BISMARCK — A state commission granted funding to seven North Dakota agriculture-related projects for research and development of new uses for North Dakota agricultural products.
The state Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Products Utilization Commission doled out nearly $275,000 in grants last week. The nine-member committee includes Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, Commerce Commissioner Michelle Kommer, North Dakota State University President Dean Bresciani and several farmers.
The following projects received the most grant funding from the committee, according to a news release:
Carrington-based Cows and Co. Creamery was awarded $148,000 to develop an on-farm creamery and dairy.
Bismarck-based Two Track Malting, LLC was awarded $41,000 to work with a marketing agency to promote a new line of malt products.
Wildrose soap and lotion company, In the Potter’s Hand, received $35,000 for website design and a marketing campaign with redesign of manufacturing.
Tim Moch received $30,000 to conduct a feasibility study for a new meat plant in Edgeley.
The committee was originally founded in 1979 as an "ethanol incentive plan," according to department spokeswoman Michelle Mielke. These days, the committee's scope is much broader, and its funding comes from a mix of the state's General Fund and the profits from the State Mill and Elevator in Grand Forks.
The committee will hold the next of its quarterly grant application hearings on May 20-21 in Grafton.
