Minnesota AGRI Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant

The Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant (SustAg) supports innovative on-farm research and demonstrations. SustAg projects explore sustainable agriculture practices and systems that could make farming more profitable or resource-efficient. Findings are published in the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's annual Greenbook.

Applicant eligibility

Applications from Minnesota farmers receive priority, but the program also funds Minnesota nonprofits and educational organizations that meaningfully involve Minnesota farmers in projects.

Your project must last two to three years and you must be willing to share what you learn with others.

Project eligibility

MDA will fund projects that explore the profitability, energy efficiency, and environmental benefits of sustainable agriculture practices or systems. Projects can include, but are not limited to:

• Practices that increase environmental sustainability and improve soil health

• Conservation tillage and weed management methods

• Novel cover crops and crop rotations

• Input reduction strategies, including nutrient and pesticide management

• On-farm energy production, such as wind, methane, or biomass, or improvements in energy efficiency

• Developing/refining/improving marketing opportunities, including season extension and post-harvest storage and handling

• Novel enterprise diversification, including organic production, using traditional and non-traditional crops and livestock

• Other creative ideas that focus on environmental benefits, energy savings or production, profitability, and/or farmers’ quality of life

You may request up to $50,000 per project. For requests between $25,000 and $50,000, you must provide a dollar-for-dollar match on the amount above $25,000. MDA expects to award up to $350,000 in Fiscal Year (FY) 2026.

The application period for this program closed on December 17, 2025. Details on this page and in the AGRI SustAg Demonstration Grant FY26 Request for Proposals (PDF) apply to the past round of funding.

Contact us if you need this information in an alternative format.

• AGRI Overview

• Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant Statute (M.S. 17.116)

• Greenbook

• Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA)

• North Central SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education)