No. Only cropland located within a Level 2 DWSMA is eligible for funding. A map and list of Level 2 DWSMAs are located on the Mitigation Level Determination page.
Applicants must be owners or lessees of farmland in a Level 2 DWSMA in Minnesota. An involved owner or lessee of farmland in a given operation must be the one to apply for the grant on behalf of that operation.
Eligible practices include cover crop, delayed cover crop termination, demonstration site, manure management, nitrogen reduction, perennial crop, precision ag, pre-plant nitrogen test, relay crop, and small grain.
A practice must be implemented for at least one year and up to three years. The funding cap is $5,000/year up to three years total = $15,000 maximum payment.
Yes. For instance, a producer may be awarded funding to implement cover crop and perform a pre-plant nitrogen test. Maximum payment for all practices implemented must not exceed $5,000/year up to three years.
No. Practices implemented prior to contract certification are not eligible for funding through this initiative. In other words, no money can be spent toward implementation of a practice until the grant is awarded and a grant contract agreement is signed by the Commissioner of Agriculture.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Education and other partners, is hosting two public input sessions to discuss the future of Farm to School and Early Care efforts in Minnesota.
All members of the public are welcome to participate, including — but not limited to — farmers, school nutrition professionals, early care providers, food system partners, and educators. Participants will be asked to provide input on strategies for expanding initiatives likes school and early care food purchasing from Minnesota producers, food and agriculture education, school gardens, and effective cross-sector collaboration.
The two input sessions will be held using Microsoft Teams, and registration is requested:
Input Session #1
Thursday, May 23, 2024
3-4 p.m.
Register for this event.
Input Session #2
Tuesday, May 28, 2024
6-7 p.m.
Register for this event.
Ideas and feedback collected from these sessions will be used to help build out and refine Minnesota’s first-ever Farm to Kids Strategic Plan for increasing local food purchasing as well as food and ag education efforts over the next 3-5 years in schools and early care settings across the state. Once developed, the strategic plan will be implemented collaboratively by state agencies and organizations that are members of the Minnesota Farm to School Leadership Team and Minnesota Farm to Early Care Advisory Group.
Development of Minnesota’s Farm to Kids Strategic Plan is supported by a USDA Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant received by the MDA. The MDA and its partners plan to announce the final strategic plan in October 2024, in celebration of Farm to School and Early Care Month.
For more information about Minnesota Farm to Kids Strategic Plan, visit the Minnesota Farm to School website.
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Media Contact
Logan Schumacher, MDA Communications
651-201-6193
Logan.Schumacher@state.mn.us
