Monticello Iowa News - $100,000 in Grants Available to Enhance Swine Industry

News

$100,000 in Grants Available to Enhance Swine Industry
Posted 18 January, 2012
Grant funds totaling $100,000 are available for projects that advance and enhance swine production in Iowa, Attorney General Tom Miller announced. Proposals are due by February 15, 2012.

The $100,000 in grant money is for the sixth year of a program funded by Smithfield Foods, which is paying $1 million over ten years for the program. Miller released a “Request for Applications” (RFA) to identify and support innovative Iowa projects eligible for the grants.

The Request for Applications and required grant application forms, instructions, and requirements (click here for the Excel version) may be accessed at www.IowaAttorneyGeneral.gov (go to “Working for Farmers”). Those who are interested also may call the Attorney General’s Farm Division at 515-281-8359, or send e-mail to Marc.Wallin@Iowa.gov.

The Office of the Attorney General, in collaboration with Smithfield Foods, Inc., and two Democratic and two Republican state legislators, will evaluate proposals submitted under the RFA and award $100,000 for 2012 to projects that demonstrate financial need and will promote hog production in Iowa in an innovative manner.

”This is an excellent opportunity for Iowans to help fund their innovative programs to advance swine production throughout our state,” Miller said.

The grant program is part of a landmark settlement under which Smithfield made substantial financial commitments to Iowa’s pork industry and agreed to provide a contractor growers’ “bill of rights” to Smithfield contract producers. When the grant program was announced in 2006, Dennis H. Treacy, vice president, environmental and corporate affairs for Smithfield, said, “Smithfield Foods is delighted to partner with Attorney General Miller to make funds available to Iowa hog producers. We pledge to work with Iowans to ensure that the projects we fund sustain the environment and further the hog production industry in the state.”

Grant recipients agree to make the results of the sponsored research available to the public.