Farmer Grants for Animal Welfare

Animal Welfare Approved, the only certification program and food label for pasture-raised meat, dairy and eggs, is pleased to announce a call for farmer proposals for its 2012-2013 Good Husbandry Grants. Now in its fifth year, the Good Husbandry Grants program has funded over one hundred projects across the country to improve farm animal welfare. Certified farmers and those who have submitted an application for AWA certification may apply for up to $5,000 towards projects such as mobile housing, breeding stock, and on-farm processing equipment. Slaughter plants working with or seeking to work with AWA farmers are also eligible for funding.  The deadline for proposals is September 28, 2012.

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The funding priorities for this year’s cycle include improved genetics, increased outdoor access, welfare improvements in the slaughter process and non-lethal predator control. As pasture- and range-based management is a fundamental requirement of AWA certification, a primary goal of this grant program is to facilitate the growth and success of high-welfare, pasture-based systems. Previous on-farm projects include: new mobile housing, incorporation of new genetics to better facilitate pasture-based management, and incubators for on-farm hatching. AWA’s Good Husbandry Grants program will also continue its focus on welfare improvements in the slaughter process. Previous slaughter plant projects include: a new knock box and handling facility improvements, stunners for on-farm poultry slaughter, a mobile processing unit, and visual barriers to reduce handling stress. Contact Grants Coordinator Emily Lancaster at Emily@animalwelfareapproved.org or (202) 618-4497 with any questions.  For more information, click here.

Guidelines and Applications

Guidelines (MS Word) (Adobe PDF)

Grant Application – Farmer  (MS Word) (Adobe PDF)

Grant Application – Slaughter Plant  (MS Word) (Adobe PDF)

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