Wednesday, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced grant awards and assistance for beginning farmers and ranchers at a meeting at Iowa State University. He says close to $ 18 million is going to beginning producers through the Ag Department’s development program.

He says one of the largest grants has been awarded to the National Farmers Organization to help out organic dairy and grain farmers.

Vilsack says the USDA will be holding several fall meetings to help beginning farmers and ranchers through land transition.

Vilsack says another one of the grants awarded goes to the Minnesota Land Steward Ship Project for just over $ 384,000.