CHICAGO, Ill. — Farmers interested in expanding their pasture-raised poultry or livestock operations may be eligible for grants of up to $2,500 from nonprofit Fund-a-Farmer. The project is also for those who want to transition to a pasture-based system.

Applicants must be certified or working toward a humane certification for their livestock or poultry. Deadline for grant application is Nov. 3.

"No one knows animals like the farmer that works with them day in and day out. It’s neat that a nonprofit trusts the farmer to identify projects that will improve animal welfare," said Ana Skemp, whose rotationally grazed beef cow farm was awarded a grant last year.

Ana and her husband, Andrew, started Deep Roots Community Farm 11 years ago on an inactive family farm that had been a confinement dairy and row crop operation. She said their 30-cow farm in La Crosse, Wis., can barely keep up with local demand for grass-fed beef.

The Skemps used their grant money to supply pastures with rubber scratching pads and a mobile chicken coop that helps control fly larvae in cow manure. They also added rubber pads for their barn floor.

"It was not a giant grant, but we are a small family farm. These are projects we always dreamed of, but there is always a more pressing need. This grant made it happen more quickly," Ana added. "We were also able to involve middle-school children in implementing the grant, which made it educational."

Small-scale farms need help to compete with larger operations, said Lisa Isenhart, program director for Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT). "In order to thrive, smaller-scale farms must have access to funding opportunities. Our project is one piece of that, one step in the right direction," she said.

FACT is a nonprofit group based in Chicago that promotes pasture-raised farming to producers and consumers. Using donations, including a start-up grant from Whole Foods Market, the organization has been offering grants to farmers since 2012.

Interested farmers can participate in free webinars on Sept. 29 or Oct. 21 from 4-5 p.m. for more information. They can register for one or both of these online at www.fundafarmer.org

Isenhart said two livestock and poultry farmers are part of the awards committee. Winners will be notified in March 2016. To date, FACT has awarded 50 grants totaling almost $98,000 to 47 farms, from California to Massachusetts.

She said many farms that have won in the past are located in the Midwest, although qualified applicants can come anywhere from the continental United States. FACT leaders may visit farms that have completed their projects using FACT grants.

Midnight Sun Farm from Graysdale, Ill., an hour north of Chicago, won a grant last year to help fund electric fencing and 10 mobile chicken shelters for 300 laying hens that rotate pasture.

"We’ve had some problems with predators picking off our hens. This grant allowed us the cash to upgrade our housing and fencing. We are integrating them with a vegetable garden, so the hens are a valuable resource," explained Nick Choate-Batchelder, owner of Midnight Sun.

Some of the guidelines for application include:

•Only farms raising the following animals will be considered: pigs, broiler chickens, laying hens, turkeys, dairy cows or beef cattle

•Projects must be designed to improve animal welfare through increased access or improvements to pasture

•FACT does not fund start-up ventures or nonprofit organizations

•Applications will only be considered if the farm has or is working toward a certification for AGA Certified Grassfed, Animal Welfare Approved, Certified Humane, Certified Naturally Grown, USDA Certified Organic or Global Animal Partnership (GAP) Levels 4-5+

For more guidelines, requirements or to apply, visit www.fundafarmer.org

Both Skemp and Choate-Batchelder said the application process for this project was simple; however, Skemp gets help every year from a grant-writing class at the University of Wisconsin. She recommended other farmers try making contact with their local universities or colleges to find similar help.

"The class needs experience in applying for grants, and we needed help in finding opportunities and completing the applications," Skemp said. "It never hurts to ask."