The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications for the spring round of the fiscal year (FY) 2024 Agriculture Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Livestock Investment Grant Program.
Donor Name: Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA)
State: Minnesota
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/02/2024
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The AGRI Livestock Investment Grant encourages long-term industry development for Minnesota livestock farmers and ranchers by helping them improve, update, and modernize their livestock operation infrastructure and equipment.
Grant funds are available for equipment purchases, physical improvements, and acquisition of facilities used to help start, improve, or expand livestock operations in the state of Minnesota.
Priorities
This grant will prioritize:

Emerging farmers, including women; veterans; persons with disabilities; American Indian or Alaskan Natives; members of a community of color; young farmers; and farmers who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, or asexual (LGBTQIA+).
Generational transitions
Production of livestock for Kosher or Halal markets
Robotic milking equipment

Funding Information

It expects to award approximately $650,000 in this round using a competitive review process.

Applicants may apply for up to 10% of their project’s total cost with a minimum expense of $4,000 and a maximum expense of $250,000; grant awards can range in size from $400 to $25,000.

Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:

Be the principal operator of a livestock operation in Minnesota
 Be a resident of the state of Minnesota or be a business entity authorized to farm in Minnesota
Hold an appropriate feedlot registration when applicable.
Be in good standing with the State of Minnesota:

No back taxes owed.
No defaults on Minnesota state-backed financing for the last seven years.
Acceptable performance on past MDA grants.
Compliant with current state regulations or this project will support the organization becoming compliant.

For more information, visit MDA.