US Agriculture Federal Grants

The US government issues agricultural grants to manufacturers and producers of agricultural commodities to aid agricultural development and improve the agricultural industry as a whole through various grant programs

Some of these include

1. Aiding producers of agricultural commodities to carry out sufficient research to aid the production and cultivation of better agricultural commodities and products. This would help in facilitating proper methods of cultivation and thereby increase agricultural yield.

2. Grants to facilitate better methods of agricultural production and thereby improve the quality of commodities resulting in an increased consumption of agricultural products.

3. Grants to improve and maintain the health of animals engaged in agricultural activities. Healthier farm animals will lead to increased agricultural activities.

4. Federal grants to maintain and conserve the wetlands, grazing lands and other farm lands that are key to the production and cultivation of agricultural commodities. Conserving such lands will also reduce environmental damage and thereby improve production

5. Grants to construct better water management facilities and irrigation plants thereby improving the overall quality of water.

6. Reduction of salt load on in the land by carrying out necessary environmental practices. This would lead to better production of agricultural commodities.

7. Improve farm income levels by stabilizing the balance between supply and demand for agricultural produce. This stabilization will lead to better national welfare and less inconsistencies.

8. Grants for establishing agricultural teaching capacities including faculty preparation, instrumentation for reading, development and selection of curriculum and materials.

9. Establishing projects and communities to meet the food and nutrition requirements of people in lower income groups and to assist in improving their general nutrition.

10. Promote national welfare and economic stability and strength in the agricultural industry by establishing strong crop insurance programs.

Visit these pages to learn more about how agriculture grants and government grants can help you

Community Supported Agriculture

By word-of-mouth, I recently heard about a national organization known as Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). If there is one organization I'd like for people to be aware of, it would be this one! This organization's purpose is to support the organic farming industry, local farming and in return, support your well-being and overall health.

Farms associated with it are the small, independent, labor-intensive, family farms. The CSA arranges to deliver fresh produce (sometimes meat and dairy) to your door on a weekly basis. Due to the low cost of distribution, these foods tend to be competitive with conventionally grown produce. I find this to be one of the strong points in signing-up for this organization. Sure, you can go to your nearest major grocery store and choose from a variety of produce but they all traveled miles and miles away. You can't even be sure where they traveled from! Wouldn't it be great to scan your produce and see where it was grown and how it was grown? That'll be the day. At least with CSA farms, you can be sure of the story behind what you are eating.

I am currently reading an excellent book entitled, "Animal ,Vegetable, Miracle" in which the author outlines several major grocers who control their intake of organic foods. Grocery stores control the number of times organic farms distribute their produce. There are also strict guidelines to which organic farmers must be approved for in order for their produce to be accepted to major grocers. Major grocers will not accept produce that is below a certain weight, is discolored, does not follow specific shape/size requirements, etc. Keep in mind that even though this organic produce may have a shorter stem or is lop-sided, it still tastes the same and contains the same amount of nutrients and minerals. Major grocers control what we eat and waste food on a purely subjective basis. I can hardly walk through a produce section in a major grocer without being disgusted with their ways.

If you don't want to sign-up for this organization, at least get yourself familiar with the farmer markets in your town/city and support local farming and be pesticide-free!

For more information and other relative information, please visit my site http://www.shar-on-nutrition.com/. I'd love to know your thoughts!