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Feds Grant $600,000 To Ag Businesses In Custer, Lemmon, Ethan and Eagle Butte

Four South Dakota companies' shares of $594,038 in USDA grants.

Four South Dakota agricultural businesses will split almost $600,000 in federal grants.

The money comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Value-Added Producer Program.

Here are details from the USDA about each grant:

  • DX Beef LLC near Eagle Butte will receive $44,288 to use as working capital to increase sales through processing and marketing of value-added beef products. DX Beef, LLC will optimize sales opportunities of their grass-fed beef to include processing, packaging, and labeling of the locally produced beef. This will include sales at local businesses, farmers market events, and through their online ordering platform.
  • Farm Life Creamery LLC near Ethan will receive $49,750 to use as working capital to optimize sales by adding an additional product line into the business and expanding an existing line. Farm Life Creamery, LLC will be bottling pasteurized whole Grade A milk, along with expanding the Artisan cheeses in production.
  • Evergreen Specialty Foods LLC near Custer will receive $250,000 to use as working capital to take a raw commodity of Criollo beef cattle and process into grass-fed, grass-finished beef products. The processed and packaged products will be sold to consumers, restaurants, retailers, and health and education institutions.
  • Lemmonmade Inc. based in Lemmon will receive $250,000 to use as working capital for the processing of Heritage Berkshire hogs into retail cuts of meat. Lemmonmade, Inc. was established April 12, 2018 and provides the community with local food cuts of heritage meats. The pork will be processed, fabricated, smoke-cured-seasoned, and vacuum packed.

According to the USDA, Value-Added Producer Grants may be used for planning activities or working capital expenses related to producing or marketing a value-added product, including feasibility studies, business plans, processing of the value-added product, logo and website development, and marketing and distribution. Funds cannot be used for agriculture production or the purchase of land, buildings, or equipment.