The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is offering grants for innovative, sustainability-focused research or demonstration projects on Minnesota farms. This program, created by the Minnesota Legislature in 1988, aims to publicize and demonstrate the energy efficiency, environmental benefits, or profitability of sustainable agriculture techniques. The AGRI Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration (SustAg) grants align with a mission to explore practices and systems that can enhance farming profitability and resource efficiency.
The target beneficiaries of this grant are Minnesota farmers, individuals at educational institutions, and organizations residing or located in Minnesota that conduct research or demonstrations on farms within the state. A farmer is defined as someone who cultivates, operates, or manages a farm for profit and grows or raises at least $1,000 of agricultural products for sale annually. The impact goals are centered on increasing direct or indirect energy savings or production, positively affecting or reducing harmful environmental effects, and demonstrating increased profitability for individual farms through cost reduction or improved marketing opportunities.
The program prioritizes projects that can show a clear ability to meet these impact goals. Key focuses include increased environmental sustainability and improved soil health, conservation tillage and weed management, novel cover crops and crop rotations, nutrient and pesticide management (including runoff protection), and farm-based energy efficiency or production (such as wind, methane, or biomass). Other areas of focus include integrated pest management systems, seed breeding or conservation, livestock production systems, and developing or improving marketing opportunities.
Expected outcomes include the widespread adoption of sustainable agriculture practices, leading to more profitable and resource-efficient farming in Minnesota. Measurable results will be demonstrated through required outreach events like field days, video diaries, how-to guides, or presentations, which will publicize the project's findings. Projects must be conducted over a minimum of two and a maximum of three years. The MDA expects to award up to $350,000 in Fiscal Year 2025, with individual projects able to request up to $50,000, requiring a dollar-for-dollar match for amounts exceeding $25,000.
