April 14, 2025
Applications are now being accepted for two grant opportunities available through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) aimed at helping value-added businesses and livestock product processors seeking to start-up, modernize, or expand their operations and increase their sales of Minnesota agricultural products.
The Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Value-Added Grant and Meat, Poultry, Egg, and Milk Processing (MPEM) Grant programs provide funding for businesses to invest in equipment and physical improvement projects that support expanding production capacity, market diversification, and market access for their products.
Applicants must:
- Intend to or be engaged in the processing of Minnesota agricultural products; or intend to or be engaged with livestock slaughter or processing, including meat, poultry, eggs, and/or milk.
- Be an individual (such as a farmer), business, agricultural cooperative, nonprofit, educational institution, a local unit of government, or a Native American Tribal government.
- Be located or reside in Minnesota and be authorized to conduct business in Minnesota.
The MDA anticipates awarding approximately $2 million between the two programs in 2025 using a competitive review process. The maximum award amount for each grant is $150,000, and the minimum is $1,000. Grantees must provide a cash match of 50% for the first $50,000 of the project cost and 75% for any costs above that amount, up to the maximum grant award of $150,000.
Priority projects for this round of funding include those that:
- Increase food safety
- Increase hemp fiber processing capacity
- Increase access to kosher or halal markets
- Focus on meat or poultry processing capacity, especially slaughtering
Grant applications will be accepted until 4 p.m. on Thursday, August 7, 2025 through the MDA’s online application system.
For more information and to apply, visit the AGRI Value-Added Grant and Meat, Poultry, Egg, and Milk Processing Grant webpages.
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Media Contact
Nikki Warner, MDA Communications
651-238-7909
Nikki.Warner@state.mn.us
(MINN. STAT. § 18B.01)
“Currently unavoidable use” means a use of PFAS that is essential for health, safety, or the functioning of society and for which alternatives are not reasonably available. Currently unavoidable use may include consideration of the need to prevent or minimize potential pest resistance, and the potential human health and environmental impacts of alternative products.”
“Intentionally added” means PFAS deliberately added during the manufacture of a product where the continued presence of PFAS is desired in the final product or one of the product’s components to perform a specific function.”
“Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances” or “PFAS” means a class of fluorinated organic chemicals containing at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom.”
Definitions
(MINN. STAT. § 18B.01)
“Currently unavoidable use” means a use of PFAS that is essential for health, safety, or the functioning of society and for which alternatives are not reasonably available. Currently unavoidable use may include consideration of the need to prevent or minimize potential pest resistance, and the potential human health and environmental impacts of alternative products.”
“Intentionally added” means PFAS deliberately added during the manufacture of a product where the continued presence of PFAS is desired in the final product or one of the product’s components to perform a specific function.”
“Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances” or “PFAS” means a class of fluorinated organic chemicals containing at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom.”
(MINN. STAT. § 18B.26 Subd.7(a))
(a) Beginning January 1, 2026, a pesticide registrant must annually provide a statement that a product contains no intentionally added PFAS or, for products that contain intentionally added PFAS, a pesticide registrant must submit to the commissioner the following information:
- The name and purpose for which PFAS are used in the pesticide, including in any product components;
- The amount of each PFAS in the product, identified by its name, chemical structure, analytical methods, chemical abstract service registry number, or other unique method approved by the commissioner; and
Any additional information required by the commissioner.
Registrant Responsibilities
(MINN. STAT. § 18B.26 Subd.7(a))
(a) Beginning January 1, 2026, a pesticide registrant must annually provide a statement that a product contains no intentionally added PFAS or, for products that contain intentionally added PFAS, a pesticide registrant must submit to the commissioner the following information:
- The name and purpose for which PFAS are used in the pesticide, including in any product components;
- The amount of each PFAS in the product, identified by its name, chemical structure, analytical methods, chemical abstract service registry number, or other unique method approved by the commissioner; and
Any additional information required by the commissioner.
(Minn. Stat. § 18B.26 Subd. 8)
Beginning January 1, 2026, the commissioner may not register a cleaning product if the product contains intentionally added PFAS unless the commissioner determines that the use of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is currently an unavoidable use.
Beginning January 1, 2032, the commissioner may not register a pesticide product that contains intentionally added PFAS unless the commissioner determines that the use of PFAS is a currently unavoidable use.
- For pesticidal cleaning products under the 2026 prohibition deadline, interested registrants should reach out to the MDA following their 2025 renewals to request information for a CUU submission. CUU exemption applications must be submitted prior to the January 1, 2026, deadline to ensure no interruption in registration.
- For all other pesticide products, if an agent/registrant indicates a product contains intentionally added PFAS on an annual renewal or new registration starting in 2026, the MDA will mail a letter with directions on how to submit a currently unavoidable use (CUU) exemption application. CUU exemption applications must be submitted prior to the January 1, 2032, deadline to ensure no interruption in registration.
State Responsibilities
(Minn. Stat. § 18B.26 Subd. 8)
Beginning January 1, 2026, the commissioner may not register a cleaning product if the product contains intentionally added PFAS unless the commissioner determines that the use of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is currently an unavoidable use.
Beginning January 1, 2032, the commissioner may not register a pesticide product that contains intentionally added PFAS unless the commissioner determines that the use of PFAS is a currently unavoidable use.
- For pesticidal cleaning products under the 2026 prohibition deadline, interested registrants should reach out to the MDA following their 2025 renewals to request information for a CUU submission. CUU exemption applications must be submitted prior to the January 1, 2026, deadline to ensure no interruption in registration.
- For all other pesticide products, if an agent/registrant indicates a product contains intentionally added PFAS on an annual renewal or new registration starting in 2026, the MDA will mail a letter with directions on how to submit a currently unavoidable use (CUU) exemption application. CUU exemption applications must be submitted prior to the January 1, 2032, deadline to ensure no interruption in registration.
