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The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has announced the latest recipients of its Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant, awarding nearly $350,000 to 12 projects across the state focused on researching sustainable ag practices and systems.

The Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant funds innovative research or demonstration projects that explore the energy efficiency, environmental benefit, and profitability of sustainable agriculture techniques — from the production through marketing processes — on Minnesota farms.

Topics being researched by this year’s grantees range from cover cropping, solar land access, in-row weeding systems, biocontrol techniques, and cut flower production. An overview of each awarded project is provided in the table below.

Grant project updates are published annually in the MDA’s Greenbook, which provides a summary of each active project along with results, management tips, locations of previous projects, and other resources to help encourage widespread adoption of sustainable practices.

The next round of Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grants will open for applications in the fall of 2024. Visit the grant webpage for updates and more information on previous projects.

Funding for this program is made available through the MDA’s AGRI Program, which administers grants to farmers, agribusinesses, schools, and more throughout the state of Minnesota. The AGRI Program exists to advance Minnesota’s agricultural and renewable energy sectors.

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Media Contact
Logan Schumacher
651-201-6193
Logan.Schumacher@state.mn.us

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Rural Finance Authority (RFA) has announced details for the next round of funding for its popular Down Payment Assistance Grant program, which will open for applications on August 1, 2024.

The Down Payment Assistance Grant offers up to $15,000 for qualified farmers to purchase their first farm. Eligible applicants must earn less than $250,000 per year in gross agricultural sales, and each award must be matched with at least $8,000 of other funds. 

While all eligible farmers are encouraged to apply, priority for this round of grants will be given to applicants with no more than $100,000 in annual gross farm product sales or applicants who are producers of industrial hemp, cannabis, or specialty crops. Applicants cannot be related by blood or marriage to the owner of the farmland that they intend to acquire.

After the application window closes, all eligible requests will be placed in a randomized lottery to determine the order in which grants are awarded, with the identified priority applicants being given precedence. If funding remains after the MDA has awarded grants to all priority applicants, the MDA will award as many grants as funding allows to all remaining applicants in the order of their lottery placement.

Applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on September 15, 2024, and applicants will be notified of award decisions in late September.

Awards will remain valid for purchases closing within six months after award approval or until June 30, 2025, whichever is sooner. Farm purchases must take place after approval of the application. The MDA cannot award grants retroactively for purchases that have already happened.

To view the full grant eligibility requirements and access the RFP, visit the MDA website.

Leading up to the opening of the application window, the MDA and Farmland Access Hub are partnering to host a series of informational webinars for prospective applicants. Each webinar will focus on a different topic related to the grant program and the farm-buying process. Details on each session and how to join are below.

• Grant Overview and Preparation for Buying a Farm
  • Tuesday, July 23, 4-5 p.m.
  • Join through Zoom.
• Affordability and Financing Your Farm Purchase
  • Wednesday, July 24, 4-5 p.m.
  • Join through Zoom.
• Finding and Securing Farmland
  • Tuesday, July 30, 4-5 p.m.
  • Join through Zoom.
• Detailed Review of Grant RFP
  • Wednesday, July 31, 4-5 p.m.
  • Join through Zoom.

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Media Contact
Logan Schumacher
651-201-6193
Logan.Schumacher@state.mn.us

Sixteen retail service stations throughout the state have received grant funding from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) to increase access to and sales of motor fuel blends containing at least 15% ethanol.

Through the Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Biofuels Infrastructure Grant program, the 16 stations were awarded a total of over $3 million in one-time funds through a competitive review process. A full list of this year’s recipients and their award amounts is found below.

“With the EPA’s recent decision to allow year-round E15 sales for 2024 and beyond, the MDA is pleased to partner with these service stations to expand access to this lower-cost, cleaner fuel alternative at the pump for Minnesotans while supporting our state’s agricultural community,” said Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen.

Grant funds can be used to cover costs associated with the replacement or upgrading of current station equipment so it can be certified as compatible with E25 or higher motor fuel blends. To be eligible, grantees must be a retail petroleum dispenser in Minnesota with no more than 10 sites.

Details of previously funded projects as well as more information on the Biofuels Infrastructure Grant can be found on the MDA website.

Funding for this grant program is made available through a legislative appropriation for the AGRI Program, as well as additional support from Minnesota Corn. The AGRI Program administers grants to farmers, agribusinesses, schools, and more throughout Minnesota to advance the state’s agricultural and renewable energy sectors.

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Media Contact
Logan Schumacher
651-201-6193
Logan.Schumacher@state.mn.us