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A new Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) grant opportunity is available for farmers’ market associations to help support nutrition assistance programs at the markets.

The Farmers’ Market Nutrition Assistance Grant will provide funding to farmers’ markets in the state so they can increase participation in food assistance programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP), Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP), Market Bucks, and Power of Produce (POP) Club. These programs help individuals and families who are experiencing food insecurity purchase foods directly from farmers at farmers’ markets.

The MDA expects to award approximately $150,000 using a competitive review process. Applicants may request between $1,500 to $10,000 per farmers’ market association. There is no match requirement for this grant. If the project proposal is approved, the farmers’ market association may request an advance of up to 50% of the project funding. Advance funds must be requested as a part of the application process.

To be eligible to apply, a farmers’ market association must be located in Minnesota and intends to participate in at least one nutrition assistance program in 2025 that provides food directly to program participants at the farmers’ market.

Applications will be accepted until February 20, 2025.

For full details on eligibility and how to apply, visit the MDA website.

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Media Contact
Allen Sommerfeld, MDA Communications
651-201-6185
Allen.Sommerfeld@state.mn.us

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has published an updated map that will help farmers across the state comply with the Groundwater Protection Rule. The rule restricts fall application of nitrogen fertilizer in areas vulnerable to groundwater contamination, and it outlines steps to reduce the severity of contamination in areas where nitrate is already elevated in public water supply wells.

The MDA has made changes to the Fall Nitrogen Fertilizer Application Restrictions Map which is available on the MDA website. The Ellsworth municipal Drinking Water Supply Management Area (DWSMA) was removed from the map due to a change in water source for the community. Additional information on the fall application restrictions and exceptions to the restrictions can be found on the MDA’s website.

While no new municipal DWSMAs were found to have elevated nitrate, two non-municipal wells were found to have elevated nitrate based on new information from the Minnesota Department of Health. The Brookhaven Development and the Mobile Manor DWSMAs, both located in Scott County, will be added to the list of Mitigation Level 2 DWSMAs under the Groundwater Protection Rule, meaning the MDA will form a local advisory group to recommend farming practices that can reduce nitrate levels in groundwater. Additional information can be found on the MDA’s Mitigation Level Determination page.

The restriction of fall application of nitrogen fertilizer on these acres will begin September 1, 2025. Farmers are encouraged to check the new map prior to fall 2025 to determine if their fields are subject to these restrictions.

For more information on the Groundwater Protection Rule visit www.mda.state.mn.us/nfr.

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Media Contact
Allen Sommerfeld, MDA Communications
651-201-6185
Allen.Sommerfeld@state.mn.us

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Minnesota Pavilion is returning to Las Vegas for the 2025 Winter Fancy Food Show January 19 - 21. Six local food and beverage businesses are exhibiting at the event supported by the MDA’s Make it Minnesota Program, bringing a taste of Minnesota to Nevada and the rest of the world.

The MDA supports Minnesota food and beverage companies who are expanding their market reach by offering discounted booth space, promotion, and logistical support surrounding the shows. The Make it Minnesota Program aims to encourage food manufacturing in Minnesota, increase the use of local agricultural ingredients, create and protect jobs, and promote economic development in Minnesota’s agriculture and food sectors.

The following brands are participating in the Minnesota Pavilion at the 2025 Winter Fancy Food Show:

• Mixly Cocktail Co  – All-natural, craft inspired cocktail and mocktail mixers. Booth 1917
• Von Hanson’s Snacks – Seven distinct pretzel flavors, seasoned peanuts and snack mix, snack sticks, and trail mix. Booth 1911
• Riff’s Smokehouse – Meat snacks and BBQ products. Booth 1919
• Maud Borup – Seasonal and everyday sweets, snacks, and food gifts for retail partners and specialty stores nationwide. Booth 1913
• Maazah – Three sauces: cilantro chutney, mango chutney, lemon aioli; and four lentil dips coming soon: basil jalapeno, lemon tahini, roasted red pepper, and turmeric ginger. Booth 1921
• Peace Coffee – 100% organic & fair-trade coffee from small-scale grower cooperatives that invest in their farmers to combat unstable markets and shifting climates. Booth 1915

For companies who are growing beyond local markets, attending business-to-business (B2B) trade shows like the Winter Fancy Food Show provides new connections and opportunities, potential big wins for the companies and for Minnesota’s economy.

“The Winter Fancy Food Show is a great place to connect with our major retail partners and meet new regional retailers and distributers in the specialty food trade,” says Johnna Rossbach, Founder/President of Mixly Cocktail Co. 

The Winter Fancy Food Show, organized by the Specialty Food Association, is “where specialty food makers go to exhibit their newest and best products and where buyers go to find their next bestsellers.” With thousands of specialty food artisans, entrepreneurs, distributors, retailers, purveyors, and importers under one roof, the show offers three days of sampling, networking, and education designed to help grow specialty food businesses.

Visit the Make it Minnesota web page for more details about available business support programs as well as future Pavilion opportunities.

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Media Contact
Brittany Raveill, MDA Communications
651-201-6131
Brittany.Raveill@state.mn.us

Twelve Minnesota educators looking to provide more agricultural experiences for their students have received 2025 Agricultural Literacy Grants from the Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC) Foundation.

The grants are designed to support agriculture and food systems education efforts from kindergarten to high school across the state.

The 12 teachers received grants of up to $1000 each to allow students to experience agriculture in a cross-curricular manner. Topics to be explored through this year’s projects include soybean growing, field trips, growing fruit trees, and more.

MAITC is a partnership between the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and the MAITC Foundation that seeks to increase agricultural literacy through K-12 education. For more information about the Ag Literacy Grants, visit the MAITC website.

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Media Contact
Larry Schumacher, MDA Communications
651-201-6629
Larry.Schumacher@state.mn.us

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is calling on produce farmers who have never completed the Grower Questionnaire, or who have not filled it out since 2022, to complete the 2025 edition.

Completing this questionnaire helps farmers identify the federal food safety requirements that apply to their operations and gain access to additional support to improve food safety practices on their farms. By participating, growers contribute to a more accurate picture of Minnesota’s produce sector, allowing the MDA to provide tailored resources and guidance.

“The Grower Questionnaire helps us stay informed about Minnesota’s evolving produce industry and allows us to support farms in improving food safety practices and keeping local produce safe for consumers,” said Assistant Commissioner Patrice Bailey.

Farmers who complete the Grower Questionnaire may also be eligible for the Produce Safety Mini-Grant, which offers up to $800 in reimbursements for on-farm food safety improvements. Applications for the 2025 Mini-Grant will be available later this winter.

The Grower Questionnaire should be filled out once every three years by each produce farm. Farm contact and location information collected through the questionnaire are considered private and confidential and will not be shared with the public. General farm statistics are compiled and shared out publicly.

If growers choose not to complete the questionnaire, the MDA Produce Safety Program will reach out directly to discuss potential inspection requirements.

Farmers may complete the 2025 MDA Grower Questionnaire online.

Farmers can contact the MDA Produce Safety Program at 651-539-3648 or email producesafety.mda@state.mn.us to request a paper copy of the questionnaire, or for more information.

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Media Contact:
Larry Schumacher, MDA Communications
651-201-6629
Larry.Schumacher@state.mn.us

Multigenerational Farm Transition Retreats are available for Minnesota farmers considering farm transition or succession plans. These retreats are offered by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) in partnership with the University of Minnesota (UMN) Extension, and the Southern Agricultural Center for Excellence.

Attendees will be guided through hands-on planning and discussion on farm transition for the whole farm family; all generations actively involved in the farm are encouraged to attend. Topics covered in detail will include family and business goals, job responsibilities, financial needs of farm and families, inheritance considerations, and mechanisms of transfer.

These events are free of charge and are being held in three different locations; farmers can choose the one most convenient for them. Attendees should plan on attending both days.

Registration is available online; event address and further meeting details will be provided in the registration confirmation.

Educational resources on farm transition and estate planning are available on the UMN Extension website. For questions or comments contact Nathan Hulinsky at huli0013@umn.edu or 218-828-2680.

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Media Contact
Brittany Raveill
MDA Communications
Brittany.Raveill@state.mn.us
651-201-6131