more


Share the EXTRA

 

Visit these pages inside:

weather

Click on the images below to go to the websites:

American Angus Association
Angus Productions Inc
American Angus Tag Store
Certified Angus Beef

 


Angus Productions Inc.

June 20, 2011

Grants Available

Animal Welfare Approved offers grants for farmers to make welfare improvements on farm.

Animal Welfare Approved (AWA) is calling for proposals for its 2011-2012 Good Husbandry Grants. Now in its fourth year, the Good Husbandry Grants program has funded nearly 100 projects across the country to improve farm animal welfare. Certified farmers and those who have submitted an application for AWA certification may apply for up to $5,000 to apply toward projects such as mobile housing, breeding stock and on-farm processing equipment.

Slaughter plants working with or seeking to work with AWA farmers are also eligible for funding.

"One of the greatest triumphs of this grants program is that it gives farmers the freedom to try new ideas without risking the farm," says Andrew Gunther, program director. "We are thrilled to be able to contribute towards developing solutions for future generations of farmers — solutions with positive impacts that extend far beyond the farm gate."

The funding priorities for this year's cycle include improved genetics, increased outdoor access, welfare improvements in the slaughter process and non-lethal predator control. A primary goal of this grant program is to facilitate the growth and success of high-welfare, pasture-based systems.

Gunther explains, "The biggest challenge in agriculture right now is getting animals outside. The science tells us that when farm animals are responsibly managed on open pasture or range, a whole host of challenges inherent in industrial agriculture simply disappear. For instance, the incidence of pathogenic E. coli is much lower in pasture-based systems."

Farmers and slaughter plants interested in applying should visit www.animalwelfareapproved.org/farmers/grants-for-farmers or contact Grants Coordinator Emily Lancaster by email or at 202-618-4497.

AWA is a national nonprofit organization that audits, certifies and supports farmers raising their animals with the highest welfare standards, outdoors on pasture or range. All AWA standards, policies and procedures are available on the AWA website.

Comment on this article.










[Click here to go to the top of the page.]