The AGRI Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant (SustAg) supports innovative on-farm research and demonstrations. SustAg projects explore sustainable agriculture practices and systems that could make farming more profitable, resource efficient, or personally satisfying. We publish these findings are published in our annual Greenbook.
Eligibility and funding priorities
Eligible applicants include:
- Minnesota farmers
- Nonprofit organizations
- Educational institutions
- Individuals at educational institutions
Note: Non-farmer applicants must meaningfully involve a Minnesota farmer in the project.
We fund projects that explore the profitability, energy efficiency, and environmental benefits of sustainable agriculture practices or systems. Projects can include, but are not limited to:
- Increased environmental sustainability and improved soil health
- Conservation tillage and weed management
- Novel cover crops and crop rotations
- Nutrient and pesticide management, including runoff protection
- Farm-based energy efficiency or production such as wind, methane, or biomass
- Integrated pest management systems for insects, weeds, and diseases
- Seed breeding or conservation
- Livestock production systems or management strategies
- Developing or improving marketing opportunities, including season extension and post-harvest storage and handling
- Novel enterprise diversification, including organic production, using traditional and non-traditional crops and livestock
- Other creative ideas that address farm input reduction or management, conservation, energy, or profitability
We will prioritize projects that:
- Are led by farmers
- Involve two to three years of data collection
- Involve individuals from historically underserved communities or provide outreach to these communities
Amount available
We expect to award up to $350,000 in Fiscal Year 2024.
You may request up to $50,000 per project. For requests between $25,000 and $50,000, you must provide a dollar-for-dollar match on the amount above $25,000.
Applying
Applications are due by 4 p.m. Central Time on Thursday, December 7, 2023.
- Carefully read the full AGRI SustAg Grant Request for Proposals (PDF) for eligibility and requirements. You can also view the list of past projects or request a copy of an application to help you prepare.
- Apply online.
- If you are a new user, you will need to create an account.
- Once you are logged in, select “AGRI Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant.”
Contact us if you need this information in an alternative format.
