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Have you ever heard of the Gulabi goat? This is a goat with a name that is made up of two languages, Urdu and Sindhi. Gulabi is an Urdu word that means “pink,” and Pateri is a Sindhi word that means “belted.”

This second word is very important with this type of goat breed, because it is also the name of a breed found in Pakistan. These adorable goats have long, droopy ears that just beg to be petted, and actually, these are friendly animals that do love lots of attention, just like most goats.

We are going to talk about this goat breed, learn about the characteristics, where it comes from, and how to raise and breed it. Let’s get started.

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The Gulabi Pateri goat is a cross breed, but it isn’t just two breeds that are crossed. In fact, there are four different breeds that are crossed to create this particular breed. Basically, there are two main breeds and two secondary breeds. These breeds are Rajhanpuri, Pateri, Kamori, and Beetal goats. Before we can learn more about the Gulabi, let’s take a look at the four breeds that are used to create it.

This is a goat that is common to the Punjab province. These dairy goats are large and heavy, and they are also commonly bred as meat goats. This breed is also the main goat breed in Pakistan.

Here is a goat that is known as the Beetal of Rajhanpur. It is white in color, and the skin is pinkish. Interestingly, they have white hooves. They come from Rajhanpur, hence their name. These goats have very loose skin and lots of wrinkles under their chins. Neither the males or females have horns.  

This is one of the heaviest goat breeds in Sindh. Their bodies are white in color, but their faces, necks, and ears are a reddish brown color. They have long ears that droop and are wide at the bottom, medium-size horns, and they have loose skin beneath their chins. These goats are usually used for meat, but they also produce good milk.

These are dairy goats with large bodies. Males and females are heavy, and because of their large size, they tend to be good meat goats as well. They are native to the Indus Valley.

The Gulabi Pateri goat is native to Pakistan, and it’s home is the Sindh province, Naushahro Feroze district. This is a goat breed that is commonly adopted as a pet in homes in this area, and now there are many people who are breeding them.

There are a few reasons why people are drawn to the Gulabi goat. As we have mentioned, they seem to make wonderful pets. They are extremely friendly, and they love getting attention from humans.

They can even be trained to get along well with other pets, and they are good with children, even though they are quite large. It is a good idea to supervise children when they are around these or any other animals, large or small.

Gulabi Pateri goats are used mainly for their milk, and they can produce a lot of it. In fact, you can milk them twice daily, and get up to three liters each time. Because they are large goats, they are also good to raise for meat, and many farmers are selling the meat at good prices.

One of the most famous Galubi goat characteristics is their color, not only on their bodies but on their horns, which are all white. When they have pink tails, you can be sure the breed is as pure as it can get. One of the most distinguishable characteristics is the hanging skin beneath the chin, which is common to both males and females.

These are rather large goats, so in addition to being great as milk animals, they are also good meat animals, and are often raised for this very reason.

As we have already mentioned, these goats are often raised to be pets but they can also be a great source of food and milk, and they can be used for income. You can breed these animals to sell as pets, or you can use them for milking. They also make awesome meat animals, which is one of many reasons why you will see so many farms and homes with Gulabi goats.  

If you are looking for a goat that can produce a lot of milk, you need to consider the Gulabi goat. They can produce as much as six liters of milk daily, in two milkings. They are also good meat animals, and a full grown male can offer as much as 70kg of meat once it reaches 18 months of age.

Raising Gulabi goats really isn’t all that much different than raising any other type of goat. They all need vet care, as well as proper nutrition to ensure good milk production (and for good meat). They need a place to graze, and a quality shelter that will keep them warm and dry. They also love to get lots of attention, which is why so many people are now keeping them as pets.

If you are considering breeding and raising Gulabi goats, make sure that you have adequate Gulabi goat shelter. Remember, these are large animals, and they require more space than the average goat that most people have. Their indoor space should be at least 20 square feet for each goat, but larger is preferable.

Also, their inside area should be clean and dry at all times, which is where you come in. You will be cleaning this space daily, and sometimes a few times daily. But, it’s worth it in the long run to have animals that offer so many benefits, including milk and meat.

You also have to consider what you are going to feed your goats. It is important that they are getting the proper nutrition, otherwise they are not going to produce a lot of milk, and their meat won’t be much good either. It is best to talk with breeders and farmers about the best foods to give to a Gulabi goat.

Another option is to talk to a farm animal veterinarian, who can give you all kinds of advice on how to raise Gulabi goats. It is extremely important that they have plenty of green space for grazing, especially if you are raising these animals for milk.

In addition to proper shelter and nutrition, there are other things you will need to do in order to ensure the health of your animals. They need regular veterinary care, and they should be vaccinated according to the proper schedule (your vet will let you know when the animals need certain vaccinations). Make sure that they are de-wormed regularly, and that you are extra careful in your handling of breeding bucks and pregnant or nursing does.

So, you’re thinking about becoming a breeder of goats, and you like the idea of breeding Gulabi Pateri goats. Do you have any idea at this point of what you are getting into? You are in luck. Breeding these and other goats is actually quite simple. Sure, you can go through the insemination process, but this really isn’t necessary at all. In fact, most people who breed and raise these goats tend to prefer using natural breeding methods.

You should have more does than bucks when you are breeding Gulabi Pateri goats. In fact, you really only need one or two males for every 30 females. These males seem to be pretty happy campers, seeing as how they can have all of the female attention they want when they want it.

Your breeding facility should have a ratio of one male to every 25 or 30 females. Obviously, if you are just getting started, you won’t have this many goats to worry about. Still, just one male should do the trick if you have a couple of females.

If you have decided that these are the goats you want to raise, you need to start by finding reputable Gulabi goat breeders. Obviously, you have done a bit of research to make your decision, based on your particular goat breeding needs.

Luckily, this type of goat is great for dairy, meat, and as a pet, so you have the best of all worlds when you are breeding and raising Gulabi Pateri goats. Before you go out and purchase goats from a breeder, here are some tips to keep in mind that will ensure you get healthy animals that are going to produce.

It is important to never buy a goat that is less than six months old. It should not still be nursing or being bottle fed, and it should be eating regular goat food on its own.

There are some diseases associated with goats that you need to consider. For instance, there is CAE, caprine arthritic encephalitis, a virus that is transmitted via body fluids. Luckily, goats can be tested for this and other diseases so you can be sure you are bringing home healthy animals.

You should never bring home a goat or any other farm animal unless you are certain it has been vaccinated. Ask for a vet check, or a certificate that shows the animal has been vaccinated.

No one likes to be alone, and that goes for goats as well. If you are getting a goat as a pet, or even for meat or milk, make sure that you get at least two. That way, they can keep each other company.

If you have never raised goats before, don’t go out and buy a lot of them and think you are going to start up a farm. It takes a lot of time to learn how to properly breed and raise any animal, particularly if you are going to use them for milk or meat.

Always make sure that you are buying from a reputable breeder of Gulabi Pateri goats. If you have a bad feeling about any breeder, it is a good idea to do a lot of research on that breeder, or talk to other breeders, before laying out any money.

One telltale sign that a goat is not healthy is if it doesn’t have a healthy-looking coat. The coat should be shiny, smooth, and soft. If it is coarse, rough, or dull looking, chances are it isn’t a healthy animal.

Check the age of your goats. While you don’t want to buy one that is less than six months old, you don’t want an old goat either. One of the best ways to tell the age is by counting the number of teeth.

Things you need to check out before buying these goats include the udders, which should be well formed and not low hanging. Also look for a shiny, healthy looking coat.

Finally, make sure that you do a lot of price comparisons before making your final decision. Some breeders charge more than is necessary. On the other hand, if it seems too inexpensive, it may be that the animal has a health issue. Again, it is important to make sure that you have really done your research before buying a Gulabi goat.

Depending on the area, Gulabi goats can range in price. They are rather expensive, so the initial investment to get into raising these animals can be costly, but it is worth it in the long run thanks to the production of dairy and meat. In India and Pakistan, Gulabi goats can run as high as Rs 50,000. In the United States, this would be an average of $700.

Farming and ranching are both the backbone of America and a time-honored tradition, though they’ve undergone big changes in the last few decades.

It’s now harder than ever before to maintain, let alone start, a farming operation. Commercial operations are bigger and more complicated and are squeezing the little guys out, especially as older, more experienced farmers are retiring.

So, while farming and ranching is integral to the country’s success and is personally satisfying for many farmers and ranchers, funding can be hard or nearly impossible to come by, with many funding programs and grants being cut back or closed completely in recent years. And because farming and ranching can be considered by many lending institutions to be both small business and family residence, it can make qualifying for funding doubly complicated.

But there’s hope! You can use our comprehensive list of of farm grants to find resources that work for you, including both grant and lending programs.

Nearly every state in the country offers a program of some sort, so read through to find a good match for you and your goals. And read all the way to the end for some tips on how to help ensure you win that grant or loan you spent so much time applying for.

(Keep in mind, too, that new grant programs are always being created, so if you don’t find one that works for you now, keep checking this page—especially as governments change.)

While the number of federal assistance programs has decreased in recent years, there are still some you can take advantage of.

Perhaps you’ve experienced losses as a result of an emergency such as fire or drought, or perhaps you’ve got a great idea to make something new with your product. If so, the following federal programs are for you:

If you’ve ever thought about taking what you already have and turning it into something else, adding something to it to create a new product, or growing/raising it in a way that’s different from others (e.g., organic), try looking into this program to see what it can offer you.

For this program, “value-added” means a product that “helps increase farm income and marketing opportunities, creates new jobs, contributes to community economic development, and enhances food choices for consumers.” It offers grants to folks who add value to the product they started with.

Individuals, groups, organizations, and cooperatives all qualify for this grant. While there is no limit to the amount of the grant, it is a cost-matching grant, so keep that in mind when you’re applying. Also, any proposal asking more than $50,000 must be accompanied by an independent feasibility study and business plan. Both planning grants and working capital grants are available.

To apply:

Visit both  The NSAC Farmers’ Guide to Applying for Value Added Producer Grant Funding and The USDA Value Added Producer Grant program

Proposals must be submitted here.

This is the perfect program for farmers with ideas. If you have an idea you want to try out that will benefit other farmers as well, give this grant a shot.

While you need to have a technical advisor involved in your project, you could get up to $15,000 to try out your new idea. But be prepared to present your results in annual and final reports. This grant is not a cost-matching grant, so there’s no need to worry about being able to match funds.

Jump on this one quickly if your idea is ready to go! The deadline for 2019 closes on November 27, 2018, but it will open up again next year if you aren’t quite ready yet.

And there’s one last catch: you must be a commercial farmer in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, or Washington, D.C.

Also make sure your operation meets the definition of “farm” as laid out by the USDA as you’ll only qualify for this grant if yours does match.

This definition states the goal is to provide food and fiber to meet human needs. For example, farms raising plants or livestock that are part of the food or fiber value chain, such as hay for livestock feed or stocker cattle for finishing, are eligible operations.

Download this pdf to learn more about the definition before you apply.

To apply, download the application form and submit your application online.

This is the same organization, program, and grant as the one above, except this one is available to those in the western states and territories including Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Micronesia, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

If you live in a western state, you’re in luck, because this program caps their grants at $20,000 rather $15,000 for other areas, and a group of three or more producers can apply for up to $25,000.

This one is also open only until November 28, 2018, so if you’d like to be considered for a 2019 grant, get your proposal together quickly.

Check out the eligibility requirements here, but they are the same as the Northeast SARE Farmer Grant above.

Applications are submitted online, and you can download the application form, complete with instructions and requirements, here.

This is the third of four grants given out by Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, each by geographical location. This is for those in north-central America: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

There are three types of competitive grants here: individual grants ($9,000 maximum), team of two grants for two farmers/ranchers from separate operations working together ($18,000 maximum), and group grants for three or more farmers/ranchers from separate operations working together ($27,000 maximum). This one is open until December 6, 2018.

Download the application form, and then submit it online with your supporting documents to apply.

The USDA has programs in place to assist farmers who have experienced livestock emergencies. If you need emergency relief, one of these programs can help you, but you will have to show proof of your loss.

Have you experienced losses because of a natural disaster or severe drought? This program can help you fix the damage and/or help you install new ways of conserving water. If you meet the following eligibility requirements (The FSA County Committee inspects the damage to determine if land is eligible), you may qualify for both funds and technical assistance if the following applies to you:

• Not fixing the damage would further damage the land,
• Not addressing the damage would significantly affect the land’s productive capacity,
• The damage from a natural disaster is unusual for the area (except from wind erosion), or
• The damage is too costly to repair to return the land to agricultural production without federal assistance.

This program will help you cover up to 75% of the repairs, but if you are a qualified limited resource producer, you could get as much as 90%.  

Contact your local FSA office to apply or learn more.

If your goats have been, or would have been, grazing in a particular zone that they can no longer use because of drought or fire, you may qualify for emergency payments. Check out the map of eligible counties for more information about your area.

If you’ve owned your goats—or you entered into a contract to purchase—for 60 days or more before the emergency, you’ve sold your goats because of the emergency, and you were/are raising the goats for commercial purposes rather than personal or recreational, you probably qualify for assistance if you’ve experienced drought or fire.

Payment amounts differ depending on whether your emergency is due to drought or fire and if you’ve kept or sold your goats. You could receive one to five payments. Amounts for farmers who’ve kept their goats but need assistance due to drought are “equal to 60 percent of the lesser of either the monthly feed cost for (a) all covered livestock owned or leased by the eligible livestock producer or (b) calculated by using the normal carrying capacity of the eligible grazing land of the eligible livestock producer.”

Amounts for those who have sold their goats due to drought are entitled to 80% of the usual payment rate. Those whose goats are unable to graze because of fire are eligible for 50% of the monthly feed cost necessary for the number of days the goats are unable to graze (to a maximum of 180 days).

To apply, just fill out an application form and return it with your supporting documents to your local FSA office within 30 days of the end of the calendar year in which your loss occurred. Some examples of supporting documents include your grower contract and evidence of your loss.

If you’ve experienced an excessive loss of goats because of bad weather conditions, disease, or attacks from animals that the government has reintroduced to the wild, this program could help you. Your payment would be equal to 75% of the average fair market value of your goats.

You could be eligible as long as you owned the goats at the time you lost them and you owned them for commercial purposes, not personal or recreational. Eligible extreme weather events include the following:

• earthquake
• hail
• lightning
• tornado
• tropical storm
• typhoon
• vog, if directly related to a volcanic eruption
• winter storm, if the winter storm lasts for three consecutive days and is accompanied by high winds, freezing rain or sleet, heavy snowfall and extremely cold temperatures
• hurricanes
• floods
• blizzards
• wild fires
• extreme heat
• extreme cold
• straight-line winds
• drought only when associated with anthrax, a condition that occurs because of drought and results in the death of eligible livestock
• anthrax*
• cyanobacteria (beginning in 2015 calendar year)*
• larkspur poisoning (beginning in 2015 calendar year)*

*Only eligible diseases qualify, and “eligible” means a disease made worse by an eligible adverse weather event that directly results in eligible livestock losses.

To apply, visit your local FSA office and bring any documents that provide proof of your loss with you. For more information, download the FSA Fact Sheet.

If you qualify for neither of the above programs—The Livestock Foraging Program or the Livestock Indemnity Program—you may still be able to take advantage of this one. This emergency assistance program could give you payments if you experienced losses due to disease, qualifying adverse weather events including blizzards and wildfires, or loss conditions as long as you have not qualified for other emergency assistance programs.

To apply for this program, visit your local FSA office within a year of your loss and then submit a notice of loss to the FSA center that maintains your farm records.

There are a couple of programs available designed to give beginning farmers/ranchers a leg up in their chosen industry.

The two programs below involve partnering with experienced, retiring farmers. Those with experience are a great resource when you’re just starting out, so start here, and then jump to the sections on state programs and credit programs (below) if you’re a beginning farmer.

The Transition Incentives Program is a win-win program. Not only does it offer retiring farmers up to two more annual payments once their Conservation Reserve Program (find out more below) payments have ended and peace of mind knowing the land they loved will continue to be worked and loved, but it gives new farmers or socially disadvantaged farmers an opportunity to buy and work the land at a reasonable price.

Retirees have the option of either selling or leasing the land to a new or socially disadvantaged farmer. Leases must run no less than 5 years, and the interest rate for selling the land can’t include an interest rate higher than 3% above the FSA rate. Only land already registered in the Conservation Reserve Program are eligible.

New farmers must use sustainable farming methods and conservation practices and must also have been farming for no more than 10 years to qualify for the program. You can also enroll in the Conservation Stewardship Program or Environmental Quality Incentives Program while you participate in the Transition Incentive Program.

For more information on the program, check out their FAQ page.

Beginning farmers, as with any field, can benefit from the advice of those more experienced than them. The USDA has partnered with the Small Business Administration and SCORE to help you move forward and succeed in your goals. Have specific questions answered or get advice with general topics such as business planning, financing, marketing strategies, or tax planning.

Interested in learning more? Just click on the SCORE button here or on the USDA New Farmers webpage. You’ll be paired with a mentor in 72 hours or less, and then you and your mentor can arrange to meet.

Or are you instead someone with lots of experience to share? Then click here to find out how to become a mentor.

There’s no doubt consumers are more and more interested in organic products lately, so perhaps going organic is an idea you’ve been toying with.

However, the cost to transition to an organic operation can quite often be insurmountable, so you’ve put it on the backburner. But if you meet the eligibility requirements, perhaps signing up for this program may allow you to achieve that dream now.

For those interested in transitioning to organic farming, the USDA FSA offers funding to help ease the cost of not only receiving, but also maintaining, certification. As of 2017, the last year numbers are available for, the FSA will reimburse farmers up to 75% of the cost of certification to a maximum of $750.

This funding is divided into two smaller programs: the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program for those transitioning to organic production to cover set up costs and the Agricultural Management Assistance Organic Certification Cost Share Program for those who’ve achieved organic certification and need to cover the cost of maintaining organic production processes. The first is available in all 50 states and territories, but the second is available in only the following 16 states:

Click here to apply or to learn more.

Sustainable Farming Grants

Sustainable farming is quickly becoming a top priority for both farmers and government, and in that vein, there are some grant programs available for those willing to voluntarily work towards land and farming sustainability to ensure our lands continue to work for us better and longer than they would have otherwise.

Increasing sustainability is a win-win for you because it also helps increase your profits once you have systems in place, so take a look at the available options.

This program helps farmers improve the sustainability and conservation of their land, and at the same time, helps increase the strength of their farm. Working in partnership with this program will ensure you increase productivity and protect the value of your land.

This is a competitive application program, so farm records must be established with the Farm Service Agency to determine all the agricultural or private forest land in your control. You must also have at least two resource concerns, and you must agree to address at least one during the term of the contract. Once it’s been decided that you qualify for the program, evaluators will pinpoint how well your current and future management system will address national, state, and local natural resource priorities and then will be rated against other, similar eligible applications. The highest scoring applications will receive contract offers first.

To apply and for more information, contact your local NRCS field office. 

Administered by the FSA, this program offers farmers an annual rental payment in return for planting species that improve the health and quality of the environment. This takes environmentally sensitive land out of agricultural production and rebuilds valuable land cover. This program applies to ranchers as well. Contracts typically run from 10 to 15 years.

Click here for more information or to apply. The application process is continuous, but the window for 2018 has closed, so visit the site regularly to know when the 2019 window opens.

Those enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program are also the only farms eligible to take part in the Transition Incentive Program (above).

​The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program is identical to the Conservation Reserve Program. The only difference is that this program enhances the Conservation Reserve Program and is a federal-state partnership. All other terms, benefits, assistance, and eligibility requirements are the same. Unfortunately, you can only enroll in this program if your state is one of those listed below:

Contact to your local FSA office to see if your land is eligible and to apply.

Wetlands are an often-overlooked component of environmental sustainability and can improve your operations by improving groundwater quality, trapping and breaking down pollutants, preventing soil erosion, reducing downstream flood damage, and providing a habitat for water birds and other wildlife.

That’s why it’s important to make them a priority, so this program, like the previous conservation programs, will also give you an annual payment if you restore some of your land to a wetland state and establish new plant cover. These contracts are also competitive and, when accepted, run for 10 to 15 years.

The eligibility requirements, however, are a little different in that there are restrictions on the land and the amount of acreage. These are a few guidelines:

• The land generally must have been used for agricultural purposes for 3 of the past 10 crop years,
• The land can include a manmade wetland used to process water flow for crop drainage,
• The land can have been used for aquafarming purposes, and
• The land can have been used for prairie wetland overflow purposes.

For this program too, contact your local FSA office to enroll. Enrollment runs all year long.

This program helps farmers and ranchers deal with the weather challenges that come with farming. Better conservation measures can lead to better protection from weather events, cleaner water and air, healthier soil, and better wildlife habitat, all while improving your operations.

To apply, contact your local NRCS field office. You’ll meet with them for a one-to-one session to create the conservation plan that best works for you. Part of the cost of your new conservation plan is covered by this program. And depending on where you land is located, there are over 200 conservation practices to choose from. This program is also competitive, so the best fitting programs for your area will be offered contracts first.

Click here for application and ranking information and payment rates.

Individual states offer more grant programs for farmers and ranchers than does the federal government, so if none of the programs you’ve read about so far are a match for you and your situation, you may have more luck at the state level. From grants to credit, the options are far greater.

Aggie bonds are offered in 16 states and offer beginning farmers and ranchers loans at much lower rates than standard, commercial loans. This program is a federal-state partnership that allows private lenders to offer tax-free bonds to first-time farmers. However, the program is run by each individual state agriculture department, so applicants must meet both federal and state guidelines, such as not using the loan to fund working capital, inventory, or production loans.

Below are the sixteen states currently offering Aggie Bonds:

As of January 1, 2018, the maximum loan amount you can receive is $533,500. For more information, check out the National Council of State Agricultural Finance Programs website.

If you’re a new or beginning farmer in the state of New York, you may qualify for $15,000 to $50,000 in grants, but the catch is you have to match any amount you receive from the grant yourself using cash, lines of credit, or loans.

Projects eligible for this grant include expanding or diversifying agricultural production, and/or extending the agricultural season; and/or advancing innovative techniques that increase sustainable agricultural production practices such as organic farming, food safety, reduction of farm waste, and/or water use.

If you’ve owned and been working a farm in New York that makes at least $10,000 in farm income from sales of agricultural products grown or raised on your operation for less than 10 years and are over 18, you may qualify for this program.

Click here to apply. All applications must be received before January 25, 2019. For more information, contact Bonnie Devine at [email protected].

Are you at a stage where you’re considering or planning on raising goats? If you live in Texas, you’re in luck. The Department of Agriculture has a cost-matching program that could help bring your plans to life. You could qualify if you’re a resident of Texas between 18 and 46 and are planning on developing a brand new goat farm. Taking over an existing farm does not qualify.

This program accepts applications twice a year, but the most recent window has closed. Keep checking back for the next date!

For more information on how the program works or to apply, visit Texas Agriculture’s website.

In partnership with the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund and the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, the Kentucky State University provides grants for farmers who earn less than $250,000/year from their operations. If this sounds like you and you want to improve your business and can document your success, apply for this program now. You could receive $5,000 to $10,000 and an additional $500 for educational training or materials.

Visit their website to apply and to learn more.

This organization hands out grants annually to help all types of farmers transform and strengthen their farms, enhancing their sustainability and financial viability, so they can then become more innovative and not only become more profitable but also help their fellow farmers.

This grant offers grants of up to $9,000 to individual farmers and up to $11,000 for collaborative farmer projects and has two closing dates: the November 30, 2018, early bird date or January 4, 2019. They highly recommend you apply by the early bird date so you have the chance to receive feedback and reapply if needed.

You can apply for this grant online as well. However, be aware that this grant is only available in these counties:

This association awards grants ranging from $500 to $10,000 three times a year to help organizations promote awareness and strengthen agriculture, commercial fishing, and forest products in the six New England states, New York, and New Jersey. They encourage projects submitted by young and beginning farmers, socially disadvantaged farmers, and farms that promote minority involvement.

The next deadline is December 1, 2018. Download the application form and submit it online with a supporting letter that includes the following:

specific information about what is to be accomplished and the amount of funding being requested and other sponsoring organizations, if applicable

specific dates for activities and events and whether program/event sponsors will be asked to participate in any manner

specific information on how receipt of the grant will be reported in the recipient's newsletters, press releases, event handouts, and other materials

 budget information indicating how the AgEnhancement funds will be used and information regarding the total cost of the project/event/program and the proportion of funding being sought

The state of Minnesota offers this grant for on-farm research and demonstrations for projects that center around sustainable agriculture practices and systems that could make farming more profitable and resource efficient.

If you have a project in mind, this grant could offer you $25,000 to $50,000, but after $25,000, it becomes a cost-matching grant, so keep that in mind when you apply.

To apply, download and read the Request for Proposals, and then apply online. The deadline to apply is December 12, 2018.

This grant is offered to Minnesota livestock farmers and ranchers in good standing to help them improve, update, and modernize their operations. You can use the funds to pay for pay for the purchase, construction, or improvement of buildings or facilities used for livestock, but be prepared to invest at least $4,000 of your own money into the project.

The grant can offer up to $25,000/project with a lifetime maximum of $50,000.

To apply, download and read the Request for Proposals and then apply online. The deadline to apply is 4:00 pm  CST December 15, 2018.

This organization offers grants to Montana ranchers to encourage them to use riparian pastures for their livestock so they can manage weeds and overgrown vegetation in previously unused areas, to give livestock better access to stream areas, and to decrease maintenance of things such as fencing.

This is a cost-share grant that will cover up to 50% of the expense of fencing, other riparian pasture-related infrastructure, and construction. They will keep offering the grant until the funding is depleted, so just apply online, or contact Jessica Makus at [email protected] for more information.

Sustainable Agriculture Resource and Education has an easy-to-use chart that includes both a portfolio summary and a grants pdf for every state and territory that has even one grant available, so it’s worth a look to see what else may be available in your state.

There are numerous additional state grant programs for farmers and ranchers, but the ones listed below are closed, at least for now, but it can’t hurt to keep an eye on them to see if they open up again:

Local Agriculture and Seafood Act (LASA) Grants Program – Rhode Island

Matching Enterprise Grants for Agriculture – Massachusetts

Wisconsin 30x20 Grant - Wisconsin

Farmer Veteran Coalition - Fellowship Fund

Western North Carolina Ag Options – North Carolina

Connecticut Farm Enterprise Transition Grant - Connecticut

Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture's Sustainable Food and Agriculture Grant for Women in North Carolina

New York State Veterans Farmer Grant Fund – New York

Fruit Guys Community Fund – California

Frontera Farmer Foundation – Chicago area farms

Southeast Mass Ag Partnership TIE grant - Massachusetts

There are thousands upon thousands of credit opportunities for farmers and ranchers throughout the country.

You can find organizations offering loans and microloans at every level: federal, state, and private. Some cater to small farms, beginning farmers, or socially disadvantaged farmers, and some are geared to well-established operations.

If you can’t find a grant that works for you just yet, it’s worth considering looking at one or a combination of these loans because many of them have reasonable interest rates and repayment terms. You can even use these loans to cover your part of the financing for cost-sharing grants.

Loans come in a variety of categories:

• Direct operating loans are more a more general, all purpose loan that can be used to buy livestock and feed, farm equipment, fuel, farm chemicals, insurance, and family living expenses or to make minor improvements or repairs to buildings and fencing. They can even be used for general farm operating expenses if you need to. Interest rates at the FSA sit at 3.75% right now.
• Direct ownership loans are just that: loans meant for buying or enlarging property or buildings. However, you can also use them for soil and water conservation and protection purposes. The rates at the FSA for direct ownership loans are 4.125%.
• Microloans are targeted more toward small and beginning farmers or those operating in a different or specialty niche. They usually require less paperwork and have less requirements. The interest rates for microloans at the FSA are identical to direct loans.
• Guaranteed loans exist to allow lenders to finance farmers that haven’t been able to find commercial funding. With these loans, farmers get access to funding at reasonable rates and lenders get additional loan business and servicing fees. Interested in a guaranteed loan? Take a look at the list of lenders.

The FSA even offers loans for specific groups: youth loans, minority and women farmers and ranchers loans, beginning farmers and ranchers loans, emergency loans, and Native American tribal loans.

Below is list of additional organizations and sites that have the most inclusive lists of available loan opportunities:

• USDA Small Farm Funding Resources
• USDA Business and Industry Loan Program
• US Small Business Administration
• Rodale Institute
• Beginning Farmers
• Foodtank

Applying for a grant or loan can be a larger, more difficult task than you thought at first glance, but if you follow all the instructions, pick up some tips, and pay attention to detail, it can really pay off. Below is a list of tips to help you put together a winning grant or loan application:

1. Consider taking a class in grant writing. There are lots out there, usually attached to university or college campuses. You can even take them online, and it’ll give you an edge over many other applicants. Learning how write effect grant proposals will also help you write and fill out better loan applications.
2. Make sure you read all the eligibility requirements and the grant or loan description. Many grants are denied simply because they aren’t the best fit with the applying farmer and some loan application results could have a different outcome with clearer writing, purpose, and budget justification.
3. Write up your proposal offline. Write, rewrite, rewrite some more, and then cut. Most grant applications have word counts, so this process is crucial to ensure that you’ve included only the most important content. It also gives you the best chance to catch any errors or typos. The same goes for loan applications. Error-free forms give the impression of professionalism and preparation.
4. Keep your writing clear, concise, and free of jargon. While you will be writing for experts in general (for grants), they may not be experts in your particular field, so use plain language. That’s especially true when applying for a loan. While the reviewer has experience in farm loans, they don’t live it the way you do. And keep in mind these reviewers have many, many applications to review, so say what you need to say in as few words as possible. Use only the exact right words and lay out your plan clearly so they don’t have to guess or wonder at what you’re getting at.
5. Make sure your budget is reasonable, matches the allowable uses in the grant or loan, and is justified. Write a short, clear explanation for each item that explains what it is, why it’s necessary, and how you calculated the cost.
6. Last but not least—and certainly the most important—is to always remember your attachments! You don’t get a second chance on this. If you hit send on your application form without attaching your supporting documents, you’re out of the running.

NOTE: The programs listed here aren’t inclusive of every program available. If you are a researcher, an organization, or an educational provider, there are more financing programs available to help improve the agriculture industry.

*This article has used the USDA’s definition of “agriculture”: The science or practice of farming, including growing crops and raising animals for the production of food, fiber, fuel, and other products.

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Nigerian Dwarf goats are compact, docile, and productive little animals…

Because they are smaller than standard goats, and have a friendly disposition, they are easier to manage and live with, making them popular as pets. But they are also low-maintenance dairy goats, giving a surprising amount of high-quality, high-fat milk despite their small size.

There are a growing number of people who appreciate the easy care and versatility of these goats, and they can be enjoyed both as companion animals and for profit in a dairy farm.

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If you are thinking that the breed history and American history of Nigerian Dwarf goats and Pygmy goats sounds extremely similar, you are correct. Both breeds are very similar in origins and uses.

The primary difference between Nigerian Dwarf goats and Nigerian Pygmy goats are their body proportions. Nigerian Pygmy goats tend to have stocky, barrel-like bodies, a bit like normal-sized goats with short legs. Nigerian Dwarf goats, on the other hand, are proportioned more delicately overall, like normal-sized goats scaled down smaller.

There are also two different breed standards for Nigerian Dwarf goats, depending on whether they are being used as dairy goats or not.

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In short, for people who already have a small or large farm, it's easy to simply add Nigerian Dwarf goats and enjoy their many benefits. And for those looking for a fun, friendly, charming pet, a Nigerian Dwarf goat doesn't require much more space or care than most breeds of dog.

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The cost for registered Nigerian Dwarf breeding stock is $200-$500 per goat, depending on their availability and bloodline. Wethers to be sold as pets are generally available for as little as $50-$100.

Nigerian Dwarf goats produce milk for about 300 days per freshening, and breed throughout the year, rather than seasonally. This makes their polyestrous nature favorable. If you want a steady supply of delicious, high-quality goat milk, you only need a couple does, and to stagger their breeding.

If you plan to breed Nigerian Dwarf goats, it is good to have some overlap in their milk production, because of the high possibility of having 5 kids in a kidding; a doe may give birth to more kids than she can nurse, and having another lactating doe available allows fostering or bottle feeding.

Breeding Nigerian Dwarf goats presents the challenge that all goat farmers have: keeping a buck so that you can breed your goats when desired, but isolating him from the does so that they don't breed to early, or more than once. Even relatively small Nigerian Dwarf bucks can be quite determined when they want to access a receptive doe, so their enclosure needs to be very sturdy.

And even bucks that need to be separated from the herd still have social needs, and should be kept with other animals or a wether for company. However, unlike many breeds, Nigerian Dwarf bucks are more docile and easy to handle, so they are less of a challenge to keep or contain.

If you choose to keep a buck, it is best to not have him share a fence with the does. Goats are resourceful, and have been known to breed through fences. Create an enclosure for the buck, with a clear area of 15 or more feet between it and the enclosure for the does. This buffer zone will not only prevent unwanted breeding through the shared fence, but it will also discourage him from attacking the fence and putting undue strain on it.

As an alternative, you may find a neighbor with a buck and arrange periodic “dates” for your does when you are ready for them to come into season and to breed. This is a popular method for keeping constant milk production, while avoiding some of the expense and challenge of owning your own buck.

Nigerian Dwarf wethers make excellent and popular pets, and this popularity as a pet helps to reduce some of the stress of figuring out what do to with the unneeded male kids born several times a year. It is also a good source of additional income from a Nigerian Dwarf goat farm.

Nigerian are calm, pleasant creatures, and like the Pygmy goat, they hail from West Africa. They come in a variety of colors and are known for producing large quantities of milk. Legally, does are not supposed to exceed 22-½ inches and bucks no more than 23-½ inches.

• Even though they’re small, Nigerian Dwarf goats need plenty of room to live and roam around.
• This breed is tough and can easily escape from their containment areas if they aren’t strong enough. Make sure you get a fence that’s tall and durable.
• Nigerian Dwarf goats can quickly become lonely if they’re the only one. If you’re looking to start a farm, start with at least two so that they have a companion.
• A large dog house can be an adorable, alternative shelter option to protect your Nigerian Dwarf goat from harsh weather conditions.

A couple of places that ship Nigerian Dwarf goats nationwide include:

• Tanglewood Farm
• Double Durango Farm

• The American Nigerian Dwarf Goat Association
• The American Dwarf Goat Association
• The Nigerian Dwarf Goat Association

Training goats, in general, takes patience. It can be hard to teach an older Nigerian Dwarf goat new tricks. Start them off young, and make them feel loved as they’re learning. Here are a few more tips to keep in mind when training your Nigerian Dwarf.

• The good thing about Nigerian Dwarves is that they’re quick learners. Show your goats where you want them to go, then give them little treats for doing what you want. Repeating this a few times will help you ND’s break into your routine.
• Goats love food, so treating them with foods they love will encourage them to follow your instructions. These foods may include but are not limited to animal crackers, carrots, hay, and goat treats.
• Don’t force your goat to do anything. If you want to see results, nurture them with guidance and patience and they’ll be doing what you want in no time.
• Establish a trusting and loving relationship with your Nigerian Dwarf, and they’ll be eager to comply with your wants.

According to the NDGA, Nigerian Dwarfs make wonderful pets due to their size and playful personalities. This, along with their sweet temper, makes them a family-friendly addition that can easily get along with your other pets.

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Interested in raising Pygmy goats? In this complete guide we walk you through everything you need to know: where they come from, what they can be used for, where to buy them, and much more!

The Pygmy Goat is a small, hardy, adaptable goat breed that is increasingly popular in the United States.

Their small size and good nature make them attractive dairy goats, where they require less space and feed than larger goats, and are suitable for smaller farms in urban and suburban settings. They are also frequently kept as pets, simply for the enjoyment of their companionship.

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Their small size makes them extremely attractive 4H project animals, because children are not intimidated by these little goats.

They are also frequently kept as good-natured companions for grazing animals, where they provide calming friendship for other herd animals. Their delicious milk makes them a welcome addition in a variety of small farming operations.

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Unlike dairy goats that will come into heat annually, and produce milk for 1-2 years, Pygmy goats produce milk for only a relatively short 3-6 month period of time. This makes their polyestrous nature favorable.

If you want a steady supply of delicious, high-quality goat milk, you will need several does, and to time their breeding schedule so that you will always have a doe producing milk. At a minimum, this means four does, breeding a different one each quarter, so that you can have 1-2 quarts of goat milk a day throughout the year.

This presents the challenge that all goat farmers have: keeping a buck so that you can breed your goats when desired, but isolating him from the does so that they don't breed to early, or more than once.

Even relatively small Pygmy bucks can be quite determined when they want to access a receptive doe, so their enclosure needs to be very sturdy. And even bucks that need to be separated from the herd still have social needs, and should be kept with other animals or a wether for company.

If you choose to keep a buck, it is best to not have him share a fence with the does. Goats are resourceful, and have been known to breed through fences. Create an enclosure for the buck, with a clear area of 15 or more feet between it and the enclosure for the does.

This buffer zone will not only prevent unwanted breeding through the shared fence, but it will also discourage him from attacking the fence and putting undue strain on it.

As an alternative, you may find a neighbor with a buck and arrange periodic “dates” for your does when you are ready for them to come into season and to breed. This is a popular method for keeping constant milk production, while avoiding some of the expense and challenge of owning your own buck.

Pygmy does are famous for having kidding problems, due to the small size of their pelvis, and will need to be watched closely as a pregnancy nears its term. It is best to have a veterinarian available to assist if necessary, and be familiar with the signs of a difficult kidding and how best to intervene and help the doe.

Most does experiencing a normal birthing will have a kid within an hour of beginning labor. If your doe has been pushing for an hour and not yet kidded, notify your veterinarian and have them on standby. If she still has not given birth after 2 hours of pushing, it is necessary to intervene, and potentially save the life of both mother and kid(s).

Pygmy wethers make excellent and popular pets, and this popularity as a pet helps to reduce some of the stress of figuring out what do to with the unneeded male kids born several times a year. It is also a good source of additional income from a pygmy goat farm.

Like any animal, pygmy goats come with a shortlist of pros and cons. Now, depending on what you’re using the pygmy for, these lists may or may not sway your decision to start a farm.

Keep in mind the following tips when deciding if you want to add pygmy goats to your life.

• Because they’re so tiny, pygmy goats don’t need as much space as larger breeds. However, they do get bored easily, so they’ll need a space where they can run around and use their minds.
• Pygmy goats should be kept in a ventilated, sturdy space built for their size.
• They need a good amount of freshwater daily to keep them healthy. Also, a good amount of alfalfa hay mix/grass, molasses-free grain, and trace mineral salt will ensure that your pygmy gets all the nutrients they need.
• If you want to breed your pygmy goat, the ideal time to wait is 18 months after they’re born.

There are two types of pygmy goats that are sold in the US: Nigerian Dwarf Goats and African Pygmy Goats. Goats can range anywhere from $50 to $300 depending on various factors including sex, weight, size, age, and temper. There are additional costs that may need to be covered to make sure your house/farm is ready to take on this new animal.

There are pygmy farms and breeders all over America who house a reasonable selection of pygmy goats. If you want to see who sells what, contact your local zoo, pet store, or animal farm to see what they have to offer.

• The National Pygmy Goat Association
• The Livestock Conservancy
• The American Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Association

The Damascus goat is a breed of domestic goat that is mainly used for the production of milk, but it also has other uses. Depending on your definition of beauty, you could either think that this is the most beautiful goat, or the ugliest thing you have ever seen.

But, even if you don’t consider this animal a beauty, you will likely fall in love with its sweet, sad eyes. Today we are going to talk about everything you ever wanted to know about Damascus goats, including how to breed and raise them. Let’s get started.

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The Damascus goat origin can be traced to India and other parts of the Middle East, but it didn’t originally come from this part of the world. It was originally exported by Britain in the 19th century, and brought to Cyprus where serious breeding began.  

This is an even-tempered animal that loves to get plenty of attention from humans, and in addition to being a great source of milk, it can also be a loving and fun pet. It is calm and obedient, and if raised around them can be great with children. This is a large breed of goat, and they are happy to be left to their own devices in a pasture of medium size. Just make sure they have plenty of grass to graze on, and trees for shade. These animals do not forage well, as they have undershot jaws.

The Damascus goat is a hardy breed, and there are no known health issues within the breed. Anyone who is interested in raising goats should consider this breed, because they are so easy to care for. These are excellent starter goats.

These goats are generally bred and raised in Cyprus, Syria, and Lebanon, and they are known by many other names, including Baladi, Damascene, Shami, Halep, Aleppo, and Chami. This is a breed that is native to the Middle East, and it is generally raised in large herds.

There are many stories in Arabic literature that mention the Damascus goat. It can be found in folklore in this region, and it is seen in religious literature as well. This is a noble beast, and it has often been used to create other breeds of goats, and there is plenty of interest in its genetics, as well as breeding. In 2008, a Damascus goat received the Most Beautiful Goat award at the Mazayen al-Maaz competition, held in Riyadh.

There are Damascus goat characteristics that make it completely different from any other type of goat breed. They are relatively large in size, and they are Nubian. Most Damascus goats are red or brown, but they are seen in other colors, including grey and pied. They can have horns or not, and they tend to have long hair. A fully grown Damascus goat has very long legs, and a long neck, but it has a small head. The bucks are larger than the does, which is normal among most goat breeds.  

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With jaws that are similarly structured like that of a bulldog, the Damascus goat isn’t exactly the prettiest animal in the world. They are adorable when they are small, but as their jaws grow, and with the snub nose, they don’t grow up to be gorgeous animals. Think of the saying, “a face only a mother could love” and you have the Damascus goat. But, those who love them really love them, and they see the inner beauty of the bred.

Generally, these goats are reddish brown in color, but there are many variations, including white, fawn, grey, and pied. These color variations can be found in both sexes. Damascus goats tend to weigh between 130 and 200 pounds, with the males being larger. An adult male will stand approximately 80cm at its withers. They have medium to longish hair, and it is very soft.

You might have noticed that these goats have very odd looking ears. Their ears are extremely long, and they tend to droop. Males and females have ears of the same length and style. The ears are often cropped for goats that are in shows.

Damascus goats have horns that are long and thick, and they curve backwards. The male has horns that are a bit longer than the female, but the shape is pretty much the same. These goats tend to reach maturity between 3 and 10 months.

In North America, goats are often kept as pets, including Damascus goats. But, there are several Damascus goat uses that farmers in other countries all over the world are taking advantage of. For instance, this is a dairy goat breed, and in most cases, it is used for milk production. At its peak, a single Damascus goat can produce as much as 650kg of milk in a single lactation.

But, these animals are highly valued for other reasons as well. They can be used for meat (as long as you don’t get too attached to them and decide to keep them as pets and for milk). They can also be used for making leather, and of course, since they are becoming more and more popular, Damascus goats are also used for breeding.

These goats grow quickly, and because of this, bucks are often cross-bred with regular goats. This helps them to become heavier faster. Damascus goats are known to have a high rate of twin births, and you can often get two to three babies per kidding. This is one of the reasons why these goats are so popular with goat breeders, as they can increase their goat count relatively quickly.

If there is anything that can be said about goat breeding, it’s that it is relatively simple; it is the same with Damascus goats. Keep in mind that these goats only breed once every year, usually in the spring time.

Damascus goat breeders who want to have large herds tend to have many of these goats, particularly if they are in the business of selling their animals. The breeding period is as long as 36 hours, with a breeding cycle of 18 to 24 days. The gestation period for these animals is about 155 days, and they usually have three to four kids at a time.

Damascus goats are excellent mothers, and they wean their kids so they don’t have to be bottle fed after leaving their mothers. Baby Damascus goats can drink their mothers’ milk for up to 240 days (the lactation period), and they tend to milk from four to six weeks. These animals have awesome maternal instincts, and they will do whatever it takes to protect their young.

Unless there are complications during pregnancy or delivery, there is little that the breeder needs to do in order to breed these animals. They pretty much take care of themselves, and they know how to look after their own babies without any human intervention. In fact, in most cases, natural breeding of these animals is the preferred method. A healthy buck can breed as many as 30 does, making him a pretty busy guy, and a popular one among the lady goats.

If you are going to breed Damascus goats, it is important that you know how to raise these animals so they are healthy and happy. If an animal isn’t healthy, you aren’t going to get quality milk or meat from it.

Obviously, these goats need to be given quality food, and it needs to be nutritious in order for the goats to be healthy and active, as well as to be able to produce milk and more babies. If you are keeping these goats for milk, make sure that they are getting plenty of greens, which will help to improve milk production.

Believe it or not, these goats have more nutritional needs than human babies. It is important that you are using healthy goat feed for goats that have been weaned. Also keep in mind that if your doe has more than one baby, it has more nutritional needs than if it only has one.

Something else to consider when keeping Damascus goats is the care that is involved. Like any animal, these goats need to be vaccinated, and they will need to have de-worming medications regularly. If you have breeding bucks or pregnant or nursing does, it is important to give them even more care to ensure healthy babies.   

You are probably wondering by now about the price of Damascus goats. There are several factors that can influence the price of one of these animals. For example, if you have cross-bred your animals, they won’t fetch nearly as hefty a price as a purebred animal. At one time in India, these goats can cost as much as 250,000 Syrian pounds. These days, that can seem pretty inexpensive. These goats can now cost as much as 2.5 million Syrian pounds, which is about $5,000 in US dollars.

The price may be enough to turn you off wanting to raise Damascus goats, but you have to look at what you can earn in the long run. This is going to be an investment, and you can make a pretty good amount of money with your goats, whether you are breeding them to sell as live animals or you are selling the milk, meat, or leather. The reason why these animals are so costly is the fact that this is a rare breed.

Also, now that there are videos of these goats on social media, they are becoming increasingly popular, which is going to increase the price. If there is a market that really wants something, people will pay for it.     

Never buy a goat that is less than six months of age, or that is still being bottle fed. Also make sure that it has been vet checked for good health.

Make sure that the animal is vaccinated, and that you see proof of vaccination before taking it to your farm.

Any animal needs a friend, so if you are going to buy one Damascus goat, make sure you get two so they have each other for company.

Check with numerous breeders before making your final decision. Remember, these animals don’t come cheap, so you want to make sure you get the best.

If you are buying more than one animal, you may be able to do a bit of bargaining to bring the price down.