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: Sweetener Effects on Gut Health - Dr. Kwangwook Kim

In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Kwangwook Kim, Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, discusses the use of non-nutritive sweeteners in nursery pig diets. He explains how sucralose and neotame influence feed intake, gut health, metabolism, and the frequency of diarrhea compared to antibiotics. The conversation highlights mechanisms beyond palatability, including hormone signaling and nutrient transport. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Receptors responsible for sweet taste are present not only in the mouth but also along the intestinal tract.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Kwangwook Kim / kwangwook-kim is an Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, specializing in swine nutrition and feed additives under disease challenge models. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Animal Sciences from the University of California, Davis, where he focused on intestinal health and metabolic responses in pigs. His research evaluates alternatives to antibiotics, targeting gut health and performance in nursery pigs.