Cal/West Seeds has been awarded a grant of $100,030 under the USDA Value-Added Product Market Development Grant program.  The grant will provide partial funding for a program aimed at opening emerging markets for unique proprietary Sudangrass hybrids.  Sudangrass is widely used as livestock feed, in the form of hay, pasture, or silage.  Most of the Sudangrass grown in the United States is grown in the Imperial valley, and much of that production is shipped to Japan.  The new hybrids have a higher nutritional content and higher palatability than other Sudangrass seed varieties, making is more desirable as livestock feed.  The Cal/West program will build brand awareness in Japan and other consumption areas, as well as in production areas such as the Imperial Valley.  This should increase demand for the product, generating higher prices for hay growers and for seed producers.

The grant was one of 20 grants totaling over $4.17 million awarded in California and one of 184 nationwide totaling over $28.7 million. The purpose of the grant program is to foster the development of new products and markets for agriculturally based products.

Cal/West Seeds is a world leader in both the development of improved forage varieties and the production of top quality seed.