ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner Dave Frederickson announces $2 million in grant funding being made available to livestock producers for on-farm improvements. The Livestock Investment Grants help farmers stay competitive and reinvest in their industry. Last year, 131 Minnesota livestock farmers received grants to improve their operation.
Qualifying producers are reimbursed ten percent of the first $500,000 of investment, with a minimum investment of $4,000.Qualifying expenditures include the purchase, construction or improvement of buildings or facilities for the production of livestock, and the purchase of fencing as well as feeding and waste management equipment. Producers who suffered a loss due to a natural disaster or unintended consequence may also apply. The grant will not pay for livestock or land purchases or for the cost of debt refinancing.
Minnesota livestock producers who applied for but did not receive a grant in past years need to reapply for the 2015 program. These grants are incentives to start projects and are not awarded to works in progress. Grants are competitively funded based on how well applicants score. Applications for operations with farmers transitioning into livestock, beginning farmers and those with a positive environmental impact receive priority.
The deadline to apply for the grant program is December 10, 2014. You can apply on our new online grant application site here:https://www.grantinterface.com/Common/LogOn.aspx?eqs=aBcdzT88cio4Jcof4JQ-mg2. Read about the Minnesota Livestock Investment Program on the MDA website atwww.mda.state.mn.us/livestockinvestmentgrant.
