News Release

The Missouri Department of Agriculture has awarded 10 Missouri agricultural projects with grant funding to assist them in converting their agriculture commodities and by-products into more valuable end products.

The Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority (MASBDA) awarded the value-added grants to foster new enterprises that will aid rural economic development. The grants are funded from the sale of tax credits and can be used for business planning purposes, such as feasibility studies, marketing plans, business plans, and legal assistance.

"It is important that our producers continue to look for ways to add value to Missouri's agricultural commodities," said Director of Agriculture Dr. Jon Hagler. "These value-added grants provide initial funding to assist Missouri producers in determining the feasibility of their projects and hopefully pave the way to adding more opportunities to their farm operations."

The maximum grant amount is $200,000, and the recipient is required to provide a 10% cash match toward the eligible expenses. The grants were awarded to:

• Stoddard County Oilseed Crushing, of Grayridge, Mo. - ($159,500) - For business plan, financials, facility design and prospectus development and distribution for a biodiesel crush facility.
• Missouri Corn Stover Producers, of Leonard, Mo. - ($105,270) - For feasibility and marketing study and business plan to establish a farmer-owned corn stover business for the purpose of power generation.
• Erickson Farms Processing Plant, of Tarkio, Mo. - ($198,000) - For feasibility and marketing study of the production capabilities and work plan for a white corn processing plant.
• Scaggs Rock-N-Lime, of Patterson, Mo. - ($33,000) - For feasibility and marketing study and business plan for bulk and retail distribution of red lime.
• Romine Beef Products, LLC, of Centralia, Mo. - ($27,500) - For feasibility study and business plan for an anaerobic manure digestion system.
• FAST Foundation, of Columbia, Mo. - ($199,375) - For feasibility study and marketing plan on supplying pork and beef exports through the Midwest China Hub.
• MoCARB Biomass Group, of Hallsville, Mo. - ($93,500) - For a supply, technical and demand feasibility study to assess current and potential supply of biomass to service a Boone County regional facility.
• Missouri Biomass Farmer Supply Chain Consortium, of Parma, Mo. - ($143,000) - For preparation of a list of candidate biomass crops, a comparison system and a business model to develop a producer-owned biomass company.
• America Soy Asia Steering Committee, of Garden City, Mo. - ($115,500) - For a feasibility study, marketing study and business plan focusing on marketing soy proteins into selected Asian countries.
• Central Missouri Biomass Steering Committee, of Hermann, Mo. - ($67,320) - For technical and financial viability study of utilizing alternative biomass feedstocks to produce electricity.

For more information about MASBDA and its programs, contact the Missouri Department of Agriculture or visit mo.gov.

Editor's Note: Contact information for each grant recipient is below:

Grant Recipients:
Stoddard County Oilseed Crushing, Danny Talkington, (573) 421-3238
Missouri Corn Stover Producers, Jesse Schwanke, (660) 651-3432
Erickson Farms Processing Plant, Dennis Erickson, (660) 744-4076
Scaggs Rock-N-Lime, Jim Scaggs, (573) 856-4505
Romine Beef Products, LLC, Doug Romine, (573) 682-4596
FAST Foundation, Don Nikodim, (573) 445-8375
MoCARB Biomass Group, Don Copenhaver, (573) 696-2645
Missouri Biomass Farmer Supply Chain Consortium, Allen Below, (573) 624-0367
American Soy Asia Steering Committee, Bill Cook, (816) 830-1252
Central Missouri Biomass Steering Committee, Olan Stemme, (573) 486-3137