ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is
accepting applications for the Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration
Grant program. These funds promote conservation of environmental
resources and strive to improve on-farm profitability and quality of
life. The MDA awards up to $250,000 for on-farm sustainable agriculture
research or demonstration projects. Eligible recipients include;
Minnesota farmers, educational institutions and individual staff, and
non-profit organizations. Farmer’s projects receive priority. All
non-farmer initiated projects must show significant collaboration with
farmers.
“Farming
in Minnesota has a rich past of progress and success,” said
Commissioner Dave Frederickson. “It’s our responsibility to keep those
advancements in agriculture moving along for future farmers. These grant
funds support innovative ideas to sustain our agricultural economy and
environment for upcoming generations.”
Since
1989, the MDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant Program has
awarded more than $3 million to 300 statewide projects. Grants are
available to fund:
· Project diversification and organic production using traditional and non-traditional crops and livestock
· Cover crops and crop rotations to increase nitrogen uptake, reduce erosion, or control pests
· Conservation tillage and weed management
· Cropping systems to start integrated pest management systems for insects, weeds and diseases
· Nutrient and pesticide management, with an effort to keep them out of water bodies
· Energy production, such as wind, methane, or biomass
· Developing/refining marketing opportunities, season extension, and post-harvest storage and handling
· Other creative ideas addressing farm conservation, energy, and/or profitability
The grant application is available on the MDA website at: www.mda.state.mn.us/grants/grants/demogrant.aspx
or by contacting the Agricultural Marketing and Development Division at
651-201-6012. Completed applications must be received no later than January 23, 2015.
