The Evaluation Criteria section of the RFP includes scoring for industry support by external stakeholders. There is merit in both kinds of letters of support. Ultimately, a letter that tells a more compelling story about the impact/value of your project will make a bigger difference in the scoring process, no matter the author.
The Evaluation Criteria section of the RFP includes scoring for industry support by external stakeholders. There is merit in both kinds of letters of support. Ultimately, a letter that tells a more compelling story about the impact/value of your project will make a bigger difference in the scoring process, no matter the author.
There are no exclusions on who may be the beneficiary of a specialty crop block grant as long as the grant fulfills the program’s purpose of enhancing the competitiveness of specialty crops in Minnesota. However, projects that can demonstrate a benefit to beginning farmers (defined as an individual or entity that has not operated a farm or ranch for more than 10 years and substantially participates in the operation) can receive up to two additional points during the scoring process. Projects that benefit Emerging Farmers, including Native American producers, immigrant farmers, farmers of color, and women, can receive up to five additional points.
There are no exclusions on who may be the beneficiary of a specialty crop block grant as long as the grant fulfills the program’s purpose of enhancing the competitiveness of specialty crops in Minnesota. However, projects that can demonstrate a benefit to beginning farmers (defined as an individual or entity that has not operated a farm or ranch for more than 10 years and substantially participates in the operation) can receive up to two additional points during the scoring process. Projects that benefit Emerging Farmers, including Native American producers, immigrant farmers, farmers of color, and women, can receive up to five additional points.
Yes, subawards and subcontracts by Minnesota SCBG grantees are allowable and have been a part of previously approved projects.
In your application, describe the services or activities that the external partner would provide and explain how these are needed to achieve the objectives or outcomes of the grant project. Fixed amount subawards are allowable if approved by us and then included and approved as part of our application to the USDA.
If approved by the USDA, your organization would also need to pass/enforce the AMS-USDA Grant Terms and Conditions (PDF) down to the industry partner in their sub-award contract or agreement.
Yes, subawards and subcontracts by Minnesota SCBG grantees are allowable and have been a part of previously approved projects.
In your application, describe the services or activities that the external partner would provide and explain how these are needed to achieve the objectives or outcomes of the grant project. Fixed amount subawards are allowable if approved by us and then included and approved as part of our application to the USDA.
If approved by the USDA, your organization would also need to pass/enforce the AMS-USDA Grant Terms and Conditions (PDF) down to the industry partner in their sub-award contract or agreement.
Many of these practices have well documented reductions for nitrate-nitrogen leaching. Specifically, they can reduce nitrogen input needs and /or increase overall uptake of nitrogen making less available for leaching. For some alternative cropping systems, the AMTs may be conditional as they require already-established BMPs to be followed, such as, using nitrogen fertilizer recommendations from the University of Minnesota.
Increasing continuous cover can be accomplished by diversifying crop rotations, adopting perennial cropping systems, and incorporating cover crops.
- Crops with low nitrogen application needs and land cover
- Perennial forage (alfalfa, clover, grass pasture and others)
- Pasture and hayland
- Crops with relatively low nitrogen requirements, such as small grains (e.g., wheat, oats, rye, barley, triticale) and canola
- Perennial grains
- Selection of lower nitrogen requiring varieties and adjusting seeding density
- Forever Green crops and other innovative crops and cropping systems that have the potential to be the next generation of low nitrogen input or nitrogen management crops.
- Set-aside programs – continuous cover
- Land swapping to relocate high-intensity crops from vulnerable areas to a less sensitive location
- Land retirement
