Here are some common questions about the AGRI Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant (SustAg).
If you have questions that are not addressed here or in the request for proposals (RFP), email them to MDA.AGRIGrants@state.mn.us with "AGRI SustAg Questions" in the subject line. We'll post all questions and answers on this page.
- If I currently have a SustAg grant, am I eligible to apply for another project?
- Yes, you are eligible to apply for another project.
- Can I submit more than one application for multiple project ideas?
- Yes; however only one project can be funded each year.
- Can I submit the same project to another funder besides the MDA?
- Yes, you can apply to multiple funders for the same (or a similar or related) project. You must include this information in your application.
- Is there a minimum or maximum acre limit for the project?
- There is no maximum or minimum acreage for your project, but you will want it to be big enough to get meaningful results and small enough not to exceed the maximum allowed by the grant, unless you plan to pay for the remaining acreage out of pocket.
- Can we do the project variable in year 1 then control in year 2?
- In most situations it's better do the control and the variable side by side in the same year to account for differences in weather that you can’t control.
- Can outreach be done through social media (Instagram, YouTube, etc.)? And is the outreach only limited to the final year event, or can sharing updates about the project with the public be done during all 3 years?
- An on-farm field day is preferred. Historically that is the backbone of this grant program. If you choose to do outreach through social media you will want to have a well-developed plan of how many posts, videos, etc., and how they will be shared and promoted. You can do outreach throughout the project but you’ll be asked to summarize all your outreach in the final report in the last year of your project.
- Do farmer and non-farmer applicants get judged differently or is it the same evaluation?
- Both farmer and non-farmer applicants are judged using the same evaluation which can be found in the RFP.
- I can't find Greenbooks published after the 2023 Greenbook. Where can I find the newer Greenbooks?
- The reason you're not able to find any Greenbooks after 2023 is because that was the last year we published a paper copy. We are in the process of publishing the new articles as individual, searchable articles in a digital library. We just published the 2024 articles. The FY25 projects won't have information published until they're completed and the articles are written/edited in late 2027 or 2028 depending on the length of the project.
- I cannot find any information on "SmarterLife Organic Farms LLC" project. I wanted to compare/review their project as it is one of the closer projects that could possibly apply to us, since they are also focused on specialty cops production.
- The SmarterLife Project is investigating aerated static pile composting, a system of using perforated pipes through the length of a compost pile and a blower system to force air through it. They will be evaluating the finished product's physical attributes such as odor, texture, organic matter, nutrient content, and pH.
- Would my project be eligible if it was previously done in another region of the state?
- Yes, similar projects in parts of the state where the practice or system is still considered new or innovative are eligible. Make sure to explain why the project might have different results in your part of the state in order to justify a repeated project. Reviewers are looking for interesting ideas that may or may not work to increase energy efficiency or profitable production or benefit the environment.
- Is a for-profit company eligible to receive the SustAg Grant?
- Yes, a for-profit company can receive a SustAg grant as long as it is a project that meaningfully involves farmers and could be implemented by other farmers. It should be a project that has the potential to benefit farmers beyond those who are customers of the company.
- Is the "Collaboration" a must in requirement for submitting an application for this grant?
- Yes, collaboration is a must for this grant. As a farmer you need to have a technical cooperator who helps you identify measurable objectives and determine the best way to set up the project and evaluate your progress. The amount of involvement the technical cooperator provides varies a lot between grantees but the projects with strong collaboration tend to score higher.
- Would an organization made of farmers or representing farmers be considered a farmer applicant?
- An organization representing farmers can apply as a farmer applicant. You should still have a commitment letter from individual farmers stating what work they will be doing and what they will receive as payment if applicable.
- Can I spend grant money on equipment rental or use of my own equipment?
- Yes to both. You can charge reasonable per acre or per hour costs (e.g., woodchipper, skidsteer use).
- Is the purchase of seed stock (nursery transplants) eligible for use of grant funds for a SustAg project?
- Because seed is eligible as a supply, a seedling or the common method of planting a certain type of plant needed to conduct the project will be eligible. Bare root flowers, fruit tree stock, and grape and blueberry cuttings or starter plants are eligible and have been funded in the past for the amount needed to conduct the research or demonstration project.
- Note: Funding the planting of a significant part of an orchard or field of flowers to start a new business or expand your current business is not allowed.
- If purchasing seeds, plants, cuttings, or trees that are long-lived, justify why your project is best suited to a new planting instead of an established planting. In some cases, a new planting is not appropriate.
- Because seed is eligible as a supply, a seedling or the common method of planting a certain type of plant needed to conduct the project will be eligible. Bare root flowers, fruit tree stock, and grape and blueberry cuttings or starter plants are eligible and have been funded in the past for the amount needed to conduct the research or demonstration project.
- I would like further explanation of what is eligible as labor costs “beyond normal farming operations.”
- Farming labor working on the grant project is an eligible cost, while non-grant farming labor doing work on the rest of the farm is considered "normal farming operations".
- Example: You farm a total of 10 acres but one acre is involved with the grant project; you should only include your time spent tending the one acre as your reimbursed labor.
- Farming labor working on the grant project is an eligible cost, while non-grant farming labor doing work on the rest of the farm is considered "normal farming operations".
- If a piece of equipment that costs more than $1,500 is needed to conduct my research or demonstration project, do you think there is leeway in the RFP for the grant to pay for $1,500 of the purchase and the remainder of the cost is my (the grantee’s) responsibility?
- We will approve the use of grant funds for $1,500 towards the purchase cost of an eligible piece of equipment if the review committee approves it. We suggest that you provide sufficient justification in your application that the equipment is needed to conduct the research or demonstration project, that it’s not general-purpose farm equipment, and that it can’t be easily rented.
- Your funding opportunity states that "wages for time spent directly on the grant project" is an eligible expense. Does this mean we can request salary for our Principal Investigator and other key personnel on this proposal?
- Yes, salary for the Principal Investigator and other staff can be included as a reimbursable expense. You should break it down into an hourly wage (you may include fringe) and estimated hours.
- Are indirect costs such as office and computing resources, administrative costs, etc. allowed in the budget?
- We cannot reimburse general indirect costs such as administrative costs and overhead. All expenses must be directly tied to the project. Also, keep in mind that you must submit documentation for reimbursement. Those guidelines can be found in the MDA Reimbursement Guide (PDF).
- Would different different types of fertilizer be an eligible cost, either the product itself or the reimbursement of the difference in cost? For example, purchasing anhydrous versus an ESN/urea blend.
- Yes, inputs such as fertilizer would be an eligible expense. Just keep in mind that the project should be set up as a demonstration or trial, not to cover the fertilizer costs for the entire operation. You will want to determine the size of your test plots based on how large of an area it will take to show the effects of the different treatments.
- The budget spreadsheet is protected and says, “view only.” How do I add my information?
- Under “File,” select “Download” and “Microsoft Excel.” Save the file to your own computer and complete all the sections. Once you’re done, upload the Excel file to your application in Foundant, our online application system.
- What is an acceptable wage to pay family members while working on the grant project?
- The wage rate you request should be the usual rate of pay for someone doing that job. We think that $20 to $30 per hour would be reasonable rate of pay for someone doing regular farm tasks like sowing and weeding or light construction that does not require certification or expertise. More skilled tasks such applying inputs, collecting data, or electrical work would command a higher wage rate.
- I am not sure how to develop my budget in the application. I am concerned that the actual expenditures will be different from the amounts I put in the budget. How does that play out?
- When you submit financial reports for reimbursement, you will need to report your actual grant project expenditures. We allow small deviations from predicted costs as long as the grant project work plan is followed in good faith. If larger changes to the budget or work plan are needed because of circumstances out of your control, challenges encountered, or things learned as the project is proceeding, we ask that you request these changes ahead of time or as they become evident.
- How do I account for employee fringe costs and expected cost of living increases over the course of the grant?
- On the budget sheet, use the cost of both employee's hourly rate and the fringe costs to estimate your total hourly personnel expenses. In the notes section you should also list the actual hourly rate and fringe separately and explain how you figured the fringe costs. You will be reimbursed the actual hourly rate for the employee plus whatever the agreed-upon fringe rate is. This will differ between organizations.
- Expected wage increases can be figured into the budget as well. Just add a separate line for each year or pay increase. These don't have to be exact. You will be reimbursed the amount actually spent as long as it doesn't exceed the total budgeted for that category.
- Could you give me an idea of when selections will be announced, and when we should plan for an earliest start date?
- Selections are generally made by the end of February and projects can start after contracts are signed, typically in late March.
- Is the minimum project length 2 years even if we request $25,000 for a proposed project?
- All Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant projects need to be two to three years in length. Since the grant is funding research, we feel like the best projects are those that collect data for multiple growing seasons to account for seasonal variability. I see that you're an indoor farm so this probably doesn't apply to you as much as a conventional farm, however, your project will be strengthened by a longer period of data collection.
- I would like to three years of field data to maximize the field research and get as many data points as possible for the grant, but it would require 4 years total due to the need to establish cover crop plots the first year.
- Unfortunately our grants cannot be issued or extended beyond three years. This is a statutory requirement for all of our grants and it is a hard deadline. 2026 grants will begin around late March 2026, final reports will be requested at the end of 2028 and due (along with all reimbursement requests) by March of 2029.
- Where would I go for technical assistance with research and design of the field experiment and writing the grant application?
- You can get assistance from many sources (they can also be your technical cooperators). Some ideas include University of Minnesota (UMN) Extension staff, UMN researchers studying the subject of your on-farm research project, Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships (RSDP has five regions covering Minnesota), Soil and Water Conservation District representatives, Sustainable Farming Association staff, Land Stewardship Project staff, local USDA Farm Service Agency staff, an instructor at a community college, etc.
- Many of the previous projects listed in the Greenbook have several technical cooperators listed. Will my chances of approval be higher if I add other technical cooperators in my application even though their contributions to my project are quite small?
- The reviewers do not give extra points for entering more collaborators than required in the application. If you think you will benefit from using more technical cooperators, you should include them in your application. However, one good cooperator whose expertise complements yours may be better.
- Can technical cooperators be international?
- Yes, you may have one or more international cooperators. Online consultations are preferred in this case.
- Can technical consultation from freelance, independent contractors be included in the budget and allowed for this grant?
- Yes, as long as they can give you a letter of support and list their service fees in the letter.
- Would there be any conflict of interest issues if the farmer cooperator named in the application is also an employee of the organization applying for the grant?
- There is no issue with the cooperating farmer being an employee of the organization applying. As a best practice, the farmer should do the work outside of their regular job duties. They should also provide a letter of support that includes the work they will be doing and the rate they will charge. When it comes to reimbursement, they will need to invoice the organization and the organization will need to provide proof that the invoice was paid before the farmer's time will be reimbursed.
- The SustAg application budget sheet is confusing. Do you have any guidance?
- When filling out the budget sheet, you can delete the pre-existing equations if that helps. It’s more important to have the numbers correct from your perspective so we understand what your budget requirements are. Be sure to show the total project cost in your budget, as it the basis for the grant award amount. We request that you use our budget table since we use this structure to approve your budget and incorporate it into your contract. If you absolutely can’t use this table, reference the Project Evaluation Profile in the RFP to be sure you are meeting the minimum requirements for the budget portion of the application.
- Can an industry partner that is not Minnesota-based provide the matching dollars?
- Yes, cooperators may be from outside of Minnesota as long as the project and farmers involved are located in Minnesota.
- Can our own labor be used toward matching funds?
- If your grant request is over $25,000, you may use your labor as the cash match but that must be clearly described in your budget spreadsheet. Make sure to include a fair hourly wage for yourself and the expected number of hours you plan to contribute.
- What is the maximum amount of hours I could personally put into this project? I would like to match all of the funds through my own labor if possible. If I assign an hourly rate of $25 per hour for myself, and I want to request the maximum amount for this grant ($50,000), can I work 1,000 hours to meet the $25,000 match?
- You can work as many hours as you want to on the grant, however, $25,000 in labor costs is on the high end of what these grants typically request. That large of an amount will likely be scrutinized by our reviewers and you would need to provide justification for that expense. This grant isn’t intended to cover a full time salary or an entire farming operation. It is meant to be a small-scale experiment or demonstration.
