Dear neighbors,
Minnesota is home to a $6.2 billion per year livestock industry. In fact, our state ranks 7th in the nation when it comes to livestock production.
The men, women, and families who raise cattle, hogs, poultry, and other animals are a vital part of our state’s economic health. When these hardworking Minnesotans do well, our entire state does well.
Making a good living in the livestock industry is not cheap. Healthy animals require food and clean water, not to mention land and shelter to house them. All of those costs add up quickly.
In order to help Minnesota’s livestock producers pay for the kinds of investments needed to expand and grow, our state legislature created the Livestock Investment Grant Program in 2008. Since then, 179 grant recipients have invested an estimated $55 million in improvements to their operations.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture recently announced $1 million in grant funding for our livestock producers to make on-farm improvements.
Qualifying producers would be reimbursed ten percent of the first $500,000 of investment, with a minimum investment of $4,000. Qualifying expenditures include the purchase, construction, or improvement of buildings or facilities for the production of livestock, and the purchase of fencing as well as feeding and waste management equipment. Producers who suffered a loss due to a natural disaster or unintended consequence may also apply. The grant will not pay for livestock or land purchases or for the cost of debt refinancing.
Minnesota livestock producers who applied for but did not receive a grant in past years will need to reapply to be considered for the 2013 program.
The deadline to apply for the grant program this year is September 23.
If you’re looking to expand or improve your business, I encourage you or a livestock producer you know to apply for this opportunity. Click here to download an application and directions.
With any questions, please contact my office by phone at (651) 296-4193, by email at rep.jeanne.poppe@house.mn, or by postal mail at 487 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Saint Paul, MN 55155.
Sincerely,
Jeanne Poppe
State Representative, District 27B
Chair, Agriculture Policy Committee