1. Rapid City Regional Center

2. 8 Field Specialists o Cow/calf o Range o Community Development o Agronomy o Entomology o Small Acreage o Sheep o Food Safety

3. South Dakota Small Acreages For All Acreage Owners (no min/max size) o 2 Websites: o www.iGrow.org/livestock/horses www.iGrow.org/livestock/horses o http://www.sdstate.edu/wrac/sdsa/index.cfm http://www.sdstate.edu/wrac/sdsa/index.cfm o Archives of past seminars o E-Newsletter o Facebook page “South Dakota Small Acreages” o Realtor Trainings approved by SD Real Estate Commission

4. South Dakota Small Acreages How we can help you: o Goal setting o Pasture management o weeds, fencing, stocking rates o Livestock management o Horses, goats, sheep, cattle o Manure management o Water & Hay quality o Grant proposal assistance o Marketing/website help o Connections to much more!

5. South Dakota Small Acreages Resources: Grazing Kit $30

6. South Dakota Small Acreages Resources: o Today’s Presentations will be posted on website o Hard-copy packets available for $5 o Make checks to “SDSU”

7. Grant Opportunities for Acreage Owners Mindy Hubert, Small Acreage Field Specialist mindy.hubert@sdstate.edu mindy.hubert@sdstate.edu

8. Grant Opportunities for Acreage Owners Federal, State, Private Ag-related grants generally fund: o Sustainability projects (water, land, etc.) o Income-based operations o Demonstrations/feasibility studies o Outreach/Education projects o Marketing Strategies

9. Federal Grants Primary source of most grants Competitive Specific goals or priorities you need to address Think of grant writing as a “learning experience” o Take constructive criticism and try again!

10. Federal Grants: USDA SARE SARE “Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education” SARE's vision: o An enduring American agriculture of the highest quality. This agriculture is profitable, protects the nation's land and water and is a force for a rewarding way of life for farmers and ranchers whose quality products and operations sustain their communities and society.

11. Federal Grants: USDA SARE o http://www.northcentralsare.org/GRANTS http://www.northcentralsare.org/GRANTS o Four Programs: o Research & Education o Professional Development o Youth/Educator o Farmer/Rancher Grants

12. Federal Grants: USDA SARE o Youth Grants $400 maximum o Ages 8-18. Projects are for: o Hands-on efforts to explore sustainable agriculture issues and practices o Attending a sustainable agriculture conference, workshop, or camp o Educator Grants $2,000 maximum o For educators to provide programming on sustainable agriculture for youth

13. Federal Grants: USDA SARE Farmer/Rancher Grants (SARE FRG) o Due December of each year o Awards available following spring o Proposals must be sustainable in nature: o Address natural resources, financial resources & family/community o Must be innovative or build upon other projects o $7500 - $22,500

14. Federal Grants: USDA Rural Develop. Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG) http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vadg.htm o Eligible: independent producers, farmer/rancher cooperatives & producer groups & businesses o Funds: o Planning grant ($100,000) o Working capital ($300,000) o Belle Fourche: Jackson Winery and Vineyards, LLC $300,000 o Rapid City: Wild Idea Buffalo Company $17,500

15. Federal Grants: USDA Rural Develop. Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_Reap.html o Financial assistance to agriculture producers & rural small businesses for purchasing, installing and constructing renewable energy systems (windmills, etc.) o An agricultural producer is directly engaged in the production of agricultural products whereby 50 percent or greater of their gross income is derived from the operations.

16. Federal Grants: USDA Rural Development Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) o Grants available up to 25% of total project cost up to $500,000 o Loan Guarantees up to 75% total project cost of $2500-$25M

17. Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Various conservation programs offered Signup is continuous for many programs Limited resource farmers/ranchers, beginning farmers/ranchers, socially disadvantaged producers, and Tribes may be eligible for a higher payment rates No acreage limits for most programs; preference given to largest impact producers

18. Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) 2011: 3,700 conservation plans implemented in SD; positively affecting 1.6 million acres (430 acres on average)

19. NRCS Programs Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) o Provides financial & technical assistance to agricultural producers to help plan and implement conservation practices o $20,000-$300,000 in assistance o improve soil, water, plant, animal, air and related resources o help producers meet environmental regulations o Up to 10 year contracts

20. NRCS Programs Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) o A voluntary approach to improving wildlife habitat in our Nation. o Provides both technical assistance and up to 75 percent cost-share assistance to establish and improve fish and wildlife habitat. 2011 South Dakota Contracts Total Acres Total Investment Average Contract Value Average Contract size (ac) 4321,872.8$809,153~$19,000509

21. NRCS Programs Agriculture Management Assistance (AMA) o Pays up to 75 % of cost of installing conservation practices. o Payments shall not exceed $50,000/participant/year. Eligibility: o Be engaged in livestock or agricultural production and have annual potential sales of $1,000 or more. o Cropland, hayland, pastureland, rangeland, and grassland; Private, non-industrial forestland

22. NRCS Programs: Contacts Rapid City: (605) 342-0301 o LANTZ, TATE E, Rangeland Mgmt. Specialist o ODDEN, MATTHEW D, District Conservationist o matthew.odden@sd.usda.gov matthew.odden@sd.usda.gov o tate.lantz@sd.usda.gov tate.lantz@sd.usda.gov Sturgis: (605) 347-4952 o HERRMANN, TANSE M, Dist. Consvst. o tanse.herrmann@sd.usda.gov tanse.herrmann@sd.usda.gov Belle Fourche: (605) 892-3368 o EGGEBO, SARAH L, Dist. Consvst. o sarah.eggebo@sd.usda.gov sarah.eggebo@sd.usda.gov

23. State Grants Dept. of Ag: http://www.sdda.sd.gov/AgPolicy/Grants http://www.sdda.sd.gov/AgPolicy/Grants o Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG) o Purpose: solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops (fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops [including floriculture]).“ o Due April 2 nd 2012 o Range of awards $2100-$35,000

24. Private Industry Grants Specialty Topics: Organic o Organic Farming Research Foundation (ORFR) $12,000-$15,000 projects: http://ofrf.org/ http://ofrf.org/ o Organic Valley Coop: http://www.organicvalley.coop/about- us/donations/fafo-fund/criteria/ $5000- $50,000 http://www.organicvalley.coop/about- us/donations/fafo-fund/criteria/ o Organic Crop Improvement: http://www.ocia.org/ http://www.ocia.org/

25. Private Industry Grants https://attra.ncat.org/calendar/funding.php http://www.beginningfarmers.org/ http://aggrantguru.blogspot.com/ www.humanefarmfunds.org $500-$1500 Help farms transition to pasture-based systems Improve the marketing of humane products due April 1, 2012

26. Producer Participation Opportunities: Spring Creek Watershed Partnership o For landowners in the Upper Spring Creek Watershed (above Sheridan Lake) o Cost share opportunity to improve water resources o http://www.springcreekblackhills.com http://www.springcreekblackhills.com Belle Fourche River Watershed Partnership o funding available to convert flood irrigation to center pivots and to convert open ditches to pipelines in flood irrigation systems. o http://www.bellefourchewatershed.org/ http://www.bellefourchewatershed.org/ o Contact local NRCS office for more info

27. Producer Participation Opportunities: USDA SARE Small Acreage Grant o Now - 2013 o 5 Host Acreages in Western South Dakota Goals Management strategies o Labor provided Workshops Learning communities/networking

28. The End Feel Free to Contact Any of Us 394-2236 or 394-1722