No. You do not need to own the land where you do the infrastructure improvements. In fact, the grant gives preference to "limited land access" farmers. See full definition of limited land access on page 8 in the grant's request for proposals PDF.
No, the grant funds may only be used for future purchases that are agreed upon in a grant contract with the MDA, and the purchase must occur after the contract is signed by you and MDA.
If you propose a purchase or infrastructure investment in your application, do not make those investments before hearing back about the application result. The MDA is not able to reimburse you for costs that occur before a grant contract with us is signed (estimated to be no sooner than January 2025).
No, the grant funds may only be used for future purchases that are agreed upon in a grant contract with the MDA, and the purchase must occur after the contract is signed by you and MDA.
If you propose a purchase or infrastructure investment in your application, do not make those investments before hearing back about the application result. The MDA is not able to reimburse you for costs that occur before a grant contract with us is signed (estimated to be no sooner than January 2025).
Installing drainage tile is an infrastructure investment and, as long as the tile is laid for the purpose of agricultural production, it would be eligible.
The grant applicant would need to meet the other eligibility requirements which include being a beginning farmer based in Minnesota.
Installing drainage tile is an infrastructure investment and, as long as the tile is laid for the purpose of agricultural production, it would be eligible.
The grant applicant would need to meet the other eligibility requirements which include being a beginning farmer based in Minnesota.
Vehicles that are general purpose, like a pickup truck, are not eligible expenses for this grant.
Vehicles that are general purpose, like a pickup truck, are not eligible expenses for this grant.
To think through whether or not a piece of equipment is farm-specific, ask: could it easily be used off the farm for non-farm related tasks? That is what will be assessed by the review committee on all applications.
To think through whether or not a piece of equipment is farm-specific, ask: could it easily be used off the farm for non-farm related tasks? That is what will be assessed by the review committee on all applications.
Yes, you can still apply. The grant gives a preference to beginning farmers with less than $100,000 gross farm product sales in the most recent tax year, but that is not an eligibility requirement.
