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Whether you're running 50 shares or 1,000+, Farmhand helps you grow without the burnout.
usda-value-added-producer-grantThe $200K USDA Grant Most Farms Don't Know They Qualify ForStephen Ussery has helped several Farmhand farms win the USDA Value Added Producer Grant — up to $200,000 in working capital for inputs, processing, labor and marketing. He says most farms that qualify don't know it. Here's who's eligible, what makes an application competitive, and how farms win it more than once.On-Demand VideoOperationshttps://www.farmhand.partners/workshop-watch/usda-value-added-producer-grantYou're Probably EligibleEven a CSA selling zucchini wholesale can count as value-added if it sells within 400 miles or in-state. Stephen walks through the 51% rule and the definitions most farmers misread.A Grant That Pays for LaborVAPG is one of the few grants that covers working capital — up to $200,000 for inputs, processing, labor and marketing. Stephen explains the match and what a competitive farm looks like.Win It Again, Market by MarketArmagh Creamery used VAPG to expand into Dallas. Plan one new market at a time and you can apply again — Stephen knows farms that have won it five times.Meet Stephen UsseryStephen Ussery founded Stewards Unlimited, a grant-writing and business-planning firm for food and farm businesses nationwide. His team specializes in USDA funding and has applied to more than 100 federal and state programs. They help farms find what they're eligible for, decide the most competitive way to use the money, and write and manage the application — year-round. Stephen has helped several Farmhand farms win Value Added Producer Grant awards, including Armagh Creamery's expansion into Dallas. Any Farmhand customer can book a free 30-minute consultation with him, plus a competitive eligibility check and his preferred rate on applications.
- Find out if your farm qualifies — including CSAs and dairies selling locally — and what the 51% rule means
- See the difference between eligible and competitive, and what reviewers want to see
- Learn how farms reapply for every new market — and why some have won it five times
