Minnesota residents have a chance to have input in the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s moving forward in preparation for the state’s next biennial budget.

Farmers, businesses and others impacted by food and agriculture systems are invited to share policy, funding and program suggestions.

The MDA is hosting two virtual public input sessions where people can share their ideas directly, in addition to an online form for written submissions open through Aug. 16.

The two sessions will take place on Zoom. Participation is free, but registration is required. The sessions are scheduled for:

The Minnesota Legislature appropriates funds for the MDA and related agricultural activities through a two-year budget bill that is part of the state’s overall government funding.

State budgets are set in legislative sessions that take place in odd-numbered years and are sometimes revised during sessions in even-numbered years. The next legislative session begins on Jan. 14 and will determine the next two-year state budget.

Information about the MDA’s mission, leadership and responsibilities is available on the agency’s website.

Soil health grants

Applications for the latest round of the Minnesota ag department’s Soil Health Financial Assistance Program grants are now being accepted.

The grants are available to individual producers, producer groups and tribal and local governments to purchase or retrofit soil health equipment. Grant awards will provide up to 50% cost-share, with a minimum award of $500 and a maximum award of $45,000. The 2024 Legislature appropriated $2.375 million for grants statewide, along with an additional $495,000 available for grants in Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Wabasha and Winona counties. The MDA began accepting applications Aug. 1.

“Specialized, expensive equipment can be a barrier for farmers wanting to implement soil health practices, so it’s important we invest in programs like the Soil Health Financial Assistance Program grants,” says Thom Petersen, agriculture commissioner. “The soil health benefits we see to water quality and our other natural resources go beyond a farm’s border and can have a positive impact on many Minnesotans.”

Examples of eligible new or used equipment include, but are not limited to, no-till drills, air seeders, strip tillage units and more.

The Request for Proposals and the application link can be found online. Applications are due Aug. 30. Awards will be announced by Jan. 1.

This is the third round of Soil Health Financial Assistance Program grants. The second round awarded more than $2.3 million to 81 individuals and organizations across Minnesota. No-till drills, air seeders, and strip tillage equipment were among the most requested pieces of equipment. The second round received more than 280 applications for more than $8.4 million, more than 3.5 times the funding available.

FEMA assistance for flood damage

Minnesotans in 19 counties can now request individual assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help recover from losses they suffered from this year’s flooding.

Gov. Tim Walz requested an amendment to the original June 28 disaster declaration after damage assessments documented significant destruction to homes and businesses across the state. The declaration will provide resources to reimburse individuals and communities for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and repair and replacement of damaged infrastructure.

The following counties are currently part of the declaration: Blue Earth, Cook, Cottonwood, Faribault, Freeborn, Goodhue, Itasca, Jackson, Lake, Le Sueur, Mower, Nicollet, Nobles, Rice, Rock, St. Louis, Steele, Waseca and Watonwan. Additional county designations may be added to the declaration if requested and warranted by the results of damage assessments.

The individual assessment declaration is the next step in the state’s ongoing dedication to assisting affected communities. Kristi Rollwagen, director of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Homeland Security and Emergency Management division, says the newly announced designation could not have come without the work of the state’s residents, business owners and local emergency managers.

While individual assistance is not a substitute for insurance and cannot compensate for all losses caused by a disaster, it is a significant step in helping people meet their basic needs and supplement disaster recovery efforts.

In the coming days, FEMA, in partnership with HSEM, will establish disaster recovery centers to assist people in navigating the process and house state agency representatives to ensure individuals and businesses understand all the programs that are available. More information on how to access these centers will be forthcoming from FEMA.

In the meantime, individuals in the declared counties are encouraged to create an application online. You can also call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Specialists are available seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET.

Farm Families of the Year announced

Families are the backbones of every Minnesota farm operation, and the University of Minnesota has announced this year’s list of honorees.

The 2024 farm families of the year cover a wide spectrum of farming, from traditional crops and livestock to community-based ventures and operations, producing a wide range of fruit, vegetables and flowers. They were chosen by local University of Minnesota Extension committees based on the honorees’ demonstrated commitment to enhancing and supporting agriculture.

“This year’s 86 Farm Families of the Year reflect the breadth and variety of agriculture in our state,” says Bev Durgan, U-M Extension dean. “The University of Minnesota is proud to honor these families and their innovation and dedication to Minnesota agriculture.”

All the 2024 families are profiled at on the U-M Extension website.