Free Grant Writing Support
We’re excited to announce a continued program with Lasso. Our program’s goal is to increase our dairy farmers’ awareness and access to public funding opportunities for on-farm projects.
The Lasso team will be your grant writer in a box: for your farm and project of interest, they will identify, apply for, and manage grant opportunities on your behalf. Reach out to nicole@joinlasso.com or molly@joinlasso.com or call 276-530-1568 for more information.
If selected for this program, you will receive the Lasso grant-writing services for free.
Why Lasso?
Thinking about upgrading your farm or launching something new? You could qualify for thousands of dollars of grant funding, and Lasso is here to help you win it.
Over $1 million in funding has been secured for Midwest dairy farmers just like you.
Here’s how they make it easy:
- Lasso finds the right grants for you. Local, state, and federal programs you may not even know exist.
- Lasso guides you through the process. From gathering documents to submitting reports, they’ve got your back.
- Lasso will write and submit your application. Their expert team handles the paperwork and knows how to win.
- Lasso saves you time and stress. No confusing forms or chasing deadlines. They do the heavy lifting.
- Lasso specializes in dairy. Robotic milkers, value-added products, manure management, and more, they’ve done it before.
Whether you’re planning a project this year or just exploring your options, Lasso will help you figure out what funding is available and how to get it.
Benefits to You
By participating in this program, you can access more funding with minimal time investment. Lasso will:
- Identify opportunities across federal, regional, state, and local grants that could support participants and their upcoming projects
- Help participants receive funding without the headache and time-consuming paperwork of putting an application together
- Make sure all participants complete their requirements both before submitting the application and after receiving the award
To Participate In This Program
- Be open to government grants
- Have a project in mind (details below) with potential installers / vendors / service providers identified
- Be open to appear as a case study for Midwest Dairy
- Note: Only high level information would be included (e.g., context, project type, result and benefit from grant funding)
Working with Lasso
Typical steps of working with Lasso:
- First: they talk to you to get context on your farm and proposed project to understand your operations and needs.
- Second: they share all eligible funding from federal, state, regional and local sources – they go through the long list of requirements to make sure you are not only eligible but competitive.
- Third: they put together the application from start to finish. They’ll manage all stakeholders, inputs needed, and narratives to create a high-quality application
- Finally: Once you get the award, they’ll make sure all your i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed to help you get reimbursed as soon as possible.
Once you have selected a project, identified vendors / installers, and received at least 1 bid, we will be able to kick off your process.
First we pre-score applications. Once pre-scoring is done, we can advise whether it’s competitive and how to go forward. If we go forward, we sign an NDA with you and work on the application. We need a few documents from both you and the installer for a successful application, we can share a list these upon kicking work off on a project.
Grant Opportunities
Next Generation Farmer Fund (Applications due December 1): The Next Generation Farmer Fund is a $1 million+ initiative providing direct financial support and technical assistance to beginning farmers and ranchers under the age of 40 who are stewarding land through sustainable farming practices.
- Grants range from $10,000 to $50,000 for projects that improve soil health, water management, energy efficiency, and biodiversity.
- Eligible projects may include rotational grazing, irrigation improvements, renewable energy infrastructure, energy-efficient equipment, and other conservation practices.
- The program is open to eligible farmers and ranchers across all 50 states and U.S. territories, with applications due December 1, 2026.
- Interested producers should contact Lasso by November 16, 2026, to receive grant-writing support.
Illinois Local Food Infrastructure Grant (Applications open November 2, 2026. Applications due January 6, 2027): The Illinois Local Food Infrastructure Grant, administered by the Illinois Department of Agriculture, supports infrastructure that expands market access for Illinois agricultural products within Illinois communities.
Applications open November 2, 2026, but interested applicants should begin preregistration now. Preregistration is required before submitting an application, and approval can take 2–4 weeks.
What the Grant Supports:
- Funding can support purchasing, leasing to own, renting, building, or installing infrastructure for processing, storage, packaging, aggregation, and distribution of value-added agricultural products.
For dairy businesses, potential project areas could include:
- Dairy processing equipment and facilities
- Refrigerated storage and refrigerated vehicles
- Packaging, aggregation, and distribution infrastructure
Projects must support Illinois’ local food supply chain and increase access to Illinois agricultural products.
Who can Apply:
- Eligible applicants must be located in Illinois and store, process, package, aggregate, or distribute value-added products. Applicant categories include farms, cooperatives, processing facilities, food businesses, and food hubs with 50 employees or fewer, as well as nonprofits and local governments.
Grant Amounts and Terms
- Individual projects: Up to $75,000
- Collaborative projects: Up to $250,000
- Matching funds are required unless the applicant can demonstrate a high-need condition.
Timeline and Preregistration
- Preregistration: Available now, with approval potentially taking 2–4 weeks
- Applications open: November 2, 2026
- Application deadline: January 6, 2027, at noon
AGRI Livestock Investment Grant (Applications due November 17, 2026, at 4:00 PM CST): This reimbursement grant helps livestock producers invest in equipment, facilities, and other physical improvements that start, improve, update, or expand their operations.
- Eligible project expenses may include:
- Milking parlors and robotic milking equipment
- Milk cooling and storage facilities, including bulk tanks
- Freestall barns and other livestock-production facilities
- Feed storage and handling equipment
- Manure pumping, storage, and management facilities
- Watering systems, pasture lanes, stream crossings, and fencing
- Livestock pens, corrals, scales, and handling equipment
- Computer hardware, software, and associated equipment used to monitor livestock productivity and feeding
- Specialized forage or hay equipment, such as mowers, tedders, and hay balers
- Calving, farrowing, and livestock-finishing facilities
- Digesters and equipment used to produce energy
- On-farm processing facility equipment
- Construction, supplies, materials, and contracted services directly related to an eligible project
- Who is eligible?
- Minnesota residents, business entities authorized to farm in Minnesota, or units of Tribal government
- Be the principal operator of a livestock operation located in Minnesota
- Sell at least $1,000 in livestock products annually, or normally sell at least that amount in a typical year
- Hold an appropriate feedlot registration when applicable
- Meet the state’s pre-award risk-assessment requirements
- Grant Amount and Terms
- Awards range from $400 to $25,000
- The grant reimburses 50% of the first $20,000 in eligible expenses
- After the first $20,000, the grant reimburses 25% of additional eligible expenses, up to the maximum $25,000 award
- Grant Amount and Terms
- Awards range from $400 to $25,000
- The grant reimburses 50% of the first $20,000 in eligible expenses
- After the first $20,000, the grant reimburses 25% of additional eligible expenses, up to the maximum $25,000 award
- Timeline
- Applications are due November 17, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. Central Time
- Award decisions are expected in February 2027
Applicants should not purchase equipment, sign purchase orders or sales agreements, create an invoice, or begin project work until the grant agreement has been fully executed, reached its effective date, and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture has authorized the project to begin.
Apply Today with Lasso
Need help applying for these grant opportunities? Contact nicole@joinlasso.com or molly@joinlasso.com to get started. Lasso can help you prepare a competitive proposal and guide you through the application process. Reaching out early will give you the best chance of success.
Lasso Grant Showcase: Olmar Farms
Learn how Compass Rose Creamery, a start-up venture owned by Jill Nelson and her family in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, worked with Lasso to secure two grants and a total of $100,000 in grant funding to grow their creamery business.