can you get any grants for starting a pig farm?

Question

looking to go into business as a pig farmer - I now sheep and cattle farmers get help - what about pig farmers

Answer 1

You stand a greater chance of getting a government-guaranteed loan through the Small Business Administration http://www.sba.gov/financing than a government grant

It is hard to find grants to start a business. Unlike the myths that some perpetuate, federal government and even private foundations hardly give grant money for a for-profit business. And yes, grants mean PAPERWORK - lots and lots of it, that is why a cottage industry of grant writers was born.

Nonetheless, you can go to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) http://www.cfda.gov and Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov - these are two sites created by the federal government to provide transparency and information on grants. Browse through the listings and see if you can find any grant that would support a for-profit venture.

Even if you buy books on "how to get grants" or list that supposedly has information on grants -- all of them are mere rehash of what CFDA has, albeit packaged differently. But still the info is the same - hardly any grants for starting a for profit business.

Even SBA does NOT give out grants. From the SBA website http://www.sba.gov/expanding/grants.html

"The U.S. Small Business Administration does not offer grants to start or expand small businesses, although it does offer a wide variety of loan programs. (See http://www.sba.gov/financing for more information) While SBA does offer some grant programs, these are generally designed to expand and enhance organizations that provide small business management, technical, or financial assistance. These grants generally support non-profit organizations, intermediary lending institutions, and state and local governments."

Here is a listing of federal grants for small businesses. See if there is any available for individuals for starting a business -- THERE'S NONE.
http://12.46.245.173/pls/portal30/CATALOG.BROWSE_BENEF_RPT.show

Most of the federal grants are given to specific target groups with specific requirements (e.g. minority business owners involved in transportation related contracts emanating from DOT - Grant#20.905 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Short Term Lending Program

Grants are also often given to non profit groups or organizations involved in training or other similar activities (grant 59.043 Women's Business Ownership Assistance that are given to those who will create women's business center that will train women entrepreneurs

I suggest you read the following books to get ideas of how to finance your business:

Financing Your Small Business http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1572484500/powerhomebizguid
Small Business Financing: How and Where To Get It http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0808007386/powerhomebizguid
Financing the Small Business: A Complete Guide to Obtaining Bank Loans and All Other Types of Financing http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1580626815/powerhomebizguid
The SBA Loan Book http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/158062202X/powerhomebizguid
Angel Capital : How to Raise Early-Stage Private Equity Financing http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0471690635/powerhomebizguid
Financing Your Small Business (Barron's Business Library Series) http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764124897/powerhomebizguid

For private grants, you may want to check the Foundation Center's Foundation Grants for Individuals Online. It's a subscription based website ($9.95 per month) but their opening blurb only says that the database is ideal for "students, artists, academic researchers, libraries and financial aid offices." Entrepreneurs are apparently not one of them, so I take it they also don't have listings of private foundations who give grants to would-be entrepreneurs.

Answer 2

Don't do it. I had a pig farm in Devon but had to stop. They were organic "free range" as it were. They tasted fantastic but because they were pure breed they were a little bit more expensive that the mass produced watered down rubbish you get in supermarkets. People tend to look at price first then quality, Muppet's!
If you can't compete with the big boys don't even try. If it's a hobby then yes give it a go. If it's going to be your main business - I wish you all the luck.

P.S What Sarah A said is correct, The paperwork is stupid, red tape euro nonsense. At least they don't need passports like cattle, well not yet anyway. And NO you don't get Government grants / subsidies like you do with cattle.

Answer 3

Heavens - you don't want to be going into pig farming now. The whole industry has been completely screwed over by the EU and the government. The paperwork is ridiculous, the regulations even worse and the market is terrible with too much consideration / subsidy going to farmers on the continent and prices being consistently undercut by Danish imports etc. You might just scrape by if you're planning on going organic, but even then, it's going to be unbelievably tough.

Answer 4

A Hog Farm in decrease long island? Do you somewhat hate the 1st substitute plenty which you're keen to pay long island city land fees (In decrease long island, whether) to enhance pigs? LOL. You adult men are entire morons!

Answer 5

I love both fruits and fruit and vegetables better, regardless how they look and taste. You desire a little of both.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

In the event that it's a fruit it includes seeds, otherwise it's a vegetable. And vegetables are usually grown in the ground while fruits are grown in trees.

Answer 8

see you bank manager with a well thought out business plan, for a start up loan, or what about the princes trust they give out business grants don't know if there's an age limit. that's if you live in the UK.

Answer 9

The key to unlock the electrical power to make income from residence is discovering the appropriate online interface for writers

Answer 10

yea, and 3 free piggies