Posted: 03.17.2010

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is accepting applications for its Producers First grant program, which supports small to midsized farms that need technical assistance. Proposals must be received by 5 p.m., April 19, 2010.

Successful applicants will identify a need for technical assistance and receive up to $3,000 to hire a consultant to meet that need. Examples of technical assistance include, but are not limited to: business planning, accounting and financial organization, packaging and label development, whole farm planning, food safety, grant writing assistance, market development, and cooperative development.  Assistance directly related to production does not qualify for this program.

Any Wisconsin farmer or producer may apply. Preference will be given to producers selling at least 75 percent of their products to be consumed within 300 miles of the farm and with at least $35,000 in annual sales.

The applicant will identify someone with the experience and expertise they need to provide the assistance.  DATCP can also help an applicant identify a consultant, and a list of consultants is available upon request.

Producers First is funded by a federal-state market improvement grant from the Agricultural Marketing Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  This grant program is part of Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin, a DATCP program that supports the growing local food market sector of the Wisconsin economy.  Applicants with a project that benefits the local food market sector as well as an individual farm are encouraged to apply.

The 2010 Producers First Grant materials are available online at the DATCP Web site, www.datcp.state.wi.us. Search "Producers First" or contact Keefe Keeley at 608-224-5095 or keefe.keeley@wi.gov.

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