(Undated)– Seven Iowa companies are receiving more than a million dollars from the U-S Department of Agriculture.
Senator Tom Harkin, a ranking Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee, announced today (Wed.) that the seven companies are receiving grants from the USDA’s Value-Added Agricultural Product Market Development Grant Program. The program was expanded as part of the 2002 farm bill.
Two of the companies are located here in northwest Iowa: Max Yield Cooperative in Emmetsburg is receiving a 50-thousand dollar grant to conduct a study to determine the viability of developing a community-based advanced biowaste recycling and energy generation system. The system would be capable of recycling 100-thousand to 250-thousand gallons of hog manure per day.
The Siouxland Energy and Livestock Cooperative in Sioux Center was awarded a 150-thousand dollar grant to market E-85 fuel.
The funds are made available to agriculture commodity producers who refine their products to increase their value to customers.
(Story from Danielle Hitchings of sister station KDWD Hot 100 in Spencer).
