis of at least 30,000 acres of corn, soybeans or cotton. The grants are randomly selected per county and the program will run from August 1 through November 30, 2011. The process is very simple where farmers spend 2-3 minutes on growcommunities.com website and enter their name and preferred organization. No purchase is required and it’s simply a way for them to give back to local communities. A random drawing of one registered farmer from each county will result in $2,500 going to that farmer’s designated organization. 


Whole Kids Foundation School Garden Grant Program will be accepting online applications for school garden grants! In partnership with FoodCorps, Whole Kids Foundation will grant 1000 schools $2000 each to build or expand their school garden.  School gardens are a vital educational tool. Every seed planted sprouts a new opportunity for kids to cultivate healthy eating habits. Teaching kids to garden helps them learn about complex topics like sustainability and conservation, food systems and community awareness. Not to mention an appreciation for food from seed to plate  Applications can be found on Whole Kids Foundation Website and are due December 31, 2011.

USDA has announced that they are accepting applications through the Value Added Producer Grant Program.  These grants provide economic assistance to independent producers, farmer and rancher cooperatives and agricultural producer groups.  Grant funds may be used for feasibility studies or business plans, working capital for marketing value-added agricultural products and for farm-based renewable energy projects.  Value-added products are created when a producer increases the consumer value of an agricultural commodity in the production or processing stage.


Application deadline is August 29, 2011. For more information click here. 

Summer is here and many Farmers' Markets are in full swing selling fresh, local produce to area residents on a weekly basis.  Besides ISDA's Farmers' Market Cost Share Program, there is another funding source out there for Farmers' Markets to apply to for funding.

USDA is once again offering the Farmers' Market Promotion Program Grant for 2011 and allocated $10 million to be awarded through grants for this program.  Funding is to be used to increase domestic consumption of agricultural commodities by improving and expanding, or assisting in the improvement and expansion of domestic farmers markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture programs, agri-tourism activities and other direct producer-to consumer market opportunities; and to develop, or aid in the development of new farmers markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture programs, agri-tourism activities, and other direct producer-to-consumer marketing opportunities

Eligible applicants include: Agricultural Cooperatives, Producer Network, Producer Associations, Local Government, Nonprofit Corporation, Public Benefit Corporation, .Economic Development Corporation, or a Regional Farmers Market Authority.

Award amounts can range from $5,000 to $100,000.  Applications are due July 1, 2011.  And more information can be found Here.

USDA is offering funds through their Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) to provide support for energy audits and renewable energy development assistance that will allow agriculture producers and rural small businesses to become more energy efficient and use renewable technologies. For all projects, the proposed system must be located in a rural area, must be technically feasible, and must be owned by the applicant.

Grants are awarded on a competitive basis and can be up $100,000. Recipients of an energy audit are required to pay at least 25% of the cost of the audit. The application deadline is June 30, 2011 and more information regarding this program can be found Here.

The U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Energy (DOE) have grant funds to support research and development in advanced biofuels, bioenergy and high-value biobased products. The projects funded through the Biomass Research and Development Initiative (BRDI) funds projects that integrate science and engineering research in the following three technical areas that are critical to the broader success of alternative biofuels production:

• Feedstock Development
Funding will support research, development and demonstration activities for improving biomass feedstocks and their supply, including the harvest, transport, preprocessing, and storage necessary to produce biofuels and biobased products.
• Biofuels and Biobased Products Development
Research, development and demonstration activities will support cost-effective technologies to increase the use of cellulosic biomass in the production of biofuels and/or biobased products. Funding will also support the development of a wide range of technologies to produce various biobased products, including animal feeds and chemicals that can potentially increase the economic viability of large-scale fuel production in a biorefinery.
• Biofuels Development Analysis
Projects will develop analytic tools that improve the sustainability, environmental quality, cost effectiveness, security, and rural economic development of renewable biomass technologies. Funding will also be used to develop new tools to better evaluate the impact of expanded biofuel production on the environment and to assess the potential of using federal land resources to sustainably increase feedstock production for biofuels and biobased products.

Pre-applications are due on May 31, 2011 and must be submitted electronically. It is anticipated that applicants who are encouraged to submit full applications will be notified by August 3, 2011.

For more information visit DOE's website or USDA's.

Are you a producer who sells produce at a Farmers' Market? Then you should get your Market Master to sign up for ISDA's Farmers' Market Cost Share Program. This program will reimburse your market 50% of the cost of advertising and promotional expenses up to $500.

To qualify for this funding your market needs to be listed in ISDA's Online AgriTourism & Farmers' Market Directory and any icons or images in your promotional and advertising pieces must be of specialty crops (i.e. fruits and vegetables) Simply fill out the application, and send ISDA copy's of your receipts along with examples of what your marketing items are (brochures, magnets, signs, etc.).

Funds for this program are provided through a previous years USDA's Specialty Crop Block Grant which is to be used to solely enhance the competitiveness of Specialty Crops.  Applications are funded on a first come first served basis, so please apply soon!

While Mothers Day is still 30 days away, it's never too soon to be thinking about your mom.  Monsanto offers the "America's Farm Mom of the year award. If you know an outstanding farm mom, you can nominate her in 300 words or less telling how she contributes to her family, farm, community and agriculture. 


Nominations end May 8, 2011. Five regional winners will be announced in mid-May.  Each winner will receive a $5,000 prize. The national winner will receive an additional $2,500. Entries will be judged based on:
Supporting her Family -- What makes this mom really special to her family? What attributes are especially appreciated above and beyond all the daily tasks and responsibilities moms perform?

Supporting her Farm -- Whether it's keeping the books or driving a combine, how does the mom play an important role in the success of the family farm?

Supporting her Community -- How does this mom contribute to her community through involvement in agriculture organizations or support for other community activities?

Supporting Agriculture -- How does she share her passion for agriculture with others and how does she help educate consumers about ag?