The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for Agricultural Growth, Research and Innovation Sustainable Agriculture and Demonstration grants.

Approximately $250,000 is available to fund projects that explore new ways of conserving natural resources, enhancing farm profitability, increasing energy efficiency, and improving life in rural communities.

Farmers can apply for grants available, which are up to $25,000 each.

Farmer David Abazs hopes his grant funds will help demonstrate a cost-effective way to increase soil health on the Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center School’s organic farm. Abazs is testing a variety of materials, including lime, wood ash and biochar for their ability to affect soil chemistry and increase pH levels of the acidic soils in Lake County, Minn.

“These fields have never been farmed before and are providing a great template to help us and other farmers,” says Abazs. “We’re trying to find soil amendments that will help simultaneously meet pH goals and enhance soil health.”

Previous grant rounds have funded projects exploring farm diversification; cover crops and crop rotation; conservation tillage; input reduction strategies; and alternative energies like wind, methane and biomass.

Grantees must share their findings. These are published annually in MDA’s Greenbook, which provides a summary of each project along with results, management tips and other resources.

Applications from farmers receive priority. However, the program also funds Minnesota nonprofit and educational organizations, as long as Minnesota farmers are meaningfully involved in the project. Projects may last two to three years.

Grant applications are due by 4 p.m. Dec. 13.

For more information and to apply, visit MDA's AGRI Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration grant program webpage.

Source: MDA