USDA Rural Development is awarding $26.5 million to 194 agricultural projects across the U.S. through the Value-Added Producer Grant Program. The money will help producers develop value-added products, conduct research, and implement business and marketing strategies designed to expand their customer base and increase revenue.

Beef dominates this round. Of the total investment, $11.6 million will go to 80 beef producer projects. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the investments will support producers as they continue to develop new products and increase the value of their cattle, while creating additional revenue opportunities for farmers and ranchers.

The individual awards illustrate where the dollars land on the ground. Light Hill Meats in Columbia, Tennessee, received $199,309 to support processing, marketing, sales and distribution as it expands its grain-finished beef products. Family Farm Direct in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, drew $145,838 to support processing, manufacturing, supplies and distribution as it turns beef into dry-aged primal pet products and beef jerky.

In Adair County, Iowa, Blair Carney Farms received $48,000 for marketing and processing activities to expand its market for Black Angus beef products.

The grant program operates on a fixed calendar. USDA generally accepts Value-Added Producer Grant applications between January and May, giving producers who missed this cycle a defined window to prepare proposals for the next one.