Would fencing supplies to exclude wildlife from vegetable production be eligible for funding with the grant? Does it matter if the fencing is permanent or or the portable woven wire type?

Yes, fencing supplies and installment costs for agricultural crops are eligible. The fencing could be either permanent or temporary/portable.

If you are looking for technical assistance related to fencing installation and supply costs, consider contacting: 

No

If you are contributing your labor to a farm business that has been filing taxes for more than 10 years, unfortunately you will not qualify for this grant.

Keep in mind that you need to be providing the majority of labor and management on a farm to apply for this grant.

I'm a beginning farmer with less than 10 years of experience and I'm joining my family's farm which has been in operation for more than 10 years. Do I qualify for this grant?

If you are contributing your labor to a farm business that has been filing taxes for more than 10 years, unfortunately you will not qualify for this grant.

Keep in mind that you need to be providing the majority of labor and management on a farm to apply for this grant.

No

Applications will not be moved from full grant into mini grant, applications will only be considered at the level they are submitted.

​​​​​​Both the mini and full grant applications will be judged on their merit. The mini grants will be judged first and half of the funds are reserved for these grants. Any remaining funds after the mini grants are awarded will be moved into the funds for the full grants.

The MDA expects to award $800,000 using a competitive review process.

If I apply at the $20,000 level for the full grant, will I also be considered for the $5,000 grant?

Applications will not be moved from full grant into mini grant, applications will only be considered at the level they are submitted.

​​​​​​Both the mini and full grant applications will be judged on their merit. The mini grants will be judged first and half of the funds are reserved for these grants. Any remaining funds after the mini grants are awarded will be moved into the funds for the full grants.

The MDA expects to award $800,000 using a competitive review process.

No

No, you may not purchase from a direct family member with this grant. Direct family in this case is defined by Internal Revenue Code, section 267(c)(4) which includes, spouse, sisters and brothers including step-sister and step-brothers, parents, grandparents, children and grandchildren.

May I purchase equipment from family members with this grant?

No, you may not purchase from a direct family member with this grant. Direct family in this case is defined by Internal Revenue Code, section 267(c)(4) which includes, spouse, sisters and brothers including step-sister and step-brothers, parents, grandparents, children and grandchildren.

No

The project cost can exceed the grant amount. You can suggest using the funds for a portion of a purchase or infrastructure improvement, and then it would be beneficial to explain your plan for financing the remainder of the expenses.

Would the grant have to pay for the project in full or can the project cost exceed the grant amount?

The project cost can exceed the grant amount. You can suggest using the funds for a portion of a purchase or infrastructure improvement, and then it would be beneficial to explain your plan for financing the remainder of the expenses.

No

"Incubator farm" means a farm where:

(1) individuals are given temporary, exclusive, and affordable access to small parcels of land, infrastructure, and often training, for the purpose of honing skills and launching a farm business; and

(2) a majority of the individuals farming the small parcels of land grow industrial hemp, cannabis, or one or more of the following specialty crops as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture for purposes of the specialty crop block grant program: fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, medicinal plants, culinary herbs and spices, horticulture crops, floriculture crops, and nursery crops.

This definition was provided by the Minnesota State Legislature.

In scoring an application, an applicant is given up to 10 points for meeting the definition of experiencing limited land access, which includes farming on an incubator farm.