Cover photo for Minnesota AGRI Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant

Minnesota AGRI Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant

Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Opens November 1, 2024


The AGRI Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant supports innovative on-farm research and demonstrations. It funds projects that explore sustainable agriculture practices and systems that could make farming more profitable, resource efficient, or personally satisfying. Findings are published in the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s annual Greenbook.


Eligibility

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


Application Instructions

Before you apply, read the full Request for Proposals (PDF) for complete details of the program. You can also review the list of past projects and read prior issues of the Greenbook, which contains summaries, findings, and locations of previous grants. Using these resources will help you design a competitive project.

Then, apply through MDA's online application system.

  • If you are a new user, you will need to create an account.

  • Once you are logged in, select AGRI Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant FY23.




Details

Release Date

November 1, 2024

Financial Instrument

Grant

Maximum Award Amount

$50,000

Total Program Funding

$250,000


Updated September 8, 2024

Image Credit: Zura Narimanishvili

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