The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) is excited to announce the latest round of awards from the LeRay McAllister Working Farm and Ranch Fund, which will protect more than 5,500 acres of Utah’s working farmland and ranches in perpetuity. These new agricultural conservation easements ensure these lands will remain dedicated to farming and ranching for generations to come.

The LeRay McAllister Working Farm and Ranch Fund is designed to help agricultural landowners protect their land from development through conservation easements. These easements limit non-agricultural uses of the land while allowing owners to continue farming or ranching. The six newly awarded projects, awarded through a competitive application process, span across Morgan, Box Elder, Cache, Wasatch, and Utah Counties, preserving a diverse array of agricultural landscapes—from livestock grazing to high-quality crop production while conserving vital wildlife habitats and other important resources.

“The LeRay McAllister Fund is vital to preserving Utah’s agricultural legacy,” said UDAF Commissioner Craig Buttars. “By supporting these conservation easements, we are helping farmers and ranchers secure their livelihoods while also ensuring that future generations can benefit from locally grown food and a robust agricultural economy. We are proud to stand with these landowners and support their commitment to responsible land stewardship.”

The LeRay McAllister Fund was created to safeguard Utah’s agricultural landscapes and economy. Through partnerships with landowners, federal agencies, land trust organizations, and local stakeholders, the fund provides the financial resources needed to secure easements that protect agricultural lands from development. These latest awards underscore the ongoing success of the program in preserving Utah’s agricultural resources and ensuring a sustainable future for the state’s farming and ranching communities.

Awarded Projects:

For more information about the LeRay McAllister Working Farm and Ranch Fund and the newly awarded easement grants, visit https://ag.utah.gov/leray-mcallister-working-farm-and-ranch-fund/ or contact Land Conservation Program Manager Jeremy Christensen at [email protected].

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 Utah Food Security Processing Grant (UFSPG). Created in 2022, this grant program is designed to address critical deficiencies in Utah’s food supply chain by increasing processing capacity of locally grown and raised foods, thereby enhancing food security for residents across the state.

In response to the pressing need for stronger local food systems, the Utah State Legislature initially appropriated $1,000,000 to UDAF for this program in the 2022 legislative session. The success of this program was continued with additional $1,000,000 appropriations in the 2023 and 2024 legislative sessions, totaling $3,000,000 to support the expansion of small meat, poultry, fruit, and vegetable processors.

“Utah has severe processing deficits for locally produced agricultural products,” said UDAF Commissioner Craig Buttars. “Supporting the development of processing infrastructure is key to the long-term viability of the state’s agricultural producers, building a more secure regional food supply chain, and ensuring consumers have access to nutritious local products. This program has made immense impacts to the state’s food supply chain and we are grateful for the continued support of the State Legislature.”

This program has been highly successful, benefiting local farms and ranches, processing businesses, and has increased the availability of locally produced foods for consumers. During the 2024 application cycle; UDAF received 113 applications totaling over $10 million in requests. To date, UDAF has received over $34 million in requests and has awarded $3 million in funding through 60 grants to businesses located throughout the state. View the recipient map here.

2024 recipients include: 

• 101 Custom Meats — Virgin, UT (Washington Co.)
• 3 Springs Land and Livestock —  Kamas, UT (Summit Co.)
• Apple Berry Farm — Logan, UT (Cache Co.)
• Argyle Acres — Liberty, UT (Weber Co.)
• Best Dough Bread, LLC — Blanding, UT (San Juan Co.)
• Circle V Meat — Spanish Fork, UT (Utah Co.)
• Davis Custom Meats — Ogden, UT (Weber Co.)
• Eskelsen Orchards — Brigham City, UT (Box Elder Co.)
• Final Cut Meats — St. George, UT (Washington Co.)
• Golden Age Naturals LLC — American Fork, UT (Utah Co.)
• Granato Foods — Draper, UT (Salt Lake Co.)
• Heber Valley Artisan Cheese — Midway, UT (Wasatch Co.)
• Heber Valley Milk — Midway, UT (Wasatch Co.)
• Johnson Farms — Benson, UT  (Cache Co.)
• Juniper Meat Company — Willard, UT (Box Elder Co.)
• Payson Fruit Growers — Payson, UT (Utah Co.)
• Ranch 25 Family Farms — Portage, UT (Box Elder Co.)
• Rhonda’s Fresh Produce — Morgan, UT (Morgan Co.)
• Roo Crew Farms — Fielding, UT (Box Elder Co.)
• Rowley’s South Ridge Farms — Santaquin, UT  (Utah Co.)
• Salsa Del Diablo — Salt Lake City, UT (Salt Lake Co.)
• Utah Beef Producers — Richfield, UT (Sevier Co.)

For more information, visit https://ag.utah.gov/foodsecuritygrant

Officials with the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) confirmed a diagnosis of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial poultry flock.

Our State Veterinarian’s office was notified of symptomatic birds in Cache County and our team was immediately dispatched to assess the situation,” said Utah State Veterinarian, Dr. Daniel Christensen. “Proper steps are being taken to prevent further spread of the disease.”

UDAF officials are working closely with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Inspection Service (APHIS) on the incident response. The area in which the birds were located has been quarantined and the infected birds will be depopulated to prevent further spread of the disease.

As part of existing avian influenza response plans, UDAF and its federal partners are working jointly on additional surveillance and testing in areas around the affected flock.  Poultry owners should vigilantly watch their flocks for symptoms of HPAI, which include high death loss among flocks, nasal discharge, decreased appetite or water consumption, and lack of coordination in birds. If birds are experiencing any of these symptoms, please contact the State Veterinarian’s office immediately at [email protected].

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the recent HPAI detections do not present an immediate public health concern. As a reminder, the proper handling and cooking of all poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165˚F is recommended as a general food safety precaution.

Anyone involved with poultry production from small backyard to large commercial producers should review their biosecurity activities to ensure the health of their birds. Information about biosecurity, including videos, checklists, and a toolkit are available at: https://ag.utah.gov/hpai or https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/defend-the-flock.

For more information on avian influenza in humans, please visit https://epi.utah.gov/bird-flu-in-humans.

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food’s Local Ag Listening Session on September 18, 2024, from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM at the East Senate Building of the Utah State Capitol, 120 E Capitol St., Salt Lake City, UT 84103.

The Local Ag Listening Sessions were created to provide a forum for UDAF and other organizations to hear directly from producers and agricultural stakeholders. This session will follow the Utah Food Security Council meeting and will include an update on the Southwest Regional Food Business Center and an open discussion on key agricultural study items as directed by H.B. 525 from the 2024 legislative session. Topics will include local food supply chain challenges, alternative crop production, agricultural workforce issues, and funding solutions. Light refreshments will be provided, and virtual attendance is available via Google Meet.

Please RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/sept-local-ag-rsvp. We look forward to your participation and input on shaping the future of local agriculture.

View the agenda here.

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food announces applications are now open for the LeRay McAllister Working Farm and Ranch Fund. $1,000,000 in new funding is available for agricultural conservation easements in Utah. This significant financial opportunity aims to support the preservation and protection of working farms and ranches across the state, ensuring that these vital lands remain productive and accessible for future generations in perpetuity.

 “Agricultural land conservation is the key to our future food security. Preserving productive working lands ensures that future generations have the resources necessary to cultivate food and other products to nourish a growing population.”— UDAF Commissioner Craig Buttars.

The LeRay McAllister Working Farm and Ranch Fund uses appropriations from the State Legislature to promote agricultural sustainability and conservation, and provide essential resources for landowners seeking to preserve their agricultural lands through conservation easements which permanently restrict non-agricultural development, safeguarding the land’s agricultural use in perpetuity.

These funds are a critical source of matching dollars needed to unlock tens of millions in funding from other sources to complete the purchase of agricultural easements. This mechanism multiplies the impact of the state’s initial investment allowing for a significantly larger pool of resources and underscores a shared responsibility among the stakeholders for preserving agricultural landscapes for future generations.

Applications are open now through August 16, 2024, at 5:00 pm. For information on eligibility criteria and to apply, visit https://ag.utah.gov/leray-mcallister-working-farm-and-ranch-fund. For additional information, contact Jeremy Christensen, UDAF Land Conservation Program Manager, at (385)441-4106 or [email protected].