Value-Added Producer Grants for Farmers and Ag Producers to Expand Opportunities and Generate More Revenue

Feb 24, 2025

By Val Ankeny

Agricultural producers looking to expand their operations through value-added products are encouraged to apply for a Value Added Producer Grant (VAPG). Applications will be accepted through April 17.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development announced $30 million in funding for the VAPG program, which provides grants for producers as well as farmer and rancher cooperatives. The funding can be used to generate new products and create or expand marketing opportunities that help producers generate additional income.

Up to $75,000 is available for planning grants, or up to $250,000 for working capital grants. Matching funds of 100% are an eligibility requirement.

Planning activities may include conducting feasibility studies or the development of business and marketing plans. Working capital expenses may include processing costs, marketing and advertising expenses, or select inventory and salary expenses.

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Video: What Does 20 MILLION Hogs a Year Look Like?

?? The Multi-Plant System Processing 20 Million Hogs Annually in the Midwest JBS USA operates multiple large-scale pork processing facilities across the Midwest, including major plants in Iowa, Minnesota, and Indiana. Combined, these facilities have the capacity to process approximately 20 million hogs annually.

Each plant operates high-speed automated slaughter systems capable of processing up to 20,000 head per day, followed by fabrication lines that break carcasses into primals, sub-primals, and case-ready retail products.

Hog procurement is coordinated through electronic marketing platforms that connect regional contract finishing operations and independent producers to plant demand schedules. This digital procurement system allows for steady supply flow and scheduling efficiency across multiple facilities.

Processing plants incorporate comprehensive food safety systems, including pathogen intervention technologies, rapid chilling processes, and integrated cold-chain management. USDA inspection is embedded throughout the harvest and fabrication stages to ensure regulatory compliance and product integrity. Finished pork products — from bulk primals to retail-ready packaged cuts — are distributed through coordinated logistics networks serving domestic and export markets.