Farm & Rural Helpline

The Rural Finance Authority Board today issued a Disaster Declaration for the State of Minnesota which now makes low interest loans available for Minnesota farmers whose operations suffered barn collapses or other damage due to the record winter snowfall. Governor Walz signed a bill yesterday allowing the RFA to declare a disaster due to excessive snowfall. The funds are available to farmers for expenses not covered by insurance.

“Governor Walz and the RFA board members acted quickly to make these disaster recovery funds available,” said Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom…

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is offering a new grant program to help Minnesota dairy producers move from Grade B status to Grade A status and help Grade A producers maintain their status.

“Our dairy farmers have been struggling with low prices for years, and now they’re challenged with surviving this tough winter weather,” said Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen. “This new grant program should provide a significant boost to many dairies in the state.”

Producers may apply for up to $10,000 with no matching requirement. Eligible costs include…

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has awarded more than $50,000 in grant funding to thirty Minnesota schools and early education programs to boost the amount of dairy offered to students. The organizations will be using the grants to add milk coolers to their nutrition programs.

The grant recipients are part of the first round of Milk Cooler Grants to be awarded under the Agricultural Growth Research and Innovation Program (AGRI). A second round of funding totaling $50,000 is available now and organizations that are interested in the grant program can apply through…