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X-WR-CALNAME:Appalachian Highlands Farmers Magazine
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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Appalachian Highlands Farmers Magazine
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260923T000000
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UID:9663-1790121600-1790121600@appalachianhighlandsfarmers.com
SUMMARY:SDBII Dairy Grants Applications Close September 23
DESCRIPTION:Applications for two SDBII Dairy Grants available through the Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiative are due September 23 at 5 p.m. Eastern. The 2026 funding cycle includes the Specialty Processing Equipment Grant and the Dairy Business Planning Grant. \nBoth programs are open to permitted dairy businesses\, including farms and processors\, in 12 Southeastern states — including Kentucky\, North Carolina\, Tennessee\, Virginia\, and West Virginia — as well as Puerto Rico. The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service supports the grants. \nFor Appalachian Highlands dairy businesses\, the programs may offer an opportunity to address needs that are difficult to cover through normal farm operating income. \n\n\nSDBII Dairy Grants Can Support Processing Equipment\nThe Specialty Processing Equipment Grant provides reimbursement funding for projects that increase efficiency or capacity or add new processing capabilities to an existing or proposed dairy processing facility. \nFor 2026\, the maximum award is $150\,000\, and recipients must provide a 25% match. \nThis makes the program particularly relevant to dairy businesses considering processing expansion\, new products\, or equipment upgrades. A processing investment can help a dairy farm move beyond commodity milk production and explore higher-value products\, but those projects can also require substantial upfront capital. \nSDBII Dairy Grants Include Business Planning Assistance\nThe second opportunity is the Dairy Business Planning Grant\, which offers awards of up to $30\,000. \nRather than paying for processing equipment\, this grant helps permitted dairy businesses hire professional expertise to plan for the future. That can include work connected to business planning and evaluating future opportunities. \nFor a farm considering a major expansion\, value-added enterprise or other change\, outside professional assistance can help determine whether an idea makes financial and operational sense before the business commits significant resources. \nSDBII Dairy Grants Require Applicants to Choose One Program\nApplicants may apply for only one of the two SDBII Dairy Grants during this funding cycle. Program officials also advise applicants to read the full Request for Proposals before beginning an application. \nApplicants should review eligibility requirements\, allowable costs\, required documents\, budgets\, and scoring information well before the deadline. Waiting until September 23 to begin gathering those materials could create unnecessary problems. \nAward recipients must also have a Unique Entity Identifier\, or UEI\, before a grant contract can be executed. Program officials recommend beginning that process early because obtaining a UEI can take several weeks. \nSDBII Dairy Grants Deadline Is 5 p.m. Eastern\nSubmit applications for both programs by 5 p.m. Eastern on September 23. \nDairy farmers and processors considering either opportunity should review the official application materials now\, determine which grant best fits their project\, and make sure required records and supporting documents are ready before the deadline. \nFor Appalachian Highlands dairy businesses considering processing improvements or a major business decision\, the SDBII Dairy Grants could provide financial support and an opportunity to strengthen the operation’s long-term direction. \nRead our full-length articles about educational opportunities here!
URL:https://appalachianhighlandsfarmers.com/event/sdbii-dairy-grants-application-deadline/
CATEGORIES:Education,Grants & Deadlines
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://appalachianhighlandsfarmers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2026-Fall-Grants-Announcement-July-scaled-aspect-ratio-700-400.png
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260924T123000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260924T133000
DTSTAMP:20260914T223603Z
CREATED:20260914T171549Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260914T223603Z
UID:9887-1790253000-1790256600@appalachianhighlandsfarmers.com
SUMMARY:Farming Where You Live Webinar Series
DESCRIPTION:The Farming Where You Live Webinar Series continues on September 24 \nThe Farming Where You Live Webinar Series is a free online program from the University of Tennessee Center for Profitable Agriculture for landowners and beginning farmers who want to use farm or forest land productively. Sessions are scheduled for September 17\, September 24\, October 1\, and October 7\, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Attendees must preregister. \nThis series targets people who may own acreage and are deciding which agricultural or forestry enterprise makes sense for their property. It can also help beginning farmers evaluate land\, identify realistic income opportunities\, and better understand available resources. \nThis Webinar Series Focuses on Practical Land Use\nThis Webinar Series focuses on practical ways to assess existing land and consider how it might generate income. That may include agricultural enterprises\, forest-based opportunities\, or other uses that fit the landowner’s goals and available resources. \nFor many landowners\, the challenge is not simply deciding what they could do with a property. The harder question is whether an idea fits the land\, available labor\, the market\, and the time and money they are willing to invest. \nA program like this can help participants move from a general idea toward a more realistic plan. \n  \n \nFarming Where You Live Webinar Series Can Help Beginning Farmers\nBeginning farmers often have to make several decisions at once\, including what to produce\, how much land they need\, and whether a proposed enterprise can support itself financially. \nThe series gives participants a chance to hear from agricultural professionals while thinking through those decisions before making larger investments. \nBecause the sessions are online\, farmers and landowners can participate from anywhere in the region without traveling. Participants may get more from the program by bringing questions about their own property and keeping notes on programs\, contacts\, or resources they want to investigate later. \nFarming Where You Live Webinar Series Runs Through October 7\nThe organizers schedule the final live session for October 7. \nLandowners and beginning farmers interested in the Farming Where You Live Webinar Series should register in advance and confirm the schedule and connection information before each session. The program may be especially useful for people with land available who are still figuring out what kind of farm or forest enterprise best fits their property\, resources\, and long-term goals. \nRead our full-length articles about educational opportunities here!
URL:https://appalachianhighlandsfarmers.com/event/farming-where-you-live-webinar-series-2/
LOCATION:Online/Virtual
CATEGORIES:Education,Webinars
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://appalachianhighlandsfarmers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Farm-where-you-live-feature.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="UT Center for Profitable Agriculture":MAILTO:acboyd@utk.edu
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260929T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260929T203000
DTSTAMP:20260913T153925Z
CREATED:20260913T153925Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260913T153925Z
UID:9675-1790708400-1790713800@appalachianhighlandsfarmers.com
SUMMARY:NC AgVentures Grant Application Webinar
DESCRIPTION:Free applicant webinar explaining the NC AgVentures Farm Grant Program and application process. This is one of three identical information sessions.
URL:https://appalachianhighlandsfarmers.com/event/nc-agventures-grant-application-webinar/
LOCATION:Online / Virtual\, United States
CATEGORIES:Education
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