Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

USDA programs targets small farms and beginning farmers

Here is a great concept - whether it works is another story. When will someone in Ontario have the guts to develop a program like this?

Wayne Black

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vadg.htm

USDA plans to award approximately $18 million in value-added grants nationwide to farmers and business owners to help them add value to the commodities they produce.

USDA will award planning grants of up to $100,000 and working capital grants of up to $300,000 to successful applicants. Applicants are encouraged to propose projects that use existing agricultural products in non-traditional ways or merge agricultural products with technology in creative ways. Businesses of all sizes may apply, but priority will be given to operators of small to medium-sized farms operating as a family farm — those with average annual gross sales of less than $700,000 — USDA said.

Applicants must provide matching funds equal to the amount of the grant requested. Ten percent of the funding being made available is reserved for beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers. An additional 10 percent is reserved for projects involving local and regional supply networks that link independent producers with businesses, and cooperatives that market value-added products.

Views: 83

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Andrew Campbell on September 9, 2009 at 6:15am
It is about time Wayne. I would think it should work - as long as there is a solid business plan attached to it. I mean - a grant of up to 400K total would make a big difference to a small or medium sized operation. Now they just need something like this for young farmers who want in the business on some of the traditional commodities as well.
Permalink Reply by Wayne Black on September 9, 2009 at 7:30am
It would make a huge difference for farmers - you are correct. The benefit I see is the support for the "outside the box" thinking that the next generation wants to build and develop while still carrying on with traditional farming. An example I thought of when reading this was using new technology to further process traditional commodities to bring new products such as a bio-fuel process that can be used on farm.
New ideas and creative ideas often come from the younger generation - the generation with little capital.

Wayne

Andrew Campbell said:
It is about time Wayne. I would think it should work - as long as there is a solid business plan attached to it. I mean - a grant of up to 400K total would make a big difference to a small or medium sized operation. Now they just need something like this for young farmers who want in the business on some of the traditional commodities as well.

RSS

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

Scrap to Steiger: Teen’s Metal Tractor Turns Heads at County Fair

At this year’s Dodge County Fair, one youth exhibit is sparking curiosity and admiration: a hand-built metal tractor crafted from 120 recycled parts by Columbus FFA member Jack Yelk.

Sustainability and productivity the focus of Manitoba 4R Day

Implementing 4R practices improves agricultural productivity and minimizes impact on the environment, helping farmers grow food in a sustainable way. EMILI hosted nearly 100 people at Innovation Farms on August 6 for Manitoba 4R Day, where attendees learned first-hand from industry experts about how to put the 4Rs – Right Source, Right Rate, Right Time, Right Place – into action. The morning began with a panel discussion between Bryce Geisel from Koch Fertilizer, Lyle Cowell from Nutrien and Marla Riekman from Manitoba Agriculture, moderated by Wendy McDonald from Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers, on real-world examples of 4R stewardship practices, common barriers to 4R adoption and use cases of enhanced efficiency fertilizers on farms in western Canada. The audience then rotated between three stations in the field. At the Managing 4R Stewardship with Innovative Technologies station, the audience dove into innovative technologies being tested, validated and demonstrated at EMILI’s

Young Innovators: USask researchers giving canola producers never-before-seen insight into their crops

To get a bigger picture of canola’s growth cycle, University of Saskatchewan (USask) graduate student Hansanee Fernando is turning her attention towards the sky, past the whips of cotton clouds, and into space, where she is harnessing satellite imagery to help canola producers monitor and grow healthy crops. “My PhD work aims to support farmers by identifying key growth stages and estimating yields, or how much the crop will produce, early on,” said Fernando. “I’m hoping to empower farmers to make informed decisions and optimize their management practices while potentially reducing costs, within the growing season.” To achieve this, Fernando is collecting images from open-source satellites and using these to map large scales sections of farmland across Western Canada. While optical satellite imaging is a commonly used technique that captures clear, crisp pictures of the Earth below—like you’d see on an online map—there are certain limitations that prevent researchers from collecting

Shokupan: Baking an Icon

Shokupan bread is just one example of how strong trade relationships can cross oceans, bridge knowledge gaps, and help maintain equitable market access for years to come. Also known as Hokkaido milk bread or Japanese milk bread, Shokupan is a staple food in Japan. Found in convenience stores and bakeries across the country, the iconic, pillowy-soft white bread reflects the fast-paced Japanese lifestyle—where quality and convenience intersect. Shokupan has a complex baking process which is the result of careful refinement of traditional processes and recipes. To achieve the signature fluffy texture and comforting flavour that Japanese customers expect, skilled bakers require ingredients that they can count on. The choice of many Japanese millers and bakers is Canada Western Red Spring wheat, known for its quality and functionality. “The exacting nature of Shokupan production, with its long fermentation process and minimal use of additives, requires wheat with a perfect balance of str

Growing and diversifying ag research

Alberta’s agriculture sector has a well-earned reputation for making the world’s best agri-food products, from high-quality honey to top-shelf triticale. That reputation is owed in part to innovative research the province’s two crop diversification centres (CDC) have been conducting for decades, that directly benefits farmers. With that in mind, Budget 2025 earmarked a total of $5.2 million for repairs, upgrades, replacements and operational support at both CDC North in northeast Edmonton and CDC South, southeast of Brooks. “Alberta’s farmers are the best in the world, driven by a tradition of constant innovation. Investing in our crop diversification centres ensures world-class research continues to deliver practical solutions that help our producers stay competitive.” Danielle Smith, Premier of Alberta The funding supports upgrades and replacements to greenhouses, labs and administrative buildings at both sites. It also funds essentials that have increased in cost, like fertilizer

© 2025   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service