County Agricultural Inspector Grant

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is offering the Fiscal Year 2026 County Agricultural Inspector Grant to support county agricultural inspectors (CAIs) and county-designated employees (CDEs) in fulfilling their duties under the Minnesota Noxious Weed Law (Minn. Stat. 18.76-18.91). The program is authorized under state statute and funded by the Minnesota Legislature at 2025 Laws of Minnesota, Chapter 34, Article 1, Section 2, Subd. 2(g). The grant provides reimbursement to eligible counties for implementing and maintaining noxious weed control programs and addressing special weed control issues. The objective is to protect public health, the environment, infrastructure, crops, livestock, and property from the harmful effects of noxious weeds. For FY26, the legislature appropriated $500,000 to be divided equally among eligible counties. Eligibility is determined by statutory criteria, and funds are distributed to counties employing a CAI or CDE who meets specific requirements, including attending state-offered training for new inspectors, coordinating with the commissioner on laws and enforcement procedures, submitting annual local weed inspector reports, conducting training for local weed inspectors, and assisting with control and agricultural programs as directed. Funds may be spent only on eligible expenses incurred after a fully executed grant contract is in place and the grantee is authorized to begin work. Eligible expenses include inspection and reinspection of noxious weeds, enforcement of weed laws, weed management, assisting MDA with various agricultural programs, training and supporting local weed inspectors, developing outreach and management plans, issuing transport permits, posting notices, serving on appeals committees, and attending hearings. Ineligible expenses include unrelated administrative overhead, pre-contract costs, fundraising, taxes (except sales tax), lobbying, debts, fines, out-of-state travel, and capital expenses over $5,000. Applications must be submitted online by 3:00 p.m. on September 4, 2025. New users must create an account before accessing the application system. Applicants are encouraged to apply early and ensure complete submissions, as incomplete or late applications will not be considered. The deadline for program-related questions is August 28, 2025, at 12 p.m. CT. Applicants will be notified of funding decisions and enter grant negotiations starting October 16, 2025, with projects anticipated to begin the same day and conclude by June 30, 2026. All grantees must submit progress reports and a final report by May 31, 2026, including summaries of activities, training, and assistance provided. The application includes a proposal summary, a work plan detailing activities, timelines, and responsible parties, and a budget narrative explaining all costs by category. The budget table must outline requested grant amounts for personnel, equipment and supplies, education and outreach materials, contracted services, in-state travel, and other expenses. Certifications must be signed by the county’s authorized representative, confirming county board support, accuracy of information, compliance with eligibility, and awareness of legal obligations. Applications will be reviewed for accuracy and eligibility by MDA staff, with the commissioner making award decisions. Grantees receiving $50,000 or more will undergo pre-award risk assessments and monitoring visits. All grantees must comply with Minnesota’s contracting, audit, and non-discrimination requirements, publicly credit the State of Minnesota, and maintain required documentation for six years after the grant ends. Contact for questions is Emilie Justen, MDA Noxious Weed Law Coordinator, Plant Protection Division, 625 Robert Street North, St. Paul, MN 55155-2538, email emilie.justen@state.mn.us.

Apply early; answer all questions completely; include recommended optional responses; ensure application is unique to county