Boone, Howard, Cooper Farms Can Seek $200,000 Ag Grants

Farmers and small food businesses in Boone, Howard and Cooper counties can now apply for state grants of up to $200,000 each, and the deadline to get an application to Jefferson City is 3 p.m. on Dec. 15, 2026.

The Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority (MASBDA) opened two programs on Oct. 21, according to a Missouri Department of Agriculture news release: the Value-Added Agriculture Grant and the Value-Added Agriculture “Farm to Table” Grant. Both are awarded on a competitive basis.

Why does it matter around Rocheport?

Farming is changing in the three counties. The USDA’s 2022 Census of Agriculture shows Howard and Cooper counties each had 15 percent fewer farms than in 2017 and Boone County 5 percent fewer, while the farms that remained grew larger, as we reported earlier this month. The census counted 231 new and beginning farmers in Howard County, 694 in Boone County and 397 in Cooper County. Grants aimed at planning and processing are one way operations of that size look for a second revenue stream.

What do the two grants pay for?

The Value-Added Agriculture Grant can cover business planning, such as feasibility studies, marketing plans, business plans and legal assistance. The Farm to Table grant helps Missouri small businesses and agricultural producers buy resources to process locally grown products for use in schools and institutions in the state.

The department said past Value-Added projects included feasibility studies, marketing plans and business plans for elderberry products, soybean processing, biofuel, wood pellets and dairy products. Past Farm to Table projects included equipment for meat processing for institutional sales and professional services to help process produce for schools and institutions.

Applications are scored on economic development potential for the agriculture industry, credibility, merit, likelihood of near-term commercialization, practical application of results, the source and level of matching funds, and the geographic location of the project’s economic impact. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. The grants are funded by contributions to MASBDA through the purchase of tax credits.

“Opportunities to add value to Missouri agriculture products is a great way to expand our already diverse and vibrant agriculture industry,” Missouri Department of Agriculture Director Chris Chinn said in the release. “We are excited to offer these opportunities for Missouri farms and agribusinesses to help take their operation to the next level and create an additional revenue stream.”

How do I apply or get help?

Guidelines and the application are on the MASBDA page of the Missouri Department of Agriculture website. Questions can go to MASBDA at (573) 751-2129 or masbda@mda.mo.gov. Growers weighing other help this harvest can also read our report on the state’s diesel and truck-weight relief, and those who want to see how local growers are using land can read about a planned year-round growing plot in Rocheport.