Beginning Farmer Grants

A number of beginning farmers in Minnesota will be getting grants from the State Department of Agriculture. Gareth Spears-Thomas of Clearwater County received a grant of nearly $6700 for welded pipe fencing for livestock production.  Casey Schmit from Polk County received a $9000 grant to go toward a grain cart to haul harvested farm products.  And two farmers from Marshall County also received grants: Anton Budziszewski will use a $10,000 grant for an air drill for no-till planting; and Melissa Carlson almost $7500 for improvements to a high tunnel production system and poultry infrastructure.  These grants support Minnesota farmers in their first ten years of operation.  The Minnesota Department of Agriculture says it received 520 eligible applications for this year’s round of grants.  There’s more information available at the Agriculture Department website.