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USDA grant applications due Nov. 30Oklahoma Producers and agricultural businesses are being urged to apply for grants to add value to agricultural commodities. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack recently said deadline for grant applications is Nov. 30. 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 and medium-sized family farms--those with average annual gross sales of less than $700,000. 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 farmers or ranchers 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. "This grant program offers Oklahoma producers, cooperatives and other agricultural groups the ability to explore new processing and manufacturing opportunities," said Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture, Terry Peach. "For years we have promoted similar programs through our own Agriculture Enhancement and Diversification program and we know how well it can benefit producers and rural communities." Paper applications must be submitted to the Rural Development state office in the state where the project will be located. A list of state offices is available at www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html. Electronic applications must be submitted through www.Grants.gov. For more information on how to apply, please see page 45165 of the Sept. 1 Federal Register or visit www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vadg.htm.
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