State Soil Health Grant Program Impacts Farm Families

Aug 22, 2024

Glencoe farmer Ellyn Oelfke said she, her husband Jacob and brother-in-law and sister-in-law knew they’d need to upgrade equipment on their family farming operation, which includes no-till planting and cover crops.

In 2023, they were able to do so thanks in part to a Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA)-supported state soil health cost-share program.

With a grant from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Soil Health Financial Assistance Program, the Oelfkes purchased an air seeder—an implement that uses air pressure to precisely sow seeds. They’ve used the air seeder the past two years to plant cover crops.

Ellyn Oelfke said the grant has been helpful as beginning farmers, adding that the application process was smooth.

In August, MDA opened a new round of grant funding for the Soil Health Financial Assistance Program. Nearly $2.8 million is available—including $495,000 specifically for southeast Minnesota counties—with grants ranging from $500 to $45,000. MDA will accept applications until Aug. 30 and will announce awards by Jan. 1, 2025.

“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,” Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen said in a statement. “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.”

The Soil Health Financial Assistance Program was established as a pilot program in 2022 by the State Legislature thanks in part to grassroots advocacy by MCGA. The Legislature made the program on-going during the 2023 session and provided it with funding from the general fund and the Clean Water Fund. The Legislature allocated the additional $495,000 in funding for southeast Minnesota counties during the 2024 session.

The program, which is voluntary and inclusive of a wide range of practices, is open to farmers, producer groups, and local government units. Eligible expenses include parts and materials to retrofit existing equipment, down payments on equipment, subscriptions or equipment technology for precision agriculture, technical assistance for conservation plans, and more.

Although the program is authorized to cover a wide-range of expenses for establishing soil health practices, the limited available funding the last two years has focused on equipment. To date, in two rounds of soil health grant funding, MDA has awarded 97 grants totaling over $2.8 million to farmers, producer groups, and local government units across Minnesota. No-till drills, air seeders, and strip tillage equipment have been among the most requested pieces of equipment, according to the department.

In June, the Soil Health Financial Assistance Program was recognized with the Rural Vitality Award by the nonprofit Environmental Initiative. The award recognizes efforts to solve community-scale challenges in rural areas, such as grassroots revitalization and beautification efforts, alternative land-use strategies, and policy initiatives contributing to economic prosperity and environmental stewardship.

If you are interested in applying, learn more about the program on the MDA website.

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