Minnesota Agriculture Grants

This funding opportunity supports Minnesota-based organizations and individuals conducting applied crop research to improve agricultural practices and outcomes for local farmers and rural communities.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to community-based organizations in Minnesota to deliver job training, mentorship, and entrepreneurial skills development for individuals from communities of color and low-income backgrounds, focusing on high-growth industries.

This grant provides financial support to individuals, businesses, and organizations in Minnesota to start, modernize, or expand processing operations for meat, poultry, eggs, and milk, with a focus on increasing sales and market access for locally raised livestock products.

This grant provides financial support to grocery stores and small food retailers in Minnesota to improve their facilities and equipment, making healthy and affordable food more accessible in underserved communities.

This funding opportunity provides financial assistance to counties, municipalities, tribal governments, and weed management entities in Minnesota for projects aimed at controlling and eradicating harmful noxious weeds.

This program provides financial assistance to farmers, producer groups, and local governments in Minnesota to help cover the costs of purchasing or retrofitting equipment that improves soil health and promotes sustainable agriculture.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin to support initiatives that enhance agriculture education, hunger relief, rural disaster relief, and rural health services in their communities.

This program provides funding to agricultural and rural electric cooperatives in Minnesota to develop facilities that produce eco-friendly nitrogen fertilizers using renewable energy and green hydrogen.

This grant provides financial support to small rural hospitals in Minnesota for strategic planning and service transition projects to maintain essential health services in communities with fewer than 15,000 residents.

This grant provides funding for Minnesota farmers, educational institutions, and organizations to implement and showcase innovative sustainable agriculture practices that improve energy efficiency, environmental health, and farm profitability.

The 501vc® Investment Fund is seeking to invest $200,000 to $300,000 in early-stage climate tech startups in the Greater Midwest region, focusing on sectors like advanced materials, renewable energy, and agriculture technologies.

The Food Recovery Grant, supported by BizRecycling, is designed to combat food waste and address food insecurity by funding programs that recover surplus, edible food from various businesses and organizations for distribution to those in need. This initiative aligns with a broader mission of environmental sustainability through waste reduction and social welfare by ensuring access to nutritious food. The program's foundation is built on the principle of resource optimization, transforming potential waste into a valuable community resource. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are people in need within Ramsey and Washington counties of Minnesota, who will receive recovered food. The grant also supports a wide array of eligible organizations including food producers, distributors, grocers, cafeterias, food shelves and banks, colleges with donation and food shelf programs, and farmers markets. The impact goals are two-fold: to significantly increase the amount of edible food recovered and redistributed, thereby reducing landfill waste, and to improve food access for vulnerable populations. The grant prioritizes both food recovery and donation, as well as education and engagement. Funds can be used for materials such as collection buckets, boxes, bags, and food mobility equipment, as well as storage and transportation costs. Limited staffing costs related to food recovery/gleaning work and infrastructure/equipment for these efforts are also supported. Additionally, the grant allows for staff recycling training, demonstrating a focus on comprehensive waste reduction strategies beyond just food. Expected outcomes include a measurable increase in the volume of food recovered and distributed, a reduction in food waste sent to landfills, and an expansion of the capacity of local organizations to engage in food recovery efforts. The grant awards, up to $20,000, are strategically deployed to foster sustainable food recovery ecosystems. By supporting operational costs and infrastructure, BizRecycling's strategic priority is to build resilient systems for food recovery that lead to tangible reductions in hunger and waste within the target counties, embodying a theory of change where targeted financial support leads to improved environmental and social outcomes.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to industrial facilities in Minnesota to reduce harmful air emissions, particularly in communities disproportionately affected by pollution.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is offering the AGRI Value-Added Grant, a reimbursement grant ranging from $100,000 to $500,000, to support value-added businesses such as bioenergy producers and hemp processors in increasing sales of Minnesota agricultural products through investment in equipment, production capacity, market diversification, and market access.

The Grain Storage Facility Safety Cost-Share Program, managed by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), is designed to assist Minnesota farmers in enhancing safety at on-farm grain bins and silos. For the fiscal year 2024, approximately $75,000 is allocated to this program, which also encompasses the Rollover Protective Structure (ROPS) Rebate programs. This initiative offers financial assistance for the purchase, shipment, and installation of eligible safety equipment, focusing on retrofits for existing facilities. Eligible equipment includes fall protection systems, engineering controls, dust collection systems, personal protective equipment, grain silo air quality monitoring equipment, and other specified safety gear. The program reimburses 75% of the eligible expenses, up to $400 per bin or silo, with a yearly cap of $2,400 per farm.

This grant provides financial support to Minnesota farmers' markets to implement or expand food assistance programs, increasing access to fresh food for individuals and families in need while supporting local agriculture.

This program provides funding for farmers and ranchers in the North Central region to develop and share sustainable agricultural practices through research and educational projects.

This funding opportunity supports Minnesota produce farmers in enhancing their food safety practices through reimbursement for eligible expenses related to on-farm food safety systems.

This grant provides financial support to counties in Minnesota for their agricultural inspectors to effectively manage and control noxious weeds, ensuring the protection of public health, the environment, and agricultural resources.

This grant provides funding to county fair organizations for improving agricultural facilities that support exhibitions and education at county fairs within Compeer Financial's service area.