Minnesota's $45,000 grants for soil health equipment

By Scout Nelson

Grants are available for individual producers, producer groups, and tribal and local governments to purchase or retrofit soil health equipment. These grants offer up to 50% cost-share, with awards ranging from a minimum of $500 to a maximum of $45,000.

The 2024 Legislature has allocated $2.375 million for statewide grants, with an additional $495,000 designated for Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Wabasha, and Winona counties. Applications for these grants will be accepted starting August 1.

Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, "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.

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."

In previous rounds, no-till drills, air seeders, and strip tillage equipment were among the most requested pieces of equipment. The second round of the program received over 280 applications totaling more than $8.4 million in requests, which was over 3.5 times the available funding.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) will soon open applications for the latest round of its Soil Health Financial Assistance Program grants. This program aims to support farmers in adopting soil health practices by reducing the financial barriers associated with acquiring specialized equipment.

By investing in soil health, the program seeks to enhance water quality and other natural resources, benefiting not only individual farms but also the broader community.

These grants are part of a broader effort to promote sustainable agricultural practices and improve the environmental impact of farming in Minnesota. Farmers and producer groups interested in applying for the grants should prepare to submit their applications starting August 1, ensuring they take advantage of this opportunity to support soil health and sustainable farming practices.

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