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Latest in Rural America

Funding available for livestock investment in Minnesota

By Molly Malone on November 15, 2019 - 11:36am

Producers looking to improve, update, or modernize their livestock operation infrastructure or equipment in 2020 or early 2021 may be eligible for grant funding through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

The department  plans to award a total of $768,000 during this time frame. Grants would be awarded for 10 percent of a proposed project’s value, up to $250,000.

The nine-page application is straightforward, with the instructions explicitly asking applicants to avoid getting too technical.

Public invited to comment on new Conservation Stewardship Program rule

By Anna Johnson on November 14, 2019 - 4:00pm

Changes are coming to the nation’s largest conservation program and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking public comments on a new rule.

On Nov. 12, the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced changes to the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), which offers farmers and ranchers a valuable opportunity to build on and increase conservation on their operations.

The 2018 farm bill made a variety of changes to CSP, and this rule is the process where the USDA puts them into action. The changes include: 

Conservation Innovation Grants Beginning Veteran Farmer Case Study: Mariel and Anthony Barreras

Mariel and Anthony Barreras own Barreras Family Farm near Blair, Nebraska. Their current operation is primarily comprised of animals: 25 beef, 12 goats, 12 hogs, and 800 pastured chickens on 70 acres. They also host agrotourism and community events.

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PDF icon Conservation Innovation Grants Beginning Veteran Farmer Case Study: Mariel and Anthony Barreras
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