The federal government is looking for good ideas to help farmers market their goods directly to consumers - and the feds are willing to pay up to $100,000 to see those ideas carried out.

The Farmers' Market Promotion Program has a $5 million grant fund designed to improve and increase direct farmer-to-consumer marketing. But time to apply is short.

The deadline is Monday. Community-supported agriculture programs, farmers markets and roadside stands are targeted for the program.

These grants would provide assistance with organizing, marketing, training, business-plan development, community outreach and education to improve direct-market opportunities. Grants have been used in the past for educational workshops for farmers-market managers and vendors. Grants have also been used for advertising the markets.

The minimum grant amount given is $2,500 and the maximum amount is $100,000.

In awarding grants, the U.S. Department of Agriculture considers applications that:

♦Develop new federal nutrition programs at farmers markets

♦Offer training and education programs for new farm marketers on benefits, challenges and logistics of agricultural marketing in specific regions

♦Focus on recruitment and retention of new farmers to participate in farmers markets

♦Improve and modernize the professional organization for farmers-market managers, vendors, boards and agricultural organizations

For more information about the grant application and the program go online to the Agricultural Marketing Service Web site at www.ams.usda.gov or contact Traci Bruckner by e-mail at tracib@cfra.org or by phone at 1-402-687-2103, Ext. 1016.