“I’m considering an equipment upgrade, but I have no idea if there is a grant that can help me fund this. On top of that, I don’t have the time to put together whatever complicated application the grant requires.” Does this thought sound familiar?
Midwest Dairy is offering free grant-writing support for on-farm projects through a new pilot program with Lasso. For farmers considering an on-farm project or investment and interested in additional financial support, Lasso can identify, apply for and manage grant funding opportunities.
Midwest Dairy said the goal of this program is to increase farmers’ awareness of and access to public funding opportunities for on-farm projects. If selected for this pilot, farmers will receive grant consulting and writing services for free.
These grants range from federal grants like the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) to state-specific opportunities like Minnesota’s AGRI and Iowa’s “Choose Iowa” grants. These grants will help farmers cover the costs for projects like:
- Renewable energy systems (e.g., solar, wind, anaerobic digester)
- Energy efficiency improvements (e.g., milking robots, grain dryer upgrades, replacing diesel generators with solar, lighting, refrigeration, heating, ventilation and cooling)
- Buildings or facilities to raise livestock or produce livestock products
- Development of pasture for use by livestock, including but not limited to, lanes, watering systems, and fences
- Equipment for livestock housing, confinement, feeding, and waste management
While Lasso will support farmers across a variety of grants before the end of the year, Midwest Dairy said the first and most time-sensitive opportunity is the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). The REAP grant is:
- Available for agricultural producers and rural small businesses
- Covers 50% of project costs, up to $1M
- Eligible projects include:
- Renewable energy systems (e.g., solar, wind, anaerobic digester)
- Energy efficiency improvements (e.g., milking robots, grain dryer upgrades, replacing diesel generator with solar, lighting, refrigeration, heating, ventilation and cooling)
- Deadline: September 30th, but the latest day to start working with Lasso on this grant is August 30th.
Visit this webpage for further information and reach out to or (312) 833-7726 by August 15 for more information.
