Regional Livestock Development and Planning Grant Program

The Regional Livestock Development and Planning Grant Program is administered by the North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) to support counties and regional planning councils in advancing livestock development within the state. The program is specifically designed to fund strategic and site-specific planning initiatives that help expand and strengthen rural economic development through livestock production infrastructure. The initiative aligns with the broader goals of the NDDA to enhance the vitality of North Dakota’s agricultural sector while ensuring that expansion efforts are guided by thoughtful, community-centered planning. The core objective of the program is to enable counties and regional councils to conduct analyses and planning that promote investment-ready livestock development. Eligible uses of funds include conducting site analysis, facilitating strategic planning, and evaluating opportunities for accommodating and encouraging livestock-related infrastructure such as animal feeding operations, agricultural processing, and storage facilities. By identifying and planning for suitable site areas, counties and townships can play a proactive role in attracting and managing agricultural growth. Applicants are required to submit a strategic plan as part of the application. This plan must assess suitable rural development sites with attention to several critical factors: compliance with local zoning and land use regulations, understanding and incorporation of state permitting requirements, and the evaluation of infrastructure and natural resource availability needed to support development. These criteria ensure that planning efforts are grounded in regulatory realities and sustainable practices. The funding structure offers grants of up to $12,000 for each county and up to $500 for each township in North Dakota. These funds are intended to be used exclusively for livestock development planning purposes. It is noted that several counties have already completed site analyses under this initiative, indicating a phased or multi-year approach. Counties already assessed include Adams, Billings, Bottineau, Bowman, Burke, Cass, Dickey, Dunn, Golden Valley, Hettinger, McHenry, Mountrail, Pierce, Ransom, Renville, Richland, Sargent, Slope, Stark, Steele, Traill, and Ward. The application period is currently open, with application materials available through the NDDA. The submission process does not require a pre-application or letter of intent. Instead, applicants are expected to compile and submit a full strategic plan addressing the listed criteria. Evaluation likely centers on the thoroughness of the plan, alignment with the program’s goals, and the capacity of the applicant to execute it. Questions regarding the program should be directed to Shaun Quissell, Grain & Livestock Division Director at the North Dakota Department of Agriculture. Mr. Quissell can be reached via email at [email protected] or by phone at 701-328-4761. Applications and strategic plans should be submitted in accordance with NDDA guidelines and deadlines as outlined on the program page.