Grain Storage Facility Safety Grant

The Grain Storage Facility Safety Grant helps Minnesota farmers buy and install eligible safety equipment for on-farm grain bins or silos.

Amount available

We have $75,000 available for this and the Rollover Protective Structures (ROPS) Rebate program in each fiscal year 2026 and 2027. The state fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30 the following year. In addition to this funding from the Minnesota Legislature, we can accept donations from the private sector.

You may request up to 75% of eligible expenses up to $400 per bin or silo with a limit of $2,400 per farm per fiscal year.

• We review applications in the order in which they are received until funds run out. We’ll give priority to applications received by May 1 of each year – applications received after that may be put on hold until the new fiscal year starts on July 1.
• You must have a fully signed grant contract agreement before buying any project materials or services. We issue payments on a reimbursement basis (after work has been completed and paid for).
• Each farm may only apply once per fiscal year.

Read the reimbursement examples below to understand how much you could receive.

Eligible equipment

Note:

• Don’t buy anything until after your grant contract agreement has been signed by all parties and has reached its start date.
• We recommend that you use a reputable source for equipment and have systems installed by a qualified person such as a structural engineer or bin manufacturer.

Eligible equipment types include, but are not limited to:

• Fall protection systems
• Spiral staircase, guardrails, or platforms for grain bins or silos built prior to June 2020
• Engineering controls to prevent contact with an auger or other moving parts
• Dust collection systems to minimize explosion hazards
• Personal protective equipment to increase survivability in the event of a grain-bin-related emergency
• Grain silo air quality monitoring equipment
• Grain bin level gauges/indicators to reduce the need to climb bins
• Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for use in and around grain bins and silos, such as NIOSH-approved respirators and hearing protection
• Other grain storage facility safety equipment with prior approval from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA)

Read the eligible equipment details for examples of the types of safety equipment eligible under this grant.

Ineligible equipment

We will add to this list as we make decisions. Ineligible equipment includes:

• Expenditures incurred before the contract effective date or after its expiration date
• Ladder cages
• Spiral staircases, guardrail systems, or platforms for grain bin or silos built after June 2020
• Grain condition monitors
• Aeration vents/roof vents
• Grain bin covers/lids
• Replacing worn-out electrical cords/outlets
• Truck stoppers and reflectors
• Camera systems
• Installing overhead electricity to bins
• Replacing entry doors
• Forklift platforms
• Adding or replacing ladders
• Personal or farm employee labor
• Donated or volunteer (in-kind) services. While these may be given to an applicant by professional and technical personnel, consultants, and other skilled and unskilled labor, the value of these services is not an eligible cost.
• Expenses paid for in cash
• Service calls for general maintenance (contact us for prior approval of exceptions).

Many grain storage facility upgrades are important even if they don’t qualify for this year's grant program. The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) has the Farm Storage Facility Loan Program (FSFL) to access low-interest financing for building or upgrading facilities to store commodities. Contact your local FSA office for details.

Applying

We review applications in the order in which there are received or until funds run out.

• Carefully read the full Grain Storage Facility Safety Grant Request for Proposals (PDF) for eligibility and requirements.
  • If you have trouble opening the PDF, try another browser – Edge and Chrome work well.
• Apply online.
  • If you are a new user, you will need to create an account.
  • Once you are logged in, select "FY 2026-2027 Grain Storage Facility Safety Grant.”

If you can't apply online, contact us for other options.

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Reimbursement examples

• You have five bins and spend $4,500 to install grain level monitors and handrails on each of them. You’re eligible for a refund of $2,000 (5 bins x $400). If you have six bins and spend $4,500, you’re eligible for the maximum refund of $2,400 (6 bins x $400).
• You have two silos and spend $800 on respirators, harnesses, and equipment lockouts. You’re eligible for a refund of $600 (75% x $800 = $600). To get the full amount you’re eligible for, you would need to spend $1,066.67 (75% x $1,066.67 = $800).
• You have eight bins and spent $8,750 to install platforms and guardrails on two of them, so you're eligible for $800 (2 x $400). You also purchased three fall-arrest harnesses for $350, so you're eligible for an additional $262.50 (75% x $350). Your total reimbursement would be $1062.50.

Do you have a scenario that's different than these? Contact us to find out how much you'll be reimbursed.

Eligible equipment details

As we approve equipment, we'll add that information to this list.