The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) will award up to $150,000 for the 2009 Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant Program.  Competitive grants for up to $25,000 are awarded to individuals or groups for on-farm sustainable agriculture research or demonstration projects in Minnesota.  The purpose of the Grant Program is to fund practices that promote environmental stewardship and conservation of resources as well as improve profitability and quality of life on farms and in rural areas.

This packet includes information that will help you plan your project and the application forms.  Contact our office if you don’t have experience with writing proposals.  We will be happy to give you some pointers (see page 5).   You should have at least one technical advisor involved in your project.  Preference is given to projects that are three years in length.

GRANT PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Who May Apply
Eligible recipients include Minnesota farmers, individuals at Minnesota educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and local natural resource agencies.  Priority is given to projects that are farmer initiated.  All non-farmer initiated projects must show significant collaboration with farmers.

Grants may only be made to applicants residing or located in Minnesota for demonstrations on farms located in the state.  An applicant is eligible to receive only one MDA sustainable agriculture grant at a time.  Grantees who complete projects are eligible to receive additional grants to either continue the project or for a new idea.

Eligible Activities
The program objectives are to research and demonstrate the profitability, energy efficiency, and benefits of sustainable agriculture practices and systems from production through marketing.  Grants are available to fund on-farm research and demonstrations and may include, but are not limited to:

• enterprise diversification and organic production using traditional and non-traditional crops and
  livestock;
• cover crops and crop rotations to increase nitrogen uptake, reduce erosion, or control pests;
• conservation tillage and weed management;
• integrated pest management systems for insects, weeds, and diseases;
• livestock production systems;
• nutrient and pesticide management including prevention of entry into water bodies;
• energy production such as wind, methane, or biomass; and,
• growing for and accessing marketing opportunities including season extension, and storage and handling of products.

The program does not fund projects that duplicate previously funded projects.  It may, however, fund similar projects in parts of the state where the practice or system is still considered new or innovative.  You can read prior issues of theGreenbook to see the summaries and locations of previous grants.  This will help you design a project that meets your goals and adds new information.  Several years of theGreenbook are available.