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
The National Restaurant Association Show is one of several national tradeshows where we host a Minnesota Pavilion.
April 24, 2025
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is placing spongy moth-infested areas in Coon Rapids, Grand Rapids, and Winona under quarantine beginning May 1. A portion of each city will be quarantined, which limits the movement of woody material out of the area.
A detailed quarantine map of each area is available on the MDA website. These quarantines will be in effect from May 1, 2025, to June 15, 2026.
What does the temporary quarantine do?
- The quarantine restricts the movement of trees, branches, and woody material, including firewood, out of the area. Trees may be pruned, but all branches and woody material must stay on the property (even if limbs are chipped spongy moth eggs are still viable).
- The quarantine requires self-inspection of any equipment, household items, or vehicles that are sitting outside in the quarantined area and are being moved out of the quarantine. This includes items such as wood pallets, patio furniture, grills, as well as, campers, and boats. Residents should look for spongy moth egg masses which are tan, fuzzy masses the size of a quarter. They should scrape the egg masses off the item or leave the item where it is.
High levels of spongy moths were discovered in Coon Rapids and Grand Rapids during the MDA’s 2024 annual spongy moth survey. The spongy moth-infested area in Winona was reported to the MDA by employees at a city campground. The three areas were scheduled to be aerially managed this spring with Btk (Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki), an insecticide used to kill spongy moth caterpillars and control isolated infestations. However, federal funding delays and uncertainties forced the MDA to cancel operations in these locations.
Spongy moths have caused millions of dollars in damage to forests in across eastern United States. The moths are common in Wisconsin and are now threatening Minnesota. If present in large numbers, spongy moth caterpillars can defoliate large sections of urban and natural forests. Spongy moth feeds on over 300 different species of trees and shrubs, including many of Minnesota’s most common trees such as oak, aspen, basswood, and birch.
To provide more information, the MDA will be hosting two informational meetings.
|
In person |
Virtual |
|---|---|
|
Wednesday, April 30 4:30-6:30 p.m. Sand Creek Park Community Room |
Tuesday, April 29 noon-1 p.m. The virtual meeting will be held on Microsoft Teams. |
The MDA will be ramping up survey efforts in these areas and residents will likely notice traps placed on trees in many places. Residents are also asked to be on the lookout for any signs of spongy moths in the area. If you suspect a spongy moth infestation in your area, use the MDA’s online Report a Pest service, email reportapest@state.mn.us or call 1-888-545-6684.
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Media Contact
Brittany Raveill, MDA Communications
651-201-6131
Brittany.Raveill@state.mn.us
April 25, 2025
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is alerting consumers to avoid purchasing and consuming certain Gerber Products Company Soothe N Chew Teething Sticks.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a recall for these products after determining they pose a choking hazard to babies and young children.
The products in question are:
- Gerber Snacks for Baby Soothe N Chew Teething Sticks, Strawberry Apple, Net Wt 3.2 Oz (90g), with UPC 0 15000 04618 7, all lot codes
- Gerber Snacks for Baby Soothe N Chew Teething Sticks, Banana, Net Wt 3.2 Oz (90g), with UPC 0 15000 04608 8, all lot codes
- Gerber Snacks for Baby Soothe N Chew Teething Sticks, Banana, Net Wt 1.58 Oz (45g), with UPC 0 15000 01015 7, all lot codes
Consumers should not eat, sell, or serve the above listed teething products and should discard them. Consumers who may have purchased GERBER® SOOTHE N CHEW® TEETHING STICKS should not feed this product to their child and can return the product to the retailer where it was purchased for a full refund. Consumers who find the product for sale in the market should not purchase the product. Anyone with health concerns should contact a health care provider. For any additional support needed, Gerber is available 24/7 at 1-800-4-GERBER (1-800-443-7237).
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Media Contact
Larry Schumacher, MDA Communications
651-201-6629
Larry.Schumacher@state.mn.us
April 30, 2025
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has awarded more than $1 million in grants to schools and early care providers through its Farm to School and Early Care Grants program. This funding supports the purchase of Minnesota-grown and -raised foods, creating market opportunities for local farmers and improving the quality of school and early care meals across the state.
“When schools and early cares serve local food, everyone benefits – our farmers, our kids, our communities, and our economy,” said MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen. “We are proud to help schools and early care providers incorporate more local food into their meals. Minnesota kids deserve the best, and Minnesota farms can provide the best.”
New for 2025, the MDA awarded $97,000 to 194 family childcare providers through its Local Tots Cost-Share program. Each provider received a $500 award through this non-competitive cost-share program to help serve more local foods as part of their meal and snack programs. This marks the first year of the program, launched as the MDA expands Farm to School and Early Care efforts to support more children across the state.
The MDA also awarded $948,096 in Farm to School and Early Care grants to 63 school districts and nine early childhood education (ECE) centers across the state in this round. Recipients received one of two grants to purchase whole unprocessed or minimally processed foods that are at least 80% grown or raised in Minnesota.
- First Bite Farm to School and Early Care Grant: For school districts and ECE centers new to local purchasing and looking to start small.
- Full Tray Farm to School and Early Care Grant: For school districts and ECE centers with some Farm to School or Farm to Early Care experience who are ready to take on larger projects. Applicants for Full Tray grants are required to provide a 1:1 match on all funds awarded.
Grant awards ranged from $2,500 to $35,000 and will support $866,089 in local food purchases. Applicants could also apply for additional funding to purchase equipment that supports their local sourcing efforts, equipment funding also requires a 1:1 match. A total of $82,007 was awarded to 12 schools and ECE centers for items ranging from flat top grills and refrigeration units to tilt skillets and food processors. These tools help improve food safety and make scratch cooking with local foods more accessible and efficient.
A full list of recipients and award amounts for the First Bite and Full Tray grants can be found below. See the full list of awardees for the Local Tots Cost-Share program on the Local Tots Cost-Share Past Projects webpage.
Funding for these programs is made available through the MDA’s Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (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.
Farm to School and Early Care Grant Recipients
First Bite Grants
| FY25 First Bite Grantee | City | Type of Grantee | First Bite Award | Equipment Award | Total Award |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agape Child Development Center | Minneapolis | ECE | $5,000.00 | $4,750.00 | $9,750.00 |
| Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley Public Schools, ISD 2888 | Clinton | School | $5,000.00 | $5,000.00 | |
| East Grand Forks Public Schools, ISD 595 | East Grand Forks | School | $5,000.00 | $715.00 | $5,715.00 |
| Eureka Kids | Rochester | ECE | $2,500.00 | $2,500.00 | |
| Great Expectations School | Grand Marais | School | $5,000.00 | $5,000.00 | |
| Hawley Public Schools, ISD 150 | Hawley | School | $2,500.00 | $3,240.00 | $5,740.00 |
| Hill City Public Schools, ISD 2 | Hill City | School | $5,000.00 | $5,000.00 | |
| Kelliher Public Schools, ISD 36 | Kelliher | School | $5,000.00 | $5,000.00 | |
| Kingsland Public Schools, ISD 2137 | Spring Valley | School | $5,000.00 | $12,000.00 | $17,000.00 |
| Kootasca Community Action (Kootasca Head Start) | Grand Rapids | ECE | $5,000.00 | $1,386.50 | $6,386.50 |
| Lakeville Area Schools, ISD 194 | Lakeville | School | $5,000.00 | $5,000.00 | |
| Los Amiguitos De River Heights | Inver Grove Heights | ECE | $2,500.00 | $2,500.00 | |
| Menahga Public Schools, ISD 821 | Menahga | School | $2,500.00 | $2,500.00 | |
| Northfield Montessori | Northfield | ECE | $2,500.00 | $2,500.00 | |
| Olu's Beginnings | Minneapolis | ECE | $2,500.00 | $10,310.81 | $12,810.81 |
| Ortonville Public Schools, ISD 2903 | Ortonville | School | $5,000.00 | $5,000.00 | |
| St. Michael's School | Mahnomen | School | $2,500.00 | $2,500.00 | |
| Stillwater Area Public Schools, ISD 834 | Stillwater | School | $5,000.00 | $5,000.00 | |
| Underwood School District, ISD 550 | Underwood | School | $2,500.00 | $2,500.00 | |
| West Central Minnesota Communities Action (Perham Head Start) | Elbow Lake | ECE | $2,500.00 | $2,500.00 | |
| Yinghua Academy | Minneapolis | School | $5,000.00 | $2,500.00 | $7,500.00 |
Full Tray Grants
|
FY25 Full Tray Grantee |
City | Type of Grantee | Full Tray Award | Equipment Award | Total Award |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aitkin Public Schools, ISD 1 | Aitkin | School | $20,000.00 | $20,000.00 | |
| Alexandria Public Schools, ISD 206 | Alexandria | School | $25,000.00 | $25,000.00 | |
| Aurora Waasakone Community of Learners | Bemidji | School | $4,816.80 | $4,816.80 | |
| Becker Public Schools, ISD 726 | Becker | School | $30,000.00 | $12,500.00 | $42,500.00 |
| Bloomington Public Schools, ISD 271 | Bloomington | School | $30,000.00 | $30,000.00 | |
| Brooklyn Center Community Schools, ISD 286 | Brooklyn Center | School | $25,000.00 | $25,000.00 | |
| Butterfield-Odin Public Schools, ISD 836 | Butterfield | School | $6,062.40 | $6,062.40 | |
| Cannon Falls Area Schools, ISD 252 | Cannon Falls | School | $23,918.40 | $23,918.40 | |
| Crosby-Ironton Public Schools, ISD 182 | Crosby | School | $5,000.00 | $5,000.00 | |
| Crosslake Community School | Crosslake | School | $4,212.00 | $4,212.00 | |
| Dassel-Cokato Public Schools, ISD 466 | Cokato | School | $30,000.00 | $30,000.00 | |
| Deer River Public Schools, ISD 317 | Deer River | School | $20,000.00 | $20,000.00 | |
| Detroit Lakes Schools, ISD 22 | Detroit Lakes | School | $25,000.00 | $25,000.00 | |
| Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton Public Schools, ISD 2164 | Dilworth | School | $30,000.00 | $30,000.00 | |
| East Range Academy of Technology and Sciences (ERATS) | Mountain Iron | School | $2,500.00 | $2,500.00 | |
| Foley Public Schools, ISD 51 | Foley | School | $20,000.00 | $10,000.00 | $30,000.00 |
| Fond du Lac Ojibwe School | Cloque | School | $4,386.00 | $4,386.00 | |
| Greenway Public Schools, ISD 316 | Coleraine | School | $3,750.00 | $3,750.00 | |
| Holy Trinity Catholic School, Pierz | Pierz | School | $3,487.50 | $3,487.50 | |
| Holy Trinity Catholic School, South Saint Paul | South Saint Paul | School | $2,500.00 | $2,500.00 | |
| Hopkins Public Schools, ISD 270 | Hopkins | School | $30,000.00 | $30,000.00 | |
| Hutchinson Public Schools, ISD 423 | Hutchinson | School | $30,000.00 | $30,000.00 | |
| Immanuel Lutheran School | Gaylord | School | $2,500.00 | $2,500.00 | |
| Jordan Public Schools, ISD 717 | Jordan | School | $7,500.00 | $7,500.00 | |
| Lake City Public Schools | Lake City | School | $15,000.00 | $15,000.00 | |
| Litchfield Public Schools, ISD 465 | Litchfield | School | $30,000.00 | $30,000.00 | |
| Mesabi East Schools, ISD 2711 | Aurora | School | $11,650.00 | $11,650.00 | |
| Minneapolis Public Schools, SSD 1 | Minneapolis | School | $30,000.00 | $30,000.00 | |
| New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva Schools, ISD 2168 | New Richland | School | $21,000.00 | $21,000.00 | |
| New Ulm Area Catholic School | New Ulm | School | $8,142.00 | $8,142.00 | |
| Nisse Treehouse/td> | Mabel | ECE | $2,500.00 | $2,500.00 | |
| Pine City Public Schools, ISD 578 | Pine City | School | $2,500.00 | $2,500.00 | |
| Pine Island Public Schools, ISD 255 | Pine Island | School | $5,000.00 | $5,000.00 | |
| Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools, ISD 719 | Prior Lake | School | $30,000.00 | $10,000.00 | $40,000.00 |
| Riverway Learning Community | Winona | School | $2,500.00 | $2,500.00 | |
| Robbinsdale Area Schools, ISD 281 | New Hope | School | $30,000.00 | $30,000.00 | |
| Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan, ISD 196 | Rosemount | School | $30,000.00 | $30,000.00 | |
| Saint Charles Public Schools, ISD 858 | Saint Charles | School | $25,418.00 | $25,418.00 | |
| Saint Croix Prep Academy | Stillwater | School | $15,000.00 | $15,000.00 | |
| Saint Paul Public Schools, ISD 625 | Saint Paul | School | $30,000.00 | $9,894.00 | $39,894.00 |
| Saint Wenceslaus Catholic School | New Prague | School | $7,500.00 | $7,500.00 | |
| Sartell-St. Stephen, ISD 748 | Sartell | School | $10,000.00 | $10,000.00 | |
| Schoolcraft Learning Community | Bemidji | School | $4,600.00 | $4,600.00 | |
| Stare Academy | Baxter | School | $2,500.00 | $2,500.00 | |
| The Journey School | Saint Paul | School | $5,132.40 | $5,132.40 | |
| United South Central Public Schools, ISD 2134 | Wells | School | $15,000.00 | $15,000.00 | |
| Vermilion Country School | Tower | School | $2,500.00 | $1,521.97 | $4,021.97 |
| Wayzata Cafes, ISD 284 | Plymouth | School | $30,000.00 | $30,000.00 | |
| Winona Area Public Schools, ISD 861 | Winona | School | $12,500.00 | $12,500.00 | |
| YMCA of the North, Early Childcare Centers (7 sites) | Minneapolis | ECE | $6,000.00 | $6,000.00 | |
| Zumbrota-Mazeppa Public Schools, ISD 2805 | Zumbrota | School | $13,513.00 | $13,500.00 | $27,013.00 |
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Media Contact
Nikki Warner, MDA Communications
651-238-7909
Nikki.Warner@state.mn.us
