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 (312) 833-7726 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
No upfront cost to get started. Email nicole@joinlasso.com to learn more or start your application. The earlier you reach out, the better your chances.
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
Iowa offers two grant programs through the Choose Iowa initiative to support dairy innovation and value-added production. These grants are designed to help Iowa-based producers and processors invest in new products, equipment, and markets that strengthen the state’s agricultural economy.
- Choose Iowa – Dairy Innovation Grant: This grant supports projects that expand dairy processing capacity, improve on-farm efficiency, or introduce new dairy products to the market. It is aimed at helping Iowa dairy businesses grow through innovation and modernization.
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- What it funds:
- Equipment for on-farm processing or packaging
- Facility improvements related to dairy innovation
- Development or expansion of value-added dairy products
- Marketing or branding initiatives for new dairy lines
- Funding amount: Up to $100,000 per project. The grant covers up to 50% of the project cost or requires a one-to-one financial match from the applicant.
- What it funds:
- Choose Iowa – Value-Added Grant: This grant helps agricultural producers and processors in Iowa add value to their products through local processing, packaging, or market development. It supports efforts to bring locally grown or raised products—including dairy—to new markets.
- What it funds:
- Equipment and infrastructure for value-added processing
- Packaging and labeling to meet retail standards
- Development of new dairy or agricultural products
- Branding, promotion, and direct-to-consumer sales tools
- Funding amount: Up to $25,000 per project. The grant covers up to 50% of the project cost or requires a one-to-one financial match from the applicant.
- What it funds:
- AGRI Livestock Investment Grant (Expected to open in November 2025): This grant helps Minnesota livestock farmers improve their operations through facility upgrades, equipment investments, and animal care enhancements. It’s designed to support farmers who are modernizing their operations, improving animal handling, or expanding production capacity.
- What it funds:
- Construction or improvement of barns, fencing, and livestock handling equipment
- Equipment to enhance animal health, feed efficiency, or biosecurity
- Facilities for manure storage and environmental management
- Projects that increase overall livestock production efficiency and safety
- Funding amount: Grants cover up to 10% of the total investment cost, with a maximum award of $25,000. Awards are competitive and reimbursement-based.
- What it funds:
- Show-Me Entrepreneurial Grants for Agriculture (SEGA) Innovation Grant Program: This program provides partial funding in the form of grants to producers, businesses, organizations, and cooperatives for facilities, equipment, upgrades, and services directly related to increasing value-added agriculture.
- What it funds:
- Eligible project expenses include:
- Expansion of existing facilities
- Construction of a new facility
- Equipment purchases for new or existing facilities
- Consulting services, including the formation of a production or marketing cooperative
- Who is eligible?
- Applicant must be at least 18 years old
- Missouri resident
- Applicant may be groups of individuals, cooperatives, businesses, and organizations related to agriculture whose proposed value-added agricultural business concept is based in Missouri
- Grant amount and terms:
- Grant applications will be considered to fund up to 75% of eligible project expenses.
- The minimum grant award is $50,000 and the maximum grant award is $250,000.
- Applicants are required to meet a minimum 25% cash match for a funded project.
- Timeline:
- The application deadline is September 19, 2025.
- Misc.:
- Proposals will be selected on a competitive basis.
- Full program guidelines can be found here.
- Restrictions (the program does not provide funds for):
- Operational costs such as payroll, supplies, utilities, inventory, insurance, and travel
- Paying off existing debt
- Salary for owners or current employees
- Reimbursement for anything purchased prior to the date of grant award
- Substituting existing efforts already underway
- Indirect expenses
- Buying land
- Marketing and advertising
- Pre-harvest production expenses
- Payment of fines or penalties, bad debts, and lobbying or entertainment expenses
- Eligible project expenses include:
- What it funds:
- APUC Grant (Expected to open in October 2025): This grant helps North Dakota businesses and producers develop or expand uses for agricultural products through innovation, marketing, research, and diversification. It supports efforts to increase the value of North Dakota-grown ag commodities and grow rural economies.
- What it funds:
- Market research, feasibility studies, and commercialization plans
- Equipment and process improvements for value-added products
- Prototype development and technology applications
- Diversification into non-traditional crops, livestock, or agri-tourism
- Technical assistance for ag-related business growth
- Funding amount: Grants typically cover up to 75% of eligible project costs, with a required 25% match (cash or in-kind). Most awards range up to $25,000 for technical or diversification projects.
- What it funds:
- ADD Grant (Next deadline: October 1, 2025): This grant helps North Dakota farmers, ranchers, and ag-related businesses invest in value-added agriculture projects that strengthen the state’s economy. It’s designed to support the launch or expansion of businesses that increase farm profitability, create jobs, and develop new ag markets.
- What it funds:
- Equipment purchases for processing, manufacturing, or product development
- Facility construction or upgrades tied to value-added production
- New ventures or expansions that use ND ag commodities in innovative ways
- Projects that demonstrate economic feasibility and long-term sustainability
- Funding amount: Grants are competitive and can be awarded up to $500,000, based on project scale. Funding is reimbursement-based and typically requires a detailed business plan, financial projections, and proof of matching funds or other capital commitments.
- What it funds:
- Agriculture Enhancement and Diversification Program (AEDP) Grant or Loan (Next deadline: October 1, 2025): This program helps Oklahoma farmers, ranchers, and ag entrepreneurs diversify their operations, develop value-added products, and strengthen rural communities. It offers both grants and 0% interest loans to support innovation, marketing, and infrastructure improvements in agriculture.
- What it funds:
- Farm diversification projects involving non-traditional crops, livestock, or agritourism
- Product development, feasibility studies, and prototype planning
- Equipment or facility upgrades to support value-added production
- Agricultural events that promote education and market expansion
- Projects led by veterans or young farmers (45 or younger)
- Funding amount: Grants typically provide up to $10,000 per project, depending on the category. Larger projects may qualify for 0% interest loans. Matching funds are required, and reimbursement is based on documented expenses.
- What it funds:
Apply Today with Lasso
Need help applying for these grant opportunities? Contact nicole@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.
Midwest Dairy’s collaboration with Lasso does not constitute an endorsement of their goods and services.
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.
Learn More
Contact Lasso
Contact Lasso for More Information
To learn more about Lasso’s grant writing capabilities or to begin the application process, please contact Nicole at Lasso by email at nicole@joinlasso.com or by phone at 312-833-7726.