Farming – Swanson Reed | Specialist R&D Tax Advisors

Phagelux AgriHealth Announces Phagelux Animal Health

Phagelux AgriHealth has launched a new subsidiary – Phagelux Animal Health – focused on developing innovative products for the animal health industry based on bacteriophage technology.

The new subsidiary will be based in Ames, Iowa and will conduct extensive research into bacteriophage technology. Bacteriophages are natural viruses that target and eliminate specific pathogenic bacteria to reduce disease in animals, enhance productivity in protein production, and improve food safety. Phagelux Animal Health intends to harness the power of bacteriophages to improve the health of livestock without the need for antibiotics and heavy chemicals. Phages are completely safe and non-toxic, enhancing sustainability and reducing the risk of antimicrobial resistance.

“We are excited to launch Phagelux Animal Health and contribute to the animal health industry with our expertise in bacteriophage technology,” said Mark Engel, CEO of Phagelux AgriHealth. “Our new base in Ames, Iowa, will allow us to leverage the local scientific community’s strengths and drive the development of new, effective solutions that meet the needs of the global livestock market.”

Are you developing new technology for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

Cedar Grove Cheese Awarded Dairy Processor Grant

Cedar Grove Cheese Inc., a traditional and specialty cheese producer, has been granted funding from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection’s (DATCP) Dairy Processor Grant.

A total of 38 applicants submitted grant proposals to the Department with projects ranging from cheesemaker training to cybersecurity. The grant is intended to fund and support innovation to improve profitability and sustain the long-term viability of Wisconsin’s dairy processing facilities. Of the 28 applicants, 21 companies were selected.

A total of $400,000 was available for this year’s grants, with a maximum of $50,000 per project. Grant recipients are required to provide a match of at least 20 percent of the grant amount. DATCP received 38 grant requests totaling more than $1.5 million.

Founded in 1878, Cedar Grove Cheese has been providing Wisconsin with specialty cheeses for over a century. In December 1993, the company became the first in the country to assure its customers that all of their products were rBGH-free, which means there were no synthetic growth hormones involved. Shortly after, in 2001, the company decided all its products would be made exclusively with non-genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The company has continuously committed to R&D and innovation, ensuring they are leading the industry in traditional and specialty cheese production.

The other Dairy Processor Grant recipients and their planned projects are:

Chalet Cheese Cooperative, Monroe ‒ Create a marketing development plan.
Eau Galle Cheese Factory LLC, Durand ‒ Invest in a wastewater treatment plant.
Family Dairies USA, Madison ‒ Conduct a feasibility study for the ownership of a conversion facility.
Harmony Cheese LLC, Stratford ‒ Make processing improvements.
Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe ‒Invest in cybersecurity for cheese plants.
Landmark Creamery LLC, Paoli ‒ Invest in expansion and modernization.
Marieke House of Gouda LLC, Eau Claire ‒Invest and model for distance retail and remote sales.
Nasonville Dairy Inc., Marshfield ‒ Facilitate expansion and audit assistance.
Roelli Cheese Co. Inc., Shullsburg ‒ Invest in cheesemaker training and expansion.
Rosewood Dairy, Sturgeon Bay ‒ Fund installation of a wastewater tank.
Terry Woods LTD, Walworth ‒ Purchase comprehensive responsive software package.
Safety Fresh Foods LLC, Plymouth ‒ Invest in waste reduction and innovation.
Scoops Ice Cream, Chilton ‒ Invest in expansion and modernization.
Uplands Cheese, Dodgeville ‒ Develop new cheese plant engineering.
V&V Supremo, Browntown ‒ Invest in a plant modernization project.
Weber’s Farm Store, Marshfield ‒ Invest in flavor labels and expansion.
Westby Cooperative Creamery, Westby ‒ Develop packaging redesign.
Widmer’s Cheese Cellars Inc., Theresa ‒ Invest in plant modernization.
Winona Foods, Inc., Green Bay ‒ Invest in a leak detection system.
Wisconsin Whey Protein, Turtle Lake ‒ Complete dryer modification project at Turtle Lake plant.

Are you developing new technology for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more,

please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

Kingsbury & Associates Still in R&D Phase for Massive Packing Plant Project

Kingsbury & Associates had recently set out to build a giant beef packing plant capable of processing up to 8,000 head of cattle a day. They anticipate this plant will take about three years to build and will eventually employ about 2,500 people. If successful, it would become the single-largest beef processing plant in the country.

The company has recently announced a new partner – Farmers Union Industries. The project will be linked to a facility that will be operated by Farmers Union. This facility will be set next to the packing plant and designed to handle byproducts out of the facility, using meat and bone meal and making tallow and grease products for the feed ingredients industry.

The project is still in its R&D phase, while the company works to tackle challenges in construction, efficiency, and optimization. For instance, the company is working with the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, as well as others, to bring in technology that would manage odors from methane. This phase will require extensive research into the optimal design and layout, followed by additional R&D during construction. Currently, the company is working to get approval for the location and operation of the facility before moving into next steps.

Are you developing new technology for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

Mazen Animal Health Secures $11M in Series A Funding

Mazen Animal Health, an Iowa-based startup, has secured $11 million in their Series A funding round, with investors such as AgFunder and Fall Line Capital.

Mazen is set on improving agricultural animal health by developing orally administered vaccines. These novel biological vaccines and therapeutics have the potential to disrupt the status quo of aghealth and address complex or unsolved challenges in animal health and protein production.

True to its name, Mazen’s technology uses plants, like maize, as molecular farms to produce the protein ingredients for its vaccines. This corn-based formulation is significantly cheaper than the typical precision fermentation process in expensive bioreactors. The cost-effectiveness of their process helps to combat the razor thin margins faced by farmers. With the vaccine being orally administered, it can also cut costs needed to effectively deliver the vaccine. Their formulation can be incorporated into animal feed and delivered as usual rather than individually injecting each animal.

The Series A funding round followed the company’s progress in combating Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV). This virus is deadly for newborn pigs and has been problematic for farmers since 2013. The funding will help support the efficacy studies of their PEDV vaccine to acquire approval by the USDA.

The funding will also help with plans to scale up their ability to manufacture the vaccine at commercial scale, while advancing a pipeline of other vaccines such as one for coccidiosis in poultry among others.

“Our investors are seeing the tremendous potential of the technology platform to deliver better vaccines more efficiently,” said Jennifer Filbey, CEO of the company. “In fact, the technology can help achieve better animal health through disease prevention – rather than treatment – and improve economics, stewardship, and sustainability.”

Are you developing new technology for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

UVM to Research Seaweed for Organic Dairy Cows

The University of Vermont’s (UVM) Sabrina Greenwood will head a multi-institutional research team. Her team at the Greenwood Lab have been awarded $2.9 million to explore the potential animal health, environmental and economic benefits of seaweed as a feed alternative for organic dairy cows. The grant comes from the USDA’s newly funded Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative projects to help improve yields, milk quality and profitability for organic farmers and producers.

We’ve seen a rise in demand for organic milk recently and along with this rise in demand, instability in pricing. This has put a heavy strain on the organic dairy community. In addition, farmers have voiced concerns and struggles with climate change and a rise in demand to reduce the industry’s environmental footprint. Greenwood and her team think seaweed could be a key solution to some of these problems.

Seaweed is a nutritious alternative to traditional feed supplements which are made with corn and soybean. Seaweed also has the ability to reduce cow’s methane emissions. It can also be sustainable grown and offer benefits to soil health through altered manure profiles as the cows eat the seaweed.

“Teaming up with the aquaculture industry may be a perfect pairing to address organic farm sustainability and production efficiency in organic dairy,” said Greenwood, associate professor in the Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences and the project director. “We are looking to holistically characterize the opportunities for organic seaweed to provide not only a more sustainable feed option, but one that could boost milk productivity and animal health without compromising natural resources.”

There are many different seaweed species, each with unique nutritional profiles and most which have not been studied. While kelp meal – a common brown seaweed – has become popular among organic farmers, other species may offer better benefits for cow health and milk productivity.

The team at UVM will spend the next four years working with Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, the University of New Hampshire, and Syracuse University to explore the nutrient profile of various seaweed species, processing methods, and their impact on animal health, milk quality, and environmental impact.

Are you developing new software for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

The Center for Environmental Sustainability Through Insect Farming Receives $2.2m to Explore Insect-Based Solutions

Texas A&M AgriLife Research is the agricultural and life sciences research agency of the U.S. state of Texas and a part of the Texas A&M University System. They have just partnered with the School of Science at the Indiana University School of Medicine and Mississippi State University. This partnership intends to explore the use of insects as food and feed in agriculture as a response to overpopulation, climate change, and a shrinking food supply.

The collaboration is referred to as The Center for Environmental Sustainability Through Insect Farming and has been started with a grant from the National Science Foundation. The funding came in the size of $2.2 million. The way the world is changing – growing populations, climate change, and the need for sustainability – means we need alternative protein sources.

Beyond this collaboration, they intend to partner with over 30 companies in the U.S. and abroad in order to address the potential of insect farming. These partners will include food suppliers and insect farming pioneers such as Aspire Food Group, Protix, and Beta Hatch Inc.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, it’s estimated that traditional agriculture will fall about 40 percent short of the world’s needed food supply by 2050. The leaders of the Center for Environmental Sustainability Through Insect Farming say that insect farming can provide a practical, economical and sustainable path for producing high-value protein and reducing agricultural waste — addressing issues related to climate change, environmental sustainability, socio-economic development and agriculture. Insects might offer a protein source as well as help in the process of converting agricultural byproducts into protein. They provide the chance at a circular economy solution.

Are you developing new software for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

Kansas State Opens New Swine Teaching and Research Center

Kansas State University’s Department of Animal Sciences and Industry has announced the opening of their new swine farrowing unit. This Swine Teaching and Research Center replaces the existing and aging facility used previously.

The old facility had up-to-date equipment but out-of-date setups and styles. For instance, the farrowing crates, flooring, and ventilation systems needed major repairs. With funding from alumni, the Kansas Soybean Commission, Kansas Pork Association, the Livestock and Meat Industry Council, Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, as well as a start-up donation by Roy and Linda Henry of Longford, Kansas.

This complete renovation will put Kansas State back at the forefront of swine based research. They aim to produce the most accurate and reliable nutrition, reproduction, animal care, and management research that can be directly translated into the industry.

Are you developing new technology for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please visit us at w

BTO Announces $3.8M in SBIR Funding

Energy Americas, LLC. was the recipient of the Building Technologies Office’s (BTO) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I grant. Energy Americas qualified for this funding under Topic 12D: Advanced Building Control Systems for Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA).

Missouri-based Energy Americas will use the funding to develop a smart climate control system capable of maintaining a stable and high-quality environment for indoor poultry farms. The goal being to allow farmers to raise chickens in a clean and healthy environment while reducing their heating fuel consumption by approximately 50%.

The BTO recently announced they will invest another $3.6 million in 21 projects across 14 states. These grants are awarded to companies whose projects have potential for commercialization. The grants help fund the R&D needed to realize these projects and allow companies to explore their technological potential. The Department of Energy funds these grants in an effort to support the development of clean energy technologies and a clean energy workforce.

Are you developing new software for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

Ohio Says Oh Hello to New Agriculture Developments

Supporting economic development is more important than ever, and yet harder than ever. Creating sustainable business networks that will attract consumer attention and support is a feat many businesses struggle to achieve, especially in 2020. But this is exactly what a new organization in Ohio is doing. The Centre for Food innovation @ Oberlin launched this month and is helping local food businesses all across the region.

In the past, issues in the agricultural business led to unemployment and empty buildings. The organization plans to solve problems around food shortages and attract attention to Ohio’s agricultural industry by utilizing those unused buildings to develop vertical hydroponic farming. This would allow them to utilize readily available space and support year-round farming, also expecting to create over 20,000 jobs in the state. Ohio food businesses wouldn’t have to import food from overseas and could even learn to grow it themselves through the organization.

Are you developing a new strategy in response to Covid? Did you know your R&D efforts could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPA’s. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

Minnesota Food Industry Giants Join To Address Food Insecurity and Climate Change

forefront of bioscience automated farming equipment

Fourteen Minnesota-based organizations have joined to create MBOLD, a coalition for food and agriculture. The companies and research groups (including Target, General Mills and the University of Minnesota) will use their shared knowledge and global reach to address problems, particularly the changing climate and growing demand for food.

MBOLD will focus on various issues impacting the food and agriculture industries, such as:

Soil health and water stewardship: MBOLD is engaging farmers and ranchers to adopt new practices and support them through the risks, with the idea of building soil health and reducing emissions to tackle climate change and make the food system more resilient.

Recycling and reusing soft plastics: Flexible films are used throughout the food and agriculture sectors for food packaging, hay bales, pallet wrap and more, but only a fraction of it is recycled. MBOLD aims to develop a circular economy for flexible packaging films to cut waste and give these materials a second life.

Innovation and entrepreneurship, through capital access, development opportunities or mentorship.

Food insecurity in the time of the pandemic: MBOLD is using a data-driven approach to get ahead of food insecurity at the local level and spurring deeper public-private collaboration.

Together, the fourteen organizations sell food in more than 125 countries, and have expertise in many different fields. MBOLD will be housed at the Greater MSP office in St. Paul.

Are you developing new products, processes or inventions? Did you know your R&D experiments could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’s largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms, offering tax credibility assessments, claim preparation, and advisory services. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs and CFPs. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.