New Funding Available to Help Improve Minnesota’s Soil Health

Grant applications open August 1 and close August 29

St. Paul, MN: Applications will open August 1 for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Soil Health Financial Assistance Program Grants.

These grants are available to individual producers, producer groups, and local governments to purchase or retrofit soil health equipment. Grants provide up to 50% cost-share, with a minimum award of $500 and a maximum award of $45,000. There is $4.36 million available statewide for this round of funding, which comes from the 2025 Minnesota Legislature and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The MDA continues to monitor possible changes to federal funding commitments because of policy decisions within the Trump Administration.

“The Soil Health Financial Assistance Grant helps offset equipment costs and ensures more farmers are engaged in soil health practices that benefit Minnesota’s water and natural resources,” said MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen. “I want to thank our state leaders and federal partners for investing in this program, and I encourage producers, producer groups, tribes, and local governments to apply for this opportunity.”

Examples of eligible new or used equipment include, but are not limited to, no-till drills, air seeders, and strip tillage units.

The Request for Proposals and application link can be found at www.mda.state.mn.us/soil-health-grant once the application opens on August 1. Applications are due August 29, 2025. Awards will be announced by January 1, 2026.

This is the fourth round of Soil Health Financial Assistance Program Grants. The third round awarded $2.79 million to 90 individuals and organizations across Minnesota. The third round received nearly 310 applications, with requests exceeding $9.6 million – or greater than three times the funding available.

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