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: 99

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

Next Gen Agriculture Mentorship Program Cohort Seven Announced

The Saskatchewan Next Gen Agriculture Mentorship Program announced the mentor - mentee pairings for cohort seven in Regina today. This 18-month program provides emerging agricultural leaders with hands-on leadership development and opportunities to participate in decision-making that shapes the future of Saskatchewan's agriculture industry. “Programs like this are crucial in supporting the next generation and helping build a bright future for Saskatchewan’s agriculture sector,” Federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Heath MacDonald said. “Connecting young people with experienced mentors gives them the opportunity to learn and succeed in their careers, strengthening the agricultural industry as a whole.” "The Next Gen Agriculture Mentorship Program has been influential in developing the next generation of agriculture leadership in our province," Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister David Marit said. "Thanks to the dedication of our mentors, participants gain the knowledge and conf

McCain Foundation Invests in Agriculture Education and Rural Community Capacity in Manitoba

Agriculture in the Classroom–Manitoba (AITC-M) is proud to recognize the McCain Foundation for its support of AgVenture at Manitoba Ag Days 2026. This investment was critical in making this programming possible. Each year, AITC-M relies on committed partners like the McCain Foundation to deliver essential agriculture education experiences that connect students and communities across southwestern Manitoba with real-world agriculture careers and strengthen understanding of Manitoba’s agri-food sector. Held January 20–22, 2026 at the Keystone Centre in Brandon during Manitoba Ag Days, the program created meaningful opportunities for students, educators, and community members to engage with agriculture in practical, hands-on ways. Through AgVenture, AITC-M’s flagship agriculture career exploration program, more than 1,200 students in Grades 7–12 and their educators took part in a hands-on learning experience that connected classroom education with real-world agriculture careers. Studen

Building Canada strong by investing in water and wastewater infrastructure in Cornwall, Prince Edward Island

Building a strong Canada starts with investing in the infrastructure that makes it possible to increase housing supply and empower communities. In Budget 2025, the Government of Canada announced the Build Communities Strong Fund, a key initiative to build the infrastructure that Canadians rely on every day. This fund will speed up the construction of the hospitals, recreation centres, universities, and colleges that serve our communities; the bridges that move our goods; and, the water and transit systems that keep our towns and cities running. This week, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, officially launched the Build Communities Strong Fund. This new fund will provide $51 billion over 10 years through three major streams to support a wide range of infrastructure projects that support economic prosperity, housing, sport, education, health, transit, and climate adaptation across the country. The Build Communities Strong Fund will be a force multiplier in infrastructure – with funding

Hypertec's Ciara Division Becomes First Canadian NVIDIA Oem Partner Manufacturing Systems In Canada, Unlocking A Multi-billion-dollar Leap In Sovereign AI Infrastructure

Ciara Technologies, a division of the Hypertec Group and a Canadian global leader in sustainable AI infrastructure and advanced data-center technology, announced today that it has been officially designated as the first Canadian NVIDIA OEM Partner manufacturing systems in Canada. This milestone places Canada among a select group of nations with domestic manufacturing and integration capabilities for NVIDIA Certified Systems, significantly advancing the country's Sovereign AI Strategy and strengthening North American technological resilience. A Turning Point for Canada's AI Ecosystem "AI infrastructure is now strategic infrastructure," said Simon Ahdoot, CEO of Hypertec Group. "This breakthrough marks a turning point for Canada. We are building the infrastructure that will define its future. As NVIDIA's first Canadian OEM partner, we are strengthening Canada's ability to innovate, scale, and compete globally with secure, high-performance systems built at home." The initiative is exp

Ontario Farm Leaders Drew and Heather Spoelstra Named 2026 Outstanding Young Farmers

Drew and Heather Spoelstra of Roy-A-Lea Farms Ltd. have been selected as Ontario’s 2026 Outstanding Young Farmers, earning national recognition for leadership, innovation, and multi-generational farming excellence.

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service