America's Farmers Grow Communities

America’s Farmers Grow Communities. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Line On Agriculture.

Monsanto is once again stepping up to the plate to help farmers and local communities with their Third Annual America’s Farmers Grow Communities program. Annie Kayser, Community Outreach Manager for the Monsanto Fund explains.

KAYSER: We have just launched the third annual America’s Farmers Grow Communities which is a local outreach program where eligible farmers in 1271 counties and 39 states have the opportunity to enter to win a $2500 That they can the direct to their favorite non-profit organization in their community.

This is a great way to be able to give back to your community.

KAYSER: Until November 30th farmers can sign up by either going to our website at at growcommunities.com or we also have a phone number since we know farmers are really busy and don’t alway have time to get behind a computer and that number is 877-267-3332.

Two counties in Oregon and five in both Washington and Idaho are eligible for this program.

KAYSER: The Monsanto Fund is the philanthropic arm of the Monsanto company. So a few years ago when we launched for the first year in 2010 we took a shift and really decided to put a lot of these donations locally. Farmers told us they need help and they need help in sustaining some of their small town organizations and advocating on their behalf so sin 2010 we’ve invested more than $7.3 million dollars to help grow rural communities.

Groups like small FF chapters, 4-H clubs, schools and volunteer fire departments are the ones who benefit from the winning donations made in the name of the winning farmer.

KAYSER: What’s great about the program is farmers can go online and complete their application. We also have offered this year for rural community members to get involved and suggest ideas or initiatives that need funding in their local community so we’re calling it “Plant Your Idea” and when farmers go out there to sign up they can actually see what community members have proposed that needs funding in the local area. And it really opens that conversation between farmers and organizations on where the needs are locally.

Again the web address is www.growcommunities.com or you can call 1-877-267-3332.

That’s today’s Line On Agriculture. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Info Network.