APUC grants five requests totaling $192,925

Thursday, May 29, 2008 5:02 PM CDT

Bismarck, N.D. n The North Dakota Agricultural Products Utilization Commission (APUC) approved $197,925 in funding to five agricultural projects at its quarterly meeting in Dickinson May 16.

APUC is a program of the North Dakota Department of Commerce that administers grant programs for researching and developing new aand expanded uses for North Dakota agricultural products. The grants can be used for: basic and applied research, marketing and cooperative marketing utilization, farm diversification, nature-based agri-tourism, technology, agricultural prototype and technical assistance.

The May funding includes:

• Catherine’s for Lamb, Driscoll, received $38,000 for marketing family-raised Katahdin Hair Sheep. These haired sheep (they produce no wool) are a meat breed only and known for low fat and exceptionally mild and flavorful taste. Plans are to promote and exhibit at the International Association of Culinary Professionals show in Denver.

• Maple River Winery, Casselton, was granted $8,925 for marketing and advertising their North Dakota wines in retail stores throughout Minnesota. This will give Maple River Winery the potential of selling 24,000 bottles of wine, and would use more than 12 tons of North Dakota fruit.

• Missouri River Lodge, Stanton, received $5,000 for advertising and a booth at the Ariat Country Christmas 2008 in Las Vegas. The lodge is a bed and breakfast located on a 2,000 acre working ranch.

• North Dakota Dairy Coalition, Mandan, received $66,000 to continue to increase the number of dairy cows in North Dakota. Since the Coalition started its activities, several dairies have expanded their operations and three new dairy start-ups have been launched in North Dakota.

• NDSU Department of Plant Science, Fargo, was granted $ 75,000 to support research to increase the understanding and how early maturing North Dakota high-starch (ethanol) corn adapts to drought stress. The results of this study will help researchers improve corn by increasing the availability of quality food, feed, and fuel as well as better corn-ethanol relationship.

APUC will hold its next meeting July 31 and Aug, 1 in Carrington. Applications must be received by July 1.

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