Idaho Ag Producers Compete For Grant Money
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Capital Press reports a record number of Idaho agriculture groups have applied for specialty crop grants.
The grants are financed through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Since 2009, the Idaho Department of Agriculture reports more than $3.5 million in grants have gone to Idaho producers. Capital Press reports $1 million will be up for grabs in 2013.
“A total of 24 applications seeking $1.8 million were submitted in 2012 and 12 of the applications totaling $844,000 were approved. In 2011, 16 applications seeking $1.6 million were submitted and eight totaling $926,000 were approved.” – Capital PressĀ
Grants are expected to be announced by the end of May.
The Idaho Wine Commission applied for and received its first grant from the program last year and will try for two in 2013.
The commission is seeking a $50,000 grant to continue its effort to increase market share of Idaho wine within the state through advertising.
It has also asked for a $30,000 grant to conduct an economic impact study to determine how important Idaho’s wine industry is to the state. The last such study in 2008 showed a $73 million economic impact but the number of wineries in Idaho has grown from 32 to 50 since then. “I’m really excited to see what it is now because we’ve grown a lot,” said IWC Executive Director Moya Shatz-Dolsby. – Capital Press
