Ag Opportunities

Volume 20, Number 11
November 2009

*** Grants and Assistance ***

Beginning Farmer Program
The purpose of the Beginning Farmer Program is to help beginning farmers and the part-time farmers who now want to farm full-time. The program provides loans for the purchase of agricultural land, farm buildings, new and used farm equipment, livestock and working capital.

Eligibility

• Borrower must be a permanent Missouri resident and at least 18 years of age.
• The proposed project is located in Missouri.
• Borrower has adequate working capital and experience in the type of farming operation for which the loan is sought.
• The project shall be used only for farming by the borrower or by the borrower's immediate family.
• In previous five years, the applicant has not owned acreage in excess of 50% of the average size farm in the county they are farming in or own farmland with an appraised value over $450,000.
• Projected farm income (not including spouse's income) must be greater than non-farm income.

For more information on this loan go to http://www.treasurer.mo.gov/LDBeginningFarmer.asp

SARE Farmer/Rancher Grants
The NCR-SARE program of the USDA has allocated about $400,000 for the 2009 Farmer/Rancher Grant Program. Competitive grants of up to $6,000 are available for individual farmers and ranchers, and grants up to $18,000 are available for groups of three or more farmers from separate operations who are interested in exploring sustainable agriculture. NCR-SARE Farmer Rancher Grants provide opportunities for farmers and ranchers to use Sustainable Agriculture practices and their own innovative ideas to solve problems on the farm or ranch, and to share their ideas with others.

Sustainable Agriculture is farming and ranching that is ecologically sound, profitable, and socially responsible. Sustainable Agriculture practices may include but are not limited to:

• Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
• Rotational Grazing (including Management-intensive Grazing & Mob Grazing)
• Soil Erosion Control
• Soil Quality Improvement
• Water Quality Improvement/Wetlands
• Cover Crops
• Crop/Landscape Diversity
• Nutrient Management
• Agroforestry
• Value-Added & Direct Marketing
• Wildlife Preservation
• Beneficial Insects
• Poultry & Small-Scale Livestock Production
• Holistic/Systems Approaches to Farming & Ranching
• Organic Agriculture
• Alternative Weed Control

During the past 17 years of the Farmer/Rancher Grant Program, over 700 grants were awarded to farmers and ranchers studying topics such as holistic management, rotational grazing, livestock and crop production systems, waste management, weed control, alternative uses for CRP land, biological weed and pest control, organic farming, marketing, quality of life issues, water quality, and soil conservation.

Farmer/Rancher Grants are for sustainable agriculture research, demonstration, and education projects; they are NOT for everyday farming expenses.

• Applicants must identify specific problems and potential solutions to those problems.
• Maximum duration for grant projects is 24 months.
• Projects that involve whole farm systems and/or a youth component are encouraged.
• Livestock projects need to comply with reasonable animal care requirements to insure that animals are properly cared for.

To qualify for a group project, there must be at least three farmers/ranchers involved who come from separate, independent operations. Groups submitting proposals must designate one individual farmer/rancher as group leader. The group leader will submit and sign the proposal, be responsible for reporting, and assume any tax liability associated with the grant.

Grant recipients are limited to one grant annually. Previous farmer/rancher grant recipients are eligible to apply if reports from previous grant projects are up to date. Proposals from previous grant recipients will be evaluated on a competitive basis with all other proposals.

The 2009 Grant Cycle
August 27, 2009	Farmer/Rancher grant proposals available
December 3, 2009	Farmer/Rancher grant proposals due
Spring, 2010	Administrative Council recommends Farmer/Rancher grant recipients
Spring, 2010	Budgets are reviewed by University accountants for compliance with USDA guidelines and grant contracts are sent out
Early summer 2010	Approximate date of first payment of grant funds (50%)
March 1, 2011	Progress report due. Grant recipients are eligible for a 2nd grant payment (35%) once their progress reports are approved.
December 31, 2011	Project end date
March 1, 2012	Deadline for submitting final report. Grant recipients are eligible for a final payment (15%) once their final reports are approved.

To download the application go to http://www.sare.org/ncrsare/prod.htm If you have any questions, call KB Paul, MO Co-coordinator, Lincoln University, 573-681-5584 or Debi Kelly, MO Co-coordinator, University of Missouri, 573-882-1905.

USDA Guaranteed Loan Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced the loan limit for its Guaranteed Loan Program has been increased to $1,112,000, effective Oct. 1. The limit is adjusted annually based on the "Prices Paid to Farmers Index," compiled by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The increased limit will enhance the agency's ability to meet the credit needs of farmers and ranchers throughout the country.

The Guaranteed Loan Program allows commercial and farm credit lenders to extend credit to qualified applicants, who otherwise would not meet their standard lending criteria. Participating lenders can use the Guaranteed Loan Program to strengthen a loan's viability through a guarantee of up to 95 percent of the loan amount. Farmers interested in guaranteed loans should apply through a conventional lender.

FSA also offers the Direct Loan Program as an alternative for those unable to obtain financing from commercial credit sources. Direct farm loans are government-funded, and made by FSA. The loan limit for loans under the Direct Program is $300,000 (except for Emergency Loans). Farmers interested in applying for a direct loan should contact their local FSA office. To find an FSA office, visit http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app .

Several Programs Available To Help Alleviate Costs for Small Wind Turbines

By John Hay, UNL Extension Educator

There is a lot of interest in renewable energy. One way people can invest in renewable energy is with a small wind turbine.

A small wind turbine is a smaller system based upon a specific energy load, such as a farm, house, or center pivot. These are different than large wind turbines which are usually built in groups, are owned by a utility or community, and are meant to put all their electricity out to the grid. Small wind turbines can be an excellent source of energy and electricity. They can provide access to electricity in areas that are remote and scarce. They are one way to become involved in the ever-growing green movement.

Costs of small wind turbines vary. The cost of the system depends on the size of the turbine and height and type of tower and can vary from $1,000 to over $50,000 per system. Size and height of turbines will also influence the amount of energy produced. A tall tower for a small turbine making it higher than obstacles such as buildings and trees will greatly improve the energy output over a short tower or one placed close to obstacles.

However, the cost of these systems can be reduced. Recently several national and state programs have become available, such as a 30 percent federal tax credit and Nebraska’s net metering bill. For farms and rural businesses, there is the USDA Rural Development Grant. For more information about turbines, their uses, costs and grants for system production visit the BioFuels and Alternative Energy Small Wind website at http://cropwatch.unl.edu/web/bioenergy/14

The Community Food Projects (CFP)
The Community Food Projects (CFP) Competitive Grants Program is the major funding source for community-based food and agriculture projects in the U.S. The Fiscal Year 2010 Request for Applications (RFA) was released September 23, with a deadline of November 19. The CFP Request for Applications describes what is funded and how to apply: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/rfas/community_food.html. There is no Letter of Intent process, so all applicants must submit a full proposal to be considered for funding. All proposals must be submitted electronically. If you plan to apply this year and are not already registered with grants.gov, it is important to start that process immediately, since it can take up to two months. More information and technical support contacts are available at: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/electronic.html.

Free Assistance Available to CFP Applicants - The Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC) sponsor technical assistance (TA) specialists who can provide you with free assistance with your CFP proposal. They can clarify CFP program guidelines, help you decide whether or not to apply for a grant, provide feedback on project plans, review draft proposals, and/or help you develop an evaluation plan. CFSC will sponsor up to 60 minutes of one-on-one assistance per grant applicant at no cost. Additional time may be available at an hourly rate. See http://www.foodsecurity.org/cfp_help.html for details on how to access this service. Starting early is important to ensure that you will be able to receive timely assistance.

Community Food Projects Planning Guide and Other Materials - CFSC offers a written planning guide with a wealth of information about the CFP program guidelines and how to develop a strong proposal. It is available for free at http://www.foodsecurity.org/cfp_help.html (scroll down to bottom of page). The CFSC website also includes examples of successful CFP grant proposals, a guide to developing Planning Project proposals, and other information helpful to CFP applicants.

Community Food Projects Program Goals - The primary goals of the CFP Program are to:

• Meet the food needs of low-income individuals;
• Increase the self-reliance of communities in providing for the food needs of the communities;
• Promote comprehensive responses to local food, farm, and nutrition issues; and
• Meet specific state, local, or neighborhood food and agricultural needs including needs relating to 1.) Infrastructure improvement and development; 2.) Planning for long-term solutions; 3.) The creation of innovative marketing activities that mutually benefit agricultural producers and low-income consumers.

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