AGRI Protecting Livestock Grant webinar
Starts:
Thu, 02/15/2024 - 8:00 am
Ends:
Thu, 02/15/2024 - 9:00 am
MDA is a:
Presenter
Details:
Join this informational webinar to learn about the one-time AGRI Protecting Livestock Grant. Submit your questions when you register for the webinar so we can try to answer them all during the presentation.
This program is a funding opportunity for Minnesota farmers and ranchers who raise livestock. Grant funds are intended to help producers buy and install supplies or equipment that will prevent livestock disease outbreaks and protect animals not covered by existing depredation programs.
Precedence is given to proposals that address priority species (farmed cervids, poultry, and ratites) on a first-come, first-served basis until the application period closes on March 7, 2024. After that, reviewers will consider remaining applications.
For the purposes of this grant, livestock include beef cattle, dairy cattle, swine, poultry, goats, mules, bison, sheep, horses, farmed cervids (deer, elk), ratites (flightless birds including emu), llamas, and honeybees.
Funding for the Protect Grant comes from the Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Program which supports the advancement of Minnesota’s agricultural and renewable energy industries. AGRI has made significant economic impacts by increasing productivity, improving efficiency, and assisting the development of agricultural products.
February 9, 2024
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has opened applications for grant funding to help increase the competitiveness of Minnesota-grown specialty crops in domestic and foreign markets.
The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funds projects focused on marketing and promotion, research and development, expanding availability and access, and addressing challenges confronting producers of specialty crops. The MDA anticipates awarding approximately $1.25 million in this round of grants using a competitive review process, with a maximum award of $125,000 and a minimum award of $20,000.
Nonprofits, producer organizations, government agencies, tribal organizations, universities, and other organizations involved in Minnesota agriculture are encouraged to apply for grant funding. Individual producers, for-profit businesses, and commercial entities are also eligible to apply as long as projects provide a sector-wide impact.
Grant funding for the SCBGP is provided annually by a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Block Grant under the legislative authority of the Farm Bill. USDA defines specialty crops as fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops, floriculture, and processed products that have 50% or more specialty crop content by weight, exclusive of added water.
Applications for 2024 SCBGP funds must be submitted by 4 p.m. Central Time on Thursday, March 21, 2024. Full program details and application materials, as well as information on previously funded projects, can be found on the MDA’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program web page.
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Media Contact
Logan Schumacher, MDA Communications
651-201-6193
Logan.Schumacher@state.mn.us
February 13, 2024
Funding is currently available through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) for two grant programs to help expand access to fresh and culturally appropriate foods to low- and moderate-income areas.
The two grant opportunities are part of the MDA’s Good Food Access Program (GFAP): The GFAP Equipment and Physical Improvement Grant and the GFAP Technical Assistance Grant. The agency will award up to $935,000 between the two programs in this funding cycle.
The GFAP Equipment and Physical Improvement Grant helps grocery stores and small food retailers purchase equipment or make physical improvements that will allow them to increase the availability of and access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate foods (including produce) for underserved communities in low- and moderate-income areas. Applicants for this grant may request between $5,000 and $75,000 for their projects.
Examples of eligible Equipment and Physical Improvement Grant projects include the purchase and installation costs of items like shelving, coolers, and freezers; mobile food trucks; permanent infrastructure at farmers’ markets; or architectural work. Projects that demonstrate positive economic and health impacts on underserved communities will be prioritized for funding.
The GFAP Technical Assistance Grant is available to assist nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and for-profit businesses in providing appropriate technical assistance to eligible food retailers — such as grocery stores, corner stores, and farmers’ markets — interested in providing affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate foods. Applicants to the Technical Assistance Grant may request between $5,000 and $50,000 per project. However, collaborative projects that include multiple technical assistance providers may request up to $200,000. Grants can cover up to 75% of project costs.
Examples of technical assistance include guidance and resources on topics such as business and succession planning, financing, marketing, food procurement or distribution, and handling and merchandising fresh foods.
To be eligible, applicants for both grants must be located in or serve a census tract designated as a food desert or must serve a substantial subpopulation, such as the elderly or disabled or those in a low- or moderate-income census tract, who have low supermarket access. Tribal communities and other organizations that serve Native American tribal communities are also eligible and encouraged to apply.
Application materials for both grants are due by 4 p.m. Central Time on Thursday, March 28, 2024. For full details on eligibility requirements and the application process, review the request for proposals (RFPs) posted on the GFAP Equipment and Physical Improvement Grant and the GFAP Technical Assistance Grant web pages.
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Media Contact
Logan Schumacher, MDA Communications
651-201-6193
Logan.Schumacher@state.mn.us
This page consists of drug residue prevention tools and resources for small ruminant producers.
The application period for this program is closed.
Hunter Buntjer
Dairy & Meat Inspection
Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Grant Webinar/Seminario web sobre programa de Becas Para Infraestructura de Sistemas Alimentarios Resistentes de Minnesota (RFSI)
Starts:
Wed, 02/28/2024 - 12:00 pm
Ends:
Wed, 02/28/2024 - 1:00 pm
MDA is a:
Presenter
Details:
Join this informational webinar to learn more about the Minnesota Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Grant. We’ll provide an overview of the program, information about the application process, and answers to questions from prospective applicants.
Submit your questions when you register for the webinar so we can try to answer them all during the presentation. Spanish interpretation will be available.
The RFSI program offers designated grants from $100,000 to $3 million for businesses and organizations operating in the middle of the food supply chain in Minnesota. Applications are due April 3, 2024.
The purpose of the funding is to invest in infrastructure for aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, and distribution of locally and regionally produced food intended for human consumption, including specialty crops, dairy, grains, aquaculture, and other food products (except meat and poultry, which are funded through other programs).
Detalles:
Únase a este seminario web informativo para obtener más información sobre el programa de Becas Para Infraestructura de Sistemas Alimentarios Resistentes de Minnesota (RFSI). Proporcionaremos una descripción general del programa, información sobre el proceso de solicitud y respuestas a las preguntas de los posibles solicitantes.
Envíe sus preguntas cuando se registre en el seminario web para que podamos intentar responderlas todas durante la presentación. Habrá interpretación en español disponible.
El programa RFSI ofrece subvenciones designadas de $100,000 a $3 millones para empresas y organizaciones que operan en el medio de la cadena de suministro de alimentos en Minnesota. Las solicitudes deben presentarse el 3 de abril de 2024.
El objetivo de la financiación es invertir en infraestructura para la agregación, procesamiento, fabricación, almacenamiento, transporte, venta al por mayor y distribución de alimentos producidos local y regionalmente destinados al consumo humano, incluidos cultivos especiales, lácteos, cereales, acuicultura y otros productos alimenticios. (excepto carnes y aves, que se financian a través de otros programas).
