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.
Resources
Related Programs
Inflation Reduction Act Assistance for Distressed Borrowers
Farm Service Agency
- Grant
- Discount
- Socially Disadvantaged
- Disaster Relief
- National
- Any
A Climate-Smart Strategy for the Michigan Foodshed
Star of the West Milling Company, U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Grant
- Climate-Smart
- Beginning Farmers
- Women
- MI
- Wheat
- Dried Beans
- Soybeans
A Comprehensive Evaluation of the Impact of Industrial Hemp and Soil Microalgae Consortium as High-Efficiency Carbon Sequestration Model Plants
Florida A&M University, U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Grant
- Climate-Smart
- AL
- FL
- LA
- Hemp
A Multi-Faceted Approach to Incentivizing Woody Perennial Growers to Establish Cover Crops in Orchards in Four Diverse Regions of the United States
Agoro Carbon Alliance US, U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Grant
- Climate-Smart
- CA
- WA
- OR
- MI
- FL
- Fruits
- Tree Nuts
Details
Release Date
November 1, 2024
Organization
Financial Instrument
Grant
Maximum Award Amount
$50,000
Total Program Funding
$250,000
Updated September 8, 2024
Image Credit: Zura Narimanishvili
This information was gathered from public sources. Ambrook is not responsible for or able to affect the results of any financial programs listed, nor are they responsible for any incorrect information that is listed or is on the hyperlinked external sites. All information is subject to change.
Explore hundreds more programs on Ambrook.