Minnesota FY2027 AGRI Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant

Minnesota FY2027 AGRI Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grants provide up to $50,000 for innovative on-farm research and demonstrations. The first $25,000 requires no match; requests above $25,000 require a dollar-for-dollar match on the excess. Applications are due October 29, 2026 at 4:00 PM Central Time.

Broad Eligibility

Minnesota farmers; educational institutions or individuals at educational institutions; qualifying organizations including nonprofits and agricultural cooperatives; Tribal governments and organizations; and local units of government. Non-farmer applicants must meaningfully involve a Minnesota farmer, and projects must take place on Minnesota farms.

Atlas Analysis

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is accepting FY2027 AGRI Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant applications for innovative on-farm research and demonstrations that can improve farm profitability, resource efficiency, or environmental performance.

Funding and match

MDA expects to award up to $350,000 in FY2027. Applicants may request up to $50,000 per project. The first $25,000 does not require a match; requests above $25,000 require a dollar-for-dollar match on the amount above $25,000.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include Minnesota farmers, educational institutions or individuals at educational institutions, nonprofit and other qualifying organizations, agricultural cooperatives, Tribal governments and organizations, and local units of government. Non-farmer applicants must meaningfully involve a Minnesota farmer, and projects must be conducted on Minnesota farms.

Deadline and application

Applications are due October 29, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. Central Time. Applicants must review the current FY2027 request for proposals and submit through MDA’s online application system.

Important Applicant Requirements

Projects must conduct on-farm sustainable agriculture research or demonstration in Minnesota. Non-farmer applicants must meaningfully involve a Minnesota farmer, and farmer applicants must involve a qualified technical cooperator who is not a family member. Reimbursement is available only for costs incurred under an effective grant agreement. General-purpose equipment, operating overhead, grant-writing consultant fees, and project-specific equipment costing more than $1,500 per item are not eligible under the FY2027 RFP; MDA may authorize limited reimbursement toward certain more expensive special-purpose items. Review the full issuer RFP before preparing a budget.