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State Producers Awarded Grants

Rural Development Deputy Under Secretary Vernita F. Dore recently highlighted the importance of rural entrepreneurs to the U.S. economy and announced that USDA is investing nearly $34 million to help 258 businesses nationwide. The funding comes from USDA Rural Development’s Value-Added Producer Grant program (VAPG).

“This funding will enable farmers and ranchers to develop new products, improve the bottom line for their operations and help create a robust local and regional food system,” Dore said. “Value-Added Producer Grants provide capital to enable ag producers to grow their business through diversification. USDA’s support is especially important for beginning farmers and smaller farm operations.”

Twelve Wisconsin-based businesses received a total of $2,197,818 as part of the announcement.

Value-Added Producer Grants can be used to develop new agricultural products or additional markets for existing ones. Military veterans, socially disadvantaged and beginning farmers and ranchers, operators of small- and medium-sized family farms and ranches, and farmer and rancher cooperatives are given priority when applying for these grants.

Receiving VAPG funding in Wisconsin include: Autumn Moon Farm, Bellville; Wisconsin Hop Exchange Cooperative, Waterloo; Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Bayfield; Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative, Madison; The Cider Farm, LLC, Mineral Point; Peterson Farms, Osceola; Ginseng & Herb Cooperative, Marathon; Foremost Farms, Baraboo; Tri-State Lumber & Land, Inc., Rice Lake; Burnett Dairy Cooperative, Grantsburg; Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery, Ellsworth; and Cranberry Growers Cooperative, Wausau.

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