Your budget should align with the way that you will be paying for these services and accompanying documentation you’d have. If you are purchasing food from a partner or a collaborator and the prices that they are charging for the food include storage and transportation costs, then the expenses should be considered “food procurement” expenses and should not be broken out into procurement vs. storage vs. transportation expenses. You may want to note in your budget that that those prices included for food procurement incorporate storage and transportation, so that reviewers can have an accurate understanding of your budget.
Application Review and Scoring
Feedback will be available on request. The current Request for Applications indicates that new applicants will be prioritized above grantees already receiving MN LFPA funds.
Feedback will be available on request. The current Request for Applications indicates that new applicants will be prioritized above grantees already receiving MN LFPA funds.
Additional text from the question asked: The scoring criteria in the application are worded in a way that suggests only the sourcing from new suppliers will be rewarded with points. On the food recipient side, there is not wording to indicate a reward for reaching new or different groups of underserved people.
Answer:
Within the outcomes section of the application and rubric, points are given to projects that source food from socially disadvantaged farmers and emerging farmers. Points are also given for the establishment of new sources of food or food products. There are no specific points within the outcomes section or associated scoring given to projects that expand distribution to new underserved communities. However, points elsewhere are given to projects that demonstrate opportunities to build sustainable relationships within communities. Points are also awarded to projects that have clear definition of where the work will happen and can demonstrate alignment between those producing food and those receiving it, as well projects that share power, including through models for food distribution outside of the traditional emergency food/hunger relief distribution structures.
If you have feedback that you’d like to share about the current Request for Applications, including the application questions and/or scoring rubric, you are welcome to share that with us. Stakeholder comments can be emailed to LFPAgrant@MDA.state.mn.us. We are limited in how we can engage with that feedback while the current grant process is open, but feedback will be considered in the development of future MN LFPA RFAs and/or program plans.
Additional text from the question asked: The scoring criteria in the application are worded in a way that suggests only the sourcing from new suppliers will be rewarded with points. On the food recipient side, there is not wording to indicate a reward for reaching new or different groups of underserved people.
Answer:
Within the outcomes section of the application and rubric, points are given to projects that source food from socially disadvantaged farmers and emerging farmers. Points are also given for the establishment of new sources of food or food products. There are no specific points within the outcomes section or associated scoring given to projects that expand distribution to new underserved communities. However, points elsewhere are given to projects that demonstrate opportunities to build sustainable relationships within communities. Points are also awarded to projects that have clear definition of where the work will happen and can demonstrate alignment between those producing food and those receiving it, as well projects that share power, including through models for food distribution outside of the traditional emergency food/hunger relief distribution structures.
If you have feedback that you’d like to share about the current Request for Applications, including the application questions and/or scoring rubric, you are welcome to share that with us. Stakeholder comments can be emailed to LFPAgrant@MDA.state.mn.us. We are limited in how we can engage with that feedback while the current grant process is open, but feedback will be considered in the development of future MN LFPA RFAs and/or program plans.
Feedback will be available on request. The current Request for Applications indicates that new applicants will be prioritized above grantees already receiving MN LFPA funds.
Additional text from the question asked: The scoring criteria in the application are worded in a way that suggests only the sourcing from new suppliers will be rewarded with points. On the food recipient side, there is not wording to indicate a reward for reaching new or different groups of underserved people.
Answer:
Within the outcomes section of the application and rubric, points are given to projects that source food from socially disadvantaged farmers and emerging farmers. Points are also given for the establishment of new sources of food or food products. There are no specific points within the outcomes section or associated scoring given to projects that expand distribution to new underserved communities. However, points elsewhere are given to projects that demonstrate opportunities to build sustainable relationships within communities. Points are also awarded to projects that have clear definition of where the work will happen and can demonstrate alignment between those producing food and those receiving it, as well projects that share power, including through models for food distribution outside of the traditional emergency food/hunger relief distribution structures.
If you have feedback that you’d like to share about the current Request for Applications, including the application questions and/or scoring rubric, you are welcome to share that with us. Stakeholder comments can be emailed to LFPAgrant@MDA.state.mn.us. We are limited in how we can engage with that feedback while the current grant process is open, but feedback will be considered in the development of future MN LFPA RFAs and/or program plans.
For Minnesota farmers and livestock producers experiencing times of stress due to business and financial challenges, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) offers a reminder of free, confidential tools that are available to help.
“From low commodity prices and extreme weather to continued threats like highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), Minnesota’s farmers and their families face a wide range of unique stressors that can have ripple effects in all areas of life,” said Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen. “You do not have to navigate times of hardship on your own. I encourage farmers and their families to make use of the MDA’s resources designed to support you."
The Minnesota Farm and Rural Helpline is open to anyone who is struggling with stress, anxiety, or depression. Calls are answered 24/7 by trained counselors who can lend a listening ear or connect you with help for business, financial, or legal problems. Call 833-600-2670 or text “FARMSTRESS” to 898211 to get started.
If you or someone you know is dealing with a crisis caused by either a natural disaster or financial problems, contact one of the MDA’s nine Farm Advocates. They know all about agricultural lending practices, mediation, lender negotiation, farm programs, crisis counseling, disaster programs, and to recognize the need for legal and/or social services.
Minnesota also has Ted Matthews and Monica McConkey, experienced, ag-focused mental health providers who offer confidential counseling services at no cost to farm individuals, couples, or families anywhere in the state. Sessions can take place in person, on Zoom, or over the phone, and insurance is not needed. They have helped hundreds of Minnesota farmers and farm family members over the years.
For financial assistance, the Rural Finance Authority (RFA) provides a variety of low-interest loans, including one for disaster relief. The MDA also posts a number of grant opportunities throughout the year, such as the AGRI Livestock Investment Grant, which can help improve, update, and modernize livestock operation infrastructure and equipment.
Specific to dairy farms, Dairy Business Planning Grants cover 50% of your cost to hire a qualified, independent third party to create a business plan for your operation or test for stray voltage. Dairy Profit Teams provide planning and problem-solving services throughout Minnesota.
To learn more about all of the state resources that are available to help in times of stress, visit www.minnesotafarmstress.com, or contact the Minnesota Farm and Rural Helpline at 833-600-2670 or by texting “FARMSTRESS” to 898211.
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Media Contact
Logan Schumacher, MDA Communications
651-201-6193
Logan.Schumacher@state.mn.us
