Organic Poultry Grants

Transitioning to Organic

• Although a poultry farmer may practice sound farming habits, that will not necessarily translate into an organic certification. The USDA establishes criteria for farmers wishing to declare themselves as organic. The University of Minnesota offers courses on transitioning to organic farming and starting in 2010 they offer a scholarship to those wishing to take those courses. The scholarship pays up to 90 percent of the course cost.

Organic Farming Grants

• The United States Department of Agriculture is expanding its interest in organic farming and funding grants for those who embark on providing sustainable, healthy sources of food. One such grant is the Small Business Innovation Research Grant for Animal Production and Protection. The grant amount is between $70,000 to $100,000 and awards those who are developing processes that improve animal production and enhances the nutritional by-product of animals. In the case of poultry farming, this would be the eggs. The Organic Farming Research Foundation offers grants to farmers and beginning farmers on their website. The USDA also offers financial assistance to those wanting to implement conservation practices on their land to help conserve natural resources through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. This assistance is open to those engaging in livestock production. The contract amounts vary but there is a cap of $300,000 for a six year contract.

Research Grants

• The Organic Farming Research Foundation identifies organic livestock and the economic viability of small to medium organic farms as areas of interest that they would like to fund. In order to receive this funding, which has a cap of $15,000 per year, farmers must submit a research proposal to the foundation's board of directors. The proposal should explain how the research will help the organic farming community. Topics for research can be economic, a specific farming activity such as breeding, or strategies for overcoming adverse farming conditions.

Other Funding Sources

• If you are just starting out or have had a farm for a while, there are sources of funding available outside of the organic sector. The USDA offers a small number of grants for small farms. Their website also offers a number of resources for the small farmer. Farmers can also check their state agriculture department for beginning farmer loan programs and tax incentives. There are also a number of banks that lend specifically to farmers and may be able to help with short term loans that provide enough capital to purchase equipment, feed and other startup materials.