North Carolina Farm Energy Efficiency Project (FEEP)
What: The project’s goal is to provide educational and technical support for farmers regarding agricultural energy use and efficiency. Farmers may also apply for low cost energy audits that will evaluate ways to save farm energy costs. The funds will provide technical support needed to analyze proposals, perform energy audits, and prepare competitive applications for REAP loans and grants.
When: The deadline for the cost-share and renewable energy grant applications is October 31, 2009. See dates for October educational sessions here .
Contact: Lendy Johnson at (919) 782-1705 ext. 8209 or email.
NC Cooperative Extension WNC Ag Options
What:
WNC Ag Options builds sustainable farming communities in our mountain
region by providing resources directly to farmers who are diversifying
or expanding their operations. Applicants are farmers who demonstrate
the economic viability of farms in Western North Carolina. Support is
provided to farmers who are diversifying or expanding their operations
to increase farm income and ensure the sustainability of the farm
business. WNC AgOptions gives awards to a variety of farm operations,
including: fruits & vegetables, livestock, nurseries, agri-tourism,
beekeeping and value-added processing.
Download the 2010 application at www.wncagoptions.org .
When: The Intent to Apply deadline is November 23, 2009 and the postmark deadline for applications is January 8, 2010.
Contact: WNC Ag Options Project Manager at 828-649-2411 x 305
Animal Welfare Approved Announcing 2009 Good Husbandry Grants
What: Grants will be awarded for the sole purpose of improving farm animal welfare, with a concentration on three areas:
increased outdoor access, improved genetics and improved slaughter facilities. Current Animal Welfare Approved farmers and those who have applied to join the program are eligible, and farmers may apply for certification and for a grant simultaneously. Eligible costs include design fees, contractor costs, materials, and project-appropriate equipment.
How much: Farmers may submit a proposal for one project, for a total maximum grant of $5,000. Grants will be awarded based on the projects' potential to deliver the greatest benefit to farm animals.
When: In order to receive a grant, applicants must meet the eligibility requirements and submit an application and a budget by October 1, 2009. Grants applications must be postmarked by the deadline date and will not be accepted via e-mail.
What: The Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) program will allow producers of eligible commodities to obtain low-interest financing to build or upgrade farm storage and handling facilities.
How Much: The maximum principal amount of a loan through FSFL is $500,000. Participants are required to provide a down payment of 15 percent, with CCC providing a loan for the remaining 85 percent of the net cost.
Contact: Applications for FSFL must be submitted to the FSA county office that maintains the farm's records.
What: The program offers cost share opportunities for strategic investments for farmers including livestock equipment, cattle genetics, hay storage, feed storage, grain storage, and producer diversification opportunities.
When: Applicationscompleted and postmarked July 1, 2009.
How much: Farmers can qualify for 35 or 50 percent cost share, ranging from a maximum of $1200 to $1500.
What:
SBIR program offers grants to qualified
small businesses (including small and medium-sized farms) in support of high
quality, innovative
research related to important scientific problems and opportunities in
agriculture that could lead to significant public benefit if successfully commercialized.
How much:
An estimated $19 million and is allocated over 12 broad topic areas in
proportion to the number of proposals received.
Contact: Small and Mid-Sized Farms:Dr. Charles Cleland, 202 – 401 – 4002,:
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Marketing and Trade, Rural Development:
Dr. Suresh Sureshwaran, 202-720-7536,
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Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG) and Renewable Energy for America Program
(REAP)
What: The VAPG program targets agricultural producers that are considering entering into a value-added enterprise or engaged in marketing a value- added product. The REAP grant program may also assist value-added producers with purchasing energy efficient equipment.NC State University's Program for Value-Added & Alternative Agriculture will host three workshops to help applicants prepare for VAPG and REAP. These free workshops are highly recommended for anyone interested in applying for one of these grants. Visit the website or call 1-800-670-6553 and press 1.
When: The notice of funds available for the FY2009 VAPG originally published on May 6, 2009 is in the process of being re-issued. Check back for updates.
How much: The maximum grants for a planning grant is $100,000. The maximum grant for a working capital grant is $300,000.
Contact: Bruce Pleasant at (919) 873-2031 or
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Organic Certification Cost Share Program
What: The 2007 Farm Bill provides support for farmers seeking organic certification. This support comes in the form of a grant to the NCDA&CS from the USDA.
When: The cost share is available for certifications occurring between October 1, 2008 and September 30, 2009.
How much: The NCDA&CS will pay 75% of the cost of certification up to a maximum of $750 to the certifying agency. This assistance is available on a first come, first served basis until funds are depleted.
What: Among the provisions of the Farm
Bill is the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). Managed by USDA Rural
Development, this program authorizes $225 million in grants and loan guarantees
for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Farms, ranches, and rural
businesses are eligible.
When: Submit by 4:30 pm on July 31, 2009. For more specific information view the 2009 REAP Program’s Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA).
How Much:
New “mandatory” funding starts at $55 million in 2009 and ramps up to $70 million in 2012. In addition, the Farm Bill provides for discretionary funding up to $25 million per year. Congress provided $5 million in discretionary funding for 2009, bringing the total available funding this year to $60 million.
For energy efficiency projects, the minimum grant amount is $1,500 and the maximum grant amount is $250,000. For renewable energy systems, the minimum grant amount is $2,500 and the maximum grant amount is $500,000. No person or entity can receive more than $750,000 from multiple projects in any one year. For feasibility studies, the maximum grant amount is $50,000.
What: The Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Fund will make cost-share demonstration grants to farmers, farm organizations, and community groups in the Central Region of North Carolina, which includes Alamance, Bladen, Caswell, Chatham, Columbus, Cumberland, Durham, Edgecombe, Franklin, Granville, Halifax, Harnett, Hoke, Johnston, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, Nash, Orange, Person, Randolph, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson, Scotland, Vance, Wake, Warren, and Wilson counties. The purpose of the Reinvestment Fund is to help farmers to develop enterprises that allow them to earn more for their products through innovative production, processing, or marketing approaches.
When: Completed applications are due by November 11, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. Applicants may request an advance review of their proposals for feedback by sending in the proposal by the Early Bird deadline, October 28, 2009. The selection process will be completed and award winners notified by January 11, 2010.
How much: Cost-share
support of up to $10,000 will be awarded to individual producers and support of
up to $30,000 will be awarded to collaborative farmer efforts.
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Producer Grant 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 -
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Resources: Common Ground Newsletter and other publications - http://www.southernsare.uga.edu/ ; Resources from the Sustainable Agriculture Network - www.sare.org/htdocs/pubs/
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) On-Farm Research Grants 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: http://www.southernsare.uga.edu/callpage.htm Contact: John C. Mayne, Ph.D. - Assistant Director, Southern SARE Program -
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Resources: Common Ground Newsletter and other publications - http://www.southernsare.uga.edu/ ;Resources from the Sustainable Agriculture Network - www.sare.org/htdocs/pubs/
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Sustainable Community Innovation 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: http://www.southernsare.uga.edu/callpage.htm Contact: John C. Mayne, Ph.D. - Assistant Director, Southern SARE Program -
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Resources: Common Ground Newsletter and other publications - ; Southern SARE Project Summaries - http://www.southernsare.uga.edu/; Resources from the Sustainable Agriculture Network - www.sare.org/htdocs/pubs/
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) 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:http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/PROGRAMS/EQIP Contact: Your county’s Natural Resource and Conservation Service (NRCS) office
Small, Limited Resource, and Beginning Farmers/Ranchers
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.
From peaches to pears to pawpaws, it’s a fabulous time to find fruit at area markets.
This past Saturday was the first market day of the season for vendor
Fresh Pearspective, who offer, you guessed it, pears! Their booth at
Asheville City Market was filled with Bosch and Seckel varieties to buy
and sample.
Grants 
