MDA SAFETY GRAND REIMBURSES UP TO $2,400 PER YEAR
St. Paul, MN: Minnesota farmers looking to add safety equipment to their on-farm grain storage facilities can now apply for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Grain Storage Facility Safety Grant program.
The program reimburses up to 75% of the cost to purchase and install eligible safety equipment for on-farm grain bins or silos. Applicants are eligible to receive up to $400 per bin or silo, with a limit of $2,400 per farm per year. Grant funding comes from a legislative appropriation of $75,000 for both the Grain Storage Facility Safety Grant and the Rollover Protective Structure (ROPS) Rebate programs.
“Handling grain comes with a high level of risk, and workers should take every precaution possible to prevent potential tragedies,” said MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen. “I encourage farmers to make use of this grant opportunity to help themselves, their families, and their employees stay safe around their silos and bins.”
Examples of eligible safety equipment include, but are not limited to:
Fall protection systems,
Engineering controls that prevent contact with an auger or other moving parts,
Dust collection systems that minimize explosion hazards,
Personal protective equipment that increases the likelihood of surviving a grain-bin-related emergency,
Grain silo air quality monitoring equipment, and
Other grain storage facility safety equipment with prior approval from the MDA.
The MDA is accepting grant applications through May 15, 2025, or until all funds are exhausted. Funds will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
For more information and to apply, visit the MDA’s Grain Storage Facility Safety Grant webpage.
NEXT ROUND OF DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE GRANTS OPENS AUG. 1
St. Paul, MN: The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Rural Finance Authority (RFA) has announced details for the next round of funding for its popular Down Payment Assistance Grant program, which will open for applications on August 1, 2024.
The Down Payment Assistance Grant offers up to $15,000 for qualified farmers to purchase their first farm. Eligible applicants must earn less than $250,000 per year in gross agricultural sales, and each award must be matched with at least $8,000 of other funds. Applicants cannot be related by blood or marriage to the owner of the farmland that they intend to acquire.
While all eligible farmers are encouraged to apply, priority for this round of grants will be given to applicants with no more than $100,000 in annual gross farm product sales or applicants who are producers of industrial hemp, cannabis, or specialty crops.
After the application window closes, all eligible requests will be placed in a randomized lottery to determine the order in which grants are awarded, with the identified priority applicants being given precedence. If funding remains after the MDA has awarded grants to all priority applicants, the MDA will award as many grants as funding allows to all remaining applicants in the order of their lottery placement.
Applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on September 15, 2024, and applicants will be notified of award decisions in late September.
Awards will remain valid for purchases closing within six months after award approval or until June 30, 2025, whichever is sooner. Farm purchases must take place after approval of the application. The MDA cannot award grants retroactively for purchases that have already happened.
To view the full grant eligibility requirements and access the RFP, visit the MDA website.
MDA PARTNERS TO SUPPORT LOCAL MEAT PROCESSORS
St. Paul, MN: The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has awarded $250,000 to the Southwest Regional Development Commission (SRDC) to support the organization’s Southwest Minnesota Meat Processor Workforce Development Initiative.
Awarded through the MDA’s Meat Processing Train & Retain Grant program, the one-time funding will assist small- to medium-sized meat and poultry processors with hiring and training new employees.
“Local meat processing facilities play a central role in sustaining Minnesota’s livestock industry as well as our rural economies and communities,” said MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen. “The MDA is thankful to the SRDC for their efforts to grow and strengthen the meat processing workforce in southwest Minnesota, and we look forward to future opportunities to support similar efforts in all areas of the state.”
The SRDC will leverage the grant funds to collaborate with partner organizations to train and hire employees, address barriers to employment, and provide direct and supportive services to new employees. The project aims to support approximately 45 small- to medium-sized processors in the SRDC’s service area.
“The Southwest Regional Development Commission and its project partners are thrilled to launch this project, which has the potential to meet immediate workforce needs and contribute to the long-term sustainability of the vital food industry,” said SRDC Deputy Director Robin Weis. “The SRDC is eager to be part of this initiative, which aims to invest in 30 individuals by providing support for training gaps, both formal and on-the-job, offering unique retention strategies, and minimizing employment barriers.”
For more information about the Meat Processing Train & Retain Grant, visit https://www.mda.state.mn.us/meat-processing-train-retain-grant