USDA aid to boost regional food producers and dairies
the milk of a dairy animal. “The pandemic has demonstrated that dairy producers and regional dairy processors, particularly those engaged in value-added production, faced sys- temic shocks over the past several years,” Vilsack said. He said Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives “have supported regional-fo- cused efforts tailored to the needs of dairy farmers and businesses locally. This ad- ditional funding will expand the capacity of the four initiatives to provide technical assistance and sub-grants exponentially.”
InNovember, more than $18million in DBI grants supported product research at food institutes and universities, including California StateUniversity, Fresno. Fresno State received a $1.8 million grant for a dairy innovation project, in which a wine-infused cheese product is being produced at the campus creamery. Theproduct is tobesuppliedto theuniver- sity’sGibsonFarmMarket andpotentially made available on a larger scale. The California Milk Advisory Board’s Dairy Innovation Center is participating in the Fresno State project.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is awarding $130 million in supplemental fundingtohelppromoteandcreateexpand- edmarkets for regional foodproducers. The funding fromtheAmericanRescue Plan Act and the USDA Local Agriculture Market Programis intended to strengthen opportunities for farmers and rural pro- ducers to sell products to institutions, in- cluding universities and hospitals. In 2022, LAMP will receive $97 million in grants to help regional food operations expandproducer-to-consumermarketing andboost local foodmarkets.Theprogram seeks to attract grant applications that serve small farmers and ranchers. “Through these grant programs, we are able to maximize opportunities for eco- nomic growth and ingenuity in the local and regional food system,” Agriculture Secretary TomVilsack said in a statement last week. “These grants have generated new income sources for small, beginning and historically underserved farmers; in- creased local food access across rural and urban communities; and provided plat- forms for value-addedandnicheproducts to shine.” Vilsackhailedthe initiativeasapotential “major boon for small andmid-sized pro- ducers located throughout the country.” The USDA last week also announced AFBF celebrates leadership grads in advocacy class TheAmericanFarmBureauFederation recently honored eight young farm and ranch leaders as graduates of the orga- nization’s 10th Partners in Advocacy Leadership class. The two-year PAL programhelps agri- cultural leaders accelerate their engage- ment abilities and solidify their roles as advocates for agriculture. Graduates of the 10th leadership class include Jenny Holtermann, an almond grower inKernCounty. Along with husband TimHoltermann, she was honored in December by the California Farm Bureau for accomplish- ments in production agriculture and leadership activity. The pair was present- ed with the California Young Farmers & Ranchers Achievement Award. The other PAL program graduates in- clude: David Hafner of Florida; James Henderson of Colorado; Beth Hodge of New Hampshire; Sarah Ison of Ohio; Matthew McClanahan of Tennessee; DerekOrthofWisconsin; andKyleWilson of Utah. “The work and commitment that PAL graduates put into this program is com- mendable,” AFBF President Zippy Duvall said. “Theirdedicationtoadvocatingonag- ricultural issues will benefit rural commu- nities at the local, state andnational level.”
that it is investing $80 milion in Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives, which support dairy businesses in the develop- ment, production, marketing and distri- bution of dairy products. The initiatives provide direct technical assistance and grants to dairy businesses, including niche dairy products, such as specialty cheese, or dairy products derived from
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March 9, 2022 Ag Alert 5
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