A Wisconsin-based non-profit sustainable agricultural policy and development group is offering free grant advising services to beginning farmers, limited resource farmers and socially disadvantaged farmers throughout the midwest – including Ohio.

The Michael Fields Agricultural Institute’s stated mission is to nurture the ecological, social and economic resiliency of food and farming systems through education, research, policy, and market development. According to materials OFU received from the group, they will work with all farmers but place a priority for no-cost services on serving the types of farmers listed above.

One timely grant opportunity noted by MFAI is the USDA Value Added Producer Grant.

If you aret hinking of applying to the Value-Added Producer Grant, MFAI has a Grants Advisor that is available at no charge to help you. Call now as that grant application is due February 24th and takes considerable thought to complete.

If you are considering any funding program or just want to know what’s out there, please get in touch with MFAI’s Grants Advisor, Deirdre Birmingham, deirdreb4@gmail.com or 608-219-4279. She is a farmer, too, and can speak from direct experience.

You are welcome to be on her email list so that you get funding program announcements for your state as well as federal programs. Just let her know.

Also visit MFAI’s Grant Advising Resources Page