In 2015, the Missouri Beef Summit was held in Columbia to maximize the potential of Missouri’s beef industry and help move the state’s rural economy forward, while at the same time protecting land, air and water resources. The summit brought together large- and small-scale beef producers with agricultural leaders and experts to discuss how to grow and improve the herd in Missouri, how to help producers increase the value of the industry by keeping more cattle in-state for finishing, and how to better market Missouri beef for its high quality for both foreign and domestic consumption.

The Beef Initiative Grants are available to fund research projects that will enhance our beef cattle industry and allow our state to capture additional economic value. Grant categories include covered feeding facilities, beef research, fescue tolerance, innovative solutions and economic impact studies and small/medium size beef processor modernization.

The 2015 Beef Initiative Grant application period is over. Grant recipients will be announced at missouriagfoundation.org in late January.

Grant Categories

Covered Feeding Facilities

Proposals were requested from Missouri universities for covered beef feeding facilities (80 head capacity) to conduct research regarding the economic benefits of covered feeding. Proposed research must result in outcomes that compare beef production in covered feeding facilities to open feeding areas. Proposals must link research outcomes such that they can be applied to management practices in beef production.

Total Available: $ 400,000
Award Maximum: $ 75,000

Beef Research

Proposals were requested for research focused on an integrated approach to enhance beef production in Missouri. Research must demonstrate outcomes that can be applied within two years. Proposed research must involve an integrated program encompassing forage and animal research capability. The integrated program must include collaboration of research efforts identifying approaches to improve animal efficiency, improve post-weaning growth, improve health diagnostics, and improve forage production for the focused purpose of improving the profitability of beef production. Required infrastructure must exist to accomplish the proposed research. Proposals will be evaluated based on the potential to impact beef production in Missouri. Specific target areas requested for research are the identification of fescue tolerance, increasing the selection of residual feed intake, development of nutritionally enhanced forage legumes, development of maternal nutrition programs that improve conception rates and post-weaning calf performance, and development of a chute-side diagnostic for respiratory health and nutritional programs for stocker cattle. Proposals must link these research areas such that they can be integrated and applied into practical management practices of beef production.

Total Available: $ 400,000
Award Maximum: $ 400,000

Fescue Tolerance

Proposals were requested to identify a method to determine whether breeding cattle are fescue tolerant. Proposals are required to use genetic markers to identify fescue tolerance. Funds will be used to subsidize test cost ($10 per sample).

Total Available: $ 200,000
Award Maximum: $ 200,000

Innovative Solutions and Economic Impact Studies

Proposals were requested to identify innovative solutions for adding value to Missouri beef. Proposals will need to identify the costs and the economic impact of the proposed solutions for producers, processors, the State, and local communities.

Total Available: $ 100,000
Award Maximum: $ 100,000

Small/Medium Size Beef Processor Modernization

Proposals were requested for funds to modernize and increase the capacity of small/medium size beef processors within Missouri. Proposals must illustrate the need and demand for the proposed facility upgrades.

Total Available: $ 100,000
Award Maximum: $ 20,000

For more information about the Beef Initiative Grants, contact Ken Struemph at ken.struemph@mda.mo.gov.