Biofertilizer Innovation and Efficiency Pilot Program

Farmers meeting program requirements will receive a payment of $15 per acre. 

The maximum amount of land each farm entity can enroll is up to 3,000 acres. The MDA reserves the right to limit the number of acres enrolled per applicant based on the number of applications received.

Payment will be issued when the required documentation has been submitted to the MDA showing the necessary reduction in nitrogen fertilizer application rate and biofertilizer product used. 

The program is open for all agricultural crops that have a recommended nitrogen fertilizer rate published by the University of Minnesota. Recommended rates can be found by crop, Crop-specific nutrient needs | University of Minnesota. 

The biofertilizer product(s) used is at the discretion of the farmer when the following requirements are met:

• The product must be registered as a specialty fertilizer, soil or plant amendment, or licensed as a fertilizer with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and
• The product label must specify that the product provides a source of nitrogen or nutrients supplied by microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi.

Visit the Registered Product Search to find products holding a current registration in Minnesota.

The intent of the program is to improve nitrogen management and incorporate innovative technologies, so compost or a continued use of legume inoculants will not be eligible under the program. 

Contact the MDA for determining if a specific product qualifies for the program.

Use these two steps to apply for the program:

1. Register in the State of Minnesota Integrated Financial Tools system (SWIFT). The SWIFT system will issue a vendor number which must be entered when submitting the application form. If you have previously been assigned a SWIFT number and all your information is current, you do not need a new SWIFT number. Please note the name stated in SWIFT must be used throughout the entire granting process.
2. Fill in and submit the electronic application form listed under Forms + Resources.

Upon successful application to the program, farmers will enter into a grant agreement with the MDA. The agreement will specify terms and responsibilities, payment, and statements of no Conflict of Interest and not suspended or debarred from state programs. 

A completed and signed payment request form must be submitted to MDA to request payment. Documentation that shows a reduction in the use of commercial nitrogen fertilizer rate by the lesser of 15% or 30 pounds of nitrogen per acre of the baseline application rate by using a qualifying biofertilizer product must be submitted to MDA along with the payment request farm to be eligible for payment.

The payment request form includes a signed declaration stating that no additional nitrogen other than what is reported in the submitted application has been, or will be, applied to the enrolled crops/acres for the duration of the growing season.

Baseline nitrogen rate

The baseline nitrogen rate is the nitrogen application rate that normally would be used for the crop in the particular field, including nitrogen credits taken for previous legume crop, manure, AMS, MAP, DAP or other nitrogen sources. The baseline nitrogen rate is used to calculate the reduction of nitrogen application rate for program eligibility. 

The baseline N rate can be based on

• The normal nitrogen fertilizer application rate, such as, the last time the crop was grown in the field. Acceptable documentation includes a crop nutrient management plan, or field-specific as-applied maps, fertilizer weigh tickets or invoices,

 or

• The University of Minnesota crop specific nitrogen fertilizer rate recommendations
  • For corn, the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) rate at the 0.1 price ratio is used.
  • For other crops, use realistic yield goals based on e.g.,
    • County average,
    • Historical field average, using 3 to 5-year average plus 5% increase, or
    • Maximum historical yield.

Biofertilizer Program Nitrogen Rate

The biofertilizer program nitrogen rate is the nitrogen fertilizer rate applied to the field(s) enrolled in the program. This rate is calculated by subtracting the lesser of 30 lb. nitrogen/acre or 15% from the baseline nitrogen rate. 

Acceptable documentation for the program nitrogen rate includes a crop nutrient management plan, or field-specific as-applied maps, fertilizer weigh tickets or invoices.

Biofertilizer Product

Documentation for the use of a biofertilizer product and that the application rate stated on the biofertilizer product label was used must be provided. Acceptable documentation includes field-specific as-applied maps and invoices. Please note the name stated on the invoices must match the name in the SWIFT. 

The biofertilizer product(s) that qualify for the program is at the discretion of the applicant when the following requirements are met:

• The product must be registered as a specialty fertilizer, soil or plant amendment, or licensed as a fertilizer with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and
• The product label must specify that the product provides a source of nitrogen or nutrients supplied by microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi.

Visit the Registered Product Search to find products holding a current registration in Minnesota.

The intent of program is to improve nitrogen management and incorporate innovative technologies, so compost and continued use of legume inoculants will not be eligible under the program. 

Contact the MDA to determine if a specific product qualifies for the program.

No, manure does not qualify under the program unless it has been altered and is registered as a specialty fertilizer, soil or plant amendment, or licensed as a fertilizer with the MDA.

Yes. The minimum number of acres that can be enrolled is 40 acres. The maximum number of acres that can be enrolled is 3,000 acres. The MDA reserves the right to limit the number of acres enrolled per applicant based on the number of applications received.

Yes, farmers who wish to participate in the program must enroll in advance by submitting an application form no later than May 1, 2026. The application deadline may end sooner if the target number of acres are met early.

SWIFT is the State of Minnesota’s accounting and procurement system. To participate in the program, applicants must be registered in SWIFT. Registering in SWIFT is not the application, it’s just so the state can issue you a payment.

Yes. Payment from the program will be administered and paid out through SWIFT. 

Please see the document, Obtaining a SWIFT Registration. When available, it will be posted under Forms + Resources.

Yes. Please notify the MDA project manager if you wish to cancel. There is no financial penalty assessed by the program for cancelling or for not taking the nitrogen reduction (but there will be no grant payment either).

The required documents for payment include:

• The payment request form,
• Documentation for the normal, or baseline nitrogen fertilizer rate,
• Documentation for the reduced nitrogen fertilizer rate. This rate must be either 30 lb. nitrogen/acre or 15% lower than the baseline nitrogen rate,
• Documentation for the use of a biofertilizer product and that the minimum application rate stated on the biofertilizer product label was used.

Documentation for program compliance must be submitted no later than November 30, 2026. Payments will be issued once all required documentation is received and approved.

Yes, farmers who wish to participate in the program must submit an application form no later than May 1, 2026. The application deadline may end sooner if the target number of acres are met early.