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.
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.
No, there are not points or preference awarded for submitting an application ahead of others. All applications submitted between September 24 - November 21, 2024 will get full consideration by the grant committee.
Grant applications are evaluated based on the scoring breakdown provided on page 7 of the Request for Proposals PDF. Both the review committee and commissioner may also consider geographic distribution, diversity in agricultural enterprise, applicant's history as a state grantee, and capacity to perform the work in their decisions.
No, there are not points or preference awarded for submitting an application ahead of others. All applications submitted between September 24 - November 21, 2024 will get full consideration by the grant committee.
Grant applications are evaluated based on the scoring breakdown provided on page 7 of the Request for Proposals PDF. Both the review committee and commissioner may also consider geographic distribution, diversity in agricultural enterprise, applicant's history as a state grantee, and capacity to perform the work in their decisions.
The grant program uses the language “entered into farming within the last 10 years” to define eligibility on this point. Because 2024 is not complete, people who entered into farming in 2014 or after may apply for this grant.
The grant program uses the language “entered into farming within the last 10 years” to define eligibility on this point. Because 2024 is not complete, people who entered into farming in 2014 or after may apply for this grant.
After a successful applicant signs the grant contract with the MDA, they will have no more than two years from the date the contract is signed, or a deadline of June 2027 (whichever comes first), to use the funds awarded to them.
