Research projects are selected through a request for proposal process administered by the University of Minnesota. The MDA oversees the distribution of funds and coordinates reporting on progress results and outcomes. Funds received are used to support specific projects as well as designated positions at the University of Minnesota.

Additional information, including project title, the principal investigator, project status, and funds awarded is listed by fiscal years. The funding source is included in parentheses.

The following positions are currently supported annually through the Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Tech Transfer program (AGREETT) at the University of Minnesota. A total of $802,000 per year is used to support these positions.

Position Current Staff
Perennial Cereals Breeding & Genomics
Research Assistant Professor		 Dr. Prabin Bajgain
Winter Annual Oil Seed Crops Breeding and Genomics Research Assistant Professor Dr. Julia Zhang
Winter and Spring Pea Breeding and Genomics
Researcher 6		 Dr. Steven Mulkey
Hazelnut Breeding and Agronomic Research
Researcher 6		 Dr. Lois Braun
Associate Director FGI, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Research Specialist 3 Dr. Mitch Hunter
Director of Commercialization, Adoption, and Scaling FGI, Business Development Specialist 2-Strategic Alliances Colin Cureton

 

The Environmental and Economic Clusters of Opportunity (EECO) Implementation Program offers technical assistance and risk management as these research crops move to production.
 
Eligible Minnesota growers can now receive financial and technical assistance when they add one of the following crops to their rotations: Kernza® perennial grain, winter camelina, winter barley, or hybrid winter rye. All of these crops grow over the winter, providing the soil health and water quality benefits of cover crops while also producing grain and/or forage that can be harvested and sold.

The FGI Partnership Steering Council and the FGI Partnership Learning & Experimentation Network have been formed. The goal of this activity is to create and support working relationships between partners and coordinate and enhance the investments made in the FGI. The expected outcome of this coordination is greater support for new markets and supply chains and extensive production of these crops in targeted areas where they will have the largest water quality benefit.

The steering council has active members drawn from the public, private, and advocacy sectors. They have developed a council charter and a 12-month workplan and hold regularly scheduled meeting to discuss strategies and opportunities to further FGI crops. More information is available by contacting Dr. Nick Jordan (jorda020@umn.edu) at the University of Minnesota.

Pennycress, woodland sunflower, intermediate wheatgrass, and American hazelnut
Images of pennycress, woodland sunflower, intermediate wheatgrass, and American hazelnut courtesy of the Forever Green Initiative.​​​​​

 

Clean Water Land and Legacy Amendment logo
BMPs for transporting biosolids
BMPs for facilities during transition

More Firewood Information

All state-certified wood materials will have the state certificate on the label. Certified materials have been processed or treated according to the state regulations before crossing quarantine boundaries.

  • Firewood is certified by the MDA and displays the appropriate label information.
  • Is unopened ?
Firewood can be transported out of the EAB and spongy moth quarantined area if:
  • Firewood is certified by the MDA and displays the appropriate label information.
  • Is unopened ?
No
  • Firewood bundles have been opened
  • Firewood is not certified as treated
  • Firewood bundles fail to display the appropriate certification shield.
Firewood cannot be transported out of the quarantine area if:
  • Firewood bundles have been opened
  • Firewood is not certified as treated
  • Firewood bundles fail to display the appropriate certification shield.
No
  • Firewood is certified by the MDA and displays the appropriate label information.
  • Is unopened ?
  • Firewood bundles have been opened
  • Firewood is not certified as treated
  • Firewood bundles fail to display the appropriate certification shield.