The Beginning Farmer Equipment and Infrastructure Grant program is for beginning farmers in Minnesota to make investments in their farm’s equipment and infrastructure.
Donor Name: Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA)
State: Minnesota
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 11/21/2024
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The intent of this grant program is to support new farmers in Minnesota to access equipment and develop infrastructure that will be crucial to the future of their farm business.
Through this grant, beginning farmers will be able to pay for:
- Farm equipment
- Farm infrastructure development such as investments in water access, irrigation, fencing, electricity, walk-in coolers, production-related structures such as livestock buildings and greenhouses, and other farm infrastructure.
Funding Information
- Applicants may request funds at two levels:
- up to $5,000 for a mini-grant or
- up to $20,000 for a full grant.
- The minimum request allowed is $1,000.
Eligible Expenses
- Through this grant, beginning farmers can pay for:
- Farm-specific equipment purchase or lease.
- Farm infrastructure development costs.
- Eligible expenses include but are not limited to:
- Farm-specific equipment needed to grow crops and raise livestock as well as to store and sell the related farm products. This includes a large variety of items, if you would like to check the eligibility of a specific type of equipment, please contact the grant administrator.
- Materials, labor, permitting and other expenses for farm infrastructure investments related to water access, irrigation, fencing, electricity, walk-in coolers, production-related structures such as livestock buildings and greenhouses, and other farm infrastructure.
Eligible Applicants
Applicants must be:
- A beginning farmer, defined as a person who:
- Seeks entry or who entered into farming within the last 10 years.
- Provides the majority of labor and management on a farm.
- Has some farming experience and knowledge.
- A Minnesota resident.
- Farming within the borders of the State of Minnesota.
- In good standing with the State of Minnesota.
For more information, visit MDA.