Value-Added Producer Grants enables eligible agricultural producers to develop businesses that produce and market value-added agricultural products.

Applicants must be an independent producer, agricultural producer group, farmer or rancher cooperative, or a majority-controlled producer-based business venture. The project must show evidence of a high likelihood of creating value added for an agricultural product. Value-added is the incremental value that is realized by the producer from an agricultural commodity or roduct as a result of a change in it's physical state, differentiated production or marketing, as demonstrated in a business plan, product segregation or the economic benefit realized from the production of farm or ranch-based renewable energy. Incremental value may be realized by the producer as a result of either an increase in value to buyers or expansion of the overall market for the product.

The maximum amount is $100,000 for planning grants and $300,000 for working capital grants per fiscal year.

For more information about this program, as well as various application tools and templates, check out the national Value-Added Producer Grant webpage. Also, as a reference guide, download the Value-Added Producer Grant Brochure (PDF) .

Contact our State Office for more information.